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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
* ||----|| -----------------------------------------------
~~ ~~ "COW - a parking space for meet." Gidi Gov.