Are you for real? Do you really think everyone who uses a computer wants to be or should be a computer geek? Or, perhaps you are of the opinion that Linux should not strive to be approachable and useable by non-geeks?
To your points 1) This book and videos absolutely do NOT "wholly ignore" knowledge. Many people have never installed a program on thier computer but after the first video, would be able to install OOo. Look, they have new knowledge! Not at the level of a geek or one who reads a manual, certainly, but at least more knowledge than they had. That is not "wholly ignoring" by any definition of ignorance.
2) I have not used nor do I know much about the free or non-free nature of MEPIS, so I cannot address your concern. I'd like to learn about it. Do you have some pointers to discussions on this subject?
3) The vast majority of people use computers as a tool and want to get the job done in the easiest way possible. They will not ever be comfortable with or want to learn the command line. A command line tool may be the easiest way for them to do something but they will not use the command line. The non-geeks expect GUI and anything non-GUI is seen as unaproachable, scary or old and stupid. These people require a GUI or they will not use Linux. I guess if you don't want them to use Linux, telling them they have to learn the command line is a good way to scare them off.
4) My father, for example, is a visual learner. Now retired, he ran several companies and ventures, writing 200+ page books and documents, many still used by the ventures he left years ago. They call him back to present training sessions about his specialized knowledge. He designs and writes these presentations himself. He is quite smart. He learns much faster if you show him, in person or on video, than if he reads. He can learn by reading but assimilates it much faster by seeing. You are a fool if you think people who learn visually are incapable of learning the full potential of a computer. You are arrogant to think removing their most efficient path to learning is somehow doing them a favor.
Based on this article, it appears to me that these books target exactly who Linux needs to reach to grow the demand for Linux on the desktop. If we follow your advice, widespread use and manufacturer support for Linux on the desktop will remain always years away.
"Knoppix Hacks" is an execellent book for geeks and people who want to become geeks. It is NOT a book for someone who just wants to sit down at the computer and make a spreadsheet. You are fooling yourself to think otherwise.
Unless you are elitest and want to exclude "the masses" from your self-styled "Linux club," maintaining barriers to using Linux does not seem like a way to promote freedom to me.
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Wrong for who?
Posted by: alandd on November 12, 2005 11:25 PMTo your points
1) This book and videos absolutely do NOT "wholly ignore" knowledge. Many people have never installed a program on thier computer but after the first video, would be able to install OOo. Look, they have new knowledge! Not at the level of a geek or one who reads a manual, certainly, but at least more knowledge than they had. That is not "wholly ignoring" by any definition of ignorance.
2) I have not used nor do I know much about the free or non-free nature of MEPIS, so I cannot address your concern. I'd like to learn about it. Do you have some pointers to discussions on this subject?
3) The vast majority of people use computers as a tool and want to get the job done in the easiest way possible. They will not ever be comfortable with or want to learn the command line. A command line tool may be the easiest way for them to do something but they will not use the command line. The non-geeks expect GUI and anything non-GUI is seen as unaproachable, scary or old and stupid. These people require a GUI or they will not use Linux. I guess if you don't want them to use Linux, telling them they have to learn the command line is a good way to scare them off.
4) My father, for example, is a visual learner. Now retired, he ran several companies and ventures, writing 200+ page books and documents, many still used by the ventures he left years ago. They call him back to present training sessions about his specialized knowledge. He designs and writes these presentations himself. He is quite smart. He learns much faster if you show him, in person or on video, than if he reads. He can learn by reading but assimilates it much faster by seeing. You are a fool if you think people who learn visually are incapable of learning the full potential of a computer. You are arrogant to think removing their most efficient path to learning is somehow doing them a favor.
Based on this article, it appears to me that these books target exactly who Linux needs to reach to grow the demand for Linux on the desktop. If we follow your advice, widespread use and manufacturer support for Linux on the desktop will remain always years away.
"Knoppix Hacks" is an execellent book for geeks and people who want to become geeks. It is NOT a book for someone who just wants to sit down at the computer and make a spreadsheet. You are fooling yourself to think otherwise.
Unless you are elitest and want to exclude "the masses" from your self-styled "Linux club," maintaining barriers to using Linux does not seem like a way to promote freedom to me.
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