Previously I have contended that Linux could be challenging for the novice home user, mainly due to the difficulties that can be encountered on installation and setup. However, here I am posting from my ‘new’ Linux environment and really enjoying it. There is no doubt that everything seems to run much faster in this environment as I guess it is a lot more lightweight and this makes it a more pleasant experience.
However, the wireless network is still not functioning so I am unfortunately wired to a desk and not free to roam around the house. In fact, many hours have been spent getting to this point. I have learned more about wireless networks, encryption, MAC addresses, port forwarding on routers (for remote assistance), Linux command line commands etc than I ever thought I wanted to know. Installing Linux can actually be a great learning experience if you come across any problems and have a streak of stubbornness in you!
It can also be a great introduction to the Linux community. I have been amazed at the amount of support people from this community are prepared to give. As long as you do have access to the Internet, some sort of help is not too far away. Being located in Australia can pose some timing problems but this is an extremely active global community. As I write this, there is an expert in Canada willing to give up his time and remotely connect into my pc to do some diagnostics with me. I think this says a lot for the power of social networks, the Web in general and the generosity of people around the world.
Cheers,
Jerry.
technorati tags: Linux
4 Comments
You might want to check out Open Day for Linux Conf 2007.
There’s LUG’s all over Australia, if you take your laptop to one of them, it might help resolve your wireless problem, it may also help you tap into local Free Software communities. I think its great that edna online uses Free software e.g Moodle, Wordpress.
Thanks Chris,
EdNA uses an increasing number of open source and collaborative source tools such as the ones you mentioned. Open source on the desktop is an interest of mine and I have been using Vector Linux (at home) for quite a while now but I thought it was time for a change so am experimenting with Ubuntu - I am thinking about trialling the KDE environment at the moment.
Cheers.
Just having a snoop around your site and came across the article about Linux at home and community support.
In the aus.* space, you can subscribe to
aus.computers.linux
An Australian discussion group regarding various flavers
of this operating system. The site is low traffic, and quite
free of flame wars. Asking a question in this group generally
gets same day responses.
Question like “How do I get my DLINK wireless router
installed on Fedora Core 5,anyone else done this?”
Will get an answer from Stanislaw, Mark Sutor, myself or
one of the Australian “old guard”. Another good resource local
to Adelaide is located here
http://southernvaleslug.org/
Welcome to the web centred meeting place for Southern Vales Linux Users Group (SVLUG). Founded in the southern suburbs of Adelaide in South Australia.
“A diverse mix of ages, geographical location, linux experience and distribution preference: It is our aim to promote our own and other’s education, knowledge and efficacy with Linux, the (free) operating system of the future, and the vast array of Open Source (and free) applications that run under it.”
You can publish this information for others interested in Linux.
Cheers,
Mark Addinall (Founder, ex Chairman, Queensland Australian Unix Users Group AUUG).
Thanks Mark - more evidence of the enthusiasm and generosity of this community.
Cheers,
Jerry.
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