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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

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Met a nice lady at the grocery store (lemmy.ml)

submitted 11 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

73 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Today at the grocery store a sweet older lady approached me and asked if I knew anything about computers. I said yes I do, and she produced a mouse saying that her son set up Linux mint for her and she was wondering if the mouse was compatible. It needed kernel version 2.6 or newer so I said that the mouse should work, guessing mint itself was probably newer than that kernel. Happy with my answer, we chatted a little, then she thanked me and left.

It was a nice experience, so I thought I should share!

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[–] RustedSwitch 259 points 11 months ago (22 children)

I don’t have any reason to not trust OP, but the likelihood of this conversation happening at ALL seems incredibly unlikely. Never mind that it is described as successful.

If true, this is amazing.

[–] [email protected] 23 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (12 children)

I literally set up Ubuntu for my mother (an old lady by now) 10+ years ago, and she has absolutely no problems with it other than the occasional LTS version updates that I need to do for her. I am pretty sure the overall tech-support I had to do for her over all these years is actually lower as it is much more difficult to accidentally mess up a desktop Linux than some Windows installation.

I live a few hours away from her and can't just go out and buy her a new mouse (and she doesn't like online shopping), so the OP story could be exactly her to the letter (except she isn't using Linux Mint).

[–] RustedSwitch 5 points 11 months ago (4 children)

Yeah, I’m not saying it’s impossible, just incredibly unlikely.

The number of people out there that fit the description of your mother is low.

The number of people that could have intelligently answered the question is a bit higher, but still low.

The likelihood of those 2 people meeting in a store not dedicated to computer tech, and having this exact conversation, is like… monkeys playing Mozart level unlikely. ;)

[–] [email protected] 9 points 11 months ago (1 children)

I completely agree, it was one in a million and I was extremely surprised when it happened.

I've never been on the receiving end of a "that happened" before. Not really sure what to do about it. But I get it.