[plug] Newbie Guide - The beginning

[Mark J Gaynor]

*********** REPLY SEPARATOR  ***********

On 30/01/2005 at 12:48 PM James Devenish wrote:

>In message <41FB9C18.7090706 at westnet.com.au>
>on Sat, Jan 29, 2005 at 10:22:16PM +0800, Jim Householder wrote:
>> Recent research has shown that quality of life appears to be inversely 
>> proportional to the number of choices one has... (sorry I can't provide
>> a reference here)
>
>I doubt that's true. Imagine if we could only eat corn, rice and
>carrots, or if there were only five musicians in the world. To the
>contrary, we like variety, and the ability to try something new, and
>the ability to have what we "want" when we want it. What *has* been
>demonstrated, at least, is that if you need to "commit" to a single
>taste-based selection (e.g. it's more complicated that choosing a radio
>station or sharing a buffet with your family), then having fewer than
>ten choices is "comfortable", but being exposed to a larger number of
>options makes it likely that you'll postpone your decision or make an
>"irrational" choice.

You are correct to some degree. However, when migrating to something
new, you first learn something about it first. If I want to fly a space
shuttle,
(and I do) I would first find where I could get instruction and what was
involved in that process. Having pasted that hurdle, I would be checked
for any flight experience, amongst other things, to see if I have some
knowledge of flying, then proceed form there. I would not be put behind
the wheel and told to take it for a spin, if you crash and burn we will
have
to teach you how the beast flies. (I believe it is like a brick in earth's
atmosphere.)

With newbies, I feel they are not asking the right questions first. Have
they
ever successfully installed another operating system themselves. If they
have not, then they should not be attempting to do a linux install without
some further help in understanding what it is they are trying to do.

Everyone has missed one basic point, we are not trained educators at
PLUG. We are a group of like minded  people with a common interest,
Linux. This makes all the difference. If you think back on your education,
there are few if no first year uni students that came straight out out of
kindergarten, skipping primary and high school.

We have to get the process right. Sure Linux is easy to install, so are the
other OS's. Its when it all goes wrong or something does not work the way
it was intended, is where the problems arise.

I remember way back in the good old days of DOS, the same problems
were present. Upgrading from one version to another, in those days,
was easy, well until something did not work or worse. It was then you
realised that these things called computers were more complex than
advertised.

Today is no different. Sure the technology has advanced and the software
is much more complex, so it should be easier. It is until everything stops
and your back at square one, confused and/or disappointed. 

I would go as to say that most people that have trouble with a computer
OS install have an insufficient understanding of the task they've
undertaken.
Does PLUG want to become educators in computing technology. I for one
would not like to go down that path. To provide an avenue of help is more
in
keeping with the ideals of PLUG, I think. My idea of a newbie guide is a
set
of basic steps you MUST undertake before attempting an install:-

1. Write down what hardware you have. (Chip sets, type versions etc.) and
get an understanding of where you are starting from.

2. What external hardware you wish to have working with the computer.

3. With your existing computer setup, assuming it is internet ready, do
some
basic research on the compatibility problems with the hardware choice and
does linux support of that choice. 

4. What drivers are needed to make things work. Where to get them and
how to install them.

5. Make a list of the suite of programs do I use now. Are there Linux
equivalents to them. Are they part of the base install. Where do I get
them from if they are not.

The list can go on .....

Supply a list of links where information can be researched. This in itself
could reduce the problems that newbies find themselves with.

If after all that people still have problems, give some possible places
where they can get solutions.

It is easy for seasoned linux users to get complacent and appear
intimidating. This may be the case with some, but on the whole most
users will help if they feel they can. Something that everyone needs to
keep in mind, not everyone is comfortable with tackling someone else's
problems for the fear of coming to grief themselves. They are happy to
come to a meeting to mix with like minded people and talk about what
they are doing or just for socializing.  

I think the PLUG public relations needs a tweak. I feel we are the defacto
fix any problem place that people are pointed to, be it the list or Monday
night workshops.

The solution is a complex one. Remember, "you can please all of the
people some of the time and some of the people all of the time, but you
can not please all of the people all of the time".

That's my soap box bit for today! I hope I have not offended anyone, but
given some food for thought/comment.

Mark
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