Linux + Gmail = Computing Bliss

Last summer, I wrote an article about a senior citizen client of mine who constantly struggled with her older Windows XP machine. Updates would cause problems, the printer would stop working, security woes plagued her. She turned out to be my poster child for using Linux (in her case Ubuntu 8.10).  Check out the article (by the way, she is still doing fantastic with her computer and Ubuntu).

Today, I visited another of my Linux clients. This couple came to me about six months ago (they are both seniors as well and self-described computer newbies). They explained that computers frighten and intimidate them, but they felt compelled to have one so they could stay in touch with their kids and grandkids. They strongly desired to have a machine that was simple to use, maintain, and was safe. After much discussion, they decided to take my advice and dump their nearly 12 year old computer and dial-up Internet service. The discussion yielded the following computing needs:

1. Email
2. Internet browsing
3. Word Processing
4. Solitaire

Since I started learning about and recommending Ubuntu and other Linux distributions three years ago, I have successfully converted a couple of dozen clients to use Linux in part or fully. I learned that when moving folks away from Windows, I need to thoroughly screen them regarding their computing needs. If I have any inkling that they will need or desire to use Windows based programs (no, Linux geeks, I’m not going to have them mess with Wine), I stop the Ubuntu conversation and setup Windows as securely as possible.

I put the couple I saw today through some of the most stringent screening and evaluation to date regarding their intentions and need for the new computer. They ended up purchasing a budget Compaq that I stripped Windows from and installed Ubuntu 9.01 (later updated to 9.10). I hooked it up to their cable Internet provider and a multi-function printer, and they have gotten along superbly.

My visit today was to install their new web cam (I plugged it in…Ubuntu did the rest almost instantly), setup Skype and tested the web cam with it, and  I showed them how to attach documents to an email (they are using Gmail).

As I traverse the valley I live in fixing malware infected Windows machines (cleaning two laptops right now in fact), it refreshes my mind to work on machines with Ubuntu that have none of these problems. Bottom line, I love teaching much more than I do fixing.

An Ubuntu (Linux) + Gmail combination allows me to do more teaching and the user to do more computing and less worrying.