[ubuntu-uk] IT Idiots cover introducing Linux.

[alan c]

Robin Menneer wrote:
> 
> 
> On 2/5/07, *Alan Pope* <alan at popey.com <mailto:alan at popey.com>> wrote:
> 
>     On Mon, Feb 05, 2007 at 10:44:02AM +0000, Robin Menneer wrote:
>      > Useless to me, a beginner.  Concepts  are too advanced and gappy in
>      > presentation.  Nevertheless a well-intentioned try which should be
>      > encouraged.
>      >
> 
>     Ok, so what *would* be useful to you as a beginner?
> 
> 
>  
> 
>     Oh dear, where do I start ?
> 
> I've only had ubuntu a few months and am enjoying it more than I have 
> any other system.  I started with a Commodore Pet when it first came out 
> as being freedom from the main frame, and have kept away from Windows 
> since it started.
> Like many other retireds, I am involved in voluntary work which requires 
> little more than Open Office backed by a friendly file manager.   But we 
> use photos (you can see the direction we are going at 
> www.cornishedges.com <http://www.cornishedges.com>) and find we can cope 
> with iphoto (on the other machine), it's a brilliantly simple and 
> effective program.   Am looking for a ubuntu substitute for it because I 
> don't want to be tied to apple any more than I can help.  Gimp (the 
> newer version) looks promising but is much too complicated for my 
> greenhorn missus who does a lot with pictures. 

yes gimp is too complex for beginners including me

>  As with most other people, I want to expand my expertise but to limit 
> the demands on my skill to a drag-and-drop kind of application install, 
> or a double-click.  The ubuntu add-and-remove facility is brilliant, and 
> t'would be wonderful if all the proven applications (as bug-free as is 
> reasonable) could be obtained off the web using the add/remove for 
> access to a hierarchically arranged (and/or spot-lighted to 7 keyword 
> description) list of packages (all thousands of them ?).  A 
> thickie-trapped procendure is necessary.  Anything that requires the 
> entry of code via the terminal is out.  My brain is too addled and 
> ancient to try to forget Fortran and DOS and to use the terminal, 
> tempting though it is.  I don't want to risk chewing up the installation 
> by  pressing the wrong key.
> I gather that ubuntu is generally regarded as the entry point for linux 

I think it is more the peak of distros! - (although I prefer Kubuntu).
It is a very popular choice - It expects just 'to work', with 
humanity, with an excellent community, worldwide, etc.
My entry point was also suse, but I found I liked (k)ubuntu better.

> - I came in via Suse which I dumped when they got tied up with Novell, 
> getting a mac mini (I couldn't resist the price) in addition to my 6 
> year old PC laptop.  Yet I get the impression that other versions of 
> linux may be superior.

Interesting impression. The way to find out is to use the many live 
CDs of course.(see www.distrowatch.com).

>  I only want the best 

Ubuntu is the best.

> and must rely on the linux 
> world to guide me

May I suggest you make decisions for yourself.

> not to confuse me  - which is what is happening now.
then make your own opinions, there is a lot of hot air around.

-- 
alan cocks
Kubuntu user#10391