Mechatotoro and I bought a new desktop PC for our mother, who wanted to replace her old box.
We went to the computer store and asked for a barebone rig. The guy was quite amused to hear about people who did not want to add Windows. He was a bit puzzled when he heard we would load Linux to it. I guess he would fall off his seat if he knew the computer was not for us, but for our mother!
Then, we made a test. Just to check for compatibility (new PCs come with UEFI, which does not play fair with Linux all the time), I took my outdated live MEPIS 11 pendrive and tried to install the OS.
About 5 minutes later, the installation was done and the store guy was amazed at the speed of the process. "Linux has improved a lot these days!" was all he could say.
But remember: this was Mother's computer. She should not be using an old MEPIS 11 OS to power her brand new PC. Now, I have nothing against MEPIS 11: after all, I am typing this on my MEPIS 8 PC.
But the idea of the new computer was also having a new OS. "What about Windows 10?", I asked her. To put it diplomatically, let's just say she did not like the idea.
Then, after some thought, we installed MX-15. Mechatotoro then customized the desktop with a full theme of THE WALKING DEAD that he designed for the occasion (Yes... Mom's a BIG fan of that show.)
The result? Our mother couldn't be happier with her new spooky PC! That surely gives a new meaning to zombie computers!
When I see Mom sitting happily in front of her computer, I think that all those people who claim Linux is too hard and that only computer geeks can use it are still living in the past, and a very distant one, by the way. They might have missed one --or several-- important upgrades.
Too bad for them! While they catch up, our mother will be using her zombie PC that runs MX-15 (an OS she had never touched before) and does EVERYTHING she wants.
What about Mom's old computer? Mom gave it to Mechatotoro's daughter so that the 5-year-old girl may use PicarOS (a GalPon MiniNo edition special for kids) to her heart's content.
Everyone's happy! :)
Zombie PC redefined! No doubt, Mom is thrilled with her MX-15 computer. She feels she OWNS the computer, not the other way around. And my daughter is enjoying her new machine, too.
ResponderEliminarYes, it is very gratifying to see them enjoy their new computers :)
EliminarIt's a good thing she rejected Microsoft Windows 10, otherwise she might have ended up with an ACTUAL zombie PC (doing this of the volition of someone else, not herself).
ResponderEliminar--
a Linux Mint user since 2009 May 1
Yes; and with all the GWX issues, I don't understand how some people still seem not to realize that MS Windows has become practically malware.
EliminarIt's good to know that your mom and nice are enjoying their new computers. I don't know why the salespeople in computer stores get amused when people ask for a computer without Windows. Not all people like it. :P
ResponderEliminarYes, they do! And with the new Android-capable Chromebooks, more people will find Windows too troublesome for their computing needs.
Eliminar