In order to install Suse, Firebox etc.. and all the extensions you mention, do you need to know how to use vi (is that the editor ?) ??

A few years ago, I had a week long intro to Unix.
It seemed to me I had been taken back in time, to the 70's when I had my first courses on computing, trying to program in machine language.... <img src="/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

Is it still necessary or has some progress been made since... ?