Ubuntu Info Pamphet

[Cannedbread]

It is proposed that we create a pamphlet that can be distributed along with ubuntu CD's to further explain a few things, answer common questions, and point people to where they can get help.

The little folder that Ship It CDs come in has improved since hoary. It explains stuff a little better, like the difference between the install cd and live cd. However, it would be useful to have some kind of Ubuntu pamphlet that could be printed on a home printer.

I try to give the nice Ship It CDs to people who aren't going to just toss them. If one had this pamphlet, however, one could just burn stacks of the cds and give out the pamphlet/CD without putting more load on the Ship It system.

A few ideas for pamphlet topics:

*What Ubuntu is.
*What Open Source is + Why it is good.
*Brief Linux History
*The concept of "Ubuntu".
*What makes Ubuntu Unique
*What Canonical's role is.
*Open Office and its compatibility with MS office
*Thunderbird/Evolution Should be mentioned
*Gaim and its compatible networks.
*Synaptic, and the whole concept of repositories
* Support options (Wiki, Forum, IRC, and contact info for a LoCoTeam)

Perhaps different versions of the pamphlet could be made depending on who the target audience is. For example:

* Mention Gaim and gaming for teenagers
*Mention Open Office, Evolution, and server mode for businesses
* Etc.

If someone creates a nice layout with the ubuntu logo and color palette, I (CameronBergh) would be willing to write up a draft. it would be a wiki effort and use a creative commons license or something similar.

[deNoobius]

I think it should also have some purely practicaly advice--a summary of common commands like cp, mkdir, ls -a, how to cd and return to root, and that sort of thing; a description of the Gnome desktop (or KDE for Kubuntu) and how it works; a word or three on dual booting; instructions on how to add repositories and install software; how to mount peripherals if they don't automount; how to set up a network (at least the GUI instructions, and refer people here if they have problems). This kind of thing is what newbies (and I include myself) seem to need to know from the get-go.

[red_Marvin]

What format do you suggest? A4? CD booklet size?
DeNoobius has a good point too. cp, mv, rm, man (could be good;) )
Perhaps stuff about user privileges and root etc should be mentioned.
Maybe if it will be too much to put in a booklet, we (or someone, wiki?) could put
up on a site, like the unofficial ubuntu guide, and where that one more is about tweaking,
this would be about familiarizing oneself with the environment.

[deNoobius]

Red_Marvin makes a good point-"man" is really important for newbies.

[earobinson]

IMHO the terminal could scair new users and we shouldent try to teach them about it, It should be a feature they could yous but should be able to run linux without ever knowing that it exists, like you do on Mac :)

[deNoobius]

IMHO the terminal could scair new users and we shouldent try to teach them about it, It should be a feature they could yous but should be able to run linux without ever knowing that it exists, like you do on Mac :)

Hmmm...I don't know if you can really do that with Linux, even Ubuntu. I've only been at it a couple of weeks and I needed the terminal almost immediately.

[red_Marvin]

As I see it if you want to run ubuntu with any other configuration than the "right
out of the box" one one would need to know about the cli.

Also something that might be important is how the linux file system works (what's /home?)

[earobinson]

really? i love the terminal, use it for everything but i find i can get on with out it fairly well when i want to

[Cannedbread]

I created a wiki page, https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Pamphlet

I really like the man and --help suggestion. as for size, I was thinking something like a regular piece of printer paper tri-folded to make columns. maybe a quick explaination of sudo, and some general guidlines for good security practices. i see alot of posts on this stuff.

a booklett could be cool or even some kind of quick reference guide, for people who have already decided to use ubuntu. maybe a smaller, printed version of the ubuntu beginners guide? i would definatley support that project as well, but i think that for the purposes of convincing people to look into linux, a shorter one would be more likely to be actually read.

I am absolutely terrible at making web documents look good. but i would definatley write up a bunch for it.

[Cannedbread]

OK here is the ubuntu pamplett version <0.01