There are many n00bs out there and this one is tired of not knowing more. Some years ago I switched to Mac in that I bought an iMac Intel Core Duo of the first generation, 17 inch display. The tech specs aren’t really that interesting since this blog won’t be about the Mac OS but Linux. The only thing worth mentioning though is that I’ve upgraded the memory from 1 GB to 2 GB all by myself – the only even remotely geeky thing I’ve done so far regarding computers. I still remember the thrill of actually being able to do it without distroying anything and ever since that day I’ve longed for more.
The initiator to this Unix slash Linux interest is my then boyfriend and as per two weeks ago husband. He is a geek. He doesn’t look the typical geek (*grin*) but he certainly behaves like one. I even have a profile on Slashdot now, but due to the wedding preparations I haven’t had the time to become active there other than to familiarize myself with the layout in general. One of my early comments on the Pirate Bay trial outcome was moderated as Insightful, so I think there is hope.
So what is this blog about then? What new can I add to the already exploded blogosphere? Linux is new to me and about a week ago while a friend of mine was travelling in New York (well, on Manhattan), I got the brilliant idea to have her bring me a MacBook Pro since I need a laptop as well as a desktop computer nowadays. Fortunately she was so busy that she didn’t manage to stop by an Apple Store, because now – due to an outrageous price difference – I find that I can’t afford buying the same laptop here in Europe. I will have to “make do” with the alternative, which is an in comparison much cheaper laptop that will have Linux, most likely Open SUSE, installed. First I almost convulsed with the idea of not having a MacBook, but my calendar is already mobile on my iPod touch, so as long as files will be easily moved between desktop and laptop I really don’t mind this new twist at all.
The only thing I’m rather sad about is the fact that I won’t be able to install Linux myself, but will have to have my geek boy do that for me. I won’t be able to say that I’ve done everything from scratch (there are some streaks of perfectionism in me…), but on the other hand there will always come upgrades. And what is also very fascinating to me are all the new programs that will have to be mastered, but foremost the huge potential that even I can see in open source. I have some freeware running on my Mac as it is, but to have access to a whole new world is more than cool. I also look forward to learn to use the terminal (or is called something else on Linux? see, total n00b…) and to know about security measures and so on. The list of things to learn seems endless right now, but I trust my guy to outline some attainable first goals for me. He seems happy about having won one more person over to the Linux side so to speak.
A while ago he taught me the different parts of the computer and they look both pretty and functional to me. As a wedding gift I have gotten him a new tower, which he has chosen himself and when it was delivered he looked like a kid at Christmas. At the same time he received his Christmas present early – a nice harddrive for his new tower – so we’ll see what else I can think of later. If I pay as much attention each time I’m about to learn something new regarding my not-yet-bought laptop as I did when I learned the harddrive component names, functions and connections to the rest of the parts, I expect this journey to be a pleasant ride. Maybe not a walk in the park, because lots and lots of work will be required, but still a thrill.
I hope that I may be able to inspire women out there, especially the ones who think that by clicking around, checking their computers out, something might break. It won’t. And don’t do any changes if you’re uncertain about the meaning of a question in a pop-up window, just hit cancel. I hope to be able to write my first real post soon to tell what kind of a laptop I decided to buy.
