I’ve been using Linux (specifically Ubuntu 8.10) on my laptop faithfully for about two months now.  The only reasons I’ve had to revert to Windows is to use image editing and video editing software that I purchased.  I’m also using another Windows PC that I have to handle all my iTunes downloads and syncing.  Other than that it’s just been Linux.

I’ve had Linux (Fedora) installed on another PC for over three years but never used it for everyday tasks.  What made me go with Ubuntu this time is that, my aunts both are having problems with their older computers and are likely not to buy new computers.  I planned to install Ubuntu on them but wanted to use it myself to see if it was viable for an average computer user and to be able to answer their questions.  I was so pleased with my use of it that I’ve decided to continue using it.  For what most people do with their computers – word processing, spreadsheets, surfing, etc. – Ubuntu is a viable option.  I also decided to install it on my nephew’s laptop as he was also having issues with Windows and I’ve already reinstalled Windows twice for him.

Over Thanksgiving, I installed Ubuntu along with a few other apps onto hard drives (so graciously donated by Phil Shapiro) so that I could just swap the hard drives and go.  For one aunt this didn’t go so well.  I assumed that because Ubuntu ran so well on my old computers that it would run the same way on other old computers.  The mistake I made here was that I forgot that I normally have more memory and a better processor than the average user buys.  The other aunt has Ubuntu running now but her computer is slow as well.  For both aunts, I’m going to give them my old computers to make their experience better.  My nephew on the other hand has a laptop that’s only about two years old.  He’s having no problems whatsoever.  As a matter of fact, I didn’t even have to show him how to use Ubuntu.  He just figured it out.

That’s the real point of this post.  Even though I’m trying to help my aunts, this whole exercise is an experiment. I don’t believe that computers have to be expensive.  I also don’t believe that people should have to purchase a new computer every time Microsoft or whoever updates their operating system.  This current environment makes computer ownership more expensive than it has to be and it also increases the digital divide. Computers that are a few years old can be revived.  And wouldn’t it be great if some of these revived computers ended up in the hands of less fortunate kids whose parents can’t afford to buy the latest Vista or Mac machine?

While this is only an idea that I have at this point, Ken Starks of HeliOS Solutions in Austin, Texas is already doing this.  I stumbled upon this post where he talks about opposition he received from a teacher to distributing Linux.  The part of the teacher’s email that I took issue with most was the following:

I admire your attempts in getting computers in the hands of disadvantaged people but putting linux on these machines is holding our kids back.

This is a world where Windows runs on virtually every computer and putting on a carnival show for an operating system is not helping these children at all. I am sure if you contacted Microsoft, they would be more than happy to supply you with copies of an older verison (sic) of Windows and that way, your computers would actually be of service to those receiving them…”

Oh really?  If we are teaching kids to use computers aren’t the tasks that they are completing more important than navigation in the operating system.  If word processing, spreadsheets, email, and the internet all are the same, what does the OS matter?   If you can use Internet Explorer, don’t you automatically know how to use Firefox?  And if you know how to send email, does it matter that you’re not using Outlook?  My nephew’s laptop came with Windows XP installed and I’m sure that every computer he has ever used has Windows on it.  But he was able to figure out Ubuntu.  Am I doing a disservice to him?  I think not.  If the kid has experience using Linux he’s already ahead of the curve.  Not to mention that Linux will be safer for him in terms of catching nasty viruses and trojans on the internet.

The fact of the matter is that the tasks are what matters in using a computer, not the OS.  The OS’s job is to get the heck out of the way and let users do what they need to do.  It’s true that some operating systems, are better suited for certain tasks (i.e. Macs are better suited for design) but for everyday tasks, it really doesn’t matter.  What matters is that kids get experience using computers and access to the wealth of information available on the internet.

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