Well it wasn’t exactly a Lenten observance, but something that grew out of a dissatisfaction with how things were. That’s kind of what Lenten observances are supposed to be about, isn’t it? But I’m referring, specifically, to my different computer setups.
Ever since I was the proud owner of a ZX81, I’ve been fascinated by computers and what they can do – and how to make them do it. I’ve lost count of the number of different devices I’ve owned. Back in the 1980s, most personal computers were too expensive for my budget. (Living on a clergy stipend!) But as the prices dropped and we became a little better off, it was possible for us to enjoy better things. Starting with an Amstrad PCW8256, graduating through a series of tower computers whose names and numbers I forget, to an Apple Macbook and other laptops. In the early years of the 21st century I began to explore Linux, getting it to work on various desktop computers and on my first HP laptop. I think I succeeded more because I didn’t know how many things could go wrong, than because I had any idea of what I was doing. Though it’s true that there were a couple of times when I managed to wipe my whole hard drive: once or twice without having remembered to make a complete backup of all my files beforehand. It’s a mistake you soon learn from. But essentially, it was the idea of Linux that appealed to me: the freedom, the open-source cooperation of the developers, and the ideology that went with it.
But newer technologies sometimes made it harder to continue with Linux. I loved the 12-year old ThinkPad I bought for the sole purpose of playing with Linux on it; but the sound and graphics quality were so poor I eventually let it drop. By the start of this year my principal devices were a Microsoft Windows laptop, and a Chromebook. (Not counting the iPad, Android mobile phone, Kindle etc.) The Windows laptop certainly had more power; but the Chromebook was often more convenient with its instant startup and web-based content.
But then: Lent 2025. I started seeing more articles and videos about running Linux on Chromebook. I gave it a try; but never succeeded in making a full Linux desktop environment work. Still, I got some of the old applications that I loved to work: vim, Emacs, command line working in the Terminal. These were enough to make me hanker for something more. I looked at several of the manufacturers who claim to make laptops that will run with Linux: Lenovo, HP and others. But somehow there was always a caveat: that you needed to check whether the various Linux distros were compatible with that particular model. In the end it came down to the decision to look for a laptop that came with Linux preinstalled.
It looked like the main UK companies were
Laptop with Linux,
Starlabs Systems,
Juno Computers,
or Entroware.
After looking at all of them, I decided my Easter reward and treat would be to buy myself this attractive model from Entroware:
the Apollo, which comes with Ubuntu pre-installed.
Yes, it feels like coming home… to a more friendly and grown-up version of Linux, which has obviously changed since I last visited. There’s a lot to learn and relearn. But that also feels like it’s fitting in with the theme of the Christian Year: the new life that follows Easter.
Godspelled 