Creation Date: July 25, 2024
Last Modified Date: July 27, 2024
We are talking about a computer that is free as in "freedom" (and it might be free as in "cost", too!). A free computer is just like the usual non-free ones (Windows, Mac, etc), except that it doesn't strive to take your hard-earned money, market to you, spy on your personal activities, hide from you, and sell your information[1]. It is completely yours to modify and share (or even sell), and it respects your right to do whatever you want with it.
There will be references at the bottom of each lesson where you can learn more about each subject.
This all sounds great, right? But "how do we get or make a free computer and can I even do it?". Yes, you can! It's not that hard. It is a little like assembling furniture these days. By following the instructions and notes in this lesson, you will be able to install a free operating system onto a computer and know how to use it.
As an overview - I recommend finding an unused computer over purchasing one. People and organizations often accumulate old laptop and desktop computers once they become "slow" or "broken". They give them away or sell them for less than $50. They might seem old and slow on the outside, but that's mostly just an illusion and they are more useful than one might think. An old computer running a free operating system such as Debian Linux could help you:
So many possibilities! These old computers often become slow because of non-free software and malware, and they just need to be liberated. Laptops are especially useful given their built-in screens, keyboards, WiFi / Ethernet, disc-drives, multi-media slots, and repleacable batteries.
So, do you have an old unused laptop or desktop computer lying around? How about your siblings, parents, relatives, or friends? It's very likely that someone you know has some poor old computer in a basement or underneath a couch. If not, you can find one on eBay or Craigslist for about $30-50, but I highly recommend asking around, first. If you are asking someone for a computer, you can let the person know that you will help them to safely erase any existing data (this is very important). I'll be covering some different ways to find and purchase a suitable old laptop next, and provide some examples of laptops that I myself have obtained through purchase or donation from the community.