New member

[Patrick Bloomfield]

I'm a new member of this mailing list and would like to introduce myself 
with a comment or two that might be relevant to the group as a whole. 
I'm in my seventies. I've used Windows since Windows 1.0 was released, 
had grown increasingly eager to escape the MSFT empire, had tried one or 
other distribution of Linux from time to time, but had previously never 
found any Linux system sufficiently user friendly.
Now I have installed SuSe 9.1 and this new distribution seems to me to 
meet all my needs. But, while the system is very friendly, the 
documentation is not. Not, at any rate for an amateur such as I.
I wonder if TLUG has ever considered broadening interest in Linux and, 
possibly, bringing a few dollars into the group's coffers, by running 
introductory Linux courses for beginners, limited to basic principles, 
basic commands, learning how to configure and mount accessories, etc. 
Such a course would also give new users a legup with specific problems.
For instance, I am composing this message in the Windows version of  
Mozilla Thunderbird because I have not yet succeeded in getting my 
D-Link Air-Plus DWL-650+ up and running in  the SuSe 9.1 system. The 
SuSe 9.1 handbook suggests that the system's wireless card configuration 
will work for D-Link products. By contrast,  the manufacturer's web site 
suggests there is no Linux driver for the DWL-650+. I did  find one set 
of driver files  in www.sourceforge.net/project. However, even were I to 
download these files, I would not be certain where to file them in the 
system.
I'm also unable to achieve a full-screen SuSe 9.1 format on my Toshiba 
Tecra 8100 (for which SuSe 9.1 does not seem to include a specific 
display installation).
The lasrt thing I wish is to take up this group's time teaching me or 
any other newbie basic programming. On the other hand, an introductory 
course would be an ideal stepping stone for new Linux users.
Patrick Bloomfield.
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