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Idea #11061: "Ubuntu for Beginners" virtual and physical book

Written by neomenlo the 12 Jul 08 at 16:13. Category: Documentation. Related project: Nothing/Others. Status: New
Rationale
I got this idea when I saw a post on some random forum, where someone had said that they would consider dual booting into Ubuntu, if there were a 'Ubuntu/Linux for beginners' book that wasn't for 30$.
He was looking on amazon at the time, and probably did not even look at the Ubuntu documentation. I haven't either until now. It's not easy to read and certainly not designed for beginners.

So, what I'm thinking is to provide exactly what he was thinking. A "Ubuntu for beginners" virtual book that can be easily printed and distributed with an open source licenses, Similar to the "wikipedia" physical books. The book may be sold for the cost of materials, or could easily be printed from home.

It could be featured somehow on Ubuntu's "shipit", as an option for new users.

Since it is specifically designed for beginners, it should not be deeper than necessary, and explain everything someone new to Linux needs to know to install and use Ubuntu.

The actual website for constructing should be Drupal with the "books" module. Many of the Ubuntu website's are already using Drupal (Including Ubuntu QA), and the books module provides the best and easiest features for both writers and readers. The pages can be easily ordered and structured in the book. The pages can be individually viewed, individually printed, or printed as a book.

Since Ubuntu QA already uses Drupal framework, it makes sense to use it on this "site" but give it it's own subdomain. Users of Ubuntu QA will not need a new account and Drupal will not need to be re-themed as much.
Tags: book

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Solution #1: Auto-generated solution of idea #11061
Written by neomenlo the 12 Jul 08 at 16:13.
Ubuntu Brainstorm was updated in January 2009. Since the idea #11061 was submitted before this update, its rationale and solution are not separated. Please vote accordingly, and if you have the necessary rights, please separate the rationale from the solution. Thanks!

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Eldmannen wrote on the 12 Jul 08 at 18:10
Yes, it would be nice with a free .pdf Ubuntu book.

The guy is just making excuses though. Or do did he buy a "Computer for beginners" and "Windows for beginners" book, too?

neomenlo wrote on the 12 Jul 08 at 18:18
I do not think that drupal can directly export to .pdf. However the maintainers could use a pdf printer and make a .pdf for major releases of the book.

I agree it sounds like he is making up excuses, but it was an inspiration I had based on his complaint.

It also made me realize that if you do not have really easy access to a second computer, it can be impossible to research how to do something if Ubuntu is not working correctly.

Also, a very easily accessible and always available handbook for beginners could answer a lot of support questions, help users just feel more secure, and learn faster.

tchalvakspam wrote on the 12 Jul 08 at 19:38
I think that conversion of an existing resource (even better, a wiki so that topics can be kept up-to-date) into a file format so that it can be printed is fine.

Lets face it, distribution of the ubuntu OS is done digitally these days, so the need for a physically printed manual is small, having the manual with sections short enough to be printed locally would be enough.

neomenlo wrote on the 12 Jul 08 at 21:29
I like the idea of sectioning it.

You could give the user the option of downloading the whole book or a specialized section. I believe drupal can already handle that though.

Another interesting idea is that there could be a VERY basic "beginners" book, but then feature specializations.

For example, if the user is experiencing problems with getting the display drivers to work, there could be an "xorg for beginners". This would feature the most common problems and solutions necessary to get most systems working, or to install proprietary drivers for compiz. I mention X because a physical copy does a user a lot more good than a virtual one that can't be seen when X isn't working.

Other ideas could be "Ubuntu Web Hosting", "Console for Beginners". Many of these are already done pretty well already, but a collection into an official and easy to access Ubuntu "How To" will help learning users realize the full potential of Ubuntu.

den26 wrote on the 13 Jul 08 at 07:14
Do you suggest a book like this one?

http://www.framabook.org/ubuntu.html

(this is in French)

Vadim P. wrote on the 13 Jul 08 at 12:18
I don't see a problem with buying the Official Ubuntu Book

david3333333 wrote on the 13 Jul 08 at 13:54
The only problem with buying "The Official Ubuntu Book" is that it becomes out-of-date rather quickly, and it isn't very beginner-friendly. When I first started using Ubuntu, I was often confused by the book's terminology, much of which I didn't know at the time.

I think that this is a brilliant idea. This would very much help the many new users that have just ventured out of Windows for the first time.

Vadim P. wrote on the 13 Jul 08 at 15:21
There is a third revision of it now though... I read a chapter of it, it looks quite good to me :/

neomenlo wrote on the 13 Jul 08 at 15:52
I'd be more than willing to create the site and framework myself if this idea becomes popular enough or a couple of people pledge to help write it.

hendrikb wrote on the 19 Jul 08 at 10:46
I think the introduction to Knoppix found on their DVD distribution (v5.3.1) is a good model for this.

Jiwee wrote on the 13 Aug 08 at 20:10
I really like the idea as well. Coming from Windows, it's annoying to have to learn how to read the beginners book. I haven't read the Ubuntu one in particular but I've looked at others. I open it thinking I'm going to be directed accordingly but instead, I'm even more confused than I was before I opened it.
I'd like to have a manual that explains the solutions to problems not too broadly, but not so overwhelmed with information that I don't know what's going on. I'm not too experienced in the computer terms..
I'd like to have something that will spell it out to me... no matter how retarded it might look to Ubuntu users. XP
I'll learn eventually, and then maybe I can pick up that "beginners" book.


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