Most people are simple users, they have little interest in setting up mail servers or websites. They just want to use a computer, not work a computer. And those are the people you need to convince into giving a Linux distro or three a try - Mom and Dad, your little Brother, Auntie Sue, and Grandpa and Grandma.
Fortunately, you can easily get a mini desktop computer from Amazon on the cheap, I picked one up for $90US last summer purely for distro hopping, and then install a distro to see if you like it or not. It’s cheap and easy. Toss in a $20US wireless keyboard and mouse combo set, and an old unused monitor, and for less than a Saturday night out, you got a rig to surf Linux distros to your heart’s content to see the power of the Linux desktop.
In fact it’s my belief it’s these dirt cheap modestly spec’ed mini computers that should come with a Linux distro pre-installed. And not the $1000US+ laptops that Linux is currently available on from the factory. Much like Chromebooks, these cheap little computers could and should be the gateway to increased adoption of Linux for the home users.
Nice! Your parents are willing to expand their horizons and don’t fear the unknown in search of something better. This old Grandpa prefers running a good distro myself.
Most people are simple users, they have little interest in setting up mail servers or websites. They just want to use a computer, not work a computer. And those are the people you need to convince into giving a Linux distro or three a try - Mom and Dad, your little Brother, Auntie Sue, and Grandpa and Grandma.
Fortunately, you can easily get a mini desktop computer from Amazon on the cheap, I picked one up for $90US last summer purely for distro hopping, and then install a distro to see if you like it or not. It’s cheap and easy. Toss in a $20US wireless keyboard and mouse combo set, and an old unused monitor, and for less than a Saturday night out, you got a rig to surf Linux distros to your heart’s content to see the power of the Linux desktop.
In fact it’s my belief it’s these dirt cheap modestly spec’ed mini computers that should come with a Linux distro pre-installed. And not the $1000US+ laptops that Linux is currently available on from the factory. Much like Chromebooks, these cheap little computers could and should be the gateway to increased adoption of Linux for the home users.
My parents run Linux. So that’s 2 down.
Nice! Your parents are willing to expand their horizons and don’t fear the unknown in search of something better. This old Grandpa prefers running a good distro myself.
Awesome!! It’s great to see people of all ages running Linux. I’ve been using it since 1999, but only dumped Windows for good recently.