Linked by Charles Williams on Mon 7th Apr 2003 03:17 UTC
We have all heard the horror stories of how GNU/Linux is difficult, if not almost impossible, as far as general desktop usability is concerned. In particular, there seems to be a continuous stream of gripes printed across the Internet, from Microsoft Windows users who wish, or have tried, to migrate to GNU/Linux, yet gave up in frustration. But what happens when complete computer newbies are introduced to GNU/Linux? By computer newbies, I am referring to those who have no computer experience whatsoever, in either a Windows, Mac, Linux, Unix or other environment.
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Linux Gentoo for absolute computer noobies: Part 1, The Mission
by special contributor Ana OīNeemus, technical writer for the Garfield Group
Among the great questions of the universe, two stand out as generating the most trafic on /.: first, what is The Meaning of Life, and second, is Linux Usable by Absolute Computer Noobies? By absolute computer noobies, I mean (no, really) absolute computer noobies.
Part 1, The Mission
I donīt think you would honestly like to meet my two neighbors Daphne & Tatiana, and their two cute poodles, Charlie and Ponpon. Neither of them (I mean Daphne and Tatiana) has been previously exposed to computers or Linux, since they have lived in Elbonia for the last 22 years.
About four months ago, they approached me as I was arriving home, and even though I tried to escape through the stairs, they got me trapped, but as I found out they only needed some information. They specifically wanted to buy a computer, or as they put it Ļ We want a Linux computer manufactured by that Finnish boy...Ļ. I immediately thought that I could put them on the right track by setting them up with a Gentoo Linux installation, and buying an inexpensive Lindows computer through Walmart.
Plus the cable access to the Internet, of course, which only comes out at around $50 per month.
Here is a breakdown of the expenses:
Microtel Sysmar814 PC with 1.67GHz Athlon XP: $499 + shipping
15 inch LCD monitor : $268 + shipping
Total: $767 + shipping + the (negligible) cost of donwloading Gentoo.
Note 1: Daphne remarked to me that Mandrake Linux 9.0 was included with the Microtel PC, so why did they need Gentoo? I had to explain to them that Gentoo allowed them to optimize their Linux installation for the Athlon processor, providing a measurable 3% improvement in performance, on average.
Note 2: Tatiana remarked to me (these two are a pain in the... back, sometimes) that for just $32 more, they could buy a similar machine from Walmart, with WindowsXP, but a faster processor, and they wouldnīt need to download or upgrade anything. ĻLookĻ, I told them, ĻItīs my way or the highway. So, whatīs it going to be?Ļ
Thankfully they let me go after that. I avoided having to install anything for them, and now they canīt even ask me to connect the cables to get their splendid new XP box going.
Can you imagine how much time I have saved by choosing Gentoo? Now just wait until I tell Tsu Dho Minh, sheīll be red with jealousy...
Iīll include a screenshot of my Gentoo desktop in my next review, so please stay with me and donīt read any reviews by Tsu. She doesnīt include any screenshots anyways...
PS: to the Geek that mentioned Functional Languages; you are right, thatīs the most relevant comment I have read in OSnews in a loooong time.