OSDev.org

Linux Made Easy (created by me). is a website designed to help computer 'grandmas' to understand what Linux is and to help these people use the Operating system. Or as the website puts it:

We at LinuxMadeEasy.org want to make your it easier for you to learn Linux. We also believe in the saying: Give a man a fish; you have fed him for today. Teach a man to fish; and you have fed him for a lifetime. This site will introduce you to the basics of what Linux is and how to use it in a language that is easy to understand.

I want to focus more on the learning side rather than the How To side of Linux. For example teach people the basic GUI elements though the use of graphical images. And also I want to focus on configuration in a GUI as much as possible (for example, I want to introduce the package management system)

Just wondering whether you guys like the idea and would you guys help create content for this group of people.

OT: Taking a "grandma" as a person, well, my grandma doesn't know whats a COMPUTER.

inflater wrote:OT: Taking a "grandma" as a person, well, my grandma doesn't know whats a COMPUTER.

that's who I'm targetting

Well, it sounds a good idea, but it's too high-level for total computer novices. My grandma didn't saw a keyboard or a (PC) mouse, nor the PC on/off switch
I think Linux is not made for these types.

inflater wrote:Well, it sounds a good idea, but it's too high-level for total computer novices.

This is a mouse.. This is the cursor.. and here is a button which you can place the cursor over.. wait.. you must already know that since you managed to get yourself to this website and navigate around.

Who said that someone can't print off a sheet of paper for this grandma (since 9/10 times there is usually a person helping them)?

In fairness the article writer could indeed be successfully targeting these people, you see my parents are pensioners and it took me a LONGG time but I converted them ....somewhat , It was hard going but I set up all their net etc and got them onto google etc so they were in the position where I could dump them on a site and say......read this. My Father has picked up alot but my mother still has heaps to learn as she has a tenancy to get me to fix things or just do things on the PC for her so a site like the OP suggests would maybe help her if I got her on the site and told her to read certain parts once per week or something!

Anyway I will give your site a try this way because once my old Mum is self sufficient with the PC I think it will help her

hmm in fact my Father loves windows and I tried to put him on linux once and I think he didnt like it but I kinda tried to explain that linux is better when you are trying to learn to code and in certain development environments, he knows the basics like how to click and move a mouse, what a cursor is and a respectable amount more than that so if I can find a good intro to linux on your site and something that would perhaps get him into using linux and doing some sort of programming where he can get feedback and a feeling of achievement he will get the bug

I wanted my Dad to learn C but he started with the hello world program and after words said , "But whats the point in that?" lol , I can understand it in a way hehe but I explained with languages like C you have to start basic and learn about the basics of loops , functions etc before you can hope to write programs with fancy graphics etc. I know C is a different issue but I think its this way of thinking+ the lack of accessibility of linux that puts many off.

Where my Dad is concerned hes had multiple jobs and done lots in his life and needs an OS that just works and whos functions are convenient , yes he wants to learn but he doesn't want to be fighting with the actual system hes on for leisure or if he does have to do some bug fix he wants it documented and a way to fix it thats clear and concise/to the point. I kinda agree with him on the documentation side as much docs in the computing industry lack information or use arcane style of formatting commands and expect people just to "know" without explaining how things work in English first with diagrams that start very abstract and work up where applicable.

Anyway I will let some of my family know of your site as I always think more info on the web is a good thing!

B.E wrote:

inflater wrote:OT: Taking a "grandma" as a person, well, my grandma doesn't know whats a COMPUTER.

that's who I'm targetting

Then you have some serious problems.

Linux (pronounced /ˈlɪnəks/ or /ˈlɪnʊks/) is a Unix-like operating system and has a reputation as a very efficient and fast-performing system. Linux's kernel (the central part of the operating system) was developed by Linus Torvalds at the University of Helsinki in Finland. To complete the operating system, Torvalds and other team members made use of system components developed by members of the Free Software Foundation for the GNU Project.

Unix-like - grandma doesn't know what this means.
operating system - grandma doesn't what this means.
efficient and fast-performing system - grandma has nothing to compare with and she couldn't care less, she just wants to get her work done.
Linux's kernel (the central part of the operating system) - grand has absolutely no idea what the kernel is, since she does not know what an operating system is.
developed - grandma doesn't know what this means in computer context.
operating system - grandma has no idea what this is.
team members - grandma didn't know they played sports as well
system - grandma has no idea what this is
components - grandma has absolutely no idea what this is
developed - huh?
GNU Project - grandma thinks this is some kind of project for the preservation of nearly extinct animals

Unlike Windows and other proprietary systems, Linux is publicly open and extensible by contributors. Because it conforms to the Portable Operating System Interface standard user and programming interfaces, developers can write programs that can be ported to other operating systems. Linux comes in versions for all the major microprocessor platforms including the Intel, PowerPC, Sparc, and Alpha platforms. It's also available on IBM's S/390. Linux is distributed commercially by a number of companies. A magazine, Linux Journal, is published as well as a number of books and pocket references.

Windows - grandma knows what this is: her computer is beside one. She can look out through it.
proprietary systems - grandma has no idea what this is
Linux is publicly open and extensible by contributors - grandma couldn't care less, she just wants to send an email, not use something "open" because the Windows isn't "open"
developers - huh?
write programs - grandma doesn't know how programs are created, most likely she doesn't even know what a program is.
ported - oh, is this some kind of shipping service?
operating systems - you still didn't explain what an operating system is.
versions - grandma doesn't know what this means or why it matters to her
major microprocessor platforms - grandma has absolutely no what this means

You explain it in a way that is only understandable by people who already know everything there is to know about computers and Linux.

unfortunately I agree with the above poster about your indepth...ness.

You will deffinately need to dumb it down and just talk about how easy it is to use and how it makes browsing the web or checking emails easy. I know my grandparents would have been lost in your paragraphs, therefor you might want to start dumbing it down, or start explaining essential bits in easier terms.

Great idea though, I think older citizens and such should begin using technology as it speeds up common tasks. Oh.. and you HAVE to include a section on playing solitare or something of the sort.