which computer

[Handy Don 12,163]

@bcgold you don't have to sell me on Linux. I was an early convert--started using Unix within a few months of it being available--used DEC minis from 1105 to 1170. Interacted with the authors from Bell Labs (Kernigan and Ritchie) several times in the early days and attended the first two Usenix conferences (my manager was an organizer). Even had a DARPAnet email address, since one of our boxes was tied in.

 

I am supporting several people whose minds don't readily adapt to the abstractions of a computer interface or its workings. For all its warts, MacOS has made it possible for them to work, stay out of trouble, and keep current on OS releases and patches and for me to help them easily in just a couple of hours a month. Google apps are more than adequate for most of their needs-mail, docs, sheets. Apple Messages is perfect for texting and Safari is fine for browsing.

 

We go together to buy a new desktop machine every seven or so years, as soon as the old system cannot handle the latest OS version. Every month or two we do cleanup. Sometimes by just deleting their user account and starting a new one!  Two are kamikaze clickers on anything they see in a web page but at LEAST I've gotten two things into their brains: 1) never do a financial transaction of any kind that computer, 2) never voluntarily supply any personal information to any website.

 

These days, it is all but impossible to be active in the world without a brower and email. Texting is close behind. Linux is marvelous in the right hands but, frankly, too self-guided for most people. Over my decades as a technologist perfectionist, it took me quite a while to accept that 70% of perfect feels like 100% to 90% of the audience.

 

[bc.gold 3,403]

On 4/1/2021 at 8:04 PM, Handy Don said:

@bcgold you don't have to sell me on Linux. I was an early convert--started using Unix within a few months of it being available--used DEC minis from 1105 to 1170. Interacted with the authors from Bell Labs (Kernigan and Ritchie) several times in the early days and attended the first two Usenix conferences (my manager was an organizer). Even had a DARPAnet email address, since one of our boxes was tied in.

 

I am supporting several people whose minds don't readily adapt to the abstractions of a computer interface or its workings. For all its warts, MacOS has made it possible for them to work, stay out of trouble, and keep current on OS releases and patches and for me to help them easily in just a couple of hours a month. Google apps are more than adequate for most of their needs-mail, docs, sheets. Apple Messages is perfect for texting and Safari is fine for browsing.

 

We go together to buy a new desktop machine every seven or so years, as soon as the old system cannot handle the latest OS version. Every month or two we do cleanup. Sometimes by just deleting their user account and starting a new one!  Two are kamikaze clickers on anything they see in a web page but at LEAST I've gotten two things into their brains: 1) never do a financial transaction of any kind that computer, 2) never voluntarily supply any personal information to any website.

 

These days, it is all but impossible to be active in the world without a brower and email. Texting is close behind. Linux is marvelous in the right hands but, frankly, too self-guided for most people. Over my decades as a technologist perfectionist, it took me quite a while to accept that 70% of perfect feels like 100% to 90% of the audience.

 

 

How many years since you've used any Linux version, Ubuntu is a fantastic desktop OS.

 

They've come along ways since the day of the punch card.