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Everyday Programs
So I'm sitting in front of my computer recently and I decide to do a quick survey of the programs I use to get through the day on my Computer. What programs do I use, you ask? Good Question. |
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Comments (7)
What started me on this was the fact that no matter how hard I look, I have a hard time finding "How-To's" and "Beginners Guide's" that actually are for beginners. Even the good one's assume that someone might know some kind of programming conventions. Most people don't want to read a bunch of books or how-to's that they will barely understand just to learn a thing or two. Plus most people lose their enthusiasm after hitting that many walls.
The way I figure it, if I can teach myself how to do something then I can show it to others. I have been told I have a knack for explaining things, that's how I sorta fell into studying to become a Special Education Teacher. I have studied History, Geology, Anthropology and of course, Music. Ever since I was a kid I was always the one student that all the other students would ask "what did the teacher just say?".
It was recently that I finally got the "hint", maybe I should just get a degree in education. WHAM! I coulda' had a V-8!
Am I a newbie? you bet. I know it, you know it, they know it. I want them too. If I do it right, I will not come off as someone who is "too big for their britches".
If I can impart know-how and get someone who would otherwise not feel comfortable asking a question, to ask.
Then it will be more then worth any amount of ribbing I take for it. Even from you. ;-)
I had "Linux The Complete Reference" which was all of the HOWTOs and guides from the Linux Documentation Project at the time, in book form, and some CDs. No Internet connection. It was extremely frustrating and took me ages to do anything useful at all.
When an ISP finally arrived in my area, I discovered that things were much easier than what I had been through, my CDs were outdated, and there was a community willing to help with every problem. That was when I found out that HOWTOs cover more information than one is likely to need in a given situation. The trick is picking out what part applies to your problem and ignoring those parts your distribution has already taken care of.
It's astounding how far things have come so fast. Someone with no computer experience can pop in one of the live CDs out there and be using the computer in minutes.
A handful of command line tips: http://edge-op.org/grouch/new.html
Quote: "It's astounding how far things have come so fast. Someone with no computer experience can pop in one of the live CD's out there and be using the computer in minutes."
That's pretty close to describing me. Just insert "some" instead of "no" computer experience. I will say that I have learned a thing or two in the last couple of years and especially since November of last year. One of the best parts of this whole thing? I'm starting to lose my Windows skills, if that's what they could have been called.
I'm not a total newb, not totally. :-)
Judging by your writing, you didn't just pop in a CD and go. You've been tinkering! That's something I don't think we tell enough people about, the fact that Linux is now at the point where they don't have to tinker, but it won't stop them from it and the world won't necessarily end if they do tinker.
Are you going to do a series of articles following up this one?
I'm working on it, its just kicking me in the pants. Once I get it to where I think it is OK, I'll have "the eagles" look at it.
They know who they are.
I agree completely except for the fact that as Linux users we still have to go and get the codec's that will allow us to view jpegs, watch mpegs and the like. It is unfortunate that almost all Windows users are accustomed to having these capabilities ready to go when they start up their computer. That simple fact has kept most of the "masses" from even considering the move to Linux. Microsoft has made the "hand feeding" of the masses their mantra. Its like automobiles, get in, turn the key, and go. If something goes wrong, get another one, or pay someone else to fix it. I don't like it, I know you don't. But that is what we have to deal with. We may say that Ubuntu or SuSE or some other distro is "as easy as pie" but as Linux users we look at our computers in a fundamentally different way. We see our "compy's" as something to explore, tinker or customize. Windows users do not. They see it as a means to an end.
Linux has allowed us to be free to look at our computers as a toolbox full of whatever we want to fill it with. Windows users see it as they do a car or truck.
We like to know the how's and why's of its functions. Windows users just want to know what it can do.
Until Linux is as easy as getting in and turning a key, it is going to be an uphill battle. That's OK though, I like having to climb mountains. I fight better when my opponent thinks I am 'below' him, just ask my brother. :-)
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Just kidding you, Scott. You tell it. There's a whole flock of penguins behind you.
The only person who can say there are no 'old hands' with Linux who came before him is Torvalds.
You will make it easier for the next batch.