-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: RIPEMD160 I don't know who smugged you recently on here, but I admit there is probably some self pride among those of us who may have got a lot of this all figured out. One point or two of disagreement with you goes to documentation. There's tones of documentation out there that explains various fascets of Linux. The problem is more, which thing do I read for which question or problem. Some docs are quite lengthy and possibly overwelming to the reader who seeks a quick answer to his / her question. I think another big divide between linux and windows is user interfaces. Many casual users (found around the windows camp like the GUI and admittedly, it is easy to use for common tasks. Where on the other hand, linux text based clients use command line options. The more powerful and flexible the program, the more options there and consequently the more dificult it becomes. I personally think that will be the biggest stumbling block for new comers to linux. Linux has grown considerably in popularity thanks to GUI stuff in Xwindows and I think largely Red Hat's package management features. But for some of us with some of that geek spirit inside, there's still lots of room in linux with "under the hood distros like Slackware and LFS where we can get down to the bare metal and tweak thing ourselves too. there's room for all kinds. I look over just this list and I know there's some people who I don't think are super technical like Ann Parsons, Cheryl Honiak who come from teaching backgrounds (I believe) who use linux regularly but aren't geeks by any means:). Sorry gals for the name dropping:). There may indeed be a fundamental culture difference between the typic windows user and the typical linux user. I could parallel this with old time ham radio hobiests and perhaps CB or FRS users. CB and FRS users can pop in a radio, start using it and not worry about licenses, exams, or any of that where the hams need to pass license exams, dig into their equipment more, build their own antenas if so desired and so on. I have actually been quite successful with linux over the past 11 years but my first introduction meant a couple all day sessions with a more experienced linux user at the very beginning to kinda jump start me so to speak plus I messed with some unix shell accounts back then. - From then on, I've pretty much taught myself entirely everything I know about linux except for the much additional help I've picked up from folks here on this list and my local linux users group mail list. - -- HolmesGrown Solutions The best solutions for the best price! http://ld.net/?holmesgrown -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v1.2.7 (GNU/Linux) iD8DBQFCVGkJWSjv55S0LfERAxxkAKDz9VqfdmC8oUHYk2tF2uCRz606NwCgmn/0 0ag1bjfgeEtoybK3MInzP70= =vpiv -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----
