Posted by: Jeremy Akers
on November 14, 2005 10:15 AM
Lets look at those later chapters, shall we?
Chapter 4. Install Linux with Knoppix
32. Explore the Knoppix Installer
33. Install Knoppix as a Single-Boot System
34. Install Knoppix on a Multiboot System
35. Convert Knoppix to Debian Unstable
36. Install Gentoo with Knoppix
Chapter 5. Put Knoppix in Your Toolbox
37. Run Remote Desktops
38. Run X Remotely with FreeNX
39. Browse Windows Shares
40. Create an Emergency Router
41. Create an Emergency File Server
42. Create an Emergency Web Server
43. Run Other Emergency Services
44. Wardrive with Knoppix
45. Audit Network Security
46. Check for Root Kits
47. Collect Forensics Data
48. Clone Hard Drives
49. Wipe a Hard Drive
50. Test Hardware Compatibility
51. Copy Settings to Other Distributions
Chapter 6. Repair Linux
52. Repair Lilo
53. Repair Grub
54. Kill and Resurrect the Master Boot Record
55. Find Lost Partitions
56. Resize Linux Partitions
57. Repair Damaged Filesystems
58. Recover Deleted Files
59. Rescue Files from Damaged Hard Drives
60. Backup and Restore
61. Migrate to a New Hard Drive
62. Create Linux Software RAID
63. Migrate to Software RAID
64. Migrate Software RAID 1 to RAID 5
65. Add an Extra Drive to a Software RAID 5 Array
66. Reset Linux Passwords
67. Fix Broken Init Services
68. Repair Debian Packages
69. Repair RPM Packages
70. Copy a Working Kernel
Chapter 7. Rescue Windows
71. Fix the Windows Boot Selector
72. Back Up Files and Settings
73. Write to NTFS
74. Resize Windows Partitions
75. Reset Lost NT Passwords
76. Edit the Windows Registry
77. Restore Corrupted System Files
78. Scan for Viruses
79. Download Windows Patches Securely
Chapter 8. Knoppix Reloaded
80. Master Morphix
81. Gnoppix Gnome Gnirvana
82. Pump Up the Volume with Mediainlinux
83. Educate Yourself with Freeduc
84. Damn Small Linux
85. INSERT Security Here
86. Download Local Area Security
87. Full Protection with Knoppix-STD
88. Distribute Compiles with distccKNOPPIX
89. Distribute the Load with ClusterKnoppix
90. Analyze Quantian
91. Find GIS Knoppix on the Map
92. TiVo Your Computer
93. Contribute to Knoppix
Chapter 9. Knoppix Remastered
94. Create a Customized Knoppix
95. Trim the Fat
96. Personalize Knoppix
97. Keep Your Custom Disc up to Date
98. Automate Knoppix Remastering
99. Morph Morphix
100. Auto-Build Morphix Modules
Everything past chapter 3 is completely above the average Windows user. And even some of the stuff leading up to 3 is well past an average user skills. Such as:
6. Straighten Out Your X Settings
While easy enough for us, even with step by step instructions, no 'average' user will do this, period. Many average users can't do this in Windows, and in Windows it's as simple as sliding a bar back and forth. THE AVERAGE USER DOES NOT KNOW WHAT X IS, NOR DO THEY CARE.
Some other examples:
24. Make a Kiosk 25. Network Boot Knoppix 26. Develop Applications 28. Install Nvidia 3D Drivers
The later would be an easy process in Windows. In Linux it takes slightly more work. You have to either edit xorg.conf by hand, or run a cryptic shell script to do it for you. While this is easy for most of us, most of us are above average. Most average joe users are lucky to know what a graphics card is, never-the-less know what brand or model it is. Knoppix is a fine distro for average users cause all you gotta do is put the CD in and reboot. However, anything past clicking icons and opening programs, is well beyond the capabilities of an average user. This isn't an opinion, it has been statistically proven in every UI study ever conducted. Yeah, the command line is better. But you know what, so are stick shifts, yet most people drive automatics. I wonder why that is?
Go ahead and email the authors of the book, and ask them what their target audience was. It's certainly not the average Windows user.
Oh, and when I say average Windows user, I do not mean a newbie. I mean an average user. Someone who knows what they need to know to get what they need to do, done, and nothing more. 'newbie' implies they are new and willing to learn more. The average Windows user has been using Windows for years and simply doesn't care to know more. Which is why simple videos to teach the basics of open source apps like OpenOffice are so effective and a great idea. Very few average windows users are going to buy a book to learn a whole new word processor when they think the one they have is working fine. However, give them a simple video, and you just might win over some users. But we still have people screaming 'RTFM' and 'People who use GUI suck'. And ironically, when someone responds to 'RTFM' with 'Stop being an ass', you cry foul. How dare you be insulted like that? You're the only one allowed to make people look stupid, right?
