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  3. Is 50 too old to be learning Linux

Is 50 too old to be learning Linux

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  • S SoMad

    Like the rest, I am going to say no, it's not too late. I think the articles Vince posted on the CP sister site is a good place to start: http://www.rootadmin.com/Articles/298/Learning-Linux-for-Windows-Users-Part-1[^] Soren Madsen

    "When you don't know what you're doing it's best to do it quickly" - Jase #DuckDynasty

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    Emmanuel Medina
    wrote on last edited by
    #20

    Damn I didn't even know about that site (and apparently not many people knows about it, it has under 1,000 members)

    If you think you can do a thing or think you can't do a thing, you're right - Henry Ford Emmanuel Medina Lopez

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    • L Lost User

      Having used all the flavours of Windows since Windows 3.1 right up to Windows 8 and having used Amiga OS 1.3 to 3.9 before then I'm wondering if it's time to try a Linux distro. What I'm wondering is, have I left it too late at the age of 50 to start to get into the intricacies of Linux and which distro would be a good one to start with? I don't mind getting my hands 'dirty' with writing scripts and using a CLI as I've done this before on the Amiga (which was Unix based) and on Wind :-O ows. Any thoughts?

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      jim lahey
      wrote on last edited by
      #21

      Is this commercial or recreational use of Linux?

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      • L Lost User

        Having used all the flavours of Windows since Windows 3.1 right up to Windows 8 and having used Amiga OS 1.3 to 3.9 before then I'm wondering if it's time to try a Linux distro. What I'm wondering is, have I left it too late at the age of 50 to start to get into the intricacies of Linux and which distro would be a good one to start with? I don't mind getting my hands 'dirty' with writing scripts and using a CLI as I've done this before on the Amiga (which was Unix based) and on Wind :-O ows. Any thoughts?

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        mikepwilson
        wrote on last edited by
        #22

        Don't be ridiculous. Why would it be? Ubuntu is just fine. It will even install as a dual-boot without interfering with your current OS. (I think they call it the 'wubi' installer or something.) It's definitely worth noodling with, especially since you're asking on a programming forum :)

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        • L Lost User

          Having used all the flavours of Windows since Windows 3.1 right up to Windows 8 and having used Amiga OS 1.3 to 3.9 before then I'm wondering if it's time to try a Linux distro. What I'm wondering is, have I left it too late at the age of 50 to start to get into the intricacies of Linux and which distro would be a good one to start with? I don't mind getting my hands 'dirty' with writing scripts and using a CLI as I've done this before on the Amiga (which was Unix based) and on Wind :-O ows. Any thoughts?

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          Septimus Hedgehog
          wrote on last edited by
          #23

          Do you feel too old to spend a weekend in Paris?

          If there is one thing more dangerous than getting between a bear and her cubs it's getting between my wife and her chocolate.

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          • L Lost User

            Having used all the flavours of Windows since Windows 3.1 right up to Windows 8 and having used Amiga OS 1.3 to 3.9 before then I'm wondering if it's time to try a Linux distro. What I'm wondering is, have I left it too late at the age of 50 to start to get into the intricacies of Linux and which distro would be a good one to start with? I don't mind getting my hands 'dirty' with writing scripts and using a CLI as I've done this before on the Amiga (which was Unix based) and on Wind :-O ows. Any thoughts?

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            Nemanja Trifunovic
            wrote on last edited by
            #24

            Paul S Wilcox wrote:

            Amiga (which was Unix based)

            I am pretty sure it wasn't, unless you installed Amiga Unix on it.

            utf8-cpp

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            • J Joan M

              Never too old... You could start with something like Ubuntu, which is quite simple to use (lots of GUI that help). If you want suffering you can always go to debian. PS: my happy ie10 and its autocorrection feature activated when the language is Spanish can be the reason for some strange words...

              [www.tamautomation.com] Robots, CNC and PLC machines for grinding and polishing.

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              lewax00
              wrote on last edited by
              #25

              Joan Murt wrote:

              If you want suffering you can always go to debian.

              Or, if you want true hell, go to Gentoo. Of course, you will have to cancel all your plans in the foreseeable future so you have time to maintain it.

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              • L Lost User

                Wouldn't he better served finding a young mistress?

