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Neil Winchurst wrote: > 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. > This is the problem with Kubuntu/Ubuntu. They have a deliberate policy of keeping you restricted to the present distro release. Sure you can get around it but it's not what they want you to do. I prefer more freedom than Kububtu/Ubuntu have to offer. > 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 > Here's my experience of installing VirtualBox on sidux. Open a console window and run a little prog called smxi. Navigate through the menus and find install VirtualBox. Select yes. Couple of minutes later all the files have been downloaded and configured. VirtualBox now ready for use. sidux is Debian sid (unstable). The sidux team and the forum members keep Debian unstable stable. eg the recent kernel root exploit was fixed in 2 days. The little prog smxi does most of the housekeeping and installation chores. I've used most of the distros in my time and sidux beats them all because it's easy to use and bang up to date and most importantly it gives me the freedom to do what I want to do. http://sidux.com Keith -- The Mailing List for the Devon & Cornwall LUG http://mailman.dclug.org.uk/listinfo/list FAQ: http://www.dcglug.org.uk/linux_adm/list-faq.html