Path: archiver1.google.com!newsfeed.google.com!sn-xit-02!supernews.com! newsfeed.direct.ca!look.ca!cpk-news-hub1.bbnplanet.com!news.gtei.net! newscon02.news.prodigy.com!newsmst01.news.prodigy.com!prodigy.com! postmaster.news.prodigy.com!newssvr17.news.prodigy.com.POSTED! not-for-mail From: Bryce L. Martin <Bry...@flashmail.com> Newsgroups: microsoft.public.msn.discussion Subject: For Brian (Long-haired Linux Mystic) Reply-To: Bry...@flashmail.com Message-ID: <rrutotg5rkksembipphhg2g5ofk47bncqc@4ax.com> X-Newsreader: Forte Agent 1.8/32.553 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Lines: 21 NNTP-Posting-Host: 206.170.3.38 X-Complaints-To: ab...@prodigy.net X-Trace: newssvr17.news.prodigy.com 999227133 ST000 206.170.3.38 (Thu, 30 Aug 2001 23:05:33 EDT) NNTP-Posting-Date: Thu, 30 Aug 2001 23:05:33 EDT Organization: Prodigy Internet http://www.prodigy.com X-UserInfo1: [[OW@GCBVK_I@[Q\HKAN\FLEFKUJBQ\KLY\ @LWMHBASPUYIBNVWE@KKZETYPISWI[FCEZABLM^[F_NGA_^T_NWPFHNSKHQXKJ@X^R^_C^\ RN@OD_XKFXXVCCE\GQJDJNGDY_ZOFNRY]WWK_PGD_CNIW^ECXFF\ KIBA^Y@@OB@[@ZQSPETL@NMU@DEVUKA_BL Date: Fri, 31 Aug 2001 03:05:33 GMT Xref: archiver1.google.com microsoft.public.msn.discussion:29923 Brian; Up front, I must admit I have no real expertise with computers at all. Never touched one in my life until I got my first mail order Gateway about 4 yrs. ago. I haven't been at all serious about learning about them since. To be brutally honest I'm so ignorant of computers I think that a "serial port" is a place you can step into for breakfast where any real knowledge of them is concerned. But I am able to see just what an arrogant monopolistic entity MS has become, and I have resolved to at least try to learn something other than MS Windows. If you would be so kind as to allow me to pick your brain for some info on Linux I would be very grateful. Id est is there any sort of textbook course, perhaps with accompanying CD's or maybe some sort of online course one can sign up for that you know of and/or could recommend. Any info you could post will be greatly appreciated. (Probably not by the resident shills, but surely by me.) Thanks; >^,,^< Bryce L. Martin
From: "Adrian L" <n...@no.com> References: <rrutotg5rkksembipphhg2g5ofk47bncqc@4ax.com> Subject: Re: For Brian (Long-haired Linux Mystic) Date: Fri, 31 Aug 2001 11:20:48 -0400 Lines: 6 X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Newsreader: Microsoft Outlook Express 6.00.2600.0000 X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2600.0000 Message-ID: <uZ0rYCjMBHA.1676@tkmsftngp05> Newsgroups: microsoft.public.msn.discussion NNTP-Posting-Host: 206.183.140.67 Path: archiver1.google.com!newsfeed.google.com!sn-xit-02! supernews.com!news.tele.dk!small.news.tele.dk!194.25.134.62! newsfeed00.sul.t-online.de!t-online.de!tkmsftngp01!tkmsftngp05 Xref: archiver1.google.com microsoft.public.msn.discussion:29997 And what are you going to run on Linux, IF you ever learn it. There are hardly any applications for it. Just abpve everything runs ONLY on Windows. Programers don't bother to write programs for linux, because it is not profitable for them. So you see this is not just the matter of learning linux, it's MUCH more.
