$2,400 'Introduction To Linux' Course Will Be Free and Online This Summer 84
kc123 writes "Earlier this week, The Linux Foundation announced that it would be working with edX, a non-profit online learning site governed by Harvard and MIT, to make its "Introduction to Linux" course free and open to all. The Linux Foundation has long offered a wide variety of training courses through its website, but those can generally cost upwards of $2,000. This introductory class, which usually costs $2,400, will be the first from the Linux Foundation to run as a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC)."
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As long as I never see or need to use the command line, it doesn't matter what operating system I use.
To a great extent with things like cygwin it doesn't matter if you do use the command line either
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..and what do you do with the computer again? besides facebook? You're right in a way, though, as people with simple enough needs don't need to touch it..no matter what system they use. What I don't understand is why a simpleton like yourself is even posting here.
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As long as I never see or need to use the command line, it doesn't matter what operating system I use.
...until it breaks, that is. But then, you could always *pay* someone who knows the command line to fix it for you...
Re:Repeat after me (Score:4, Funny)
$> Repeat after me
Repeat: command not found
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And what operating system would that be? Windows has me at Powershell and Command Prompt all the time. ESX has me there often too, for fixing things. IRIX and Solaris I'm there frequently too. Thinking about it, Android and iOS are probably the only two that I'm not at the CLI in.
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Windows has me at Powershell and Command Prompt
when I must use it, I prefer cygwin. Then I can run my preferred shell it in an xterm, whih I find substantially better than CMD. the scroll speed on the builtin command window is terrible.
IRIX and Solaris I'm there frequently too.
Rally? I thought IRIX dropped out of support finally. The last hardwre built to run IRIX ceased production something like 7 years ago. surely you don't have all that much time on IRIX.
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IRIX, as of December 2013, is no longer receiving patches/bug fixes (so, IRIX 6.5 was supported from 1998 - almost 2014. Eat that Windows XP). I actually find myself under IRIX quite often these days (more so then any other UNIX I deal with (I deal with Solaris, OS X, AIX, and HP-UX at work), and I must say I really like how it's put together. I wish Linux was as easy to manage as IRIX is.
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I'm still surprised you have much extant hardware left. What are you running it on?
I used the media framework on the O2s back in the day. Impressive stuff.
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In the IRIX camp I have two Octanes sitting here. I used to have an O2, but it had an unfortunate accident.
In the Solaris camp I've got a Sun Blade 1500 and a Netra T1 sitting here.
Can't quite share all of what I have at work - but due to the products that my company releases we have it seems like as many different things we can get our hands on (like I said, all kinds of UNIX-y systems, all supported versions of OS X and Windows, iSeries (AS/400), etc). My job lets me play with all of the equipment that
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Shame to hear about the O2. Such is the age though.
Sounds like a rather interesting job, to say the least.
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As long as I never see or need to use the command line, it doesn't matter what operating system I use.
Mark it flamebait, but until Linux has an option of administering just as easily under a GUI without having to pull up an xterm or later, a Wayland console, it will remain unpopular even w/ such promotions.
and if you call right now.... (Score:3)
Re:and if you call right now.... (Score:5, Informative)
Shit, there's been an intro to Linux course out for free for, like, 14 years now [archive.org]: it was written to be self-guided. I know this because, well, I wrote it.
(original announcement [seul.org] )
(...I'm kind of amazed it's still available online, though seeing it in .doc format is kinda funny. Tried to find the original Slashdot announcement, but the search engine on the site sucks.)
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Could you possibly translate it to HTML or ODT. If you won't do it yourself, would you license it under CCBY to let us to that.
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Hmm, might be worth checking out (Score:2)
I've been a Microsoft user myself, since about age 4 (now 30) - so I know Windows backward and forward, and knew DOS pretty well for a time. I'd like to branch out, and a top-notch training course in Linux for free seems appealing. I'm sure I could self-educate if needed, but having a more organized study laid out - for free! - sounds great.
Re:Hmm, might be worth checking out (Score:5, Insightful)
I've been a Microsoft user myself, since about age 4 (now 30) - so I know Windows backward and forward, and knew DOS pretty well for a time. I'd like to branch out, and a top-notch training course in Linux for free seems appealing. I'm sure I could self-educate if needed, but having a more organized study laid out - for free! - sounds great.
This is the brilliant thing about free courses. Give it a go and if you decided its not for you all you have wasted is a few hours of your time.
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I've been a Microsoft user myself, since about age 4 (now 30) - so I know Windows backward and forward, and knew DOS pretty well for a time. I'd like to branch out, and a top-notch training course in Linux for free seems appealing.
