Proposal to donate the writing of an ebook/book
Naaman Campbell
naamanc2 at gmail.com
Mon Jan 30 03:29:12 UTC 2006
Michael,
The Ubuntu Documentation Team are currently working on the Desktop
Starter Guide for the next release of Ubuntu, Dapper Drake. The
current working draft is available at
http://doc.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/desktopguide/C/index.html.
The majority of the proposed contents of your book are already covered
in the guide and we can definately do with your help finishing off the
rest. The format that the guide is edited in can be converted to any
number of "book" friendly formats.
Here's how to help: https://wiki.ubuntu.com/DocumentationTeam/Repository
I have only started working on the guide last week and numerous
submissions of mine have already been made part of the guide.
Contact the mailing list if you get have any problems.
Regards,
Naaman Campbell.
On 1/30/06, Michael Steinberg <mlstein at rochester.rr.com> wrote:
> I like Linux and love Ubuntu, I admire the spirit which has made OSS
> work, and because I can't program but can write I thought writing a
> book would be a useful contribution.
>
> I've been using Ubuntu myself since its release and have installed it
> on a number of computers I've given to others, often poor people who
> haven't had a computer before. Teaching them is a problem, though. I
> haven't found any introductory books that are Linux-oriented except for
> ones about Mepis and Linspire; a "starting off with Ubuntu" book would
> fill a niche and would also help popularize the distro.
>
> As I see it right now, the book would cover installation, setup, and
> basic skills like navigating in the Open/Save box; customizing, adding
> applications (through Add Application, Synaptic, and apt-get, with a
> word on Automatix), fonts, printers etc.; sudo and administration;
> connecting via dialup and wireless; a few elementary command-line
> skills, what the programs do, and where to go for help. It would be
> structured in part around the default menus, but rather than tell
> people how to use the programs it would introduce each one and its
> function and cover the program's learning and support options. There
> would be a word or two about some of the additional apps in the "Add
> Application" menu option. While the focus would be on GNOME, there
> should be at least a chapter on Kubuntu. A tentative outline follows,
> and I welcome all comments. I would be working with pre-release
> versions of Dapper, so it should be up-to-date when finished.
>
> This isn't a difficult job. I'd solicit queries and requests through
> the beginner forum particularly, and for some topics would need to mine
> the Wiki or solicit people directly. Obviously the input of the doc
> team would be essential, but I don't think I need writing help, only
> fact-checking, editorial suggestions, and assistance with technical
> things I can't try out myself.
>
> The whole thing would be GPL'd. I think of it as a pdf e-book for the
> site (though I'd learn XML if needed), but hard-copy books are still
> more useful than pdfs. It would also be lovely to produce it in
> physical form, perhaps with Ubuntu CDs in the back pocket and on sale
> in the Ubuntu store. "Everything you need to start out in Ubuntu." A
> perfect gift for friends and family!
>
> Who am I? I'm an appellate lawyer in Rochester, New York, as far as
> income goes; but my real interest is in writing. I have a fairly
> abstract piece of social theory out from Monthly Review Press, The
> Fiction of a Thinkable World, which you can read about at
> http://www.monthlyreview.org/tfoatw.htm. (it would be terrific if you
> bought copies, too!) I also write frequently for http://www.mrzine.org.
>
> Besides that, I've published a short history of the Adirondack
> Mountains in New York for younger readers which won awards when it came
> out, and I've been explaining computers to family and friends ever
> since I bought an Osborne. I think I can get the material across simply
> and clearly and with a good deal of humor.
>
> I'd like to know how this sounds to the doc team. If you're interested,
> I have a sample chapter I can send in .pdf, and I can draft a detailed
> plan of work.
>
> Michael Steinberg
>
> OUTLINE (VERY TENTATIVE....)
>
> 1. Why Linux? Why Ubuntu?
> 2. Hardware concerns: Winmodems, Wireless
> 3. Getting & Installing Ubuntu
> 4. Welcome to the Desktop
> 1. Gnome
> 1. Displays, desktop backgrounds, etc.
> 2. The Open/Save dialogue
> 3. Options in the system menu
> 4. The panel
> 2. KDE
> 5. Basic skills
> 1. Nautilus
> 2. Further tweaking with administrative tools; sudo
> 3. Setting up dialup
> 4. Ndiswrapper & wireless
> 5. Fonts
> 6. Printers
> 7. Codecs
> 6. Adding and customizing
> 1. Automatix
> 2. The package system
> 3. Add programs & update manager
> 4. Synaptic
> 5. Apt-get
> 7. Graphics applications
> 1. The GIMP
> 2. Inkscape
> 3. Xsane
> 4. Other programs in the "Add Applications" menu
> 8. Internet:
> 1. Web Browser
> 1. Adding plugins
> 2. Evolution & E-mail
> 3. IRC & IM
> 4. Other programs in the "Add Applications" menu
> 9. Office applications
> 1. Open Office
> 2. Evolution: the rest of the story
> 3. pdfs and Adobe Reader
> 4. Other programs in the "Add Applications" menu
> 1. Scribus & DTP
> 10. Programming
> 1. Nvu, Bluefish
> 11. Sound & Video
> 1. Totem
> 2. Sound Juicer
> 3. Getting Real Player
> 4. Other programs in the "Add Applications" menu
> 12. The Command line
> 1. The structure of Linux: CLI, X, etc.
> 2. Accounts & Permissions
> 3. Root & sudo
> 4. Basic file management
> 5. Other useful commands
> 13. A chapter about Kubuntu
> 14. Getting more help
>
>
> *************************************************************
> Michael Steinberg
> 109 Rutgers Street
> Rochester, New York 14607-2840
>
> (585) 242-0538 (h) (585) 295-8544 (o) (585) 298-9323 (fax)
> *************************************************************
> I don't spoil my cats. I simply can't convince myself that my
> intentions are always more important than theirs.
>
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