It's been one year now since I started my journey with Linux.
To some, it might be strange to celebrate this anniversary, but not to me; I'm disabled, and computers have always been my primary methods of communication, entertainment and work. I grew up with them (and indeed, I grew up alongside the Internet; the first generation of the Internet Generation, I have fond memories of sitting on my Mother's lap, typing in MS-DOS commands.)

I learnt how to type before I started talking.


Yeah, I'm one of those kids.


Anyway, one year ago, decided to try out Linux, this remarkable, free operating system, and as such, I tried out Ubuntu 8.10.

My, what a wonderful situation to be in.

I tried out others, MEPHIS, Mandriva, Debian, Kubuntu, Linux Mint, CrunchBang...

I fell in love with KDE's style and tools.

I thought, when I was on Windows, that I was a 'power-user'. Yeah, look at me, I can click a button!
How embarrassing.

Linux opened my eyes to the world of computing, before my experience, I never paid much heed to the components that make up a computer; the desktop interface, the search tools, the data formats, the sound server, device drivers...before, it was just one big annoying mess that I paid through the nose for.

I became part of a community, I had a say in what I thought was a good idea, and what as a bad one. I laughed and joked with others, wore the same look of disbelief over new technologies that was someone's brainchild. Developer's were no longer these strange people you never met or heard about, but were very outspoken about their thoughts. Fellow user's helped me through difficult parts of my experience as I helped other people with theirs.

I stopped paying through the nose for my machines (and my parents) protection online. I'm running Kubuntu 9.10 on my new Netbook and Laptop and Linux Mint on my Parent's machine. Slowly, my immediate family started running it as well. It became a far more simple existence to have a computer that would continue to work.

A few months ago, I had a horrible experience, I had to install Windows XP on a neighbour's computer. The 5 hour drudge of waiting for the install to complete, load the drivers, load the software, try and explain why the software wouldn't work due to the DRM and then spend the rest of the time wondering why Windows has to connect to the internet to download drivers to connect to the Internet....oh, and let's not forget those damn Service Packs.

People were right, you know. Many said that Linux was easier then Windows, at the time, I didn't believe them; I was after all seeing an alien desktop environment, with alien tools. I hadn't the foggiest on how to get DVD's playing or anything of that sort. Those people were right, it IS easier to operate a machine, it IS easier to install software...and I strongly believe that if Linux was in Window's position and Windows was in Linux's....Microsoft would of died 3 months before it got off the ground.

It's one year on since I started my journey, in that time, I've met complete idiots, and utter saints. I've had times when all I've wanted to hug my machine...and times when I've wanted to throw it out the window.

Overall; my adventure with Linux has been fun so far. I've never had to compile software, I've never had to dive into the terminal, I've never had to dive into arcane config files...I've simply used my desktop environment, and I've loved doing so.

I've loved never having to mess with drivers, I've loved never having to make the tea whilst anti-virus updates. I've loved never having to wait for my machine to do what I want.

Gaming? Ha, done! No configuration needed! All in all, it's been an excellent adventure, and believe you me, I have no intention of stopping now.

I've been giving back as much as I can to the community. I install alpha and beta software, and file bug reports when something goes “Whoops!”. I suggest new features, create mock-ups and on one occasion created an introductory document about KDE's new technology; NEPOMUK. I can't code (I've only really started playing with basic HTML) and I can't donate funds, but I've helped, in my own little way, the Linux eco-system.

I'm seeing marvellous development in the Desktop Environments, extremely cutting edge software, and a HUGE sense of community and co-operation. You don't get that with Microsoft or Apple, you don't get developer/user interaction with them, nor do you get direct troubleshooting (even to the point where they, with your permission, connect to your machine through the 'net, drop recovery code on your machine, and tell you to click it if something screws up again) In the closed-source world, you get an outsourced support fellow, reading a script. Got a problem the script doesn't mention? Be prepared to spend a LOT on your phone bill...

I'm at College now, trying to get an IT Diploma. The entire IT Department is Cisco and Microsoft funded, Adobe, Microsoft and Apple training courses are available...but the funny thing is, the servers and network hubs are all Linux machines. The College's intranet is powered by Moodle...I find it ironic. I've given out Linux Mint CD's to quite a few peers (and am now preparing to give some to my tutors, who have shown in an interest in this 'super-speedy Windows look-alike' as they refer to my machine)

I'd like to end this with a big thank you to the members (and Admins) of the Ubuntu, Kubuntu and KDE forums. Also worth a mention is the lovely discussions I've had with many developers, especially KDE's own Sebastian Trueg. Also a special mention to Ken (AKA, Helios) who runs the HeliOS Project, a project dedicated to providing Linux-laden computers to disadvantaged kids in Austin. (and has a mean wit to boot)

Thank you, all, for giving myself a very enjoyable computing experience.

It's been good to have you; the good news is: it gets better the longer you use it.

I am one of those users who can be tagged as "one of my kind" when it comes to OS. I am the only linux user in my entire batch in my university. The junior batches have another one of our breed though

But nevertheless, I still laugh at them when they bang their heads overt a Trojan hitting their computer and rendering it unusable. I also have times when people being their USB flash disks to me so that I mount them and delete the viruses for them as their antivirus software had failed them. But thats just one reason, I use linux because.. it just fits into my scope of work. Plus with KDE adding all its powerful apps and eyecandy, it gets even better.

The community is indeed huge, and it's everywhere: Forums, IRC, MLs. And it feels pretty damn good to be a part of one

I don't know what to say here, but I hope "happy anniversiry" fit's

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I created a little cake for you (i love cake). I hope it's looking good.

I started using linux for most of my tasks three years ago but uses to switch back to windows often - until I got my laptop, now there's linux full time

My first linux meeting was five years ago with Suse. But I stopped working with it because I didn't manage to configure my Lilo bootloader properly to load Windows too...

Happy birthday then, from me too. Keep up your spirit, Dante.