I strongly suggest doing this. I've lost track of the sysadmin job candidates that I've had to turn down because the vast majority of our environment is not Windows, and a string of Microsoft-centric accomplishments with occasional dabbling in Linux is a non-starter.
Only one of the past seven positions I've held over the years was a strictly Windows-centric shop, and only one other tried to be (until I showed them a better way, eventually leading to a 50/50 mix of Windows+Linux, which cut down our EA costs
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linux (Score:4, Insightful)
well for those of us that have been using one version or another for the last ten years
it might be a good review
-- quote --
" As long as I never see or need to use the command line, it doesn't matter what operating system I use."
--- end quote--
Most of the programs i use DO NOT !!!! use a GUI
or do not need the one that it might have
the terminal is GREAT !!!!
learn to use it !!!!!
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Are you kidding? The very first thing I do when I see a Linux GUI is CTRL+ALT+F1 (or F2, F3... anything to get a normal tty). In any other *nix, I immediately pop open a terminal and do all my work there.
For those who know why, no explanation is necessary. For those who do not (*cough*MCSA types*cough*), no explanation will suffice.
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I hatez da Mixro$oft sooo i'll just repeats what da other guys says and try to look smartxor!!1! HERP!!!
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Wow - butthurt much?
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Actually, to do a lot of things in the Microsoft world (*Exchange*) you have to use Powershell.
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Are you kidding? The very first thing I do when I see a Linux GUI is CTRL+ALT+F1 (or F2, F3... anything to get a normal tty). In any other *nix, I immediately pop open a terminal and do all my work there.
For those who know why, no explanation is necessary. For those who do not (*cough*MCSA types*cough*), no explanation will suffice.
Actually you now need to know some PowerShell in order to pass the MCSA tests, at least for Windows 2012.
Curious (Score:1)
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Usually a bored IT tech looking for a company paid vacation.
Funny, but almost true: If you truly want a vacation paid for by the company, you make certain that the course is in another city, and that you have to be there to take it.
Otherwise, an online course simply means that you take the course while being constantly interrupted by users, managers, and other people who think you don't mind being interrupted for "just a second".
Re:Curious (Score:4, Insightful)
The kind of person who thinks an education has value?
The kind of person who prefers to learn things in an orderly fashion, rather than digging through random piles of source code and "free" advice from the internet of questionable utility and accuracy? And who is willing to pay for that privilege, or who works for a company that has a budget for ongoing education?
Re:Curious (Score:5, Informative)
The kind of person who thinks an education has value?
I agree that education has a value, and I still wouldn't buy this for $2400, or even $1200 or $600. When you consider that it is just video material --- it's definitely not worth so much.
"Has value"; does not mean "each individual course infinite value", AND the majority of the cost that goes into education should be the student's time.
Partly because I am familiar with Linux and don't need an intro class.
But even if I was not familiar with Linux; I wouldn't buy this because $2400 is 75% of a full semester college tuition, and this is just one class which might or might not turn out to be a good or useful class.
A price of $2400 for a couple weeks worth of coursework is obviously intended to provide profits for the institution putting the class on moreso than to provide an education at an economically reasonable price.
Imagine how much you need to pay, if you actually want more than an intro, and you want 5 or 6 classes worth of organized course work, to learn somewhat more than just the basics?
Is it really worth it to pay an extra $30,000 to become somewhat skilled in Linux? Probably earn no more money from a Linux-related job, even if you have one, or afew extra $K for some years than otherwise... obviously not recouping training cost.
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But even if I was not familiar with Linux; I wouldn't buy this because $2400 is 75% of
a full semester college tuition, and this is just one class
which might or might not turn out to be a good or useful class.
A price of $2400 for a couple weeks worth of coursework is obviously intended to provide profits for the institution putting the class on moreso than to provide an education at an economically reasonable price.
You obviously don't live in the United States. I went to a cheaper (private) college, and tuition when I was there (2006) was ~$9000 for a full time semester.
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I don't know what this $9K stuff is. There are plenty of places not nearly that expensive where you don't pay for a brand name -- or pay a private institution (with premium so it can also be profitable for the owners), including:
Georgia Tech [gatech.edu], $4129 for in-state residents. UWYO [uwyo.edu], $108 per credit hour, undergrad. ULL [louisiana.edu], undergrad tuition $3147 per semester for 20 or more credit hours. Graduate tuition $3574 maximum.
Elizabeth City State University, NC [rankingsandreviews.com] $4,428 in-state tuition.
Sul Ross State University (Te
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All the schools you mentioned are state funded (public, not private). The college I went to I certainly wasn't paying for the name, you've probably never head of Capitol College [capitol-college.edu]. There are a lot of reasons I picked them over a lot of larger, state schools (including University of Maryland, which I was also accepted into).
