Date: Fri, 3 Jul 1998 12:45:14 +0930 From: Greg Lehey <grog@lemis.com> To: David Caldwell <caldwell_david@hotmail.com> Cc: FreeBSD Chat <chat@FreeBSD.ORG> Subject: Beginning user's OS (was: Here is a really odd question!!!) Message-ID: <19980703124514.H358@freebie.lemis.com> In-Reply-To: <19980703010915.6825.qmail@hotmail.com>; from David Caldwell on Thu, Jul 02, 1998 at 06:09:15PM -0700 References: <19980703010915.6825.qmail@hotmail.com>
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On Thursday, 2 July 1998 at 18:09:15 -0700, David Caldwell wrote: > Hello, > My name is David Caldwell and I have a question that is sure to generate > some curiosity amongst those who read it (as well as some laughs). > I would like to know if this is a "good" operating system to start a > young mind in learning to use a computer? > Here is what I am proposing so that you will get a better understanding > of what I am asking for. > I have a9 year old daughter and an 8 year old son who both have more > curiosity about "how does your computer work Dad???" than I did when I > bought my first TRS-80 model 3.My son at this moment is having some > difficulty with his reading skills and doesn't really try that hard when > I try to coax him into reading to me,so I thought that I would use his > "want to know about a computer" to good use and set him up with a crash > box 486 and a totally different operating system than the windows unit > that he sees me working with. > My theory is that UNIX and operating systems that work like it will > never die and they are fairly complex to understand,they require a fair > amount of reading to be done before trying to make additions or changes > and the rewards for working at it can be immense. > So we will kill several birds with one stone:his reading will improve,he > will learn to type,he will know more about a computer (satisfying his > curiosity),and the knowledge that he gains and the skills he learns will > give him confidence. > Anyone can use DOS and Windows but it take a fair amount of brains to > use UNIX and not crash it while maneuvering thru it. > Am I barking up the wrong tree or should I go for it....any input would > be most helpful and from more than one source would be > appreciated...especially one with kids. > I am at a loss as far as my daughters math skills but any suggestions > there would be helpful. Interesting question. I gave up with my daughter (I just didn't have the time and patience to explain every detail). Still, she seems to be getting the hang of it. About the biggest thing I'm realizing from having a house full of computer semi-literates is that the biggest stumbling block is the ability to work with files, including editing. I'd recommend that your kids learn those concepts early on. In any case, this isn't really a question for -questions, so I'm following up to -chat. I'd suggest you sign up there if you're not already subscribed. You others in -questions, could you do the same, please? Greg -- See complete headers for address and phone numbers finger grog@lemis.com for PGP public key To Unsubscribe: send mail to majordomo@FreeBSD.org with "unsubscribe freebsd-chat" in the body of the message
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