[+] Re: [Herefordshire] newbie### reply from Roger

[Matt Rhys-Roberts]

Gentlemen,

Do not despair. Can I suggest you try making an exhaustive, detailed 
list of all your Linux unknowns, and post them here; I don't think 
you'll get shouted at or put down. As long as I've got a moment to 
reply, I for one will usually have a go at helping out.

I strongly doubt there's anything wrong with your brain; the Linux 
learning curve (depending on what you're used to) is initially steep; 
and it only takes a couple of unknowns to gang up on me and make me feel 
defeated, so you're really not alone. This group has helped me overcome 
numerous hurdles over the past few months!!

The "command line" is just a text-only means of typing commands to your 
computer, a lot like MSDOS used to be, where you type in the name of an 
executable file in order to run it. In Linux, this is a very powerful 
(and dangerous!) means of doing all sorts of things, and it only takes a 
short while to learn a few useful commands. Windows, or any other 
"graphical user interface" (usually something called "X" in Linux), is a 
more convenient way for humans to input stuff to and read output from 
the computer, by pointing and clicking at more pictorial things, instead 
of working with text-only commands and cryptic messages!   ... Does this 
help?

So hang in there, don't stop asking questions, and the light should dawn.

Best Regards,
Matt Rhys-Roberts
Leominster



Roger Irwin wrote:

> Roy M wrote:
>
>> Hi All,
>> I'm Roy a senior member of society, scrap heap stuff you know! Very 
>> much a newbie from Bromyard.
>>
>> Got redhat 9 on a removable disc and Mandrake 8 on an old laptop.
>> Been given the Mandrake 10 discs. Not sure where I'm going to put it 
>> yet. From what I gather it will need upgrading to, 10.2 is it?
>>
>> I've been principally using  Ms  but am trying to get to grips with 
>> Linux. -Trouble is I'm short of time to study it's workings. Do allot 
>> of exercise and play Badminton you see-. Tried to swap over and got 
>> frustrated, only making some notes in O O. But I lurk allot on the 
>> LUG lists hoping to pick up tips.
>>
>> I went to the GLOS. lug meeting a couple of years ago, but the slick 
>> minds there got the better of me and I was lost!
>>
>> Got myself a book - Sams teach yourself Linux- but find it hard 
>> going, confusing to my well worn brain!! I can't find the command 
>> screen yet!
>>
>> If you have read this far, thank you.
>
>
> Hi Roy.
> This is Roger, also a Silver Surfer trying to get to grips with Linux, 
> and so far failing.
> Do you think that our brains get all Feek & Weeble when a body gets to 
> retirement age?
> So far this Linux stuff is driving me nuts !!!!  and I realy do want 
> to learn how to work it.  Wot's a command line ???
>
> Roger Irwin
>
>