Linux newbie at 39th & Camelback

[stu]

Hi Vic;
	The Distro that I usually start Newbies out on is MEPIS 3.3.1 mostly because 
it's so easy to use. I've even convinced a few people to dump WindowsXP for 
it. Still something of a newbie myself, I've been using it since it was 
released, and have had very little trouble with it. The Firefox browser comes 
pre-bookmarked to Shoutcast.com, and a few other media sites as well. It 
streams in through either XMMS or one of the other players with very little 
configuration - I listen to it myself all the time. Kstream ripper saves the 
broadcasts in neatly organized files that are fairly easy to understand and 
replay later, once you figure out how to enter the streaming audio IP address 
into it. For a person who just wants to browse the web, check and answer 
e-mail, listen to music, watch dvds, and .wmv files (you have to install the 
mplayer "essential codecs" from the Mplayer site), it works as well as 
Windows ever did for me. It also comes with Open Office suite, Gimp, some 
games, and a lot of other useful stuff upon install, and loading other 
packages with either Kpackage manager or Synaptic is about as easy as falling 
off a log.
	It took my son over two months to convince one of his programmer friends to 
even *try* the MEPIS Live CD, and now the guy uses it for all his 3D artwork 
after compiling the Panda Engine to run on it.
	No muss, No fuss, and with the formation of the DCCA, things will only get 
better for users of Debian flavors!
	Stu

On Monday 15 August 2005 17:49, Victor Odhner wrote:
> I have a young friend whom I have helped with computer stuff for the
> past 10 years or so,
> but since we're on opposite ends of town right now it's a little tough.
> He is on Windows XP
> which breaks often, and he's just trying to break into Linux.  He's
> especially interested in
> receiving radio streams.  He's on disability, has some learning problems
> and has virtually no
> money.  Since he's unable to be employed, a large part of his life
> consists of valiantly trying
> to tinker with his PC.  He schleps his computer box to Scottsdale and
> back on the bus,
> because he has one other friend there who helps him generously with old
> hardware and
> with Windows installs.  I recently set him up with a Kanotix CD from
> which he's trying to
> get a hard-disk install done, as I try to coach him over the phone ...
>
> I just thought I'd put this out, in case anybody out Maryvale way would
> like to pitch in
> occasionally.  If so, please email me and I'll fill you in.
>
> Thanks,
> Vic
>
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