On Thu, Apr 19, 2001 at 12:01:14AM -0500, Jason Pepas wrote: > wait till will gets wind of this...
look out... ! :) > well, here are some resources you might not have known about: > > http://www.aokiconsulting.com/debian-survival/ > http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/debian/chapter/ > http://newbiedoc.sourceforge.net/ > > there are a few more which you probably already know about mentioned on > my website <shameless plug> http://jason.pepas.com/linux/ </shameless > plug> > > jason > [EMAIL PROTECTED] jason and others have given you some good pointers. > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "-" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: <debian-user@lists.debian.org> > Sent: Wednesday, April 18, 2001 7:26 PM > Subject: Documentation for total beginners > > 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. given the development of the *nix arena, trial and error is what you should /expect/. it's been evolving over 30+ years, from a broad assortment of different people from all over the globe, each with his/her own priorities and insights. some use "man" others document with "info" and then there's some that don't document at all... > > 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. you're preaching to the choir! > > 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. > > > > 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? here's the problem: people are familiar with macOS or windo~1, and expect that kind of interaction with linux. ain't gonna happen... those platforms are developed top-down from their respective board rooms, and as a new feature is added, the board room also dictates that their explanation team keep the online guide up-to-date with the new features. with linux, you can create a script that i enjoy, and i can take a crack at creating a manpage for it. i might give that up and go for info instead if i like its features better. then again, i may just put up a web page that you, the author of the script, doesn't know about, which means it's not even mentioned in your source code. linux is a cacophony of individuals who share an overlapping passion; it's not a structured team of "let's do it this way, and that way". solution A -- maybe to get your allies on board, yuo might install something gooey (spelled g-u-i) as GNOME or KDE, and apt-get install a slew of point-and-click games and text editors and maybe even a spreadsheet or two, and a browser. if you get them set up without them having to know about the back-end, it shouldn't be so intimidating. then, as they outgrow their initial setup, they may find that they want to try A or B or C, and how does this work, and can i make it do Q differently, and can i turn of P as well? solution B -- <flame-bait>eazel or mac os X or beOS</> solution C -- stick with windo~1 or macos solution D -- okay, i have a reputation to uphold: join the newbiedoc project and help us MAKE the documentation you're looking for. :) http://newbiedoc.sourceforge.net/ -- DEBIAN NEWBIE TIP: Confused about using "apt-get" to keep your Debian UP-TO-DATE? See http://groups.yahoo.com/group/newbiedoc/files/apt-get-intro.html ...from [EMAIL PROTECTED]
