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Moms Go Linux, And Other Windependence Winners
An anonymous reader writes "There's an entertaining article over at DesktopLinux.com entitled "Why Aren't All Our Moms Running Linux?", one of the winners of their recent wIndependence Day essay contest. From the introduction: 'Why aren't all our moms running Linux? This is a serious question, so don't laugh. I used to get phone calls about once a week, on average; it's my mom, telling me that "my computer is running out of virtual memory" or "my email keeps beeping at me" or "I can't read this document" or (the best one) "my computer is *broken*." I knew that, at the time, she was of course not running Linux. Then, one day, listening to yet another complaint, it hit me. Why aren't all our moms running Linux on their computers?" Maybe it's the cuddly Penguin logo? ;-)" They're adding the winning entries to the site week by week - I wonder how many are from Slashdot readers.
As a Linux user wanting to spread The Word, I tried to get my parents interested in Linux and Open Source Software. I showed them Mandrake - all the cute little icons and the cool games and screensavers. Since they dont do much other than web-surfing (mainly reading email thru a web interface), it seemed like a natural choice.
Then, I made the mistake of showing my mother a Gentoo Linux install - a screenfull of bizzare and verbose gcc flags scrolling across a text console. She became frightened and intimidated. I tried to explain to her that all I did was type 2 words, "emerge gnome", and that it was nothing to be scared of - and I tried to explain the process. Now, shes afraid to try Linux - and everyone I try to recommend Linux to gets scared off by her proclamations of how "difficult" it is.
*sigh* Oh well.....who was it that said "GUIs are like diapers - everyone grows out of them eventually".
Hi,
"My Mom *does* run linux....cause I set it up for her."
Do you prefer:
"My Mom runs Windows... because the manufacturer set it up for her."
I mean, that's the only real difference here, that one OS comes pre-installed by the manufacturers, and one OS comes pre-installed by the kin.
To Mom, it's the same. It's not like Mom sat there flawlessly installing Windows XP or what have you.
So if you're willing to put in Linux, go for it.
(My Mom ran Windows, and had to reinstall, and just accepted that, after the reinstall, her printer and modem wouldn't work right. So I don't see "had to install" as a good step for any beginner!)
A.
Did you check the link or just copy and paste?
I may be an idiot (which is quite possible) but the link you found in an amazing 0.22 second (God your mom must be proud) is tools to help someone play scrabble. My mother doesn't want to increase her ability to play scrabble. She wants to play it. She wants to double click on the icon that is on the desktop (it's on the desktop since it's on of the three items ever used) and play scrabble.
And the final note, whatever scrabble game you'd find for linux might the the most amazing thing in the world but it's missing one thing. It's not Hoyle. It doesn't matter.
Another note: Linux games often (there are quite a few exception) don't look as good as their Windows counter parts. Find me a Linux Risk game that looks as good as Hasbro's Risk II (http://pc.ign.com/previews/13205.html is a good review).
Think of it this way before getting your panties in a bunch -- someone may go into a car dealership and ask for a yellow honda civic, you being the prick you are tell them that statistically white cars get in fewer accidents (it's true btw). The customer would look at you, they don't give a fuck - they what a yellow car because it's cute - it looks good.
> But don`t blame Linux for your being too lazy .
I don't blame Linux, I use Linux myself. My father couldn't set it up though and even if he did he couldn't go into Future Shop and buy a decent card, board or word game for his Linux system. He doesn't spend hours on end on the internet. He uses as a tool, not as a replacement for the lack of girlfriend that so many people here do.
Yeah, I guess you could consider me lazy - I could just write the scrabble game myself but I do have better things to do with my time. I'm not sure if many people (like yourself) get one thing. Most people use a computer like a TV. They don't want to build it from the ground up, they don't want to be a leet h4x0r. They use it for e-mail, a couple simple games and likely shut it off when not in use (so uptime as a penis measuring contest is pointless). The rest of the time these people are doing other things...going out with friends (not to LAN parties), raising their kids, going to their jobs or possibly reading a good book.
Thanks for the comment though...
Sad thing is, when your mom and sisters decide they want to do more with their computer than you have set up for them, you're going to get called again. They're not going to be able to go to the store and buy the progs or games they want.
I'm not shooting down what you said in your post. I'm just saying that there is a big limitation to that strategy that others should consider. Of course, I wish you luck.