Marcus M. 滅拉 マルクス🐧Dec 26
Frank

My 92 year old aunt: You do the Leenux thing, right? You need to come over sometime and install it for me, because f#ck all I ain't gonna update to Windows 11.

Me: .... ?!#!?

I explain what the change-over entails and that I generally don't recommend it just because...

Aunt: No, f#ck that, f#ck capitalism, my laptop is still fine, so come over and set me up with that Leenux thing.

#Linux #christmas

Dec 25 at 9:48pmTusky
Show threadseachangedDec 25

@fschaap

You can buy security upgrades for Windows 10 for 30 bucks in this first year.

Show threadSiegfried.Dec 26
@seachanged @fschaap Hopefully she lives longer than a year. What comes next by microsoft?
Show threadF4GRX SébastienDec 26
@seachanged @fschaap why
Show threadFossThoughtDec 26
@fschaap I moved my parents over to Linux a few years ago. No problems. All they ever really did was call up a web browser. That's pretty OS-independent. The things that differentiate Windows from Linux are lost on them, so might as well give them an OS that has no spyware.
Show threadAndresDec 26

@FossThought @fschaap Yeah, that's likely true for a lot of people (and why Chromebooks manage to be somewhat popular).

The only thing my kids miss out on in Debian is Roblox (which I got working for them using Sober).

Show threadCavyherdDec 26

@fschaap

92yo aunt rocks

Show threadAdam KennedyDec 26
@fschaap This warms my heart
Show threadMad Argon Dec 26
@fschaap I hope you would help her with it 
Show threadT. J. BombadilDec 26
@fschaap You heard the lady. Do your thing ;-)
Show threadFrankDec 26
@c_dan4th Exactly. I will :-)
Show threadMark StosbergDec 26
@fschaap I’ve supported and still support grandparent-age folks using Linux and it’s always turned out OK. The key thing is that they are interested and away of the trade-offs as this woman seems to be.
Show threadstandevDec 26
@markstos how would you explain the trade-offs? I made the switch a couple years ago, and for the life of me I probably couldn’t do better than “different things will suck sometimes”
Show threadFrankDec 26

@standev @markstos Different things suck in different ways.

The main problem, I have found out, is other people with an opinion and a Microsoft habit. Your aunt, or whoever you helped, will talk to people about it, especially about niggles or problems. Those other people will then start to pressure your aunt to quit Linux, because they themselves don't know it and if your aunt has an issue, it must be as broken as their confirmation bias thinks it must be.

Show threadFrankDec 26

@standev @markstos Different things suck in different ways.

The main problem, I have found out, is other people with an opinion and a Microsoft habit. Your aunt, or whoever you helped, will talk to people about it, especially about niggles or problems. Those other people will then start to pressure your aunt to quit Linux, because they themselves don't know it and if your aunt has an issue, it must be as broken as their confirmation bias thinks it must be.

Show threadFrankDec 26

@standev @markstos Different things suck in different ways.

The main problem, I have found out, is other people with an opinion and a Microsoft habit. Your aunt, or whoever you helped, will talk to people about it, especially about niggles or problems. Those other people will then start to pressure your aunt to quit Linux, because they themselves don't know it and if your aunt has an issue, it must be as broken as their confirmation bias thinks it must be.

Show threadMark StosbergDec 26

@standev I explain you can't use Windows-only apps if they are using MS Office, they should use LibreOffice or Google docs.

In exchange, they generally won't have to worry about viruses, the computer will run faster, and they may need to consider Linux-compatibility when they shop for a printer.

