[TriLUG] Software for Linux newbies

[al johson]

"One of the great things about Linux is the matter of choice. However, for a
newbie, especially one from a MS environment, the variety can be somewhat
bewildering"---Amen, brother!!--Everyone say "Amen brother together".

Don't worry about giving a plethora of OTHER programs to newbies. Just give
them what works the easiest and merely tell them (something which is obvious
to anyone who's ever used computers) that there are many other programs
which do the same thing that they might want to try LATER --AFTER they've
learned how to find them online, download them, and install them properly.
In due time the programs they begin with will not satisfy them for some
reason or another and they'll try others.

Otherwise we're just putting the cart before the horse.---This from a Newbie
who can't escape from the Newbie Linux trap, because well-wishers always
want to throw everything to me but the kitchen sink and unfortunately all at
the same time.---Al Johnson.

FIRST TEACH SOMEONE TO CRAWL, THEN WALK, THEN FINALLY HOW TO RUN WITH THE
BIG DOGS. (not yelling, just underlining!!), although it wouldn't mean
anything if I was using a very old computer which didn't have lower case
letters!!
========================
----- Original Message -----
From: Robert Floyd <r.floyd3 at verizon.net>
To: TriLUG <trilug at trilug.org>
Sent: Tuesday, May 28, 2002 4:07 PM
Subject: Re: [TriLUG] Software for Linux newbies


> On Sun, 2002-05-26 at 23:53, Ben Pitzer wrote:
>
>
> > Making an excrutiatingly long point somewhat less long, I'll just say
> > that telling folks what they can use is infinitely preferable to telling
> > folks what they should use.  Recommending KDE, Kmail, Pan, Star Office,
> > xmms, etc is fine.  Tell the newbies why you think that they should use
> > those.  But don't sell them short.  Also tell folks about some of their
> > alternatives, and recommend that they explore those.  Let them know that
> > the Linux community has thousands of options, and that they are free to
> > explore each and every one of them, almost entirely for free.
> >
>
> Ben, I think we're in violent agreement. One of the great things about
> Linux is the matter of choice. However, for a newbie, especially one
> from a MS environment, the variety can be somewhat bewildering. When I
> loaded my first Linux distro, I had a choice of five text editors, six
> or seven GUI/desktops, three word processors, three spreadsheets, two
> presentation programs and a partridge in a pear tree. Trying to make
> sense of all that was a daunting task. Fortunately, I'm used to trying
> out software, so I was able to do some research and trial and error and
> figure out what I needed.
>
> While I could do that with ease, my wife would have just given up and
> gone back to AOL. For her, and, I suspect, for many others, the number
> of choices would be overwhelming, especially for those people who start
> out simply wanting to get their work done.
>
> More dismaying for me was that, out of the box, there were some critical
> applications that were NOT there, e.g., a DVD player and MP3 ripper.
> While I understand the legal issues surrounding those, most newbies will
> expect those capabilities right away.
>
> What I'm suggesting is not the One and Only Correct Set of Software for
> Newbies, but, rather, a reasonable software suite that can be set up
> quickly and easily and allow folks to catch their breath and be
> productive as they explore the plethora of choices that is Linux.
>
> >
> > Now I'm going to wrap myself in the American flag and hum "God Bless
> > America" until you all stop applauding.
>
> Are you sure your name isn't really Oliver Wendell Douglas?
>
> Thanks for the insights,
> Robert Floyd
> Durham, NC
>
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