                “I believe that there is an equality to all humanity. We all suck.” Bill Hicks

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                Lost User
                wrote on last edited by
                #26

                ChrisElston wrote:

                Wouldn't he better served finding a young mistress?

                Now there's a thought!

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                • L Lost User

                  50 should be a perfect age to cultivate the epic neckbeard required to fully get into Linux.

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                  Lost User
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #27

                  harold aptroot wrote:

                  50 should be a perfect age to cultivate the epic neckbeard required to fully get into Linux.

                  Already started with the neck beard, it's a bit grey though. :(

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                  • S SoMad

                    Like the rest, I am going to say no, it's not too late. I think the articles Vince posted on the CP sister site is a good place to start: http://www.rootadmin.com/Articles/298/Learning-Linux-for-Windows-Users-Part-1[^] Soren Madsen

                    "When you don't know what you're doing it's best to do it quickly" - Jase #DuckDynasty

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                    Lost User
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #28

                    Thanks for the link.

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                    • L Lost User

                      Paul S Wilcox wrote:

                      I don't mind getting my hands 'dirty' with writing scripts and using a CLI as I've done this before on the Amiga (which was Unix based) and on Wind :O ows.

                      The fact that the AmigaDOS was based on Unix will not help you a single bit under Linux.

                      Paul S Wilcox wrote:

                      I'm wondering if it's time to try a Linux distro.

                      Trying stuff is always a good idea. Try a few of them; you can install them on a USB-stick and boot from that. Besides Ubuntu, I'd recommend trying "Damn Small Linux". And, you might be interested in trying AROS[^].

                      Bastard Programmer from Hell :suss: If you can't read my code, try converting it here[^]

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                      Jan Steyn
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #29

                      Eddy Vluggen wrote:

                      The fact that the AmigaDOS was based on Unix will not help you a single bit under Linux.

                      Except for knowing what cd and rm stands for. As in don't try this at home:

                      alias rm=rm
                      cd /
                      rm *

                      First *nix machine I did that on was some SCO installation I tried out and was tired of. :^)

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                      • L Lost User

                        Having used all the flavours of Windows since Windows 3.1 right up to Windows 8 and having used Amiga OS 1.3 to 3.9 before then I'm wondering if it's time to try a Linux distro. What I'm wondering is, have I left it too late at the age of 50 to start to get into the intricacies of Linux and which distro would be a good one to start with? I don't mind getting my hands 'dirty' with writing scripts and using a CLI as I've done this before on the Amiga (which was Unix based) and on Wind :-O ows. Any thoughts?

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                        Marc Clifton
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #30

                        I'm 50 and have been a reluctant (for work reasons) user of Ubuntu the last 8 months or so. I have come to a greater appreciation of all things Windows as a result. Even the fonts look like crap in Ubuntu. Now, on a sort of positive note, it's an OS, and like any OS, I want it to get out of the way of doing work. I think Windows does that better as well, but I've appreciated learning more about the Linux world. People think differently using Linux. I had an ah-ha moment yesterday, when I realized that most people in the Linux world use basic text editors that don't have intellisense, code completion, etc., and as a result, their code is very, very, different -- I believe the emphasis on strings and parsing rather than well designed OO classes is a direct result of the kinds of tools that Linux devs use. Bear in mind my experiences are limited to Ruby on Rails at the moment, but from all the code I see out there, there is very little good OO architecture and lots of one-off parsing and bizarre formats. Anyways, 50 is not too late, it is an interesting experience, but at the end of the day, I'm left yearning for the pleasure of Windows, Windows applications, and doing development in C# and .NET--Ubuntu, the apps under Ubuntu, etc., are simply klunky, in my opinion. Marc

                        Testers Wanted!
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                        • L Lost User

                          Paul S Wilcox wrote:

                          I don't mind getting my hands 'dirty' with writing scripts and using a CLI as I've done this before on the Amiga (which was Unix based) and on Wind :O ows.

                          The fact that the AmigaDOS was based on Unix will not help you a single bit under Linux.

                          Paul S Wilcox wrote:

                          I'm wondering if it's time to try a Linux distro.

                          Trying stuff is always a good idea. Try a few of them; you can install them on a USB-stick and boot from that. Besides Ubuntu, I'd recommend trying "Damn Small Linux". And, you might be interested in trying AROS[^].