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Re:now just plain dishonest
Posted by: Jeremy Akers on November 14, 2005 10:15 AMChapter 4. Install Linux with Knoppix
32. Explore the Knoppix Installer
33. Install Knoppix as a Single-Boot System
34. Install Knoppix on a Multiboot System
35. Convert Knoppix to Debian Unstable
36. Install Gentoo with Knoppix
Chapter 5. Put Knoppix in Your Toolbox
37. Run Remote Desktops
38. Run X Remotely with FreeNX
39. Browse Windows Shares
40. Create an Emergency Router
41. Create an Emergency File Server
42. Create an Emergency Web Server
43. Run Other Emergency Services
44. Wardrive with Knoppix
45. Audit Network Security
46. Check for Root Kits
47. Collect Forensics Data
48. Clone Hard Drives
49. Wipe a Hard Drive
50. Test Hardware Compatibility
51. Copy Settings to Other Distributions
Chapter 6. Repair Linux
52. Repair Lilo
53. Repair Grub
54. Kill and Resurrect the Master Boot Record
55. Find Lost Partitions
56. Resize Linux Partitions
57. Repair Damaged Filesystems
58. Recover Deleted Files
59. Rescue Files from Damaged Hard Drives
60. Backup and Restore
61. Migrate to a New Hard Drive
62. Create Linux Software RAID
63. Migrate to Software RAID
64. Migrate Software RAID 1 to RAID 5
65. Add an Extra Drive to a Software RAID 5 Array
66. Reset Linux Passwords
67. Fix Broken Init Services
68. Repair Debian Packages
69. Repair RPM Packages
70. Copy a Working Kernel
Chapter 7. Rescue Windows
71. Fix the Windows Boot Selector
72. Back Up Files and Settings
73. Write to NTFS
74. Resize Windows Partitions
75. Reset Lost NT Passwords
76. Edit the Windows Registry
77. Restore Corrupted System Files
78. Scan for Viruses
79. Download Windows Patches Securely
Chapter 8. Knoppix Reloaded
80. Master Morphix
81. Gnoppix Gnome Gnirvana
82. Pump Up the Volume with Mediainlinux
83. Educate Yourself with Freeduc
84. Damn Small Linux
85. INSERT Security Here
86. Download Local Area Security
87. Full Protection with Knoppix-STD
88. Distribute Compiles with distccKNOPPIX
89. Distribute the Load with ClusterKnoppix
90. Analyze Quantian
91. Find GIS Knoppix on the Map
92. TiVo Your Computer
93. Contribute to Knoppix
Chapter 9. Knoppix Remastered
94. Create a Customized Knoppix
95. Trim the Fat
96. Personalize Knoppix
97. Keep Your Custom Disc up to Date
98. Automate Knoppix Remastering
99. Morph Morphix
100. Auto-Build Morphix Modules
Everything past chapter 3 is completely above the average Windows user. And even some of the stuff leading up to 3 is well past an average user skills. Such as:
6. Straighten Out Your X Settings
While easy enough for us, even with step by step instructions, no 'average' user will do this, period. Many average users can't do this in Windows, and in Windows it's as simple as sliding a bar back and forth. THE AVERAGE USER DOES NOT KNOW WHAT X IS, NOR DO THEY CARE.
Some other examples:
24. Make a Kiosk
25. Network Boot Knoppix
26. Develop Applications
28. Install Nvidia 3D Drivers
The later would be an easy process in Windows. In Linux it takes slightly more work. You have to either edit xorg.conf by hand, or run a cryptic shell script to do it for you. While this is easy for most of us, most of us are above average. Most average joe users are lucky to know what a graphics card is, never-the-less know what brand or model it is. Knoppix is a fine distro for average users cause all you gotta do is put the CD in and reboot. However, anything past clicking icons and opening programs, is well beyond the capabilities of an average user. This isn't an opinion, it has been statistically proven in every UI study ever conducted. Yeah, the command line is better. But you know what, so are stick shifts, yet most people drive automatics. I wonder why that is?
Go ahead and email the authors of the book, and ask them what their target audience was. It's certainly not the average Windows user.
Oh, and when I say average Windows user, I do not mean a newbie. I mean an average user. Someone who knows what they need to know to get what they need to do, done, and nothing more. 'newbie' implies they are new and willing to learn more. The average Windows user has been using Windows for years and simply doesn't care to know more. Which is why simple videos to teach the basics of open source apps like OpenOffice are so effective and a great idea. Very few average windows users are going to buy a book to learn a whole new word processor when they think the one they have is working fine. However, give them a simple video, and you just might win over some users. But we still have people screaming 'RTFM' and 'People who use GUI suck'. And ironically, when someone responds to 'RTFM' with 'Stop being an ass', you cry foul. How dare you be insulted like that? You're the only one allowed to make people look stupid, right?
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