<br><br><div><span class="gmail_quote">On 2/5/07, <b class="gmail_sendername">Alan Pope</b> <<a href="mailto:alan@popey.com">alan@popey.com</a>> wrote:</span><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;"> On Mon, Feb 05, 2007 at 10:44:02AM +0000, Robin Menneer wrote:<br>> Useless to me, a beginner.  Concepts  are too advanced and gappy in<br>> presentation.  Nevertheless a well-intentioned try which should be<br>> encouraged. <br>><br><br>Ok, so what *would* be useful to you as a beginner?</blockquote><div><br> </div><br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;"> Oh dear, where do I start ?</blockquote><div>I've only had ubuntu a few months and am enjoying it more than I have any other system.  I started with a Commodore Pet when it first came out as being freedom from the main frame, and have kept away from Windows since it started. <br>Like many other retireds, I am involved in voluntary work which requires little more than Open Office backed by a friendly file manager.   But we use photos (you can see the direction we are going at <a href="http://www.cornishedges.com"> www.cornishedges.com</a>) and find we can cope with iphoto (on the other machine), it's a brilliantly simple and effective program.   Am looking for a ubuntu substitute for it because I don't want to be tied to apple any more than I can help.  Gimp (the newer version) looks promising but is much too complicated for my greenhorn missus who does a lot with pictures.  <br> As with most other people, I want to expand my expertise but to limit the demands on my skill to a drag-and-drop kind of application install, or a double-click.  The ubuntu add-and-remove facility is brilliant, and t'would be wonderful if all the proven applications (as bug-free as is reasonable) could be obtained off the web using the add/remove for access to a hierarchically arranged (and/or spot-lighted to 7 keyword description) list of packages (all thousands of them ?).  A thickie-trapped procendure is necessary.  Anything that requires the entry of code via the terminal is out.  My brain is too addled and ancient to try to forget Fortran and DOS and to use the terminal, tempting though it is.  I don't want to risk chewing up the installation by  pressing the wrong key. <br>I gather that ubuntu is generally regarded as the entry point for linux - I came in via Suse which I dumped when they got tied up with Novell, getting a mac mini (I couldn't resist the price) in addition to my 6 year old PC laptop.  Yet I get the impression that other versions of linux may be superior.  I only want the best and must rely on the linux world to guide me, not to confuse me  - which is what is happening now. <br> Is the above any use as a start ?   I'm happy to help.  Regards, Robin<br></div><br><div><br> </div><br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;"> As part of the screencast project I am keen to know what beginners want/need. What do you feel you didn't know that you think<br>you needed to?<br><br>What was missing?<br><br>Any input greatfully received.<br><br>Cheers, <br>Al.<br><br>--<br><a href="mailto:ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com">ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com</a><br><a href="https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk">https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk</a><br><a href="https://wiki.kubuntu.org/UKTeam/"> https://wiki.kubuntu.org/UKTeam/</a><br></blockquote></div><br>