Another Windows Escapee

Beachcomber

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I've been on the forum for a little while asking laptop questions (hadn't even noticed there was an Intro section), so if you've seen my laptop thread then you'll already know the level of my computing knowledge!

So hi! I'm Carrie, from the north of Scotland, and I've just installed Linux Mint Cinnamon on my new (to me) Dell laptop. I've only ever used Windows before now, but they've been skating on thin ice for quite a while now. For someone who cares so much about the environment he wants to control the very farts of the cows, Mr Gates is rather pushy when it comes to forcing energy-sucking AI on everyone, and otherwise requiring perfectly good hardware to be constantly upgraded. The tipping point was having Copilot irreversibly installed without my knowledge or consent. I object to AI and refuse to use it on principal wherever possible (it's becoming less possible), so Copilot was the final straw. When my old laptop started having problems I came on here for advice and ended up getting a refurbished laptop and doing a clean install of Mint.

After the initial set up process (which was mostly smooth, apart from establishing a wireless connection), so far this Windows user is finding it quite intuitive to navigate. I seem to be able to do everything I need to do. I'm not ambitious though, I just wanted a basic system that I could use without having my machine loaded up with unnecessary junk.

So if there's someone out there who's thinking about switching to Linux but isn't feeling confident - it's no exaggeration to say that when it comes to technology I know my way around a spinning wheel more confidently than a computer, so if I can use Linux then anyone can do it. :)
 


I've been on the forum for a little while asking laptop questions (hadn't even noticed there was an Intro section), so if you've seen my laptop thread then you'll already know the level of my computing knowledge!

So hi! I'm Carrie, from the north of Scotland, and I've just installed Linux Mint Cinnamon on my new (to me) Dell laptop. I've only ever used Windows before now, but they've been skating on thin ice for quite a while now. For someone who cares so much about the environment he wants to control the very farts of the cows, Mr Gates is rather pushy when it comes to forcing energy-sucking AI on everyone, and otherwise requiring perfectly good hardware to be constantly upgraded. The tipping point was having Copilot irreversibly installed without my knowledge or consent. I object to AI and refuse to use it on principal wherever possible (it's becoming less possible), so Copilot was the final straw. When my old laptop started having problems I came on here for advice and ended up getting a refurbished laptop and doing a clean install of Mint.

After the initial set up process (which was mostly smooth, apart from establishing a wireless connection), so far this Windows user is finding it quite intuitive to navigate. I seem to be able to do everything I need to do. I'm not ambitious though, I just wanted a basic system that I could use without having my machine loaded up with unnecessary junk.

So if there's someone out there who's thinking about switching to Linux but isn't feeling confident - it's no exaggeration to say that when it comes to technology I know my way around a spinning wheel more confidently than a computer, so if I can use Linux then anyone can do it. :)
Greetings, Carrie, and welcome aboard. I too initially missed the introduction section when I started here - I don't know how, since it's not exactly hidden, but you're not the only one.

As far as switching from Windows to Linux, is concerned: The fear I hear about most is, "I don't want to have to learn how to to do everything a different way". And yet, sticking with Windows, that's exactly what they have to do every few years anyway. I remember hearing my self say, "GRRR! I knew how to do this on XP!", then, "GRRR! I knew how to do this other thing on Windows 7!", and on and on. With Linux, when I learn something, it's a new skill, not a work-around for something that I used to know how to do but now is broken or removed.
 
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Yes, that's true @MikeRocor . I had to venture onto Windows 11 on my new laptop before I could install Mint, and it took me a good couple of minutes to even find the 'power off' switch in its new location!
 
Hello @Beachcomber Carrie,
Welcome to the linux.org forum, Intro is easy to miss. But hope you enjoy the journey!
 
@Beachcomber :-

So.... What'cha think of the place so far, lass? D'you think you'll stick around for a while, now you're 'sorted'?

That's a pretty astute observation, y'know.....about the spinning-wheel and using Linux. Cracked me up, yes indeedy, but there's a lot of truth there. Personally, these days I think's it's the Windows power-users who are most frightened of change; they know if they were to move to Linux, they'd be back in the same position as any noob.....because their hard-won "skills" wouldn't count for anything.

And that sticks in their craw, so.....they mock Linux, and make fun of it, and make out it's very old-fashioned and super hard to get the hang of. To my way of thinking, if you were to put two total noobs in front of 2 computers, one running Linux and one running Windows, I dare bet I know which one would be up-and-running and doing stuff first, yeah?

And it wouldn't be the one running little Billy Gates' legacy.