Show threadstandevDec 26
@markstos Ah, that’s a good point. I didn’t use Office before, and the only app I lost in the swap was Notepad++. That’s probably not a normal case.
Show threadStumpy The MuttDec 26
@standev @markstos Try Nedit. It's a pretty close match.
Show threadpoleguy looking for lost toolsDec 26
@standev @markstos notepad++ works pretty well under wine. But I did give up on it for a native editor alternative.
Show threadMark StosbergDec 26
@poleguy @standev Which editor did you settle on to replace Notepad++?
Show threadstandevDec 27
@markstos i just used it as a text editor, so I’m using OpenOffice as a heavier weight text editor.
Show threadpoleguy looking for lost toolsDec 27

@markstos @standev I mostly just use emacs in cua mode. I had learned it running on IRIX SGI back in the 94-95 during an internship and in school on Sun Solaris 96-99.

In the last few years I've been using codium a bit because colleagues are using vscode a lot, especially for remote editing via ssh, and for various plugins: got, python, etc.

Show threadpoleguy looking for lost toolsDec 27

@markstos @standev I mostly just use emacs in cua mode. I had learned it running on IRIX SGI back in the 94-95 during an internship and in school on Sun Solaris 96-99.

In the last few years I've been using codium a bit because colleagues are using vscode a lot, especially for remote editing via ssh, and for various plugins: git, python, etc.

Show thread26 PeachezDec 26
@fschaap Give her #elementary Best laptop replacement around and good for newbs. Doubl the life of her machine.
Show threadTrèsFluke HAS MOVEDDec 26
@fschaap Well if you don't do it, I will! ;)
Show threadFrankDec 26
@darrenmorin Don't worry! She gets the VIP treatment :-)
Show thread@CAWguy has movedDec 26
@fschaap How soon until you’re asking us to help with your aunt’s follower count here on the Fedi? 😂
Show threadFrankDec 26
@CAWguy Not sure she'd be interested, but now that you mention it, I'll talk to her about it :-)
Show threadFrankDec 26
@CAWguy Not sure she'd be interested, but now that you mention it, I'll talk to her about it :-)
Show threadSpeed demon 🇪🇺 🇳🇴🇺🇦🇵🇸Dec 26
@fschaap Converted my moms laptop recently. Turns out there is some kind of HW peculiarity, so it won't shut off. Make sure you update bios&firmware BEFORE removing windows. Also do some research on the hardware, make sure you have drivers.
Show threadSpeed demon 🇪🇺 🇳🇴🇺🇦🇵🇸Dec 26
@fschaap I went with linux mint, and installed teamviewer on there.
Show threadpoleguy looking for lost toolsDec 26

@hakona @fschaap a remote support app is very valuable. It is much easier than driving out just to see that she is trying to edit a gmail docx by clicking on the text in the preview rather than downloading first... Etc.

I recommend x2go via ssh. And some method of determining IP address. (I use a script to update a DNS entry). But other dynamic DNS services would be good too.

Show threadFrankDec 26
@hakona Good point! Think I will make a disk image before doing anything drastic anyway :-)
Show threadeMarginaliaDec 26

@fschaap

I don't know why it surprises people that us old pharts should not be treated like children over computers.

We have been using them since before some of you guys were born!

Sure, not all of us worked in tech like I did, but if we were using Compuserve back in the day, the chances are we're not naive about stuff like the "enshitification of everything" and want better than Win 11.

I talk to friends my age (80) all the time about Leenux and computers and stuff...and not trivial stuff.

Load her up! She'll catch on.

Show threadSiegfried.Dec 26
@demerara @fschaap I often say to younger people: I am the generation, who made this internet great (dialing in with 600 bit/s, not even kbit/s). You will find code in Linux written by me. (But of course I am not up-to-date to everything anymore.)
Show threadFrankDec 26

@realSiegfried @demerara The surprise was more that she came out the gate batting for Linux :-)

I'll get her set up!

