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Linuxnewbie.org 42

Posted by CmdrTaco from the helllllllllp-meeeeeeee! dept.
Jester writes " Linuxnewbie.org is a new site devoted to the linux beginner. This is a place where people that are transitioning from windows to linux can come and share their experiences and learn from each other. Do you want to write up your HowTO? or Do you have some tips and tricks you'd like to share? Want to get them published?"
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Linuxnewbie.org More

Linuxnewbie.org

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  • Some people find it awkward to use the word "we" when it could be a solo operation. "We" at Guardian Consulting Services would like to let you know that. :-)
  • Why is every instance of "We" quoted?
  • Posted by Tony Smolar:

    ...now only one question remains, What is a computer? ;)
  • Posted by DaJoker:

    Ok..maybe I _was_ reaching a bit here. Of course, I was more concerned with the point that this site seems to be a quick "let's get ourselved known on Slashdot" rather than actually providing any benefit to the linux newbie. I was a little quick to the punch, and was a bit obrasive in my commentary. For that I apologize to the creators of linuxnewbie.org, and to the faithful Slashdot readers.

  • Interesting things to note.. (Score:3)

    by gavinhall ( 33 ) on Sunday April 18, 1999 @08:46PM (#1928229)
    Posted by DaJoker:

    I just wanted to point out several things, that really don't make this site unique in itself, and really make me question this sites intentions in general.

    1. This site has the same principle ideas as http://linuxnewbies.org [linuxnewbies.org]. Now this isn't in itself bad. Keep reading..
    2. One of the main creators of http://linuxnewbies.org [linuxnewbies.org] is Joker [mailto], and this post came from Jester. Simple coincidence, right? Keep reading..
    3. This same Joker runs a website that is entitled Kung-Fu Linux [roava.net], and has appeared on the Joe Linux User site at http://themes.org [themes.org]. By going to http://www.linuxnewbie.org we see that you should mail sensei@linuxnewbie.org.

    Ok, so you really don't see the coincidence do you? I think it's a sad ripoff, and personally I wouldn't give this site a look, nor contribute to help. This was a sad, shameless attempt of creating a slashdot effect site overnight, and has absolutely no content to back up it's claims as a newbie friendly site. I thumb my nose at Jester and ask him to next time, please use your own ideas and creativity.

    So if you want real newbie content, and no shameless plugs on an actual slashdot story, no advertising banners, and the help of people that have been using linux for many years, surf on over to http://linuxnewbies.org [linuxnewbies.org] and save yourself the time of going to a site that doesn't live up to it's claims.
  • It's kind of weird for a Linux oriented site not to run Linux. This one appears to be running Irix.
  • There's also Linux Coffee Talk [eunuchs.org] - a forum with well established regulars, a quick turnaround time and open to all Linux based discussion. Been up and running for over a year. Everyone welcome. :)
  • And a newbie transistioning over from Windows is probably wondering at this point if it can be unfeathered as well.
    Linux can become the world's favorite OS and wipe MS off the desktop or it can be a closed clique but it can't do both.

  • So far, they've got a BBS, a few very general articles, and a few links. It looks like there are some other sections planned that are still under development.

    Okay, so it's not a whole lot to write home about just yet. But /. wasn't built in a day, either. ;-)

    Give it a few weeks, maybe it'll turn out to be something worthwhile. It also might help if some folks would contribute stuff to it.

  • Hmmm... I thought the "translations" were somewhat humourous, and potentially useful to the not-yet-clued.

    In answer to your question -- they're targeting newbies, as in "people who don't know this stuff already", okay?

    Get a grip.

  • A linux site for newbies, and they throw linus's email address on the introduction. Linus is gonna be pissed.
  • Hello all,

    well, I'm a *real* Linux newbie and I'm starting to believe that a site like that (one with a REALLY well indexed set of pages,) is really necessary. Specially if, like me, you're standing outside the pool watching everybody swim.

    Previously I'd only installed RedHat 5.1 on a Pentium PC and didn't understand what I was really doing. I know it never crashed but I never really used it enough to crash it It was dual-boot and I crashed Windoze, uh, quite a bit more... :-)

    As far as I can see, its only an OS. Its a GREAT OS but its only an OS. Once you've set up the accounts, then what?

    Just to make things more complicated, the PC is history and I'm running on three Macs now (7200/75, G3/300 and an iMac/233.)

    I want to use the 7200/75 as a firewall/comm server shoving/taking packets at/from the other two but I have no idea what to set up or how.

    I am not even sure what version of Linux would work...MkLinux, LinuxPPC, YellowDog?

    I can tell that I've got some decisions to make but I have no info on which to base 'em.

    This site is NOT a great resource, by the way. Its a great place to watch the Linux world flow-by but I am not picking up much uselful info.

    And, by the way, I don't want to spend three months learning Sys Admin stuff that I can only hope I'll never need to know again before I can use it, because I want to do some stuff that I consider real work.

