Very interesting stuff. I think that there is a gap in the documentation. On one side you will find docs that just explains the history of Linux, or simply that Linux exists in many different fruity colors (distros). One the other side, you will find docs that explain how to recompile the kernel to add support for something. It's the meat in-between that seems to be lacking. Weird things are missing one would think would be "out there" in plain sight. One of the latest truly helpful pages I have found is a comparison between Windows programs and Linux equals. Like if one runs Photoshop in Windows, use GIMP in Linux. How the hell is a newbie supposed to know that GIMP is what you run to do the same jobs one would do in Photoshop?
<br><br>After reading the article and then reading everyone's posts, one argument came to mind that has not been mentioned. At the risk of sounding smug, what about, leave these newbies to their fuckin' Windows machines and take the money they pour into them. Linux is for more advanced computer users anyway. I don't believe that this is meant as a smug statement. Some would say I am saying I'm smarter that others. Bullshit. I am an experienced and more advanced computer user, this doesn't mean that I know how to plumb my way out of drowning! I know that there is a movement to try and get Linux into the mainstream to compete with Windows. Fine. But I think that Windows is good for most people who don't have the interest or computer understanding for more advanced computer usage. Those that do run Linux.
<br><br><div><span class="gmail_quote">On 6/23/07, <b class="gmail_sendername">Oren Beck</b> <<a href="mailto:orenbeck@gmail.com">orenbeck@gmail.com</a>> wrote:</span><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">
<br><br><div><span class="q"><span class="gmail_quote">On 6/22/07, <b class="gmail_sendername">Jon Pruente</b> <<a href="mailto:jdpruente@gmail.com" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">
jdpruente@gmail.com</a>> wrote:</span><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">
On 6/22/07, Billy Crook <<a href="mailto:billycrook@gmail.com" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">billycrook@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<br>> The author needs to learn how search engines work. You can't converse with
<br>> them like a person. "Why choose linux?" is not a smart query. Maybe "linux
<br>> benefits OR advantages".<br><br>This is the problem that Kozoru (the place where all the 1U rackmounts<br>servers around KC suddenly came from) was working on. It worked, but<br>when they sat test subjects down and had them use it, they had already
<br>been "trained" for keyword searching. They might put in a few<br>questions, but they would shortly revert to keywords and end up<br>defeating the advantages of the new tech. The tech got bought and<br>moved to
<a href="http://Ask.com" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">Ask.com</a>, as one of the Ask VPs had a stake in Kozoru. Ever<br>wonder why <a href="http://Ask.com" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">
Ask.com</a> suddenly started doing a bunch of commercials about<br>a month or so ago, several months after Kozoru folded and
<a href="http://Ask.com" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">Ask.com</a> had<br>time to get it integrated and working? ;)<br><br>Jon.</blockquote></span><div><br><br>IIRC "Ask" is the current incarnation of what used to be called "Jeeves"
<br>A naming that was intentionally evocative of an olde English butler.
<br>With cartoonish theming carrying the meme a bit to extreme for many users.<br>The focus difference with "Jeeves" being that conversational queries were handled more gracefully than other search engines of that time could. With the results often being either very much spot on or weirdly way off. I used it for "game show" questions or soft searches like " how many cover versions of the Johnny Cash song "ring of fire" are there ?
<br></div><br></div>Oren<br><br>
<br>_______________________________________________<br>Kclug mailing list<br><a onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)" href="mailto:Kclug@kclug.org">Kclug@kclug.org</a><br><a onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)" href="http://kclug.org/mailman/listinfo/kclug" target="_blank">
http://kclug.org/mailman/listinfo/kclug</a><br><br></blockquote></div><br><br clear="all"><br>-- <br>RtX...<br><br>Ty Unes - Overland Park, Ks.<br><a href="mailto:riverty@gmail.com">riverty@gmail.com</a>