                          Bastard Programmer from Hell :suss: If you can't read my code, try converting it here[^]

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                          Lost User
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #31

                          I've dabbled with AROS and currently use WinUAE for Amiga emulation. I'll check out your distro suggestions; thanks.

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                          • L Lost User

                            Having used all the flavours of Windows since Windows 3.1 right up to Windows 8 and having used Amiga OS 1.3 to 3.9 before then I'm wondering if it's time to try a Linux distro. What I'm wondering is, have I left it too late at the age of 50 to start to get into the intricacies of Linux and which distro would be a good one to start with? I don't mind getting my hands 'dirty' with writing scripts and using a CLI as I've done this before on the Amiga (which was Unix based) and on Wind :-O ows. Any thoughts?

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                            S Houghtelin
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #32

                            I’ve seen people at 50 do more daft things than learning a new programming language or OS. When I look at doing or learning new things I never think “Am I too old?” But I do think of two things.. “Can I physically do this without injuring myself too badly?” and more importantly, “Do I want to do this?”

                            It was broke, so I fixed it.

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                            • D David Crow

                              Paul S Wilcox wrote:

                              ...the Amiga (which was Unix based)...

                              I had always thought it was based on Exec (or something similarly named).

                              "One man's wage rise is another man's price increase." - Harold Wilson

                              "Fireproof doesn't mean the fire will never come. It means when the fire comes that you will be able to withstand it." - Michael Simmons

                              "Show me a community that obeys the Ten Commandments and I'll show you a less crowded prison system." - Anonymous

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                              Lost User
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #33

                              It is. There were four main parts to the Amiga OS, Exec, AmigaDOS, Intuition and Workbench. Each performed a specific function: Exec is the underlying kernel: similar to the Windows & Linux kernels AmigaDOS was the Disk Operating System; Intuition controlled UI elements Workbench was the GUI.

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                              • J jim lahey

                                Is this commercial or recreational use of Linux?

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                                Lost User
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #34

                                It would be solely recreational, bit like cannabis I suppose!

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                                • M mikepwilson

                                  Don't be ridiculous. Why would it be? Ubuntu is just fine. It will even install as a dual-boot without interfering with your current OS. (I think they call it the 'wubi' installer or something.) It's definitely worth noodling with, especially since you're asking on a programming forum :)

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                                  Lost User
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #35

                                  Thanks for the suggestion, will look into it. Cheers.

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                                  • S Septimus Hedgehog

                                    Do you feel too old to spend a weekend in Paris?

                                    If there is one thing more dangerous than getting between a bear and her cubs it's getting between my wife and her chocolate.

                                    L Offline
                                    L Offline
                                    Lost User
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #36

                                    PHS241 wrote:

                                    Do you feel too old to spend a weekend in Paris?

                                    I should be so lucky! :laugh:

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                                    • S S Houghtelin

                                      I’ve seen people at 50 do more daft things than learning a new programming language or OS. When I look at doing or learning new things I never think “Am I too old?” But I do think of two things.. “Can I physically do this without injuring myself too badly?” and more importantly, “Do I want to do this?”

                                      It was broke, so I fixed it.

                                      L Offline
                                      L Offline
                                      Lost User
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #37

                                      My mother-in-law did a tandem skydive for her 50th birthday.

                                      “I believe that there is an equality to all humanity. We all suck.” Bill Hicks

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                                      • N Nemanja Trifunovic

                                        Paul S Wilcox wrote:

                                        Amiga (which was Unix based)

                                        I am pretty sure it wasn't, unless you installed Amiga Unix on it.

                                        utf8-cpp

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                                        L Offline
                                        Lost User
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #38

                                        My reference to the Amiga being Unix based was maybe in error. Although the Amiga did use a multi-user, fully pre-emptive multitasking kernel. Workbench (the GUI) only implemented a single user interface though. Still, it was way ahead of its time for a consumer computer. What other home computer had a pre-emptive multitasking kernel and a GUI in 1985?

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                                        • L Lost User

                                          My mother-in-law did a tandem skydive for her 50th birthday.

                                          “I believe that there is an equality to all humanity. We all suck.” Bill Hicks

                                          S Offline
                                          S Offline
                                          S Houghtelin
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #39

                                          I have thought that doing something like skydiving would be fun to do once just for the experience, But think I'll wait 'til I'm eighty.

                                          It was broke, so I fixed it.

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