Stick around, gal. You'll like it here! :D


Mike. ;)
 
G'day Carrie, Welcome to Linux.org

You sound like you have it mostly figured out

It's usually the little things that trip us up....so If you need help, just sing out.
 
Thanks for dropping by, Carrie,
if you haven't looked already, we also have the OFF Topic section, which is all thing not Linux,

Brian [the Brickwizard]
 
Welcome to the Forum.
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Love the Scots turn of phrase ... controlling cow farts was what put a smile on my dial.

Perhaps methane is the fuel for the engine underlying that other OS platform?

Enjoy your Linux Mint, Carrie.

Chris
 
Love the Scots turn of phrase ... controlling cow farts was what put a smile on my dial.

Bordering on off-topic, I recall a video of a Scotsman in a voice-activated elevator.

Suffice to say, it understood nothing of what he said and he was having none of it. I was greatly amused.
 
I was actually serious about the spinning wheel - my old Haldane Shetland wheel is one of my most prized possessions!

Oh yes, I'll be sticking around. I'm sure I'll have more questions at some point, and reading other threads is educational. A lot of them are in a foreign language to me (much less intelligible than Scots!), but I'm sure I'll pick something up!
 
my old Haldane Shetland wheel is one of my most prized possessions!
coo! that's a posh one, and they hold their value well if kept in good working condition, [not that I have the patience to use one]

reading other threads is educational. A lot of them are in a foreign language to me
well sorry thats the nature of the beast, most Linux users do have a tendency towards techspeak, but if you need a simple answer just ask
 
reading other threads is educational. A lot of them are in a foreign language to me
well sorry thats the nature of the beast, most Linux users do have a tendency towards techspeak, but if you need a simple answer just ask
@Beachcomber / @Brickwizard :-

The Brickwizard (no, don't ask; I still haven't figured out what it means! :p ) is right, of course. Linux users - especially those with any amount of experience - do tend towards "tech-speak". Goes with the territory, I'm afraid; Linux IS seen as a more 'technical' type of OS, but that's for two GOOD reasons...

One:- Because that very 'technicality' is what makes GNU/Linux so infinitely malleable........and

Two:- Because every bit of the code it's based on is publicly available, and capable of being scanned/read by anybody who has any coding experience or knowledge. Furthermore, the GPL (General Public Licence) under which most Linux software is released specifically allows anyone to modify/improve the code anywhere they want, AND at the same time guarantees them the absolute freedom to do so.....the only stipulation being that said modified code should then be freely shared so that ALL can get the benefit of it (and anyone else can modify it further if they feel they can improve upon it).

It's a good system. None of this "proprietary" code that's hidden away behind layer upon layer of restrictive licensing and legal technicalities.......like SOME companies we could mention!

(cough, cough...)

If you get on better with simple, easy-to-understand explanations then I'm certain we can accommodate you, can't we Brian?


Mike. ;)
 
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If you get on better with simple, easy-to-understand explanations then I'm certain we can accommodate you, can't we Brian?
we have done it before, we can do it again ;)
 
I've been on the forum for a little while asking laptop questions (hadn't even noticed there was an Intro section), so if you've seen my laptop thread then you'll already know the level of my computing knowledge!

So hi! I'm Carrie, from the north of Scotland, and I've just installed Linux Mint Cinnamon on my new (to me) Dell laptop. I've only ever used Windows before now, but they've been skating on thin ice for quite a while now. For someone who cares so much about the environment he wants to control the very farts of the cows, Mr Gates is rather pushy when it comes to forcing energy-sucking AI on everyone, and otherwise requiring perfectly good hardware to be constantly upgraded. The tipping point was having Copilot irreversibly installed without my knowledge or consent. I object to AI and refuse to use it on principal wherever possible (it's becoming less possible), so Copilot was the final straw. When my old laptop started having problems I came on here for advice and ended up getting a refurbished laptop and doing a clean install of Mint.

After the initial set up process (which was mostly smooth, apart from establishing a wireless connection), so far this Windows user is finding it quite intuitive to navigate. I seem to be able to do everything I need to do. I'm not ambitious though, I just wanted a basic system that I could use without having my machine loaded up with unnecessary junk.

So if there's someone out there who's thinking about switching to Linux but isn't feeling confident - it's no exaggeration to say that when it comes to technology I know my way around a spinning wheel more confidently than a computer, so if I can use Linux then anyone can do it. :)
Hello Carrie.
Welcome to the community. I’m glad you’re finding Linux relatively easy. If you do have any difficulties this is definitely the right place to get help and support.

I’m one of the moderators here, based a good way south of you, in Somerset.
 

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