Philipp,
You are most certainly correct about the multiple posting. Unfortunately I realized after posting here first that since this was not an issue of difficulty between the Zaurus and it's functionality while using a Linux OS on the desktop that I had posted in the wrong forum. After searching for a more accurate forum I was forced to settle upon the "General" forum as my topic clearly did not fit elsewhere. Upon doing so I sent a PM to the Moderator asking him to please delete this misplaced post. Since he has not done so I will resend the request to him. Please accept my most sincere apologies if I have offended anyone with this misplaced post. I will be more careful in the future.
You are also correct that the topic in general has been addressed before but after reading every thread I was able to turn up, I found that while I discovered several generic linux "newbie" introduction material sources they were almost all either written for Red Hat or Slackware based distributions, but were largely unhelpful to me because, (as I indicated in my original post), I am trying to find material specifically dealing with Debian. While basic syntax and some concepts are the same, the file system structure, Debians package management system, etc. are totally different. So I often found myself following directions that didn't apply, or trying to edit config files that were not where they were said to be. That may seem like a very small problem to those who are fluent in Linux in general and Debian specifically but to someone struggling at the entryway they are insurmountable roadblocks. So when I made my post I tried to express that while I had some background with Mandrake etc. that I was having difficulty and needing instructional material from the Debian perspective.
I'm sure you are very correct about searching for docs and reading man pages. Once I got through the steep learning curve that my original 5500 posed, picking bits and pieces out of forums was how I managed to get along as well as I have, I'm sure when I get to that level I will do that exact thing with the Debian distribution. First I've got to learn enough of the basics to "get to the point" where that will be useful to me, right now it's all greek. This is exactly why I made this post to begin with- I needed to get past first base and had failed in finding the information myself.
So at the moment I'm stalled a bit still waiting and hoping "someone else will recommend something good."
I'm sure it appeared that I was someone with little respect for protocol and who instead of trying to help himself find answers decided to stand around with his hand out expecting others to bring those answers to him. If you would re-scan my original post I hope you will see that I tried to be appropriate, concise, and specific in asking for assistance once I had exhausted my own ability to attain it by myself. Also if you would like please peruse my history of posts, I believe you will find that I try to be helpful, friendly, and stay within the forum conduct parameters.
I'm somewhat frustrated and extremely embarrassed at this moment. I had put off making this post because not only would it expose exactly how Linux illiterate I was, but invariably in the past when I tried to expand my Linux knowledge and posted to a forum asking for entry level help, regardless of how polite and well thought out I tried to make the post, someone either brushed me off, sneered at me, admonished me because I was unable to discover the "obvious place to find my answer", or left me with a link to a document that was so far beyond "newbie level" that it might as well have been written in hexadecimal code for all practical purposes. Once again all I've accomplished is to completely humiliate and embarrass myself.
Please understand in no way am I being sarcastic or mean spirited, this reply in it's entirety was written from an apologetic, humble, and sincerely embarrased perspective. If the Mods, don't get this thread deleted by tomorrow I'll come in and edit the post and at least delete the body of the message as to hopefully limit any further embarrassment upon myself. If no one has pointed me in a direction to get some real help, I'll probably delete the one in the General forum also for the same reason. I shouldn't have posted this to begin with- it was a moment of bad judgement. While folks here on the ZUG have always been helpful to me with Zaurus specific help, (and I have returned the favor more than willingly many times), the Linux community has always been borderline hostile to my entreaties for assistance. At this rate I'm doomed to be a newbie forever.
Thank you for at least being polite in your admonishment Pyrates, and I dont believe you were being anything other than well intentioned. Unfortunately I'm not a single step closer to getting the bit of help that I need, but I'll keep at it- I'm determined enough that I'll learn what I need to eventually. And again I agree with you completely, cross forum posts are in extremely bad form and it will not be repeated by me.
I wish you and yours a very merry Christmas and happy holidays,
Thank You and God Bless,
-NeuroShock
