On Monday 02 June 2003 02:07, Theo v. Werkhoven wrote: <snip>
But the company secretary won't be asked e.g. to extract some information from a sql database and put that on a floppy in a DOS format or whatever.
There are users for whom that type of knowledge would be useful. And then there are most users, for whom it is not.
It doesn't help users to keep them in the dark about why things work the way they do. You don't keep information about the drives system from Windows users either, although most never have a clue about the implications.
I think these are extremely valid points. Most people will forget most of what they learn after a couple of months simple because they don't use it. However, I think it is valid to at least present the material to them.
Knowing a thing or two about the /ever present/ standard text processor tools is usefull too, if only to give them a feel for the power of these tools for future uses.
For most regular users there are not now, nor will there ever be a time when sed, awk of vi is useful. This is why companies have admins.
How can you say beforehand what a user needs or is going to need once he/she has the tools at their disposal? Some people do more than email and writing memo's you know.
Plus there is a difference between a Linux course and a KDE or Gnome course. If someone wants to learn how to use/run/admin Linux then you need to tell them about sed, awk and vi. If all they are interested in is how to run the apps in KDE, then they probably don't need to know about vi. However, that is obviously a different target audience.
It is extremely detrimental to the "linux on the desktop" movement to include this type of material in "luser" classes. It scares people away.
No it doesn't, the thought that they can't play their games and that they don't get all these "funny" emails with flash/java/mediafiles or who knows what scares them away.
I agree with you there. Although there are a lot of people who simply want something familiar to read their email or surf the net, most of the people I know are interested in learning a little more. That is what the course needs to teach them. If they want an Windows-like GUI where they only need to press a few buttons, then the Linux distributions need to provide something that reaches that level of "do nothing" installs. Regards, jimmo -- --------------------------------------- "Be more concerned with your character than with your reputation. Your character is what you really are while your reputation is merely what others think you are." -- John Wooden --------------------------------------- Be sure to visit the Linux Tutorial: http://www.linux-tutorial.info --------------------------------------- NOTE: All messages sent to me in response to my posts to newsgroups, mailing lists or forums are subject to reposting.