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submitted 3 months ago by maam@feddit.uk to c/linux@programming.dev
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[-] rhythmisaprancer@piefed.social 13 points 3 months ago

My elderly, former programmer father is one. Too bad it took him 30 years after first trying but he is up and running now for about three months ๐Ÿ˜๏ธ Now to get him off the Apple phone and into an alt android OS....

[-] sfgifz@lemmy.world 3 points 3 months ago

Now to get him off the Apple phone and into an alt android OS....

But, why? I can understand for you and I, but does a 50-60yo, need to shift from a platform they're comfortable with and can afford, just because their nerdy kid doesn't find it cool?

[-] rhythmisaprancer@piefed.social 2 points 3 months ago

You're a little off on our ages, but your point still stands ๐Ÿ™‚ What is behind that statement is me seeing him talk about these things for so long. He was messing with OS/2 and some Linux stuff before Windows came out, but completely quit after about 1993. He would, however, talk about it.

He was the first of us to get a smartphone (Apple) and did a lot of tinkering with it then, but quit. I personally have been using Linux OSes for 20 years and even gave an old desktop of mine to fiddle with 10 years ago, which he loved!

He wants to do this stuff but has trouble starting his own projects. He has spent time with my phone, my computers, etc. If I lived closer this would be a great way to spend time together since we don't have a whole lot in common.

The reality is he is the nerdy kid who learned programming on punch cards and switched to that field in the 60s as soon as he learned what a computer was. He has always wanted to do "gadgety" things. He does have some dispensable income. I have enjoyed hearing him talk about this new nettop and the shenanigans he gets into with it! So much better than discussing the weather.

[-] sfgifz@lemmy.world 1 points 2 months ago

It takes a tinkering kind to truly enjoy Linux, sounds like your old man is one of us, go for it! ๐Ÿ˜„

[-] ati1@mastodon.social 1 points 3 months ago

@rhythmisaprancer @plyth I'm not even sure it's a good way to go. I mean from iOS to alt Android. In my oppinion AOSP is a secret Google weapon to limit real alternative (like #LinuxOnMobile ) growth. AOSP code is nearly 100% written by Google anyways right? They controll whole ecosystem. They can (and do) limit indie FOSS apps/devs. They can (and do) make it rely heavily on proprietary Play Services and so on. Just imagine where would mobile Linux phones be now, if there was no AOSP ever.

[-] rhythmisaprancer@piefed.social 2 points 3 months ago

@ati1@mastodon.social I agree and would be all over a Linux phone that was viable for daily driving in the US. I already have to carry two phones and cannot manage a third haha. As for my father I mainly want him to explore some things and have some hobbies that work his brain. He is actually a great candidate for something like a Linux OS phone and I will be thinking about that for the future.

this post was submitted on 09 Dec 2025
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