[plug] Noddy learns Linux ... or a beginner's guide

[Keith Bawden]

On Sat, Aug 28, 2010 at 14:04, Richard Meyer <meyerri at westnet.com.au> wrote:
> An old acquaintance has contacted me, desperate to reskill herself - she
> wants to learn Linux/Unix, but has no idea where to start.
>

Why is she desperate? Knowing what has caused the desperation, and why
she thinks Linux/Unix will alleviate the desperation might help you
decide where she could start. Installing the OS or using Firefox?

>> Remember that Unix/Linux is a full OS and trying to learn anything
>> without the basics is difficult - I started playing in 1995 - never
>> really took it seriously, but liked it and played .....
>>

My mum uses Linux. I installed it and got on a plane the next day and
went home. She knows the basics, click here to start "the Internet",
click here to write a document, and here to print. For mum those
basics were and are enough.

> Does anybody have any more/better advice?
>

Less is often more. As in, I rarely suggest buying magazines, joining
LUGs, mailing lists and what not. Not just to get started anyway.

If they are the type who has installed an OS by themselves before I
might advise them to back up their data, plonk Linux on the machine
(dual boot is optional - if they can figure it out) and go from there.

If the person is already working within the IT industry or wants to
then I recommend the LUG/Mag/mailing list route as well as the
plonking, as mentioned above.

After all, when people start using Windows/Mac for the first time or
they upgrade to a new version of OS or application we don't often ask
them to run off and join a LUG or take a course. We say here you, go
and play. Or "where do you want to got today" ;-)

> (I suppose the advice to buy the mag may be met by "Download it,
> yourself", but she's not exactly PC literate, and downloading and
> burning an ISO may be more of a PITA than anybody may want).
>

This is one of the true powers of Windows. Since it comes
pre-installed on your PC it feels "free"[1] and easy to use.

For those that cannot install it but still want a crack at it, I have
in the past installed it for them. We don't often teach people how to
drive only after teaching them how to install the engine :-) And many
drivers after years behind the wheel still cannot install an engine...

Keep it simple, and less is more is my two yens worth.

Regards, Keith

[1] As in beer, not freedom.