I got into Linux way back in Gnome 2, Ubuntu 10.04 Lucid Lynx and at that time had just about enough money for a second hand computer, with only 2GB of ram, AMD dual processor, on board graphics, with keyboard, a ball mouse and a CRT monitor, going for £90.00 pounds.

I live on a little island called the Isle of Wight, just off in the Solent three miles away from Portsmouth and Southampton in the UK. Finding a decent computer here is like pulling hens teeth. Yes could of saved up my money and got one with all the bells and whistles, flashing lights, extra parts that PC world con you into buying, that nine times out of ten you don't need. For ages had been using Windows XP and of course back then free antivirus company Avast a Man in a shed outfit, kept finding trojans, spyware and goodness knows what else?

So one particular day, my Brother came round with some CD's with different copies of Ubuntu 10.04, asked if I would like to try it out without installing it? Yes I replied. So we tried it I liked it, installed it and the rest is history hooked on Linux. Back then of course you had to know a little programming, but found and shocked about the free help through wonderful forums I was finding, as coming from a proprietary system, where help was you installing 3rd party apps, that clog and slowdown your experience, ending in complete chaos, but with Linux help is always out there.

When Canonical, went over to Unity away from Gnome 2 altogether I went back to Windows, as I did not know about other flavours of Linux doing the same type of desktop environment. Linux Mint came along and saved my life based on Ubuntu 12.04 Maya, I installed the Mate environment onto a external hard drive and took my Linux Mint to local Internet Cafes and the Library, asked the proprietor of the establishment if I could boot into my own Linux operating system, usually if I bought a drink they would let me. Hooked on the freedom of Linux, especially Firefox.