Linux

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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

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I'm going to talk to my local Repair Cafe about switching people over to Linux because of W10 EOL. Is there anything I should mention so they take it on board? (hexbear.net)

submitted 3 days ago by tombruzzo@hexbear.net to c/linux@lemmy.ml

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I saw the End of 10 campaign on other parts of Lemmy and wanted to get involved:

https://endof10.org/

I also do some tech support work on the side helping people at an aged care facility with their devices. I see people using their Windows computers and I just feel they would have such an easier time using Linux.

I reached out to my local Repair Cafe about End of 10 to help people switch over if they don't want to get a new device. They're happy to talk about so I want to make sure I clearly explain the value of switching to Linux, both to hold on to existing devices and move away from corporate spyware.

Here are the things I thought I'd bring up when I talk to them: -Linux is free, but not in the 'you're the product' way -Linux Mint is made to look and work similar to Windows to make the switch easier -It works on older hardware and takes less resources, so can often feel like a performance boost to an existing PC -No tracking or telemetry so what you do on your computer is private -Linux can cover the general computer use case of using a browser, word processing, image viewing, and maybe some light graphic design -There are free software equivalents to just about all major software you use on your PC -The package manager makes it easy to download and maintain software -You can give Linux a 'free trial' by bootloading into it before installing -You can dual partition so you can still run windows if you don't want to make the full switch -Games and Windows software can run on Linux with WINE if necessary -There's a huge community you can reach out to if you're stuck with anything Linux

I was thinking of using the analogy that software on Linux is a bit like shopping at Aldi. It doesn't have the major brands but there are free alternatives that do the same thing, and are often better than the paid versions you're used to.

I'd also bring an old laptop I put Mint on for my kids to play with. It's from 2012 and Windows stopped supporting the wireless drivers. It could connect to the internet with Mint right out of the box so that's one device already saved from e-waste with Linux.

Is there anything else you'd mention? I know there's deeper technical reasons why Linux is better but I want to keep it high level as I'm not sure of the technical proficiency of the people I'll be talking to.

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[–] tombruzzo@hexbear.net 1 points 2 days ago (1 children)

That's definitely part of it. I can mention that whilst it can keep people's daily drivers going, they can bring in even older functioning computers and breathe new life into them.

Like I installed a couple of education apps like GCompris on my kids' laptop, and I could turn off the wifi receiver through the terminal if I wanted to. You could bring in an old laptop and turn it into an air-gapped education station for the kids.

[–] Cyber@feddit.uk 1 points 2 days ago

You've reminded me of a slightly off-topic point...

I tried to put Linux on an old laptop for a friend so their kids could use it... it had some weird (Realtek?) chip that was a combination of things (ie video and networking?) and Linux just couldn't drive it, so I had to give up.

That's the only Linux failure I've had and it was also the one where I told them it would definitely work...