Nowhere in your OP have you stated that your post is aimed at inhabitants of the African continent only. LQ is an international forum and your posts will be read by people from all over the world. In that light your advice to use unsupported versions of any distro is just bad advice, especially when there is absolutely no need for running unsupported software. Distros like antiX or Vector Lite exist, which are specifically aimed on supporting old hardware, without having the problems of running unsupported software.
Also, your begging that "geeks" should not comment is rather rude, especially if it is only to not have pointed out bad advice.

OK, through petty attitudes and rather selfish, immature reactions, this thread has been spoiled beyond repair. Right at the beginning it was said that geeks should steer clear as this post was for newbies. Experienced users/geeks/gurus could not see beyond their own inflated ego's, neither did they understand that this post was made in LOVE to a world that needs it. It was to make newbies feel welcome, to serenade to the newly lost XP tribe.... Some could not see beyond my sin, they could not see the bigger picture.


It reinforces my already established perspective, gained through painful experience, that Linux is easy and user friendly, but that the establishment behind it is devoid of anything humane or germane.

Good bye!!

I am sorry if you feel hurt by that, but even if you beg people not to do it, LQ is a source of knowledge that is consulted by a lot of people and asking people to not correct wrong information just because those people are more knowledgeable is not how forums work. If you open a thread it is open to discussion for every member of this forum.

1 members found this post helpful.

I'm more comfortable if things were to stick with the original topic, which was recommendations for someone using Linux as part of a small business and how they'd get started if they were to choose Linux.

I do understand that someone inquired about the geographical area due to your profile information. But I feel it makes it further uncomfortable and segregating to "project" what you call a lack of humanity outwards; especially in general.

Granted I'm as guilty as many of not being highly versed in entire world affairs; however understanding that many make due as best as they can given the environments which they're within is at the very basic level sometimes the best options those individuals have. For instance I'm ill equipped to travel to remote locations and raise the awareness or provide for the spreading of Linux to individuals who have no exposure too it. However I'm happy to offer my assistance to those who are able to reach this forum, as well as other forums where I comment or seek advice.

At the very least, you personally have made it to this forum; therefore ask questions, or as you've done; offer suggestions via discussion and/or blog entries, and encourage others who share your interests in Linux to do the same.

I'm personally somewhat puzzled by the purpose of this whole thread. layman's guide? to me this looks like
driving traffic/advertising a product called kingsoft office.... :}

Canonical Ltd. was made with the view to creating profits. Lots of evidence for that over the last few years.

'Ubuntu' is marketing. Free discs were marketing. Seems that it was pretty cost efective, people still drag it up years after the free disc service was discontinued.

If my pointing out that its a for profit company, and my disagreement with the marketing that caonical have put out is causing this sort of reaction, maybe you should take a step back and have a look from a different point of view?

Yes, I know, this is offtopic, and would probably be better on its own thread, on on one of the other canonical threads.

BTW, using a torrent d/l would have been a good idea if you're having timeout/dropout problems.

If the device connects to the internet or even a intranet at all, security is a concern.

If its happening over 'expensive' networks, even more so.

Its one thing to have a security issue when you're on an 'unlimited' or 'throttled when limits reached' scenario. Its just as legally risky, with the possiblity of nasty suprises in the form of high billing to have security issues on expensive networks.

I've seen a $AU2K+ bill in one month from someone who had a bad security issue on a mobile network.

Ohh, the irony is exquisite.