Re: FAQ Suggestions/Perceptions from a Novice--worth 2 cents.

[kestrell <aeryadne@world.std.com>]

I think Gary offered a great manifesto for the newbie blind linux user. I
also have the greatest respect for the other members of this list, and the
amazing things they do, but also feel, as a true newbie even after a year
of reading not only this list but the newbie list and the redhat list and
a couple of others, along with reading about a couple hundred documents
and websites, that there is a huge gap in the information needed for a
beginner to actually begin.

I use linx also, not because I don't have an alternative--I have a windows
95 machine, which I also taught myself, along with 3.1 and before that
DOS--but because it is far quicker and cleaner than the graphical
browsers, which is also the opinion of many sighted geeks I've met. I have
the resource of knowing many sighted gurus who could help with linux, but
they are not familiar with my screen reader, or using speech technology
for all aps, and getting a linux box up and running has been a year-long
project. I taught myself what I need to know to be functionally literate
in UNIX and HTML, and am learning PERL, but the linux docs have been
particularly dense as far as where a beginner cac crash-course in learning
linux. 

The reason I am writing this email, which I am trying not to let too much
of my own frustration seep into, is that the reason I got interested in
linux is that I felt it would be an incredible freeing OS for the blind
computer user. I still believe that, but I also believe there is a
desperate need to make the learning process more accessible.  Less
esoteric documentation with step-by-step  lists would not be, I think, a
matter of "dumbing down" for ppl who are already using complicated speech
and braille technology, but might prove to convert many computer users who
want to have an alternative to the mainstream hardware and software but
are intimidated by what seems a lot of geekspeak. 

Lastly, I would like to reiterate that I admire all the ppl who have put
so much time and energy into the linux movement, and none of my comments
are meant to detract from them or what has already been done.

k