New users - possible problems

[Neil Winchurst]

There has been some discussion recently about getting computer users off 
Windows and on to Linux. I think that is a great idea. However I suggest 
that some help and hand-holding will be required. Here are some thoughts 
that I recently set down.

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Setting up Kubuntu Edgy.

There has been some chat recently about getting Windows users to migrate 
to Linux with particular reference to Kubuntu. I have used Linux for 
years  I installed Edgy the day that it came out and I have been pleased 
so far. It might be interesting to look at the changes and tweaks that I 
have made so far. My point is that as it installed out of the box so to 
speak, it was not yet ready for me. It worked, of course, but I had to 
do quite a bit of customisation before I was happy with it. What will 
people new to Linux think I wonder.

*** Please note that these are not criticisms, merely some thoughts and 
comments re possible problems for people new to Linux  ***



First of all I made the Num Lock turn on at log on. The default to have 
it off seems odd to me.

I could not see any files in the root folder so, with help from the 
group, I sorted that out.

I had some problems with my browsers (Firefox and Galeon)  Again with 
help I traced this to having IPv6  enabled. With help from the group I 
disabled it and all is now well. New users could find this rather 
obscure and difficult to sort out.

I had to add extra repositories before I could see a complete list of 
available files.

I had a floppy drive in my new computer (I know, but it was there) and 
it took a while and quite a lot of help from the group to get it working.

Adding new files using Adept seemed fine, but I had to learn to deal 
with packages that needed me to answer some questions along the way. At 
first I thought it had died on me.

My printer was found OK, but I couldn't get any utilities to work with 
it (eg checking ink quantity) at first. Eventually I installed escputil 
and all is now well.

There were no icons on the desktop at all. OK, some people like to work 
that way. I suggest that those new to Linux will want and expect  to 
find some icons already there. I have added a few for myself (26 in 
fact). They were fairly easy to set up except for Home. I had to be 
pointed in the right place for that one.

I like using a terminal screen. I had to add the necessary icon in 
Konqueror so that I can call it up from any folder. And yes, I do often 
use alt-F2.

I couldn't get any sounds at first. Luckily I knew about Kmix. I found 
that everything was switched off. Seems strange. Anyway, I got it sorted 
out but a newcomer to Linux is going to be baffled I suggest.

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As I say, just some first thoughts. We need to look after any newcomers, 
agreed??

Neil Winchurst