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$2400 is 75% of a full semester college tuition
hahahahahaha.
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I agree that education has a value, and I still wouldn't buy this for $2400, or even $1200 or $600. When you consider that it is just video material --- it's definitely not worth so much.
Ah, well, I can't comment on this particular course, since I know nothing about it, but in general, courses designed for working professionals whose companies want them to learn new skills and continue to be useful for the company are not cheap. It's not like taking classes at your local community college.
Of course, the fact that you're talking about spending your own money suggests that you don't work at a company that values ongoing education for its employees, in which case, sucks to be you! :p ;)
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One could argue that the source code is the final say in how software operates. Documentation can be out of date, and the professors at your overpriced ivy league campus are probably more so.
When I can't solve something, I usually go right to the site of the software in question and check the forum and mailing list archives, or, rarely, join the irc channel. If the community isn't already complaining about the problem, I look over the docs to see if they're more helpful than the ones on the local system,
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I don't know.... but there are plenty of people who won't take it for free, because of the number of hours commitment required. I am not sure what the Linux Foundation was thinking charging such exorbitant rates for an introductory level course; that is close to 1 semester of college tuition.... if they're supposed to be a non-profit whose goal is to support and/or promote Linux and universal access.
The only folks who can muster $2400 for a single course.... are very rich folks, and professionals, who
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And in case anyone wants some good intro to Linux material right away, check out this series by Daniel Robbins: http://www.funtoo.org/Lin [funtoo.org]
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What sorta person pays $2400 for an online course on linux intro material?
A person who does not know that TLDP ( www.tldp.org ) exists . And or , has a habit to be spoon fed ala windoze In which case , he is going to find himself lost in the linux world once he goes through the expensive intro's
__________________
Micro$fot gives u windows . Do you want the whole house I sayy
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A person who does not know that TLDP ( www.tldp.org ) exists . And or , has a habit to be spoon fed ala windoze In which case , he is going to find himself lost in the linux world once he goes through the expensive intro's
The material of TLDP is terribly outdated. It is almost completely unusable.
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The TLDP is a collection of some of the most outdated info out there. I'd never point a new Linux user there. Some of those HOWTO's are seriously out of date...check the listing of HOWTO's by modification date.
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Most of the pushback I've seen so far is neckbeards saying "you don't need to take a class, n00b, download an ISO and Virtualbox and just teach yourself.", not outside haters.
Okay girls (Score:2)
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Here's a perfect opportunity to get girls interested in computing.
Why? Is there some target we have to reach as a society?
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It's fucking great on servers though as the older neckbeards can't see very well any more so actually all get together and do stuff properly whilst listening to each other rather than trying to rewrite the fucking window manager for the bazillionth time.
Heh heh...that pretty much sums up the Linux world nicely.
Much needed (Score:2)
This is a good move as it will make possible windows users to find out what life is not only without walls but without windows that only let you see where you want to go (but you can't get there from behind a windows). Linux the great glass cutter. I might even take the course and I've been using linux for quite some time now.
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Ubuntu is a different user interface than Windows or OS X or whatever. The command line in Linux is no more alien than Windows "cmd".
Linux doesn't need a training class, no doubt there is a free YouTube video that would suffice.
Treating Linux like an alien virus is an insult. Linux is just a different operating system, nothing mystical and certainly nothing magical.
I find it offensive that people with 6 digit ids here would
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I'm sure glad I'm not the only one who reacted that way. In the end, operating systems are tools. I use OSX on this notebook that I use for e-mail, Lightroom and Logic. My work desktop runs Windows. My development system at work is Linux. You choose the tool with the right trade-offs for the task at hand.
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I find it offensive that people with 6 digit ids here would act like Linux is made of anti-matter or is from Mars or has girl-cooties ....
I agree. I'm offended by people with 6 digit ID's too overly liking or hating linux too.
The Free Course... (Score:1)
Download Linux. Use "man" or "the internet" to do something.
Using any computer effectively has more to do with what one wants to accomplish and how well one understands what they want to accomplish. Without a purpose, an OS is useless. Practically speaking, using an OS simply for the sake of an OS makes little sense.
If you want to pay $2400.00 to learn Linux and have no idea what you what you want to do with Linux once you learn it, just send me a check right now.
Who paid $2,400... (Score:2)
For a course that is nothing more than an 'Introduction' to Linux?
I remember a fellow years ago that offered an expensive 'study at home' course on Solaris, but his price was well under $2,400 and he actually included a complete Sun workstation with the course...
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http://training.linuxfoundatio... [linuxfoundation.org]
which is going to be released for free, IMO it doesn't target Einsteins, but it is not completely devoted to morons.
And $2400 is way too much for what it teaches.