On Thu, Jan 25, 2007 at 06:47:43AM -0700, Paul E Condon wrote: > On Wed, Jan 24, 2007 at 11:28:03PM -0500, Roberto C. Sanchez wrote: > > On Wed, Jan 24, 2007 at 11:14:21PM -0500, Kevin Mark wrote: > > > Hi Roberto, > > > I have seen various 3rd party bits of documentation about "You just > > > installed Debian. Here's what to do next and answers to questions like > > > 'where's my X?". And it seems people still miss this info on the Debian > > > site. Asking what they read prior to asking such questions would be one > > > way to figure out how Debian is not getting this info to new users. Thus > > > far, Debian and the WWW group are very hesitant to change any aspect of > > > the 'front page' until a very good reason is provided, which is expected > > > for any Debian effort. But it seems if this person and others went to > > > the 'front page' and just could not (for what ever reason) find this > > > info, then there should be something added to the 'front page' to have > > > somekind of big 'over here' sign for Debian new users to find these > > > common questions addressed. Hopefully one day I can get something > > > written up. But in the meanwhile, I think asking what the read prior to > > > comming here is one way to collect data to address this issue. > > > > Hmm. You did not mention which version, so I will assum you installed > > Etch. Now, if you got the etch installer, I will guess that you got it > > from here: http://www.debian.org/devel/debian-installer/ > > > > Below the download links are links to the Installation Guide, the FAQ > > and the Debian-Installer Wiki. If you visit the installation guide, you > > will see this section: > > > > http://d-i.alioth.debian.org/manual/en.i386/ch06s03.html#di-install-software > > > > Specifically, the relevant section, Installing Additional Software, > > reads in part: > > > > So, you have the ability to choose tasks first, and then add on more > > individual packages later. These tasks loosely represent a number of > > different jobs or things you want to do with your computer, such as > > Desktop environment, Web server, or Print server[14]. Section D.2, > > Disk Space Needed for Tasks lists the space requirements for the > > available tasks. > > > > Now, I understand that for a newbie, it can be daunting to be left at a > > command line prompt. However, it is right there in the documentation. > > So, perhaps you missed it? > > > > I am not trying to flame you. I am simply pointing out that the > > information is there and that it appears that you overlooked it. > > > > Regards, > > > > -Roberto > > > > -- > > Roberto C. Sanchez > > http://people.connexer.com/~roberto > > http://www.connexer.com > > Debian suffers from lack of exposure in the popular press. Most major > newspapers carry a frequent column of answers to questions about PCs, > which means exclusively Windows in the popular press. There is > a lot of overlap in the word set used in these articles and the word > set used on the Debian web site. But they are talking about different > computer systems. Many newbies have no idea how clueless they really > are. Certainly, I had no idea when I started. > > I have some experience about learning new stuff, and teaching stuff > that is new to learners. I was for a while a professor of physics. It > is important for learners to understand that there is no one right way > to teach anything, and for learners who aren't getting it with one > way, it is OK to look for another way. There is a lot of evidence that > no one learns anything the first time they are taught. If it appears > that someone actually learns the first time, that's because they had > prior exposure to the topic and are primed to get it this time. > > If the learner keeps at it, maybe he will eventually find a teaching > that works for him. But that teaching might not have worked for him > if it had been his first contact with the subject. It might be that > just the repeated rephrasings of the same ideas finally breaks through > a mental block. > > -- > Paul E Condon > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > I know this is way OT, but with regards to your comment, some 40 yrs ago when I was in high school, I needed to take Algebra. I was lost. I got 3 F's and dropped out. The next year, with a different instructor who drew diagrams on the chalkboard, I got straight A's. The teacher would take attendance, give work assignments and leave the class. He let me be in charge. The presentation can make a difference :)
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