Up until a year ago when I bought my first Eee PC, I’d heard of Linux but never had a desire to use it. Not in its desktop form, at least. I’d dealt with Linux web servers before. Until last year, I was vaguely aware that Linux was an operating system that was free and an alternative to Windows, but it also seemed to me that Linux was mainly for people deeply into technology. Also people who didn’t mind jumping through a lot of hoops in order to do what I considered very simple tasks. Linux was not for me, I reasoned, and thus I ignored it.
I don’t think I’m all that different from most informed computer users. I use this funny box to do more than just check email and process words. My computer is central to my livelihood. And yet Linux held no temptation for me.
Then I got an Eee PC.
When I heard that Eee PCs came with Linux on them (a tweaked version of Xandros, as we all now know) I wasn’t put off. I was actually happy to hear it, because I figured not having Windows helped keep the cost down. After I bought it, I used that little netbook every day for months. In that case, I did mainly use it for surfing and writing and not much else. Still, Linux didn’t make things more difficult, trip me up, or otherwise annoy me. I actually enjoyed it. Plus, I will admit, it made me feel like an ubergeek, which is a good feeling.
When I interviewed for my current job I even said that I thought Linux was pretty awesome and would be willing to try it elsewhere. My boss hasn’t let me forget that yet. Especially in light of the last 5 weeks.
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