On 04/16/2011 11:05 AM, Jude DaShiell wrote:
Actually, if a new user reads the contents of debian-reference before
doing much else with Debian they'll solve that problem. The problem
behind that is that debian-reference doesn't install by default on
systems. A question like "Are you new to Linux (y/n)? in the install
script might not only install that package by default but also configure
boot up sequence such that once all was finished booting the user would
land inside the debian-reference application. I can't really predict
what amount of pain would be reduced by such steps so am not
recommending them unless testing gets done with a significant sample
size of users new to Linux first. If follow up study shows these users
progress faster on their learning curves, then I'd recommend making
these modifications. The bsd system has a learn utility that teaches
several topics once set up correctly using computer-assisted instruction
and if that were ever successfully ported to Linux (maybe some on this
list remember using it), that might also be a good utility to use to get
more knowledge in areas where debian-reference is missing or goes
lightly through. I know I certainly got lots from it back in late '80's
and it's command line too.
On Sat, 16 Apr 2011, shawn wilson wrote:
On Apr 16, 2011 11:18 AM,<foldingst...@theowned.org> wrote:
Like I said, "A Lot has changed in 12 years". Debian is more friendly
today than yesterday as are most distros, but there are others that are
friendlier, a lot friendlier.
So, I stand by my initial statement that Debian is not suitable for the
Linux firsttimer. I would never recommend it to a noobie. With Debian,
you need to know, at least somewhat, what you're doing.
B
I think if someone is capable of reading and comprehending the excellent
documentation available, there should be no problem using Debian. This is
how many people have learned.
The debian documentation is among the best (along with gentoo and FreeBSD).
That said, when I want to get something done this isn't the first place I
look - I google and what I find there. I don't suppose I could consider
myself 'new' anymore and it did take me a year to figure out how to find
things on the net.
I think that any distro that doesn't do quirky things is good for beginners
(ie, sles having aliases and definitions for everything is just stupid). If
a distro keeps its etc pretty standard, puts things in the right place in
the directory tree, and has a good user base, it should be good to learn on.
(the first and second reason are why I hate mandrake)
There is also the issue of how you use linux. If you want a free OS that
just works, you can install debian or ubuntu (or maybe fedora - idk) and
most things should pretty much work. You can use this environment and that's
great. However I don't think you really learn linux like this.
Otoh, you can run mac or windows and just access linux through putty or
terminal.app and get tons of experience.
In the end, I suppose it just depends what you want to get out of it.
Users in general, and unfortunately new users as well don't want to read
the documentation before they jump right in. The installation of just
about any Unix/Linux system goes better if you read the documentation
first, and that is true of Debian.
I've botched my share of upgrades when I didn't read the docs, and my
last Lenny-to-Squeeze upgrade went very well only because I read the
release notes and followed the instructions in them.
"Practicing" installing the system and doing it a bunch of times also
helps a lot.
--
Steven Rosenberg
Life, the Universe and Debian
http://debian.stevenrosenberg.net
Click
http://blogs.dailynews.com/click
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