[CALUG] "Where to start" and "Linux courseware" -- WAS: linux man page(s)

[Walt Smith]

and other misc stuff here.

Wow,
when I look at the digest, there's a crapload of text
running off the screen with no formatting !!!
Bryan, Thanks for CC'ing me with the original message !!
( Just writing an observation !!  Not a criticism of maillist
setting and a thanky ).

Bryan makes a good case that I've been thinking about
for quite sometime: the user experience, and gives good
examples.  User of applications
rather than sys op, maintenance, or debug/config issues.
There doesn't seem to be much in the way of internal interest in
the kernel, or X anymore.  Networking and desktop still seems hot topic.
Old topic:  In lug meetings, I think it would be good
to have more user apps discussed.  But have occassional in-depth
topics.   Keep the user app discussions to 1 hour, in-depth to 2.
If time permits, certainly user app discussion could drill down.
Drive-by 20 minute seminars are good.

1. I know the 1999 (C) of the linux man page is out of date.
There are SO many man pages and every other web page for howto's
and configs that are out of date.
And yet, no mechanism to bring them up to date.   I had wondered what
comments the link might promote ( provoke ?)  <g>  I used that page yers
ago, and like still like it.

2. The OP for the courseware didn't say ( as I recall ) exactly why
he wanted a course. Perhaps the company will pay the bill, give
company time to study, perhaps earn credits toward a diploma, or
the person learns best in a structured environment.  I'm not sure
he received much in the way of a desired answer yet.

3. Is there enough difference between the distros that discussions
need be distro centric ? I'd like to see more genericicity.
(yes, I invented the word!). I must admit I've tried a Ubuntu lately,
and with the accessory of a reasonably hi speed connection ( at uas ),
I'm really impressed with how easy it is to do:
 apt-get install some-app

It's easy and really nice !!

It's also disconcerting (  but then, I'm partial luddite ) that
installing some simple app results in a 150 MegaByte D/L....
regularly.   (I don't think this is unique to Unbuntu ) 
While visually appealing, I can't really get used to
the Ubuntu desktop.  I MUST be missing the easy way to do things...
I keep clicking dis, dat and da otter to find maybe "terminal"
etc...although, I'm STILL not quite sure what the REAL root
username and password are.  Someone showed me 
sudo su
#command.


Can I have a class on how to use Ubuntu as a first time linux user ?


I *think* I'm looking forward to a F16 release... but maybe CentOS.


"What do you use your computer for?


3.  In my humble experiences, tying up loose ends is the 80% of projects:
trying to make nice.  And the least enjoyable for developers.
Is there some way to facilitate the final niceness ?  Is that a case for
some paid person ( if so how ) ?  

4.  I think the role of volunteers in the linux sphere should be
rediscussed from some other POV.   I don't suggest that anyone who
volunteers efforts should do anything differently, but that the roles
they play be understood better by the whole of us. 

5. It may be worth to discuss what those in the LUG do with
Windows and compare.  ( I realize that a mention of the "W" word 
stresses out a few folk ).



"What do you use your computer for?   ( intentional copy)


Walt......


Celebrating over 14,000 emails in my Yahoo Inbox !