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I agree, why don't you send a mail to the how to ask smart questions devopers telling that?
First of all, the ones who answer the questions are the ones who know how to do things. I think that those who really know answer in an understandable way. And thos whodon't know aren't woth the effort of reading.
Well, I somewhat agree with a few of the points brought up, but not completely. I think for the most part, LQ is VERY good with helpin out the newbies, and even the old die hards who just can't grasp it very well (BigJohn, you are my example ). WIth very little exception, I will answer the same question over and over, even if it's "You type in your username and password, and type startx to start the gui". I don't mind, and most of the time the rest of the "usuals" don't either. If it's something that can be easily found in a search, then sometimes I will post a link to the search page. This is more than just a "Did you even read the manual" response, this is actually making sure they know a search feature does exist. And even more, it helps them learn more than just how to change directories in console. If they are having problems finding something, and I provide them with a link to a similar thread where their answer seems to live, well then that's something that is a bit better than simply saying "DId you even bother to search?".
Anyway, my point being, for the most part, newbs definitely don't get the RTFM answer so much here as most other places around the linux world. Does it need to get better? No, I don't think so. I've quoted it before; "You can give a geek a fish, and they'll eat for a day;
teach em to fish and they'll eat for the rest of their lives"
This holds true I think in linux. I will hold their hand so far, but a better path to show them is where to get the information (if it's already documented somewhere) rather than exact play by play examples. Sometimes those are necessary, that's fine, I enjoy doing those as well. Just as long as it seems like they learned something from it.
Originally posted by Nu-Bee The original Mandrake 9.0 worked OK, but I am beginning to notice some problems since I did my upgrade through the upgrade option.
I think it's KDE because the kernel seems to be the same...but now my screensaver won't work.
I booted up "old-linux" via the LILO menu and it works fine.
I have the same problem in RH8.0. i simply disabled the kde screensaver and started using xscreensaver. wrote a shellscript to use it to lock as well. Works fine now. You just have to know the different xscreensaver commands, like xscreensaver-demo (to configure) xscreensaver-command -option (to pass specific commands, etc.
would you post that script here please (so we can all learn something, and perhaps use it ourselves).
BTW, this is kind of off topic... what what the hell would you want a screensaver for??? new screen come with a demagetize option and if you want to lock your screen just use the lock option (it is included in the panel by default) and in the K menu is the second starting from below. So... it isn't too necesary, you want it to be automatic??? Ok, I understand that, but NOT to 'save the screen'.
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I think that newbies can use linux perfetly to do newbies things, such as surfing the net, playing quake. listening to music, And it is simple,
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OK
speaking as a newbies newbie....
i cant get quake to run for love nor money
i have tried the rpm, the tar.gz etc
i read the ReadMe (never had to do that with Win) and i read that it ships with Voodoo drivers ONLY (???!!!)
So i tried to install the Open GL stuff and got caught in a seemingly never ending "file dependency problem" trail
Linux is HARD
even the simplest of tasks is HARD
thats why i like it
Windows was too easy.
(But most people don't want HARD computing
they want to be entertained....)
I've installed quake in 10 minutes (8 of them I was reading mails...) I mean, quake is simple to instal, and YES it goes only with cards that support OpenGL such as Vodoo5 or GEforce2 (nvidia drivers) It is very easy to install. If you have problems with the dependecies then just put the CD, start the GUI of rpm and install all you need. Linux's newbies task aren't hard, they requiere thinking.... Windows, doesn't. If you want stupid things that most of us have disabled (on windows, obviously) like autorun... then it's your problem not Linux's. I don't like quake 3 so I'm not too worried about it... instead I likew other things that linux offers me and windows doesn't, such as I NEVER REBOOT Linux except in major crashes... windows I have to reboot every 8 hours because it becoms SOOOOO damned slow and unstable that I open winamp and it would crash... so, I reboot windows as much as I connect to internet (I have dialup and I spend most of the time online... so... you know...).
Why I chose Linux?, It's hard to say... I've always liked penguins if that helps But I think I was so tired of windows' unstability and LONG HOURS of download to get software (I never bought a single windows CD... hehe) that I wanted a change... that is when linux came into my life... First I got a copy of redhat 7.1 but couldn't install... I was soooo newbie then.... After a few years of not trying Linxu came back to my life, in the form of a server... that is when I actually started using linux... about 4 months ago. I did an internship on Linux and now I am waiting to take an exam, a Linux Certification... I think that is my story...
How did you get intrested on linux anyway?(and that is a general question, for whoever reads this post.)
well i'm glad you find it so easy
i have quake 1,2 and 3demo and can't get 3 to work even though the install was "successful" and i have an nVidia g-force 2 etc... and i can't get 1 or 2 to compile
i understand how to move to the correct dir and type ./configure or ./install and so on but always end up with "no C compiler found in your path" or as mentioned before, file dependancy problems.
I realise that this is not crap software, nor is it stupidity on my part, merely lack of knowledge. Which i am acquiring.
Slowly.
But it is still "hard" having just come (willingly) from point and click land.
and the reason why I got interested in linux was because i was tired of adverts, spyware, endless attempts to get me to spend money and prohibitively expensive software from capitalist bullies.....arrgh don't get me started!
it's much quieter here,
i like it
the chatter has matter
Originally posted by salparadise i understand how to move to the correct dir and type ./configure or ./install and so on but always end up with "no C compiler found in your path" or as mentioned before, file dependancy problems.
if it can't find a C compiler, you might not have GCC installed, check to make sure it's there. use 'locate gcc' without the quotes, if it's not there, then install it from your install cds, you prolly forgot to include the developmental packages.
download the lastes version, make sure it is not a beta or a test version and install it. try then to compile the software. I have mandrake9.0 adn never had any trouble with it.(I think i is 3.2 but I'm not sure)
i downloaded the gcc i686 rpm for redhat7.3
i downloaded the two rpm's it said it needed (binutils and cpp).
Binutils and cpp both installed perfectly first time....
gcc ?
is still reporting that it needs binutils and cpp before it will install.
Every page i get returned by rpmfind.net has lots of versions of the same file (presumably releases?).
Ne explanation is offered anywhere visible as to which i need or whether there are version compatibility problems or not.
If you already know this then i'm sure its easy, but if you don't then it's bewildering and confusing and explanations are not "falling off every page".
I'm not giving up.... that is not an issue,
am getting the RedHat Bible soon so shall up/g to RH8 and hopefully have a book that explains stuff to me.
Besides, I got various games on win so i can live with not having them on linux.....for the moment.
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). WIth very little exception, I will answer the same question over and over, even if it's "You type in your username and password, and type startx to start the gui". I don't mind, and most of the time the rest of the "usuals" don't either. If it's something that can be easily found in a search, then sometimes I will post a link to the search page. This is more than just a "Did you even read the manual" response, this is actually making sure they know a search feature does exist. And even more, it helps them learn more than just how to change directories in console. If they are having problems finding something, and I provide them with a link to a similar thread where their answer seems to live, well then that's something that is a bit better than simply saying "DId you even bother to search?". 
