iB::Topic::Tweak for the "Getting Started" page

	Damn Small Linux :: Damn Small Linux Board The DSL Forums

» Welcome Guest
[ Log In :: Register ]

Damn Small Linux Board » Damn Small Linux » DSL Ideas and Suggestions » Tweak for the "Getting Started" page

		Mini-ITX Boards Sale, Fanless BareBones Mini-ITX, Bootable 1G DSL USBs, 533MHz Fanless PC <-- SALE $200 each!
		Get The Official Damn Small Linux Book. DSL Market , Great VPS hosting provided by Tektonic

Pages: (8) </ 1 [2] 3 4 5 6 7 ... >/

[ Track this topic :: Email this topic :: Print this topic ]

Topic: Tweak for the "Getting Started" page, Solve the most repeated "help" request.

< Next Oldest | Next Newest >

marcus
Unregistered

Posted: Feb. 18 2006,21:29

Good point!

Why push away users like that?

mikshaw

Group: Members
Posts: 4856
Joined: July 2004

Posted: Feb. 18 2006,21:56

Holy cow, Onikage....not only are you way off about shameing people for "rude opinions", but you also took what would otherwise be a simple task and made it extremely complicated...and it still doesn't stop the popup, which is what i assume is the annoying part. Did you ever work for Microsoft?

The browser (dillo) is started from /home/dsl/.xinitrc. Edit the appropriate line and backup the file...done.

The getting started page is a major necessity for anyone who is just starting with DSL, unlike the so-called help that Windows presents. Getting Started tells you some of the fundamentals of using DSL, so you don't have to do things like tear your hair out when you lose everything you thought you had saved. If you spent any time in these forums you might notice the multitudes of duplicate posts from people asking things that were answered on that page. those numbers would sure increase if it were as easy as clicking a button to get rid of something that is there to help you.

And once again, I don't believe anyone in DSL development has ever said anything about wanting to cater to Windows users.

--------------
http://www.tldp.org/LDP/intro-linux/html/index.html

Onikage
Unregistered

Posted: Feb. 18 2006,23:05

Quote (mikshaw @ Feb. 18 2006,16:56)

Impressive! I didn't know that people with rude opinions traveled in packs (or is it schools Mr. Ghoti?)

Gee, I guess I should be ashamed for not being airheaded enough to forget that migrant Windows users don't necessarily even know how to edit a file like that... But hey milkshaw, you must know more than anyone else to start flaming like that (ahem, worthless master?)... By the way, I didn't say how to get rid of, but how to control what pops up in your face (which can be used to make it more functional). But hey, who am I to argue with Mr. Ghoti?!

Quote

The getting started page is a major necessity for anyone who is just starting with DSL, unlike the so-called help that Windows presents. Getting Started tells you some of the fundamentals of using DSL, so you don't have to do things like tear your hair out when you lose everything you thought you had saved. If you spent any time in these forums you might notice the multitudes of duplicate posts from people asking things that were answered on that page. those numbers would sure increase if it were as easy as clicking a button to get rid of something that is there to help you.

Fundamentals, hmm... Last I checked help files accomplished that (even help forums are supposed to accomplish that) but hey, your the great guru Mr. Ghoti... Who could EVER disagree with you?

Quote

If you spent any time in these forums you might notice the multitudes of duplicate posts from people asking things that were answered on that page

Quote

And once again, I don't believe anyone in DSL development has ever said anything about wanting to cater to Windows users.

In case you haven't noticed, the vast majority of posts on this forum are from former Windows users! Where then, would (a large chunk) of the DSL user base come from? I'm willing to bet that 95% of all DSL users have used Windows before...

But hey, you're the almighty all-seeing master milkshaw ghoti. The one who knows what's inside of the heads of every DSL user, everywhere...

After all, you're the root, the super-(local)user, the master.

Quote

The useful master delivers his teachings without making a fuss. While the worthless master delvers his teachings, while trying to make his student feel worthless.

mikshaw

Group: Members
Posts: 4856
Joined: July 2004

Posted: Feb. 19 2006,01:04

When did I flame? The topic of this thread was about the best method to remove the browser window, not about controlling it. You're the only one here doing the flaming, and it is you who is being rude, throwing insults and abuse at people you don't even know. Feel free to call me names, if you like...you only make yourself look like a troll.
There was no negativity in my post, and no abuse. I apologize if what I said sounded like harsh criticism, but i was just suprised at what appeared to be a very complicated solution to a simple issue...i understand now that you were explaining a way to take advantage of an existing feature.

I am well aware that most people here are former Windows users...that's to be expected, since Windows has been the most widely-used desktop system for years. My statement was to point out that DSL is a Linux system...it's not intended to be a transitional step between Windows and Linux. The tiny size of it pretty much dictates that it isn't going to be user-friendly in the click-to-do-everything sense of the word, so users will either need to already know some basics of Linux or else do some research. Sometimes people seem to think that the Windows way of doing things is the *right* way, and Windows-like features should be included in DSL....that's just not the way it is.

As far as help files go, there is as you said these forums, and there is also the wiki. However, not everyone who has DSL has direct access to the internet for whatever reason, so new users need something there to show them the unique parts of DSL that will allow them to get started with it. DSL is a revolutionary way to use an OS, and there are several things that make it very different from a typical Linux system.

--------------
http://www.tldp.org/LDP/intro-linux/html/index.html

cbagger01

Group: Members
Posts: 4264
Joined: Oct. 2003

Posted: Feb. 19 2006,04:50

[quote=Guest,Feb. 18 2006,16:17][/quote]

Quote

That kind of high-handed behavior will simply hold desktop linux off the desktops longer. After all, users DO need support.

Who here ever said that DSL is supposed to be a user-friendly MSWindows-replacement "Desktop Linux"? I for one am happy to leave the spoon-fed Windows-replacement "Desktop Linux" job to someone like Linspire or Xandros. They can have 'em. In case you haven't noticed, no one here gets paid any real money to develop or support this distro, so I think that your assumption about "popularity" here being the ultimate measure of success is mistaken.

Anyways, the whole point of this thread was to make sure that the user GETS the support that they need. If they don't READ the getting started, then it means that the people HERE at the forums need to spend time and energy reading and answering the same questions again and again. This does not help other people get the support. Why? Because if some of the better helpers here need to wade through 3 pages of repeated help requests every day, it means less time spent answering the truely new questions or less time spent learning new things about the distro itself.

[Quote for incorrect advice on how to remove the popup deleted]

Quote

......... As for the folks who started this topic, shame on you for displaying your rude opinions to newcomers like that.

The folks who started this topic have better things to do with their time than answer the same questions over and over. Only a person who does not understand the meaning of the word "rude" would call this behavior to be rude.

Now if the folks commonly answered such requests with something like:

RTFM you lazy jerk!

that WOULD be rude, although not completely unwarranted.

And my experiences here tell me that these "folk" usually DON'T reply this way.

Even when they are baited into an unsolicited argument by someone who thinks that they are a hero for protecting the poor ex-Windows users of the world from them rude helpful linux gurus.

37 replies since Feb. 15 2006,05:53

< Next Oldest | Next Newest >

[ Track this topic :: Email this topic :: Print this topic ]

Pages: (8) </ 1 [2] 3 4 5 6 7 ... >/

Damn Small Linux Board » Damn Small Linux » DSL Ideas and Suggestions » Tweak for the "Getting Started" page