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[LUG] Helping newbies

 

There has been a lot of correspondence recently about FLOSS in schools
and some about encouraging Windows users to try Linux. 

The other day I decided that I would like to look at VirtualBox. Here
is how it went.

Use google to find the relevant web site. In the download page find a
version for my distro (Kubuntu Edgy). Download file to my home folder.
Try to install it using R/click  -> Kubuntu Package Menu -> Install
Package. Fail because of two missing files (not installed). Use
Adept Manager to find the files and install them. Try to install
the package again. Fail because the two files are not configured.
Open up a terminal screen and run sudo dpkg --configure -a. Try install
again. Success.

My point? I succeeded without any help because I am not new to Linux. I
have used Linux exclusively for more than six years, and Kubuntu for
the last sixteen months. (I am not saying for a moment that I am an
expert, far from it, just that I now have a little experience.) 

I suggest that a newbie would have needed some help in the above
situation. (Not so long ago *I* would have needed help.) So I am
wondering, with all this talk about encouraging people to move across
to Linux (which I agree with entirely) are we ready to give plenty
of time and help to those newcomers?  Because  to be successful they
are going to need it.

I would be interested to hear any comments from anyone?

Neil Winchurst

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