Show threadAsh-Miw-ReDec 27
@demerara @fschaap Recently after decades of being told it would be too much trouble to let me switch to Linux, I Googled some instructions and installed Mint on my otherwise end-of-life PC. Suddenly, the sense of boredom and drudgery I'd begun to feel towards computers on that sad day in the '90s when I stopped being able to use Amiga just evaporated and now turning the thing on feels like Christmas morning every day. I can't even fully explain what's different, but it's just a whole lot better and I've started picking up HTML again, too.
Show threaddiego murilloDec 26
@fschaap OK she's my honorary aunt. Love her.
Show threadDianeDec 26

@fschaap

I like to start contemplating a migration with asking, "so what do you use your computer for?" What kinds of software do you need to have working?

And suggest testing linux compatible software on their current OS first.

(Libreoffice has some migration planning documentation)

If it's really they just need something equivalent to a chromebook, all they really need for a linux migration is a couple trusted sources for tech support when something goes wrong.

Show threadFrankDec 26
@alienghic Exactly! We decided I'll come over, we're going to discuss what she uses the computer for and what she needs, then make a plan:-)
Show threadGreg BellDec 26
@fschaap 2026 will be the year of Leenux on the desktop
Show threadDarth Hideout 🏳️‍🌈Dec 26
@fschaap So called for its Lean UX?
Show threadatopoeia-oDec 26
@fschaap teach her ffmpeg, imagemagick, gifsicle and GIMP and maybe she'll be happy? Also yum aptget curl wget nc etc so she can hack hehe.
Show threadFrankDec 26
@nom I am thinking Kali Linux is her thing ;-)
Show threadatopoeia-oDec 26
@fschaap Yes sure... I was being self-serving, wanting selfishly to see a newspaper headline like...

"Gramma beats big ballz at the command-line!"
Show threadDroidPortDec 26
@fschaap Love some Mastodon Fan Fiction
Show threadmirabilosDec 26

@fschaap @DroidPort go away, troll.

On second thought, given https://mastodon.social/@DroidPort/113470028046166104 as well, perhaps you should indeed just delete your account. But until then, plonk.

Show threadMaximilian Overdraft, Esq.Dec 26

@fschaap

My Dad had me do this 7 or 8 years ago and has been fine. Cinnamon Mint. Easy peasy, and it gets easier as he gets older.

Show threadquixoteDec 26
@fschaap Hooray for your aunt! You go girl!
Show threadEricDec 26

@fschaap

I moved two older aunts to Linux Mint this year and it's gone relatively smoothly. Got them on SSDs too which really helped with startup time.

In my case they mostly just wanted to make sure they could access a hand full of websites, and have zoom. LibreOffice was a good enough substitute for MS Office.

I did also install Chrome for them instead of trying to get them on Firefox, being as that is where they spend most of their time, and I wanted to minimize the shock of the change.

Show thread🐜Dec 26
@fschaap but u have 2 support her
Show threadClive ThompsonDec 26

@fschaap

right on

Show thread\\\\\\\\\\\...Dec 26
@fschaap absolutly fucking based aunt you have there
Show thread賢進ジェンナDec 26
@[email protected] She is based.
Show threadUrban HermitDec 26
@fschaap I read this and immediately heard a chorus of angels in my head start singing.
Show threadSusanneDec 26
@fschaap My respects to your aunt! A lot of people - especially in companies and governments and administrations should learn from her!
Show threadMr. Lance E Sloan (IRL) 👤Dec 26
@fschaap
Cheers to your elderly aunt! I know some people in their 70s or older that wouldn't embrace change.
Show threadStarkRGDec 26
@fschaap Honestly, I think the learning curve is shallow enough now that anyone who is willing to learn how will be able to. It's only when you start doing weird things (like having a 5Gb network card or trying to do VR) that it gets a little difficult (you have to find and download the driver instead of it just working, and VR is mostly fine unless you have an nvidia card, fuck nvidia).
Show thread✶Rayotron✶Dec 26

@fschaap

Cool aunt! Spunky firebrand!

In the 1980s millions of people who are now in their 90s were forced to learn PC DOS or MS-DOS by corporations they worked for. Compared to that crap "Leenux" would be total cake for them.