[TriLUG] Software for Linux newbies

[al johson]

A very appropriate list IMHO, Robert. I've used several of these
applications and the ones I'm familiar with are indeed perfect for beginners
(and since I'm a beginner I should know).
AL Johnson.
================
----- Original Message -----
From: Robert Floyd <r.floyd3 at verizon.net>
To: TriLUG <trilug at trilug.org>
Sent: Sunday, May 26, 2002 5:25 PM
Subject: [TriLUG] Software for Linux newbies


> As my small contribution to the Linux for Newbies thread, and speaking
> as a relative newbie to Linux (though not to computing, having cut my
> teeth on MVS/TSO), I'd like to offer some suggestions for a standard
> software pack for those making the transition from MS to Linux. These
> recommendations are based on my own experience, and are designed to help
> folks move from the Windows mindset to a Linux perspective. Please
> consider this a start toward a standard package (possibly distributed as
> rpms on a CD):
>
> First, newbies should definitely start with a prepackaged distribution.
> It makes life much easier, especially if it's Mandrake or Red Hat
> (though Red Hat is probably not the first choice for desktop newbies.
> Personally, I run SuSe, which I would have recommended until 8.0, which
> I'm running now and which is, IMHO, not ready for prime time.
>
> Standard software:
>
> Desktop: KDE, because it seems to be more stable than Gnome and because
> it comes the closest to approximating the Windows look and feel, while
> allowing people to migrate toward a more rational desktop.
>
> Email: If folks are not into heavy address book interaction, KMail is
> fine, especially for its mailing list management. However, for those
> migrating from an Outlook environment or who have a Palm OS PDA, I have
> to recommend Evolution. Its integration may not appeal to everyone, but
> it's exactly what I like about it. I have approximately 500 names in my
> address book on my Palm, and found Evolution to handle the import much
> better than the KDE 3.0 suite. That, of course, is subject to change,
> and I hope to move back to the lighter KDE apps by 3.1.
>
> News: Pan is, IMHO, the best news reader available today for any OS. I
> do a lot of binary downloads (old radio shows); nothing I've seen comes
> close to Pan's performance.
>
> Browser/file manager: Konqueror...I know, Mozilla is the closest to a MS
> platform browser, but I'm in love with Konqueror. In my mind, it's the
> application that will sell a Linux desktop to a newbie. It's light and
> nimble, and, in its superb integration of Web browser, file manager, FTP
> client and viewer, is what the MSofties can only dream about when
> they've imbibed one too many magic mushrooms.
>
> Office suite: Star Office/Open Office, if only for the interoperability
> with the MS world. Once the KDE/Gnome apps achieve better file
> compatibility and features (come on, Abiword, a word processor without
> tables?), I'll revisit this. Until then, I need to exchange documents
> with the office, so I'll stick with OpenOffice (and will buy Star Offce
> as soon as it hits the local stores).
>
> MP3 player: xmms, which looks a lot like Winamp and performs superbly.
>
> MP3 ripper: grip/blade; I'd recommend LAME if I could get it to compile
> on my SuSe 8.0/KDE 3.0 notebook, but that has been an exercise in
> futility so far. Blade encoding at 192kb lets me make copies of my
> (mostly classical) CD collection with a quality I can hear with my Grado
> headphones.
>
> DVD player: Xine; the rpms work out of the box, along with the ability
> to watch all my DVDs.
>
> Other apps: Right now, the other major app I use is Gutenbrowser. It's
> great to have my daughter's summer reading on my notebook so I can read
> along with her. This is, I think, an underestimated application for
> people. It allows them to turn their computer into a library of classics
> that can be read fairly easily, without paying fees to anyone for
> downloading public domain literature. It makes my notebook the ebook
> reader I want.
>
> In compiling my list, I've noticed a bit of a paradox: my desktop is
> KDE, yet most of my applications are Gnome-based. For me, that's the
> strength of Linux: the ability to mix and match, to pick the best of
> breed without regard for the underlying code.
>
> I'm sure I've missed out on a number of essential applications. These
> are the ones I use every day.
>
> Comments, slings and arrows welcome,
> Robert Floyd
> Durham, NC
>
>
>
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