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re: FAQ draft




Well guys, this FAQ is nice and funny, but I foresee two possible unwanted 
side-effects to it:

a. The entire Israel.s&m list members will start posting 'SUBSCRIBE' 
   message to the list in the hope of winning them-self a flogging as 
   promised... ;-)

b. Every newbie, after reading this FAQ, will run shouting to the nearest 
   BUG store to buy Win-doze95.

Seriously folks, The purpose of this list is to *help* people find the 
Linux way, not scare them off it...
After reading this FAQ, Linux sounds like something only high and mighty 
wizards will go about installing, preferably in the deep of night, in a 
dark and secret cave while mumbling ancient and terrible magic words -
While this is all true, we wouldn't want the newcomers to know this or 
they will be no newcomers... ;-)

I think the FAQ should be just a little more welcoming, and while the use of 
'Latin' words is very funny and amusing it also make the FAQ less 
understandable to the victims of the Israeli education system (who know 
how to use 22 tenses but have no idea what a liaison is... or flogging 
for that matter).

In short - be gentle. The following paragraph are ones that I feel should 
be especially friendly, for they I meant for those who don't really know 
what Linux is. I have tried to re-write these as I would have like to 
read them, here goes: 

Q1.0) What is Linux?

A1.0) Linux is a version of Unix. It runs on Intel machines, on PPC, on
      m68k, on MIPS', on Sparcs and on AXP. If you do not understand what
      these ugly voodoo words means - don't be alarmed. They are just 
      various kinds of computers and workstation. You will probably only
      be interested to know that Linux runs on your normal home PC.
      Being a Unix clone, Linux is multi-tasking (that is: able to
      perform several things at once) multi-user (that is: able to
      serve several users at the same time) and very very powerful.
      Linux was written by Linus Torvalds and a group of hackers on
      the Net and it is free to use for anyone (you may have payed
      someone for a Linux CD - in which case the payment was for putting
      Linux on the CD - NOT for the operating system itself).

Q1.1) Why should one install Linux?

A1.1) There are three main reason for installing Linux -

      a. Because Linux is a Unix clone, installing Linux is a great way
	 way to get to know Unix inside out.

      b. Because most current commercial operating systems (like Windows
	 and the like) are over priced, badly written and over all
	 over rated. Linux will enable you to use your computer hardware
	 to its limits and do things you didn't thought were possible
	 with your computer (at least not possible with out paying a lot
	 of money). And most important of all - Linux is Free.
	 
      c. Apart from the greatness of Linux itself, it has one more
	 goodie: it enables you to use the *huge* GNU software collection -
	 a giant archive of free software developed for YOUR use,
	 free of charge, just like Linux itself.

   All this sounds too good to be true?
   well, you're right - there is a catch. The catch is: You'll have to
   read a lot of documents, HOW-TO's, FAQ files and the like to get
   the best out of Linux. If this scares you off, do us all a favor and
   DON'T install Linux. However, if you are willing to read the documents
   before asking questions that may have been answered in those docs -
   we welcome you to the wonderful world of Linux.
   "Share and enjoy!" ;-)



              (__)   Gilad 
    M$ COW    ($$)   Ben-Yossef
       /-------\/    gby@netvision.net.il
      / |=====||     http://www.oblisc.co.il/gilad/index/html
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        ~~    ~~   "COW - a parking space for meet." Gidi Gov.