On Tuesday 06 Jul 2004 7:09 pm, Bryce Martin wrote:
I don't want to list the most common difficulties that face the 'ordinary (none technical) user' because I don't know what they might be, but plugins for the very popular browsers konqueror and mozilla 1.7 could possibly be dealt with via the alug mailing list. I don't just mean refering users to a web site, which could be a good thing, but actually creating emails that show 'step by step' how to install a certain plugin or other task. Our top exponents of linux might enjoy writing these postings. Documentation relating to linux across the board is poor, in my opinion.
Bryce, interesting idea but all of these things are completely dependant on which distro a person is using. Installing and configuring things in Suse is done very differently than in Mandrake, differently again in Debian. Etc etc.
Much of the discussion on the ALUG list is for 'hands-on' distros such as Gentoo or Debian. This is not typical of most recent major distros intended for the less-technical user.
For example, addressing two of the specific points you mention, some distros come with excellent documentation for novices (e.g. Suse and Mandrake - probably others). Plug-ins for Konqueror and Mozilla are installed by default in many distros.
FWIW my advice is to do as I have done and find a distro that is easy to install, configure and use and that has a thriving support community. There is more than one.
Also to remember that spending a relatively small amount of money may save a huge amount of time and stress. You'll have to spend something - either time or money. Free speech and free beer, maybe, but there are no free lunches :-)
Best wishes Syd