[ale] Re: your mail

[Dave Brooks]

Well, that's wonderful.  However, when it comes down to trouble-shooting
problems in the long run, Caldera's self-[configuration/install] program
may not have allowed you the window of opportunity to learn about
what exactly it was doing.

When I first installed Linux about 4 years ago, I don't think I would have 
exactly called myself a computer expert, either.  I remember I bought the
Linux Bible v. 4 (or 5 maybe..) and just sat down and read before I did
anything (I think, mainly I read the install guide and the Systems Adminisrator
Guide by Matt Welsh).  And sure, when the fit hit the shan I screwed up a
few installs, but I had some sort of a knowledge of what I was doing, sp
it wasnt a complete disaster. =]

(The following is a general statement) It seems like to ask Linux newbies nowadays
to read a little bit before hand is almost a crime.  Perhaps its because most of
them are migrating from more "user-friendly" environments like that other
operating system that starts with a W, and take offense to the fact that they
might have to do a little research in order to use their computer.  (Several
times to the isp-linux list have I been snapped at by a newbie because I told
him he might have to read some documentation =) Man, Linux nowadays is a walk
in the park compared to that cryptic version of Slackware I was installing way 
back then -- there was nothing user-friendly about that, I assure you.  It
almost hurt =]  

Anyways, I'll get off my soapbox now.  I think most anyone here [the ALE list] 
would strongly advise a newbie to do a little pre-install reading (even if
you are installing Caldera's version -- never used it myself, but I've heard
of quite a few people who do) so that you understand what that install program
is doing.  Never hurts to know.

$.02

-Dave
dbrooks at elysium.comstar.net 

On Thu, Sep 23, 1999 at 08:29:28PM -0700, Nathaniel Smith wrote:
>I am a Newbie (I mean real live newbie, new to computers and Linux), it took
>me 5 weeks to get Red Hat on my computer, it took 20 minutes to get Caldera
>2.2 on my computer. It self installs and self configured my computer. I
>still have two things to do, one is sound the other is permissions. Caldera
>is a lot more friendly than Red Hat.
>Nathaniel
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Dave Brooks <dbrooks at elysium.comstar.net>
>To: mikecale1 at juno.com <mikecale1 at juno.com>
>Cc: ale at ale.org <ale at ale.org>
>Date: Thursday, September 23, 1999 4:37 PM
>Subject: [ale] Re: your mail
>
>
>>It doesnt get any easier than RedHat, I'm afraid.
>>
>>2-Step program to effective use fo the Linux Operating System:
>>
>>1) Point a web browser to http://www.linuxdoc.org
>>2) Read, Read, Read before you install. =]
>>
>>Regards,
>>Dave
>>
>>
>>On Thu, Sep 23, 1999 at 06:46:44PM -0700, mikecale1 at juno.com wrote:
>>>I need a primer on installation and use of red hat linux or is there any
>>>easier version of linux to start with and learn?
>>
>>--
>>david a. brooks
>>dbrooks at comstar.net
>>systems engineer
>>comstar.net, inc.
>>voice: .. 770/485-6029
>>pager: .. 770/213-6133

-- 
david a. brooks
dbrooks at comstar.net
systems engineer
comstar.net, inc.
voice: .. 770/485-6029
pager: .. 770/213-6133