Path: archiver1.google.com!newsfeed.google.com!sn-xit-02! supernews.com!newsfeed.direct.ca!look.ca! newshub2.rdc1.sfba.home.com!news.home.com! news1.rdc1.bc.home.com.POSTED!not-for-mail From: "Brian" <sub...@post.com> Newsgroups: microsoft.public.msn.discussion References: <rrutotg5rkksembipphhg2g5ofk47bncqc@4ax.com> Subject: Re: For Brian (Long-haired Linux Mystic) Lines: 69 X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Newsreader: Microsoft Outlook Express 5.50.4522.1200 X-MIMEOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V5.50.4522.1200 Message-ID: <23Pj7.126065$B37.2772401@news1.rdc1.bc.home.com> Date: Fri, 31 Aug 2001 16:37:18 GMT NNTP-Posting-Host: 24.68.77.116 X-Complaints-To: ab...@home.net X-Trace: news1.rdc1.bc.home.com 999275838 24.68.77.116 (Fri, 31 Aug 2001 09:37:18 PDT) NNTP-Posting-Date: Fri, 31 Aug 2001 09:37:18 PDT Organization: Excite@Home - The Leader in Broadband http://home.com/faster Xref: archiver1.google.com microsoft.public.msn.discussion:30007 G'morning Bryce: "Bryce L. Martin" wrote... > Up front, I must admit I have no real expertise with computers > at all. Never touched one in my life until I got my first mail > order Gateway about 4 yrs. ago. I haven't been at all serious > about learning about them since. To be brutally honest I'm so > ignorant of computers I think that a "serial port" is a place you > can step into for breakfast You mean a serial port is not a dispenser for Corn Flakes? > where any real knowledge of them is concerned. But I am able > to see just what an arrogant monopolistic entity MS has become, It is scary, is't it. I used to install and support MS desktops in the past (Windows 3.11 WFWGs was last) so I saw it happening from the front lines... > and I have resolved to at least try to learn something other than MS > Windows. Excellent plan. > If you would be so kind as to allow me to pick your brain for some > info on Linux I would be very grateful. Id est is there any sort of > textbook course, perhaps with accompanying CD's or maybe some > sort of online course one can sign up for that you know of and/or > could recommend. You are in so much luck! It just so happens that few products are as documented as Linux for New Users. > Any info you could post will be greatly appreciated. (Probably > not by the resident shills, but surely by me.) Alright - the first thing I should know is what is your interest with computers? Would like to learn about Linux from the perspective of the commad line? This is the historical power of Unix. Dozens of small utilites/programs/applications that can be strung together to produce the desired effect. Powerful scripting languages to a full-bore C/C++ developmet suite. I would recommend you start with Slackware 8.0. If you are primarily interested in web browsing, email, news groups, multimedia (pics, music, video), some games and routine office capabilities - this is the venue of the emerging Linux desktop. Not as polished as Microsoft Windows but certainly more robust, secure and configurable. I would recommend you start with Mandrake 8.0. Once I know what you are looking for I can recomend a FREE course of action as regards free online information (books, docs, FAQs, HowTOs, Mini-HowTOs and specialized websites), Linux distributions (FREE, almost FREE and full price) and the power of the Linux news groups (you can talk with the actual people who write and maintain the software). One thing to keep in mind, if you find the learning curve too steep at first, do not dispair; Linux is evolving at an incredible rate - don't move, we will come to you! Let me know what interests you and I will try to be of help. Best regards, Brian Long-haired Linux Mystic
Path: archiver1.google.com!newsfeed.google.com!sn-xit-02!supernews.com! newsfeed.direct.ca!look.ca!netnews.com!xfer02.netnews.com! newsfeed1.cidera.com!Cidera!cyclone2.usenetserver.com!usenetserver.com! newscon06.news.prodigy.com!newsmst01.news.prodigy.com!prodigy.com! postmaster.news.prodigy.com!newssvr17.news.prodigy.com.POSTED! not-for-mail From: Bryce L. Martin <Bry...@flashmail.com> Newsgroups: microsoft.public.msn.discussion Subject: Re: For Brian (Long-haired Linux Mystic) Reply-To: Bry...@flashmail.com Message-ID: <k460ptkncnq4qbja0gs1u8k0jushukjs7i@4ax.com> References: <rrutotg5rkksembipphhg2g5ofk47bncqc@4ax.com> <uZ0rYCjMBHA.1676@tkmsftngp05> X-Newsreader: Forte Agent 1.8/32.553 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Lines: 21 NNTP-Posting-Host: 206.170.3.107 X-Complaints-To: ab...@prodigy.net X-Trace: newssvr17.news.prodigy.com 999299731 ST000 206.170.3.107 (Fri, 31 Aug 2001 19:15:31 EDT) NNTP-Posting-Date: Fri, 31 Aug 2001 19:15:31 EDT Organization: Prodigy Internet http://www.prodigy.com X-UserInfo1: [[PGGOOCL[^YP@@R@SBV]LPD[SPNRVLHWA_D]\ YIMYWBDUYACFWEQJ[YMLYRX\_HTFD_KEVLBVXZOJOC@FU]NPXFGNTCYVLH]PX@BQW@GDTPPF\\ BSFNIQKARLGEJGZMZLXWJOFMEI]MGKCS[\ ^]^K_^JKYRW][KMAYOQBGACCFRASDE[DC^MTLFFVSUAV^N Date: Fri, 31 Aug 2001 23:15:31 GMT Xref: archiver1.google.com microsoft.public.msn.discussion:30045 You are correct for the time being, but what about the future? I have admitted to being totally unlearned with computers, but even a someone such as myself can see a growing following for Linux, and a growing dislike for Windows. Even if I don't find much to run on it, it's always fun to try new things. Also, if Linux keeps growing in popularity, more and more software will be written for it I would think. On Fri, 31 Aug 2001 11:20:48 -0400, "Adrian L" <n...@no.com> wrote: >And what are you going to run on Linux, IF you ever learn it. There are hardly any applications for >it. Just abpve everything runs ONLY on Windows. Programers don't bother to write programs for linux, >because it is not profitable for them. So you see this is not just >the matter of learning linux, it's MUCH more. > >^,,^< Bryce L. Martin
