Posted by
CmdrTaco
on from the one-for-the-newbies dept.
Scott writes "Just got done reading
this
article over at C|Net, which claims to
answer the 10 most frequently ansked Linux questions.
Noticed lots of links to various HOWTO's, and a few to the
LDP. Overall, it seems someone actually made an effort
with this one. "
We were all newbies to Linux at one time or another... I would rather see people asking the questions than just getting frustrated and giving up on Linux.
I agree with those points you made, C/Net did a good job of dispelling FUD with FACTS. (I was writing a post along those lines too, but netscape died and I lost it - I'm on an HP-UX machine before someone laffs @ Linux.. doesn't happen to me at home)
One thing I was wondering though was in the first question it mentions that one of the benefits of having Linux is being able to 'tweak the source code at your leisure'.. hmm.. that seems like not the sort of thing to mention on the first page - can you say GPL? - especially as in the previous paragraph they mention that 'Linux is a Unix-like, kernel-based, fully protected, multitasking operating system' and then have to explain that if people don't understand.. and they're talking about tweaking source code ?.. hmm..
The dialin problem with Linux opposed to Windows seems guff to me.. I've always had more problems dialing in and maintaining a reliable connection under Windows than Linux. gnomePPP or kppp do a very good job of 'shielding' the user from the nastiness of pppd scripts.
Question 7 says something about making Linux/X/ more like Windows.. but as a counter argument what about pointing out that it's very easy to make it NOT like Windows and something much more pretty. Go use Enlightenment and GNOME and look around e.themes.org and gtk.themes.org if you want evidence of such.
Good points made everywhere else, including that of web serving (Q9), something Linux does amazingly well. The windows information copying tip is a good one too, I've passed that one to newbies I've helped before. The support issue (Q10) altho a thorny one for many Linux users is well handled, they don't just laugh and say 'What support?'.
Well done C|Net.. you can teach ZDNet quite a lot !
Hmmm. Rebuild the kernel to use every memory-hogging feature you can find. Reboot every couple of days whether you need to or not. And every 18 months or so, send a check for $99 to Bill Gates. That should do the trick.
Do think anyone who actually has to ask question like this about Linux ahould actually be using and/or installing it?
Now come on, if someone wants to use a better/free OS and get away from M$, there will obviously be a learning curve. That question is ridiculous, unless you are a developer it is almost impossible to get an install right the first time you do it. As for wanting it to look/act like Windoze thats just and ease of transition sort of thing.
To win the battle against M$ the Linux community must embrace the newbies and help them along, this idea may seem foreign to you, but every newbie that is not afraid to ask questions and learn is one less M$ customer in the long run. This post reminded me of the Cluele ss Users Are Bad For Debian article. The Linux community seems to be divided into two camps, the "I Hate Newbies" camp and the "Newbies Are Good" camp. This division and the constant arguments over distros are just a few of the things that will drive a prospective nebie right back to M$.
So keep up the good work, maybe you'll scare off a newbie or two today.
________________________________________________ ________ Can We trust the future - Flesh99
Slashdot Mirror
We were all newbies to Linux at one time or another... I would rather see people asking the questions than just getting frustrated and giving up on Linux.
I agree with those points you made, C/Net did a good job of dispelling FUD with FACTS. (I was writing a post along those lines too, but netscape died and I lost it - I'm on an HP-UX machine before someone laffs @ Linux .. doesn't happen to me at home)
.. hmm.. that seems like not the sort of thing to mention on the first page - can you say GPL? - especially as in the previous paragraph they mention that 'Linux is a Unix-like, kernel-based, fully protected, multitasking operating system' and then have to explain that if people don't understand .. and they're talking about tweaking source code ? .. hmm..
.. but as a counter argument what about pointing out that it's very easy to make it NOT like Windows and something much more pretty. Go use Enlightenment and GNOME and look around e.themes.org and gtk.themes.org if you want evidence of such.
.. you can teach ZDNet quite a lot !
One thing I was wondering though was in the first question it mentions that one of the benefits of having Linux is being able to 'tweak the source code at your leisure'
The dialin problem with Linux opposed to Windows seems guff to me.. I've always had more problems dialing in and maintaining a reliable connection under Windows than Linux. gnomePPP or kppp do a very good job of 'shielding' the user from the nastiness of pppd scripts.
Question 7 says something about making Linux/X/ more like Windows
Good points made everywhere else, including that of web serving (Q9), something Linux does amazingly well. The windows information copying tip is a good one too, I've passed that one to newbies I've helped before. The support issue (Q10) altho a thorny one for many Linux users is well handled, they don't just laugh and say 'What support?'.
Well done C|Net
Delphis
7. How Can I Make Linux More Like Windows?
:)
Hmmm. Rebuild the kernel to use every memory-hogging feature you can find. Reboot every couple of days whether you need to or not. And every 18 months or so, send a check for $99 to Bill Gates. That should do the trick.
----
I like it
Do think anyone who actually has to ask question like this about Linux ahould actually be using and/or installing it?
_ ________
Now come on, if someone wants to use a better/free OS and get away from M$, there will obviously be a learning curve. That question is ridiculous, unless you are a developer it is almost impossible to get an install right the first time you do it. As for wanting it to look/act like Windoze thats just and ease of transition sort of thing.
To win the battle against M$ the Linux community must embrace the newbies and help them along, this idea may seem foreign to you, but every newbie that is not afraid to ask questions and learn is one less M$ customer in the long run. This post reminded me of the Cluele ss Users Are Bad For Debian article. The Linux community seems to be divided into two camps, the "I Hate Newbies" camp and the "Newbies Are Good" camp. This division and the constant arguments over distros are just a few of the things that will drive a prospective nebie right back to M$.
So keep up the good work, maybe you'll scare off a newbie or two today.
_______________________________________________
Can We trust the future - Flesh99