[CoLoCo] Ubuntu Book

[David L. Willson]

Kevin,

Are you going to give this book to your Mom?  If you do, would you let me know her
reaction?  I'm one of those people that won't buy a book that's "for dummies", and I put
many, many books back on the shelf for taking 20 words to coat in candy what could have
been said in six.  Damn, I hate being talked down to.  Having said that, I always wonder
how "real users" feel about the sugar-coating.  Are they as repulsed by it as I am, or
is it really something that helps?

--David

On Tue, 18 Mar 2008 15:13:06 -0600, Kevin Fries wrote
> I found a book this weekend and thought I would share my thoughts on it.
> 
> I am in the process of building a machine for my mom that I can manage
> easily from remote (she lives in Phoenix, and nothing good ever came of
> my father trying to fix the computer, lol).  In case there was any doubt
> that was spelled u-b-u-n-t-u.
> 
> The book is called "Ubuntu for Non-Geeks".  The second addition I got
> for her is based upon Feisty Fawn.  It even includes a Feisty disk in
> the back of the book.
> 
> The book is really written down to an average user for the most part,
> with a very light, jovial, easy reading style.  Not as stuffy as the
> books most of us in the group have cramming our selves.  I realize that
> books written at a pace to keep up with me, overloads the average
> person, so this book is extremely nice in that context.
> 
> The first paragraph talks about what is Ubuntu and Linux.  It talks
> about operating systems only in very generic terms.  So it is not
> overwhelming.  It even discusses Tux.
> 
> The second paragraph walks the user through the install of the disk.
> Plain and simple, dialog by dialog.
> 
> After that, they slowly move from desktop down into the different types
> of programs.  As the book goes along, it does get into some pretty hairy
> stuff, like connecting your iPod, digital camera, burning CDs, etc.  So
> while it talks in simple language, it moves along at a pretty nice pace.
> 
> My only criticism would be three things:
> 
> First, it does go into the command prompt, and stays there a little
> longer than many novices may feel comfortable.  I think he is trying to
> make the novice feel that if you do need to go to the command prompt,
> don't worry, its not that scary.  In so doing, I think he went a little
> deeper than he intended, and in turn, may have created a self-fulfilling
> prophecy.
> 
> Second, in order to not scare users about being able to play their
> favorite DVD or song, he went the Automatix route.  Last I heard,
> Automatix and Ubuntu were on kissing terms, but only on the cheek, no
> lips.  Lots of bad blood to get over quickly.  I would have preferred he
> showed how to add those repos to the apt system, but he didn't.
> 
> Third, he actually went through one example of a "configure/make/make
> install" software install.  Again, I think it was to show a no big deal
> kind of attitude.  Again, wish he wouldn't have.
> 
> All in all, the bad stuff comprises an extremely small amount of the
> book.  Given its easy reading style, and advanced concepts, I would
> recommend that any of you that are looking to set up a non-geek with an
> Ubuntu desktop, take a look at this book.  It may not be perfect, but
> for anyone like my mom, I would clearly give this book an A-.
> 
> -- 
> Kevin Fries
> Senior Linux Engineer
> Computer and Communications Technology, Inc
> A Division of Japan Communications Inc.
> 
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David L. Willson
Trainer/Engineer/Consultant
MCT, MCSE, Linux+
(720) 333-LANS