Baslinux mailing list

["Greg Mayman" <gmone AT tpg.com.au>]

On Fri, 22 Dec 2006 15:49:03 +0000 (UTC), sindi keesan wrote:

> I have a few modems that dial pulse by default.  Try adding T before the
> phone number.

My modems are always set to default to tone dialling on power up.
And the initialization code is always ATZ0, which again selects
the default setup with tone dialling.

In pppsetup I have set 0 init1 to ATZ0.

The only way it could change is if ppp-on is sending the ATDP
code to the modem rather than ATDT.

> What would you like to see added to the README file, or possibly put in a
> larger readme file at the BL site to which the downloaded one refers you?

Some instructions on how to use the derned thing. And some
explanation as to why the trial version overloads so easily, and
why the version in its own partition is so much better.

And a list of the commands I can use with it. Until someone told
me, I didn't even know how to install any of the add-ons, or how
to try an internet connection.

If one of the subscribers to the list could imagine that they
have never used Linux before, they could install the BL3 package
strictly according to the instructions, and see how well it works
for them.

But they must NOT use any knowledge they have gathered prior to
that installation. They must use ONLY the information in the
README file, or what is on the download site.

They must NOT assume that a mention of the option of installing
BL in its own HDD partition implies anything more than is
actually stated in the README file or on the download page, that
is that it is only an option.

> When you boot BL3.40 you get a page of HINTS FOR NEW USERS (see also
> /etc/issue) which tells you how to use X, if you know what  GUI is and
> that X is a GUI.  Maybe it should be worded differently?

I don't remember seeing that page. And since I don't have it
installed at present I can't check it out.

Yes, I know what a GUI is. No, I did _not_ know that "X" was a GUI.

> 'To activate the stand-alone GUI, execute startx (required 8MB RAM)'
> The first time you run it you are asked to choose resolution etc.
> You can use Xsetup to change resolution later (or edit Xconfig).

> But the download site does not make it at all clear that links2 and
> sylpheed require X.  They 'require SVGA' - what does this mean?
> I interpret that as 800x600 resolution, which they do NOT need, do they?

I interpret it to mean that basic VGA would not work with them.

But exactly what the differences are between VGA and SVGA is
something I'm not sure about. You could be right about SVGA
meaning it can do 800x600 (and above).

> Is it mentioned anywhere obvious that X (the GUI) needs more than 8-bit
> color?   And to use another X server (X_SVGA) if you have only 8-bit?

Aha! THAT is the kind of thing that should be in the DOC file for
the new user.

>> Now they tell me. What else is there that I don't know?
> Probably a lot.  Please make a list of questions and answers you think
> would be helpful to other newbies, not in the readme or issue files.

I don't know enough to even know what questions to ask!

> You also need to read the little page that you see when you first boot
> with the HINTS.

I don't remember that page. There was a block of about 10 lines
or so that comes up when BL3 is started. I didn't understand much
of it.

> We complained about that and Steven added a 'man' script and man pages.
> But not 'info'.  Look in /usr/man and /usr/local/man using zless and the
> name of one of the .gz files, or type man and the first part of the file
> name.

But why would a new user think to look for these things deep down
in the directory structure?

>> The new user is strictly on his own.

> No, there is this list for help.  You obviously found the instructions to
> reach the list.

Yes, I saw it in the add-ons page. But I never had to join a
discussion list as a first step. I have found it to be
counter-productive, at least until I know a little about the
thing I am trying to use so I can know what questions to ask and
understand the things they suggest I try.

Step 1: RTFM
Step 2: play with it a bit
Step 3: start asking questions

That's what has always worked for me in the past.

.   ,-./\
.  /     \     from Greg Mayman, in Adelaide, South Australia
.  \_,-*_/     "Queen City of The South"    34:55 S  138:36 E
.       v