Re: [seul-edu] Easy to use educational software

["Jeremy C. Reed" <reed@reedmedia.net>]

On Thu, 21 Mar 2002, dcsmpayne wrote:

(Hope I am attributing this correctly -- the original email was hard to
tell who wrote what.)

> I
> have tried on numerous occsions since 1998 (usually in christmas
> break)
> to install LInux and have worked non stop for days 18 hours per day
> and
> ended up with somethihng that did not work under Linux. Either cd
> was
> not recognised + whole range of other probs.

That is bad luck. I have installed a variety of BSD and Linux systems
hundreds of times. Sometimes they only take 10 minutes to install.

You should consider visiting the closest users group for help. Or pay some
consultant for two hours of time to help you (because two hours pay is
probably better than wasting 18 hours).

> The only success I had was when I loaded red hat 6.1 as a server -
> but
> then all I got was a command prompt and had no idea what to do from
> there and no way of being able to work it out because no gui, no
> menus

Some simple searches on the web will show thousands of webpages that can
teach you. (But maybe that is overwhelming. An introductory book may be
easier.)

> installed and talking to each other. Plus with windows it is easy to
>
> always know where you are (navigating folders disks etc is simple)

Same features under Linux.

> To me Linux must learn from this if it is to attain wide acceptance
> - IT
> MUST BE EASY TO USE, IT MUST BE PLUG AND PLAY, IT MUST AUTO DETECT

Ease of use often depends on what you experience. My children don't/won't
know Windows -- so Linux is/will obviously be easier to use.

> EVERYTHING, DRIVERS FOR EVERYTHING MUST BE INCLUDED IN EVERY DISTRO,

Even different versions of Windows don't provide perfect plug-n-play,
auto-detection of "EVERYTHING" and definitely don't include every driver.

> IT
> MUST INSTALL OR OFFER TO INSTALL APPLICATIONS WHEN OS IS LOADED

Most installers do that for you.

> BECAUSE=
> I AM STUFFED IF I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET RPM TO WORK !!

I agree: RPMs are often difficult to use (especially after using easier
NetBSD and Debian packages).

> I luv the open source aspect of linux, I luv that Linux could
> potenially
> break down the MS monopoly. I feel it is a superior OS but I have to
> be
> able to be productive in it without having to fight the OS every
> step of
> the way. No-one has the time - lest they are an enthusiast - to
> continually tinker - most want an easy install so they can get on
> using
> it to do useful things.

That is interesting. From my experiences and viewpoint, I use open source
Linux and BSD because they save me time -- I can do some much more and
with better efficiency the everyday tasks by using BSD and Linux instead
of Windows. (Now I haven't used Windows for a few years except for a few
minutes every few months.) (I do find desktop publishing easier
using Quark Xpress under Mac OS.)

Good luck,

   Jeremy C. Reed
   http://www.reedmedia.net/