876
Subj : Re: Linux for desktop PC's
To   : comp.os.linux
From : Patrick  McDonnell
Date : Thu Aug 12 2004 10:33 am

Mike PA7XG wrote:

> Dear readers,
> 
> Over the past few years, I have had three versions of
> Linux, from three different distributors. They were
> all a pain in the butt. None of them ever worked properly.
> The biggest hassle for an isolated home-user was caused
> by three things things:
> -- poor documentation;
> -- the Berkley dionosaur (lprint)
> -- internet software that didn't work.

Could you maybe provide some specific examples?

> 
> A blatant example of the staTE OF THINGS was the reply
> from one distro's helpdesk which referred me to the manual,
> which (after some days of agro and investigation) was found
> to contain an error which was the root of the problem.
> (a parport number assignment)

Google is also good for that kind of thing.

> 
> IMHO there is a growing need for an "entry level" or
> "tutorial level" installation option with each or any
> distribution. This allows the newcomer to get a simple
> system up and flying i.e. he can print a document, log
> on to internet and, with the textbook in his hand,
> familiarise himself with the workings of a unix system.

Its either that or there's a growing need for greater user education. 
Personally, all the distros I've worked with have fit your criteria. 
Mandrake, Debian, LFS and Gentoo can pretty much do that if you follow the
install guide.

> 
> I believe that Win-XP is making more enemies than friends
> and this is the time to get moving, if you want to bring
> linux to a wider public.

I personally don't want Linux to turn in to a Windows work-a-like.  Linux is
a very powerful operating system, and should be treated as such.  For users
of Linux to be productive, it is not unreasonable to expect them to do a
little troubleshooting here and there.

> 
> Are there any takers out there in RedHat or Suse or
> Slackware?

No, but you might check with Fedora, Mandrake, Lycoris, Xandros and
Linspire, all of whom claim to be newbie-friendly distros.

> 
> Mike Perry,
> -----------
>

.

0