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On 02/01/2013 22:18, George Parker wrote: > Come the "festive season" I sort of go into a family induced coma and > I've just caught up with the Web Site etc thread. What have you guys > been on since I was last here? Will I turn on my computer and find my > DCLUG folder, and thus my life, empty? > > I'm in my 70's now and, I suspect, am not alone on this site. I started > making my living in electronics in 1962 and my first computer was a 6 > foot rack of valve units, each being a 4 bit register decoding IFF > (Identification Friend or Foe) codes. (Yes, I was in the RAF). > Electronics then bit you if you weren't careful. I ended up in IS > managing the introduction of data warehousing (if you don't know don't > ask. It's boring). And now I can do as I damned well please (if she > who must be obeyed will let me). > > And what I please is to avoid Microsoft and Apple at all costs and run > Linux (which I insist on pronouncing Lie-nux. I can get by in French but > I don't pronounce Paris as Parie when I speak English.) Most of my basic > knowledge comes from Linux Format. I want the DCLUG at my back as a > second line of defence. First line is Google. My third line is my > small library of Linux books which I find almost useless, unless you > already know the answer but have temporarily mislaid it. (Also known as > senior moments, whatever your age). I do run Windows XP in virtual box > because that is the only way I can run my scanner and I run Wine for > Microgrfx Flowchart but everything else Microsoft I have found a way > around. > > I am not really interested in a web site for the LUG or the meetings, > although I have been to a few in Paignton. But, my life would be > diminished without the email posts. > > I can no longer be bothered with electronic projects, (oh, Practical > Wireless, where are you)(does anyone want some double sided PCB > material? components? wire?) but I want the interaction with like minds > as to how I manage my computing. > > The list consists of working professionals, evangelists, gifted > amateurs, Microsoft refugees, people who can't leave well alone and > lurkers and I believe that the emails are the common cause. I have an > ancient laptop, I have bought a tablet, I am poking a stick into the > Facebook nest and I will move on but there are only so many hours in the > day so for me the DCLUG posts are my rock. Don't screw it up, please. > > George > Concur. concur. I started on Ferranti Pegasus machines, in my 'young days' in mid 1950s and a run availability of 4 hours per week was a success for 'uptime' (but we did not know that word then). oh what is machine code I get asked. moved on the MS due work but freedom of mind (never mind the alternative as in beer or speech) comes with Linux and as George says the email is the best bit where I learn! -- Regards Eion MacDonald -- The Mailing List for the Devon & Cornwall LUG http://mailman.dclug.org.uk/listinfo/list FAQ: http://www.dcglug.org.uk/listfaq