Re: [PLUG] Linux install-a-thon?

[Frank via plug <plug@lists.phillylinux.org>]

You know, I didn't even think about the Google data harvesters as 
computers, but I think you're correct.  I think that most 
non-computer-ized people probably do just buy these cheap data trackers 
these days.

It's such a shame.  I closed my business last year, and I had to dump 
more than 30 completely working computers just because nobody wanted 
them.  I can't even begin to imagine the number of perfectly functional 
computers being tossed into landfills every day (many, just because they 
don't run Windows v.**).  I also can't imagine having everything I do on 
my devices recorded by Google/Apple and sold to the highest bidder (but 
I know that 99.99% of people today don't care about that either).

Oh well, I appreciate everybody's consideration of my idea!

- Frank



On 1/7/24 10:55 AM, Rich Freeman via plug wrote:
> On Sun, Jan 7, 2024 at 10:46 AM Walt Mankowski via plug
> <plug@lists.phillylinux.org> wrote:
> > The computing world is different now than it was 10-15 years ago.
> > Today everyone carries around a computer in their pocket. Plus there
> > are Chromebooks for school and $80 netbooks at Micro Center. I think a
> > lot of people who were using the Debian boxes we built back in the day
> > might be better served today with a commodity Android phone.
> Agree with this sentiment.  I'd be happy to volunteer with the install
> part, but we should definitely first make sure that there is a need.
>
> Also, if somebody knows nothing about computers, a $100 chromebook
> might be a more maintainable option.  They're just way more resistant
> to shooting yourself in the foot and they're very secure out of the
> box.
>
> > On Sun, Jan 07, 2024 at 10:09:23AM -0500, K.S. Bhaskar via plug wrote:
> > >     - Promote virtually, but have an in-person installfest. Having installed
> > >     Linux on (I guesstimate) at least 100 old Windows machines, one out of
> > >     every 3-4 machines has some wrinkle to overcome before getting a successful
> > >     install. Fortunately device drivers are no longer the problem on Linux that
> > >     they used to be. You can't overcome these wrinkles remotely.
> If it takes one of us an hour of fidgeting to get some 10 year old
> laptop to boot up in Ubuntu (or heaven forbid one of our favorite
> niche distros), what is going to happen when there is a software
> update or some other issue that breaks it after we hand it off?  I'd
> say that if a PC can't automagically install Ubuntu it is effectively
> ewaste for anybody but an enthusiast who intends to use it in some
> project.  You want to give something supportable to the end user.
>
> That's the other reason something like a Chromebook is a better
> option.  It has full OEM support and a hardware EOL date.  For $100
> you get a laptop that isn't going to break for 5 years or so, with a
> vendor doing full QA on that model to ensure that is the case.
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