My Experience in Linux

1993 was the year when I was introduced to Linux. It was when I bought a PC for my brother in law. I went to Dev Computer, a computer store in my town, Salatiga. The owner of the store, David, installed Suse Linux 9.0 instead of Windows because I had to buy for it. I didn't know Linux so I insisted to have Windows on the PC. He said that he could only install Windows Trial Edition because of the law. It lasted for 30 days.

At that time I only took a glance of Linux because there's very little knowledge in my mind about it, even I didn't care at all.

For a month I used Windows Trial and then I borrowed Windows XP CD from a friend of mine and upgraded. I didn't care about the piracy.

In the same year I went to my brother's house in South East Sulawesi. My brother is a teacher in one of Junior High Schools there. He asked me to check his school computers given by the government for his school. He said that the Windows Xp on the computers was not working. He got 20 computers. They were HP PC. The Windows in the computers was Trial so after 30 days, it stopped working.

Then I tried to install them with Windows XP Proffessional which was pirated since the serial number (SN) of the CD was the same as one I installed in Salatiga. I was quite shocked when I ask him for Driver CD of the computers, he gave me 2 CDs of Mandrake Linux 9.1 HP. On my conclusion, HP bundled its computers with Linux OS. I wondered why.

There're lots of question in my mind. Why Linux? What was Linux? Why was it bundled with branded computers?

Then when I came to Makassar, South Sulawesi, I found the answer of my question. When I was looking around in one of bookstores in a mall there, I found a magazine with enchanting title; " Linux, alah bisa karena biasa" (Linux, we can because we get used to). I bought the magazine which was bundled with a CD of Linux Mandrake Bamboo 9.1.

I read the magazine and tried to install it on my computer.
From that time I dedicated my time to learn more about Linux.