Re: A Cry For Help
Bravo! Couldn't have said it better myself! I seem to have the
same experience...several years experience with computers, and a
little programming, and a technical background in communications.
Unfortunately, Linux is not my full time job. Documentation
geared towards the novice user would be of great help.
Jeff, a novice Debian Linux User
-----Original Message-----
From: Bert Conliffe <bconliff@pan.gbm.net>
To: debian-user@lists.debian.org <debian-user@lists.debian.org>
Date: Wednesday, May 13, 1998 04:15
Subject: A Cry For Help
> Date: 5/12/98
> Subject: The Debian Starter System
>
> Background: For the past few months I've been reading on all
fronts
> about the superiority of Linux over the incoming Windows '98
and the
> Windows NT systems. Having used MSDOS and the windows systems
for
> quite a few years; and not being overly impressed with making
Bill
> Gates a trillionare, I decided to start out with the Basic
Debian
> system.
>
> Experience: I have been around computers for a few years, and
I
> have some experience on various pcs and with IBM and Burroughs
main
> frames. Therefore, I thought that I had enough background to
try
> Debian Linux.
>
> History: The download from Sunsite went well, and I got the
> required files. Made diskettes from these files, installed
them
> on a seperate hard disk, and brought up Debian Linux. For
someone
> with no Linux experience, it was tedious, but not impossible.
>
> Now that I have the basic Debian installed what do I do?
>
> Having seen and read about "How To's" at various linux sites;
well,
> I figured this is the place to get basic information, and
structure
> to start off on Debian. After a couple weeks on checking
various
> sites (first off Debian's); I found Guido Gonzato's excellent,
> Configuration - How To. At last, I can get started on
configuring
> and learning to use Debian Linux!
>
> Now frustration sets in. Guido's document does not refer to
the
> Debian system's structure. I am at a lost to relate to where
to
> find the files on my Debian system. I try seaching directories
> for help, again leading to more frustration. Debian is not user
> friendly, it is "novice frutrating", is there a special reason
for
> this?
>
> The "plain vanilla Debian Linux" offers nothing for the
"novice"
> linux user. Would it have been too much to expect:
>
> 1. A document telling the "novice" what to do next.
> 2. A set of instructions on how to configure the system.
> 3. The simple basics required to administrate Debian.
> 4. Having manuals operational so that, one would have some
> type of reference.
> 5. Just plain old "guidance".
>
> If I am a novice who is just being oriented, dselect at this
time
> is a bit too much. What do I know about the requirements for
package
> installation. Even if I did download a package, how could I be
sure
> if I should have selected MSDOS or i386 items? After all I am
> coming from a MSDOS sytem. That I should download packages.gz
or
> contents.gz. Please help me to walk (configure the system I
just
> installed), before you start " clocking " me for a 3:50 mile
> (updating a system I can even configure, or access its
reference
> material).
>
> Why couldn't the system be distributed with the documentation
and
> resources to implement LILO as the boot manager for dualbooting
> MSDOG (as guru(s) fondly refer to the Bill Gates software).
>
> Hey, I'm a "dummy", please treat me like one. I'm not writing
> " C " programs at Berkley, MIT or Dusseldorf; I'm a beginner,
> trying to get started. Please recognize that we're in a state
> that requires " debian linux nurturing ". We want to learn to
> use Debian, please help us, don't push us away. (Speaking for
> other novices who fail to communicate their plight).
>
> Yes, I've read about "O'reilly" books and all that stuff. But,
> in this world, there are no Amazons or Barnes and Nobles on
> every street corner. In Peru, Panama, Costa Rica, Nigeria we
> have a bit of a problem locating B&N and Amazon. If you give
> us enough guidance to start with, we can play "catch up" later
> on. The " first step " starts the journey.
>
> Now, I know that Debian is a "freebie" organization and it
depends
> on volunteers. But, if you groom your "novices" properly, you
may
> just have your own " farm system " of volunteers down the road.
>
> If you showed me how, I would even be willing to help you setup
> what I stated in 1. thru 5. I don't even know your system,
but,
> I am willing to help.
>
>
> Another Call for help!!!
> Bert Conliffe
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