Re: Documentation for total beginners
On Wed, 18 Apr 2001, - wrote:
> I have a few prospects that I'm trying to talk into doing Linux, Debian
> in particular. The problem is they have very little experience except
> using MS Windows for internet and games. I've written some very basic
> instructions for them just so they can at least log on and navigate
> through the directories. Much of my own experience comes from trial and
> error.
IMHO that's the best way to learn. Having a group (like this one)
to ask questions is also good - but being *willing* to experiment
is essential to learning anything, in my experience. (That even goes
for Windows and the MacOS)
I don't know where you're located, but if you're in or near
a major city, odds are you're also near a Linux User Group.
They can be a *big* help, and they usually have "Installfests"
which will at least help get Linux up an running for anyone
having difficulty.
If you can get it set up so that they can use the Internet, use
StarOffice, KOffice or something similar and their printer and
sound work, they're pretty much set if their needs aren't great.
It's not necessary for a beginner to understand, say, how to
set up iptables or Apache.
> I haven't seen any documentation that is suitable for anyone with their
> limited experience, nothing on internet, not in bookstores, and not in
> boxed sets. Everything seems to be geared towards people who,
> colloquially speaking, at least know how to multiply large numbers,
> whereas my proteges and I are just learning how to add single numbers.
Is "Linux for Dummies" beyond them, or have you not seen it? I
believe there's a "Debian GNU/Linux for Dummies" coming out or
already available.
> Does anyone know of any documentation that doesn't require extensive
> experience to comprehend?
> I don't consider myself to be an expert so I could benefit from that
> kind of documentation too.
The Newbiedoc project probably has some good docs, but I don't
think that they're comprehensive yet.
> Should I tell my friends to forget Linux for now and come back after
> they have experience with other operating systems because otherwise, you
> can't get there from here?
Absolutely not. Learn something correctly the first time, if possible.
Yes, Linux seems more difficult inititally, but that's largely
because it does not attempt to protect you from the computer or
vice-versa. You'll learn much more about Linux and the computer
it's installed on than if you use Windows.
Frankly, I wish they taught UNIX/Linux in schools at the first or
second grade level, and I'm horrified at the prospect of children
being exposed only to Windows or the MacOS. You don't learn anything
but how to use a particular interface, which is guaranteed to
change within three years. (I know many users who had only just
mastered using Windows 3.11 when Windows 95 came out, and they
were stymied...) All of the shiny wizards and such are basically
crutches - and you're toast if they don't solve your problem.
If kids learned a *nix type system it would also teach them to
think for themselves a bit and solve problems - a skill sorely
overlooked these days IMHO.
Well, that's my two cents...
Take care,
Zonker
--
Joe 'Zonker' Brockmeier
jbrockmeier@earthlink.net
ICQ: 43599611
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