IT and Biscuits – Live Demonstration of Installing Linux Mint on a Laptop
Details
### Bullet points of what is covered in the workshop:
- What is Linux Mint as an alternative to Windows
- The virtues of Linux Mint
- How to download Linux Mint
- How to make an installation USB
- How to install Linux Mint on a Laptoop
- The advantages of Linux Mint over Windows
- The features of Linux Mint which come pre-installed
- How to install other programs on Linux mint
- A general conversation responding to questions about IT and personal computing
### A few paragraphs on the subject:
Linux Mint is a popular type of the Linux operating system which offers an alternative to Microsoft Windows. I am going to give a workshop showing people how to download a copy of Linux Mint, create an installation USB, and set up a laptop with it on.
For many years Microsoft Windows has been the dominant operating system which people have used because of its ease of use. In recent years Microsoft through its near monopoly position in the market has become more and more aggressive and abusive of its customer base extracting large amounts of personal data, baking advertising into the desktop experience, imposing unwanted features and forcing redundancy of computers which otherwise are perfectly workable.
This year Microsoft has seen a drop in one third of its share price after integrating a range of features which people did not want and which make Windows 11 dysfunctional for many. This is especially with regards to the imposition of artificial intelligence which has caused a great number of bugs and security issues with the operating system.
As a result people have been abandoning Microsoft Windows in droves looking for more reliable alternatives which offer better privacy, stability and security. The open source Linux community, which for many years has been creating various operating systems which offer alternatives to Microsoft Windows, has taken the self destruction of Microsoft as an opportunity to make their operating systems more user friendly and compatible with migrating populations needs.
One of the most popular and proximal versions of Linux to Windows is Linux Mint. Out of the box it comes as full featured with all the programs you need already pre-installed. It is compatible with nearly all laptop and desktop computers and is easy to install. What is more is that it does not have the same demands on the hardware which Windows 11 does so runs better.
In this workshop I am going to show people the process of setting up Linux on a laptop and answer any questions which are asked. This is a basic skill which could save people a lot of money as well as offering an operating system which has next to no learning curve to transition to. Come along for IT and biscuits; there will be tea, coffee, and nibbles to help us through the day.
### A few paragraphs about you:
I have been involved in a number of digital literacies teaching courses and have a personal interest in computer technologies which are private to the user, secure from hackers and fraudsters, and stable so that work does not get lost.
I also have a deep interest in the longevity of computer machines looking at ways of making sure my computers and other peoples computers last a long time and do not end up as e-waste through waves of inbuilt redundancy driven by unscrupulous multinationals.
Having been involved in education for many years now, I have been developing perspectives based around minimal resource computing and computing within limits which step away from the consumer frenzy of constant updates and the deliberate degradation of computer products so that a new wave of products can be sold.
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