    -Charles-A.
  • I would love to see a site arranged like those old "choose your own adventure" books. It asks "What seems to be the problem" you click on "Modem". It asks "Is it a winmodem?" you click on "Beats me". It tells you how to determine whether or not you have a winmodem, etc... This kind of thing would have been a great help to me six months ago. Even better would be if the public at large was allowed to both ask new questions and add new answers. Every once in a while someone could go thru and consolidate all the good answers so it wouldn't get too muddy. What do you think?
  • ..simple as that. ;)
  • Not to mention the fact that they spelled his name wrong at the top of the section "What is Linux?"

    --Scott
  • Yes the site is new. Yes it is run by newbies. That is the point. The folks really care about learning linux, and helping others at the same time. Give it a try. Participate. You just may feel good about it. I do. =)
  • Just take a look at their Linux history page [linuxnewbie.org] and the "translations" in it. Just how stupid do they expect their readers to be?
  • ...and binary code can be untarred.
    Wow! That explains everything. If someone doesn't know what source code is, will he know what compiling means?
  • Windows help attempts this, but it's basically useless.

    Here is a sample of the general idea of Microsoft's implementation of this: (I made this one up, but its pretty close to the real ones)

    MsgBox: There was an error printing to the printer

    User clicks "help". A help box pops up.

    HelpBox: Is the printer turned on? [yes/no]

    User clicks "yes"

    HelpBox: Is there paper in the printer? [yes/no]

    User clicks "yes"

    HelpBox: Oh, then I'm afraid I don't know what is wrong. Call a technician/microsoft-support/whatever.

    User: AAAARGH!!!
  • Jester is a fairly common handle. And quite frankly, the connections you make to get from "Joker" to "Kung-Fu" to "Sensei" are ones that only a stalker would make, not a simple copycat. It's not like it's a stretch to make the "Sensei" title appropriate to the role he's trying to fill. If you try hard enough, you can prove anything - including a conspiracy to emulate you in strange and mysterious ways.

    Just accept it for what it is - a similar site, with similar goals. The implementation may be better or worse in different ways, but the existence of such a site doesn't require any malicious intent toward yours.
  • "...the Linux kernel [TRANSLATION: the code that makes the OS work.]."
  • I've used programs with options up the wazoo and interfaces that either didn't exist or were incredibly complex, but the only thing I found to cause a program to be hard to use, or user un-friendly, is a non-intuitive interface.

    Say you're using Netscape and you want to change your properties. Where do you go? Not to help or view, right? Is there a configure button, settings? You want to change, or edit, your properties - how about edit? There it is! This isn't the best example, but it gets the point across on what might cause a program to be hard to use.

    What if the user can't find the settings option? What if there is none, but this user knows the program's settings can be altered. How does this person learn how to change them? He/She just knows what file to edit?

    Designing an interface so the action you want to take can be easily translated to the direction or command you use, should be the goal of every programmer. It seems some don't take it into consideration, though.

    All user un-friendly programs I've used lacked this trait. Remember, making things easier does not restrict a program's power.

    A great program is a balence of many things. Speed, size, functionality, and ease of use (or interface) are the ingredients of a great program. Speed, size, and functionality are the hard parts. Don't forget interface is important too.
  • I did a quickie search using the string "ATI" and got an immediate server error. Granted, ATI cards are a royal pain, but that's the first time I've seen a search routine choke on the idea of even searching for the string.

    I thought the site was meant to be a joke, so is the joke on me, he, thee or all three?

  • I have been running Linux for around one year now, and still consider myself to be a newbie. There are still many things that I don't know, and I will ask someone more knowledgeable than I for help if I run into one of those things. However the type of people that page seems written for are the people who don't take the time to learn anything about what is running on their computer and just want it to work. Before I dared to install Linux on my computer I spent approximately 3 months getting familiar with UNIX and reading documentation on Linux and UNIX in general. IMHO if you are planning on running a UNIX clone OS you should at least take the time to learn what you're getting into instead of installing the OS and having no idea how to use it.

    Besides, the true newbie they're aiming for wouldn't know how to open a web browser in Linux to find that page anyway. Though that's just my opinion.
  • Isn't it just too conincidental that 'Destroying Your Computer' was the story immediately following this one?

    Call me a cynic, but whenever I see a "new linux site" [blah, blah blah] being advertised on Slashdot, I think to myself: another content-free site hoping to use the popularity of linux and the slashdot effect to generate easy revenue.
  • My reaction entirely.

    Free (as in beer) doesn't mean "because it's ad-supported."
  • Cool.

    I did go from Windows to Linux on my HOME COMPUTER!

    Not at school, here at home.

    I have to tell though that I use (not administer)
    Solaris and Irix at school! So it's kind of a help!


    Good job.

    People here should read questions there!

  • The Linux Lounge BBS [trail.com], where all are welcome. My page has one ad banner (from the guy who help me get the BBS set up..) and is served by a Linux box...
  • There site doesn't have enough content to it, and I don't see any of the things that were described in the post to slashdot, why not check out my website for UNIX in general, http://www.unixpower.org [unixpower.org]

    --
    Alan L. * Webmaster of www.UnixPower.org

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