[LUGSB] Linux for squares? Question from a lurker

[Jim Robert]

I think that linux has made great strides toward user friendliness in the
past few years, especially the the efforts (and budget) of canonical (ubuntu
devs) toward linux on the desktop.

There is no reason for you to try to learn the command line before you
install a GUI, especially since many (most?) of the user-friendly
disributions are will guide you through the install using a GUI, and lots of
GUI apps and services will be automatically installed. I'm primarily
thinking of ubuntu/debian and fedora here.

I WOULD, however, recommend that you plan to spend a little time doing
google searches and reading the forums to figure things out for the first
few months of using linux.

You don't need to do that kind of stuff right generally, but every so often
you'll want to do something that isn't set up by default, or want to install
something that isn't in the repository ("Ubuntu software center" on ubuntu)

Good luck,
Jim

On Thu, Dec 17, 2009 at 2:01 PM, Matthew Lawn <matthew.lawn at gmail.com>wrote:

> I would be interested in any thoughts re: the value of Linux for the
> non-technical user.
>
> For instance: 1) does one need to have a certain level of competence
> at the command line to get enough from Linux to justify switching from
> Windows?; or, 2) can one use Linux to self-teach to a decent level of
> CompuSavvy? (For instance; would it be a worthwhile exercise to learn
> to use Linux in a bare-bones installation prior to installing a GUI?)
>
> I have been on the LUGSB enewsletter list for about a year but have
> never been able to attend a meeting due to transportation issues.
> Reading the traffic, I have gotten the impression that the group is
> comprised of, and geared to, CS and IT geeks (and I use the word with
> due reverence) of a rather high level of expertise. I would not
> consider myself to be in that catagory. I'm just someone who sees that
> Microsoft is the devil's agent on earth, who  likes the ethos of open
> source, and is interested in Linux as a better way to realize the
> power of the computer. BUT . . . am I smart enough to make it work?
>
> I should mention that, while I may be non-technical, I am by no means
> anti-technical. Nor am I a complete neophyte. I've been using PC's
> since DOS 5.x on a 386 machine was pretty hot shit. I played around
> with RedHat years ago and thought it was pretty cool but found
> fighting with windows ubiquity too much of a pain in the ass. Maybe
> things are different now.
>
> Thanks for listening
>
> Matt
>
>
> On 12/9/09, lugsb <lugsb at ic.sunysb.edu> wrote:
> > This is it for the semester.  We'll be hanging out, sharing tips,
> enjoying
> > traditional pizza and soda.
> >
> > Got a favorite piece of software? Have coding tips?  Come share your
> > knowledge and learn from others.
> >
> > Topic: Lightning talk
> > Date: Thursday (12/10)
> > Time: 6:00pm
> > Location: CS 2129
> >
> > Take care,
> > Michael Florea
> > LUGSB President
> >
>
>
> --
> Matthew Lawn
>
> (631)831-6603
> matthew.lawn at gmail.com
> ---------------
>
> We are stardust, we are golden, we are caught in the devil's bargain,
> and we've got to get ourselves back to the garden.
>     -  Joni Mitchell, from "Woodstock"
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