Path: archiver1.google.com!newsfeed.google.com!sn-xit-02!supernews.com! newsfeed.direct.ca!look.ca!newshub2.rdc1.sfba.home.com!news.home.com! news1.rdc1.bc.home.com.POSTED!not-for-mail From: "Brian" <sub...@post.com> Newsgroups: microsoft.public.msn.discussion References: <rrutotg5rkksembipphhg2g5ofk47bncqc@4ax.com> Subject: Re: For Brian (Long-haired Linux Mystic) Lines: 128 X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Newsreader: Microsoft Outlook Express 5.50.4522.1200 X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V5.50.4522.1200 Message-ID: <xvYk7.135090$B37.3050466@news1.rdc1.bc.home.com> Date: Tue, 04 Sep 2001 04:11:09 GMT NNTP-Posting-Host: 24.68.77.116 X-Complaints-To: ab...@home.net X-Trace: news1.rdc1.bc.home.com 999576669 24.68.77.116 (Mon, 03 Sep 2001 21:11:09 PDT) NNTP-Posting-Date: Mon, 03 Sep 2001 21:11:09 PDT Organization: Excite@Home - The Leader in Broadband http://home.com/faster Xref: archiver1.google.com microsoft.public.msn.discussion:30593 Hello Dear Friends: I took the weekend off to spend with my daughter before she goes back to school tomorrow so I have not answered your request until now - please excuse the delay. The first thing you should know about Linux is that there are MANY online books available free. Here is a short list of general purpose texts that cover all Linux/Unix operating systems: Excellent full course from New User to Expert! rute.sourceforge.net/ My favorite from years ago, may not be too uptodate. www.linuxdoc.org/LDP/gs/gs.html Here is the Linux Documentation Project. www.linuxdoc.org/ Here is my Linux recommendation for New Users. www.linux-mandrake.com/en/main.php3 Mandrake 8.1 will soon be out and I recommend this for the average Windows user who wishes an automated installation and who wishes to spend most of there time in a Windows-like graphical user interface. Browsing the web, news, mail, chat, IRC, FTP, instant messaging, multimedia (sound & graphics), an excellent office suite (words, numbers, graphics, presentation, et al) all in the KDE 2.2 desktop. Free online Linux magazines; www.linuxgazette.com/ www2.linuxjournal.com/ www.linuxworld.com/ Also; www.networkcomputing.com/unixworld/unixhome.html To download Mandrake for free; www.linux-mandrake.com/en/ftp.php3 You have your choice of 8.1 beta, 8.0 stable, 8.0 iso image for burning a CDR. I highly recommed burning to a CDR because other methods require some fooling around. If you don't have a CD burner, you can buy stamped CDs for a few dollars; You can buy a Mandrake 2 CD 8.0 set for $3.49 + $5 S&H = $8.50 cart.cheapbytes.com/cgi-bin/cart/0070010654?h8FcKVK5;;31 You can buy an official Mandrake 3 CD 8.0 set for $29.00 + $5 S&H = $34 cart.cheapbytes.com/cgi-bin/cart/0360010029?h8FcKVK5;;32 My recomendation; buy the Mandrake 8.1 beta on CDRs for $6.99 + $5 S&H = $12 cart.cheapbytes.com/cgi-bin/cart/0070010696?h8FcKVK5;;21 This is my recomendation for a purchased book; cart.cheapbytes.com/cgi-bin/cart/0090010349?h8FcKVK5;;639 I have purchased from Cheap Bytes for years and can highly recommend them. They are prompt, courteous and honest; a nice change after dealing with Microsoft. Here is your Mandrake newsgroup; alt.os.linux.mandrake Also; Have a look at all the variety. alt.os.linux.* Do some lurking. Provide lots of info when asking questions. ask about newsgroup FAQs, many exist. Here are some classic Linux oriented News sites. www.linuxtoday.com www.slashdot.org Here is the definitive Linux application website. freshmeat.net You will be amazed at the diversity of Linux/Unix utilities, programs & applications. Here is the place to look for Linux books. linux.oreilly.com I own most of the O'Reilly Linux and Unix books and love there layout and physical construction (am able to lay open flat without destroying the spine). O'Reilly books I will recommend; www.oreilly.com/catalog/bash2 www.oreilly.com/catalog/linuxnut3 www.oreilly.com/catalog/runux3 www.oreilly.com/catalog/regex/ The above are for the Linux CLI (command line interace) and is a revelation of the power of the non-graphical user interfaces. Just so you know, I am not an employee or affiliated with any of the recommended companies. My favorite distro is Slackware but it may not be the answer for most new users. Slackware is plane jane but a most effective work-horse that is ideal for Internet/network services. Linux is not only low cost, but it is free - free of Microsoft control, free of Microsoft advertising, free of Microsoft tracking, free of Microsoft black-box technology, free of Microsoft taxation, free of Microsoft required audits and most importantly, free of Steve Ballmer and the humiliation of being associated with the "Dancing Monkey-Boy video". I hope this answers some of your questions but if it doesn't, feel free to ask. Best regards, Brian Long-haired Linux Mystic