Story Of An Ubuntu Convert

Before we begin, I wanted to start out by saying that I am posting this article from my tablet as I have recently moved house so I dont have any internet yet – I apologise in advance for any spelling and/or grammar mistakes within this article. :)

Ok then, this ‘story’ is about a very unlikely Ubuntu convert – my mother. My mum is a self confessed technophobe so is very wary of anything that is different than what she is used to or anything that has any kind of learning curve.

About 6 weeks ago I received a very frustrated call from my mum explaining that the computer (a Windows 7 machine) had another virus. At this point I too got frustrated as I was going to have to spend a couple of hours, yet again, on my day off fixing the thing.

At her wits end, she asked if there was anyway to make sure she never gets a virus again – I said “yeah, stop using the internet” – this joke didn’t go down well!

My mum doesn’t really use the computer for much, gmail, facebook, some solitaire for my step dad and looking at cats (she’s obsessed with them). So I suggested that she could try Ubuntu instead of Windows, I explained what it is and why she’s much less likely (if at all) to get a virus. To which she replied, “but you’re a nerd, wont it be too difficult for me?”. After some discussion we agreed that I would put Ubuntu on the machine and if it was too dificult for her then I would put Windows 7 back on for her.

An hour or so later Ubuntu was installed and all her files moved over. I sat my mum down and her first words were “Ooooooo, its very purple – it looks nice” – see, I told you she wasn’t technical :D. I spent literally 5 minutes showing her the dash, launcher, global menu & where the window control ‘hide’ on maximised windows.

I head home, fully expecting a call within the hour asking me to come back and put Windows 7 back on for her. Not because Ubuntu is poor, but because its different and she has no time or desire to persevere and learn Ubuntu. Twenty minutes later my phone rang… Here we go! I thought to myself. Surprisingly all my mum wanted to know was how to shut Ubuntu down. So I told her and that was that.

As I said at the start, this was about 6 weeks ago and since then, I completely forgot to follow up with my mum about it. Besides, she would let me know straight away and in no uncertain terms if it wasn’t right for her.
So I’ve just moved house and I had an old laptop running Windows XP (Intel Centrino, 512MB RAM and a 60GB HDD – told you it was old) and I asked my mum if she had any use for it? She said maybe and asked if I could take it up for her to take a look.

So yesterday I took the laptop up for her too look at, she booted it up and her first words were “oh, its the old one (meaning Windows). Can you put Ubuntu on it?” I was shocked and really taken a back. I stuttered back “y-yeah sure, do you like Ubuntu then?”. She then preceded to tell me all about Ubuntu, how great it is, how quick it is and how easy it is to use. She literally loves it – she even explores the computer now and wants this laptop as a toy for helself.

I am so happy that my mum, a complete technophobe is enjoying Ubuntu so much and is finding it a pleasure to use (her words, not mine). So now we have Linda Ferguson, 50 year old cleaner from Merseyside, UK as a proud user and member of the Ubuntu community – how cool is that!

So to all those people who decide not to try Linux/Ubuntu just because you have to be some kind of IT genius to use it (apparently) – listen up. Try Ubuntu, its easy to use, quick, gorgeous and of course free! What do you have to lose, if my mum can do it then anyone can.

Have you converted anyone to Linux/Ubuntu? Why not tell us about it in the comments section.

PS: just in case anyone is wondering, the laptop runs Ubuntu 12.04 just fine. Its not super quick but Unity 3D works and the machine is perfectly usable – its had a new lease of life.