From Tedious Tinkering to Adventure

Years ago, I was gifted a Surface Book for some work I did. I say “gifted” because I wasn’t expecting it. My previous computer died an unexpected death due to spilled cocoa. That’s a bad way to go if you depend on intricate electrical parts.

This laptop (I’m currently using to compose this post) has served me well. It’s at least 7 years old, and until recently, everything worked. I’m having a battery issue on the tablet part. I recently noticed it stopped charging; the dock, however, is still functioning.

Well, one of the biggest tech companies in the world is stopping updates for its products. Yes, I mentioned Surface Book, but I didn’t mention Microsoft. Big Tech does this all the time. They’ll provide a number of years of updates, and then poof, even though the product still functions, we customers are left unsupported.

If you haven’t heard, Windows 10 loses support soon. I’ve read there may be paid updates (yeah, not going there). So, all of this got me thinking, right. Years ago, I used to love building computers. I liked making things do what I wanted them to do. I had an iPhone once but grew incredibly frustrated when I couldn’t copy/paste. Like Apple is prone to do, those were later released as new features. I learned about rooting and jailbreaking. I loved figuring things out with them. I tinkered with Linux at the encouragement of a friend. I dabbled throughout the next several years, but ultimately, things started working better, and I lost interest in tinkering.

Tinkering is not always fun-fun. It can be tedious and frustrating.

But, you know what’s more frustrating to me?

When companies restrict your product—you know, the one you purchased with your own money?

I backed up my Surface recently and then began the process of leaving Windows 10.

I mentioned tedious, right?

I’m a researcher when it comes to purchases and things. I’ll comb over details for a cheap purchase. I messed with Ubuntu before; I tried Mint. I downloaded those to a USB stick and used software to create a live bootable USB stick. Then, I tried booting into the BIOS to get my Surface Book to recognize USB booting.

Tedious.

Thanks to the mighty Microsoft, it was tedious. Some online suggested volume down; others reported volume up. The tip I have for you is to try both. Enable 3^rd party and Microsoft security. Rearrange the order of the boot configuration. Slap the USB stick in and give it a go.

Ultimately, my eldest is way more versed in Linux, so he helped me. I tried Mint first. I really like Mint; it’s just for this laptop, it didn’t look or do what I wanted. It definitely did not work for my wife’s computer. Things felt choked down. I tried “lighter” versions of Linux like Peppermint for hers. Again, it did not feel as polished. My son prefers Fedora, so I gave that a go on hers, and it worked really well. It looked good, cool and artsy. Loaded up the things she would need for images and for writing purposes as well as browsing. Much smoother experience.

My son helped me get the touchscreen working on my Surface Book. After playing with my wife’s computer, I found I preferred Fedora. I asked my kid if he would be mad if I switched it over, and he was kind about it.

So from Mint to Fedora I went. I got things on it to mirror my wife’s in case she needed mine, or vice versa. Thanks to some internet searches, I got the touchscreen working. Last night, I played around and got both the front and back cameras working. I haven’t figured out the battery of the tablet yet, but I have a functioning, supported, updated, secure, and customized computer that still functions. For free.

It took a little bit of time and tinkering, but I have a fresh-feeling machine. I can use it how I need, do the things I need to do, and refresh it if I ever get sick of it. That’s the beauty of Linux. If you don’t like it, try another. You can Live boot OSes and give it a spin, see if you like it. For Free.

Everything is a bloody subscription model. Everything is loaded with choices. Every company is asking for more. Old jobs that were paid a wage now asks for tips for doing what they’re paid to do. In fact, I do that here. We are generous people, but with everyone with a hand out, it doesn’t leave us as much to live on, and these days, more importantly, play on. Oftentimes, choices are way too overwhelming.

With Linux, however, I find it refreshing. Don’t throw out your beloved computer. Give it a new look. If you like it, install it. Revisiting tinkering with Linux took me back some 30 years. I found joy in messing around with tech. I found myself using my Surface Book way more consistently the past several days than I have in the past several years.

While tinkering can be tedious, it can be adventurous, too.

Have an adventure from your very favorite seat, and tell the mighty Microsoft, “No, thanks.”

#BigTech #Microsoft #Apple #Google #Amazon #Linux #Free #Childhood #Reminisce #Reminiscing