the viewpoint of a single newbie

[Jeremy Fowler]

Yeah, but didn't it give you a certain sense of satisfaction and gratification
when you finally figured it out? Kind of like a puzzle that needed to be solved.
Call me crazy and diluted, but I enjoy trying to figure out why some program
won't compile or learning why I need a certain library. I believe that these are
the trials and tribulations that every Linux newbie must cut their teeth on.
There are so many dumb Windows users out there and when Windows works the way it
should, no problem. But if something goes wrong and their Windows program
doesn't autostart when they put the CDROM in the drive, who are they going to
call to find out how to install the program from the Start|Run command? Windows
spoon feeds these people and it makes them lazy and they get into this mindset
that all things in life should be easy. Life is NOT easy and to get anything of
quality out of life you have to work for it. Linux is a good thing because it
makes you learn how to use it, all of it. It doesn't spoon feed you, it kicks
you out of the nest and makes you fly or die. Linux is Life. -Jeremy

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Andy Inzerillo [mailto:ainzerillo at billsoft.com]
> Sent: Wednesday, December 05, 2001 9:19 AM
> To: Eric Gilliland; kclug at kclug.org
> Subject: RE: the viewpoint of a single newbie
>
>
> Eric,
>
> I agree with you.
>
> I am, too, a Linux newbie.  My first stab at this new world was to set up
> SuSe Linux 7.1 on an Alpha system.  I was going to make it a file server to
> take some load off of my apps server.  The most frustrating part of the
> installation was trying to decipher the manual that came with the OS.  I
> could not get technical assistance, even though SuSe said the gave 60 day
> installation support.  Instructions laid out in the book did not match what
> was going on during the install.  Web sites listed in the manual are no
> longer in existence.  I finally got it to work after messing around with it
> for a solid week.  All in all the experience was pretty frustrating.
>
> My only salvation was asking questions to user groups like this one.  I am
> sure that I will have the opportunity to set up another Linux box in the
> future.  I just hope it goes better next time.
>
> Andy
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Eric Gilliland [mailto:jegilliland at hotmail.com]
> Sent: Wednesday, December 05, 2001 8:34 AM
> To: kclug at kclug.org
> Subject: the viewpoint of a single newbie
>
>
> I have been following the Win XP debate with interest.  I thought I'd throw
> in my two cents to present a view from a complete Linux newbie who is NOT in
> IT.  I have pretty much decided against upgrading to XP, for many of the
> reasons elaborated on in the series of emails over the last couple of days.
> However, I wanted to make a comment on what Thurmond said, quoted below.
>
> I completely agree with his views on software installation.  I want linux to
> gain more marked share as much as anyone.  However, this will NEVER happen
> until software installation is greatly simplified, IMHO.  For linux to
> become popular, there will have to be a simple, "a few mouse clicks" type of
> software installation.  The RPM stuff is a good start, but does not go far
> enough.
>
> I expect some will scoff at this and say that linux should not be "dumbed
> down" but I repeat, linux will NEVER become popular as long as software
> installation is so complex.  Perhaps the solution is some kind of
> recommended vs. custom install, like in the mandrake distro install.
>
> That said, I still intend to move away from windows as much as possible
> after completing my thesis.
>
> Just my ill considered and uninformed opinion,
>
> Eric Gilliland
>
> On Tue, Dec ,  at 03:26:47PM -0800, Patrick Thurmond wrote:
> >
> I have read alot of info on linux and when something that should be simple
> like a software install becames a huge pain, you know somethings wrong. And
> I not just talkin one distro, I am talkin redhat, debian, mandrake, and
> slackware.
> >My arguments aren't mindless or experienceless ones but come on, program
> >installation shouldn't be so difficult. I don't mind using the console, but
> >I have to type in huge strings to execute the commands, that includes
> >triggers and switches and such.
>
>
> J. Eric Gilliland
> jegilliland at hotmail.com
> Meet it is I set it down, that one may smile, and smile, and be a villain.
> Hamlet Act 1 Scene 5
>
>
>
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