On Tue, 12 Oct 2004 09:22:37 -0500 "Huy T." <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Hey all I'm looking for a new operating system to use as a primary OS > instead of Windows XP. I noticed that there is extensive documentation > located at tldp.org. Could anyone share any sites with me for > expediting a newer user to getting up and setup running this system > effectively? Starting off by installing a HDD installation of Knoppix > since I heard it was basically debian. > > Books even? How did you all learn? Any assistance is much appreciated.
The first thing I would point you to is this: http://catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html This document won't teach you anything about Linux; but it will teach you a hell of a lot about how to learn about Linux (and, for that matter, how to learn about most technical things). It may seem like it doesn't apply, because it seems to be about asking questions of hackers; but really, it's a good idea to follow the same guidelines in fora aimed at users as well. Really, I can't recommend this highly enough. By following the guidelines set therein, you'll learn more quickly *and*, when you do need to ask a question, you'll make others actually want to answer them. I wish this document had existed when I got started. Also, a comment about Knoppix: Knoppix is based on Debian, but Knoppix is not Debian. Enough things are changed from Debian in Knoppix that it's not infrequent for people here or elsewhere to try and help a user for quite some time, become perplexed as to why the things being suggested aren't working, only to find that it's because the user isn't really running Debian but is running Knoppix instead. Consequently, you may run into resistance in some Debian-related avenues for help, or with some individual people. I'm not trying to persuade you to avoid Knoppix -- just to warn you that this is how things are. At the very least, if you're running Knoppix, *please* make that clear when you ask for help in a Debian-related forum. Next, regarding the Linux Documentation Project (tldp.org) . . .you should know that Linux as an OS/user environment is evolving faster than the documentation at TLDP can keep up. Consequently, you need to be aware that at any given moment, some of the docs at TLDP are current, some are a little stale, and some are very out of date. TLDP is a very useful resource, but it should never be your only resource. Online, most of your assistance will come from mailing lists, web sites and web fora, Usenet newsgroups, and IRC channels. Some are Debian-specific, while others cover Linux in general. As far as mailing lists are concerned, you found this one; I'd check to see what's available that Knoppix-specific as well. IRC channels . . .I hate to say this, but I'd avoid the IRC channel [EMAIL PROTECTED] It's fairly hostile to new users. There are a variety of useful Usenet newsgroups -- primarily the stuff in the comp.os.linux.* hierarchy. Finally, as far as web resources are concerned, there's a bunch of useful Debian documentation linked-to from Debian's website. Another useful resource is http://newbiedoc.sourceforge.net/ , which contains new Debian user "how-to-do-it" docs for specific tasks, etc. There's also http://www.debianhelp.org/ of which some people here speak quite highly (I have no experience with it myself). More generally, there are sites like http://www.linuxquestions.org/ , http://www.justlinux.com/ (formerly linuxnewbie.com), and a host of others you can find through Google or the Open Directory ( http://dmoz.org/ ) or Yahoo or elsewhere. As far as commercial books are concerned . . .there are a lot of them out there. However, I've never used any, so I can't really offer any suggestions. I can recall that other people have spoken highly of various books at various times, so I think good commercial books exist; but I can't think of what they are, sorry. Maybe someone else can help here. HTH. -c -- Chris Metzler [EMAIL PROTECTED] (remove "snip-me." to email) "As a child I understood how to give; I have forgotten this grace since I have become civilized." - Chief Luther Standing Bear
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