My dad replaced his XP netbook with an older 11" MB Air I had. He has since downloaded Xcode 5 and started working on learning objective C in his mid 60s. His only subsequent request was figuring out a solution for my mother's machine requirements around an iPad. She's one of those that clicks on emails they shouldn't.
My dad unexpectedly uses my Linux laptop to get real work done
71–80 of 356 posts
Re: My dad unexpectedly uses my Linux laptop to get real work done
#72 My 70 year-old mom can't handle the swipe unlock on an Android phone and won't answer or use it if I unlock it. My dad also 70 is OK with using it and even put on a password but he keeps shutting it off when he isn't using it, neither use a computer.
Re: My dad unexpectedly uses my Linux laptop to get real work done
#73I tried making my parents use *nix. It didn't go over well. My worthless anecdote counters yours.
Fair enough, but the point was that I ddin't force anything. Like I said in the post, I offered to get him a windows license, but he didn't need it. I didn't try "making" them use anything, as you put it.
Re: My dad unexpectedly uses my Linux laptop to get real work done
#74I tried making my parents use *nix. It didn't go over well. My worthless anecdote counters yours.
Fair enough, but the point was that I ddin't force anything. Like I said in the post, I offered to get him a windows license, but he didn't need it. I didn't try "making" them use anything, as you put it.
I provided a free computer no different than yourself. Sorry if my original verb use was misleading.
Re: My dad unexpectedly uses my Linux laptop to get real work done
#75I've been using Linux since Redhat 4.0, whatever kernal version that was. I've always been a "desktop" user but very much know my way around bash and can throw together pipes and scripts.
Last week I setup a fresh Ubuntu box in our office, on a fairly new Dell PC in order to view a webinar. I wanted to show off Linux (ended up looking like a moron.)
Flash issues on Firefox rightaway, no matter what I did it would not let me full screen a YT video in the second monitor. Finally I figured a hack to F11 full screen the browser window and it let me.
Next the sound wouldn't work and I had to apt-get for another 10 minutes, then spend another 2 minutes editing som config file. Somehow it worked.
I freaking LOVE Linux and will always love it, but it has a very long way to go until it can ship on any device.
Re: My dad unexpectedly uses my Linux laptop to get real work done
#76This is one way to look at it. Here's another: I have Ubuntu on a couple of machines at home and still can't get them to talk to my Brother MFC-685CW printer. I'm a PhD in EECS.
Well, hassle Brother to release some Free printer drivers. They are one of the last major holdouts.
Brother has deb and rpm packages for that printer.
Re: My dad unexpectedly uses my Linux laptop to get real work done
#77Very nice, I bought my mom a Macbook Air, but I will try installing Ubuntu on my dads laptop and see how it goes.
I would also like to see some high-end construction homes he does, if possible.
Thanks
Re: My dad unexpectedly uses my Linux laptop to get real work done
#78The same experience here. My parents also use Ubuntu now (firefox, Libre office). The main issue with Linux is, some one needs to install and setup everything for them. Finding and installing that missing wifi driver is not something that they can do. Windows installation is breeze, just pop-in the disk and it will install everything for you. Hope pre-installed ubuntu systems get common.
Honestly, I've had better luck installing Ubuntu or Mint then I ever have with Windows. Assuming that a Linux driver exists, the only case I've ever seen a driver not get used automatically is with proprietary drivers. Even then, it's usually just one more click on a GUI that tells you which ones were not used. For Windows, at best everything is working except for graphics. Even then though, the drivers are usually n…
I honestly cannot relate to this at all. I have not had Windows drivers issues in years, up to and including Windows 8.1.
Re: My dad unexpectedly uses my Linux laptop to get real work done
#79Second time I've had to preface a post like this, not to sound like a dick, but is HN just turning in to r/circlejerk? Glad we have a bunch of parents using Linux, but I'm slightly perplexed by this article's front-page status.
Re: My dad unexpectedly uses my Linux laptop to get real work done
#80My mom use kubuntu for over 4 years now. She actually had never seen computers since she was 60. She had her learning curve but she loves it.