Ubuntu Help compared with other help systems

[Dean Sas]

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Andreas Lloyd wrote:
> Funny that I forgot about this. As a first time user, I automatically
> picked the top option -("Desktop - that sounds about right") and went
> straight through looking for Ubuntu documentation. And instead I found
> all of this GNOME stuff which is really unhelpful: No, I don't want
> deskapplets, No I don't want to read about mouse conventions. 

Me too, I just got straight on the internet and found ubuntuguide.org it
wasn't until I started "getting into the community" that I bothered with
the actual docs.

<snip>

> The desktop guide is not just a mere starter guide - it covers most of
> the basic functions of Ubuntu - and much better than any of the
> standardized information currently in the four categories "Desktop",
> "Applications", Other Documentation", "Manual Pages" - oh, and please:
> how is a new user ever going to know the difference between
> "documentation" and "manual pages" ?
> It might be a good idea to explain the differences between these
> categories.

Man pages are hidden behind 'Command line references' in Dapper

> A most centrally: There's a lot of good work in that desktop guide -
> make people aware of it!
> 
> Once a user has become familiar with his system - a sort of intermediate
> user - he'll want to be able to search for a certain help topic, not try
> to second guess where that help might be (in "applications" or in "Other
> documentation"?)
> 
> There's so much stuff from various authors in there, that it is
> difficult to navigate. I don't know whether the docBook format supports
> proper searching like some other help functions (I couldn't find one),
> but what is really needed is a good index. From which you can easily
> access all the relevant help functions, whether it is GNOME or a Man page.
> Alternately just refer people to the Wiki.

<snip>
> Sorry if this came across in a ranty sort of tone. It was meant most
> pleasantly. I think we have some excellent docs for Ubuntu, but it
> really does matter how we present it. I don't think it'll help turning
> it into the task-centered help which other help pages use - those are
> usually equally confusing. To me, a quality search function is essential.
> 

The version in Dapper allows you to search, however it pulls up all
those nasty man pages in the results.

I agree with you in general, I think that having the Ubuntu specific
documents on top would be better - particularly as they're probably
after info that's only easy to find in there. Codecs, windows
partitions, using your ipod etc.

dsas
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