用 Linux 使计算机更容易使用和可持续
计算机 Linux

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> Free Geek 是一个非营利组织，通过向有需要的人和团体提供 Linux 电脑，帮助减少数字鸿沟。
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![](/data/attachment/album/202105/05/135048extplppp7miznpdp.jpg "Working from home at a laptop")


有很多理由选择 Linux 作为你的桌面操作系统。在 [为什么每个人都应该选择 Linux](https://opensource.com/article/21/2/try-linux) 中，Seth Kenlon 强调了许多选择 Linux 的最佳理由，并为人们提供了许多开始使用该操作系统的方法。


这也让我想到了我通常向人们介绍 Linux 的方式。这场大流行增加了人们上网购物、远程教育以及与家人和朋友 [通过视频会议](https://opensource.com/article/20/8/linux-laptop-video-conferencing) 联系的需求。


我和很多有固定收入的退休人员一起工作，他们并不特别精通技术。对于这些人中的大多数人来说，购买电脑是一项充满担忧的大投资。我的一些朋友和客户对在大流行期间去零售店感到不舒服，而且他们完全不熟悉如何买电脑，无论是台式机还是笔记本电脑，即使在非大流行时期。他们来找我，询问在哪里买，要注意些什么。


我总是想看到他们得到一台 Linux 电脑。他们中的许多人买不起名牌供应商出售的 Linux 设备。直到最近，我一直在为他们购买翻新的设备，然后用 Linux 改装它们。


但是，当我发现 [Free Geek](https://www.freegeek.org/) 时，这一切都改变了，这是一个位于俄勒冈州波特兰的非营利组织，它的使命是“可持续地重复使用技术，实现数字访问，并提供教育，以创建一个使人们能够实现其潜力的社区。”


Free Geek 有一个 eBay 商店，我在那里以可承受的价格购买了几台翻新的笔记本电脑。他们的电脑都安装了 [Linux Mint](https://opensource.com/article/21/4/restore-macbook-linux)。 事实上，电脑可以立即使用，这使得向 [新用户介绍 Linux](https://opensource.com/article/18/12/help-non-techies) 很容易，并帮助他们快速体验操作系统的力量。


### 让电脑继续使用，远离垃圾填埋场


Oso Martin 在 2000 年地球日发起了 Free Geek。该组织为其志愿者提供课程和工作计划，对他们进行翻新和重建捐赠电脑的培训。志愿者们在服务 24 小时后还会收到一台捐赠的电脑。


这些电脑在波特兰的 Free Geek 实体店和 [网上](https://www.ebay.com/str/freegeekbasicsstore) 出售。该组织还通过其项目 [Plug Into Portland](https://www.freegeek.org/our-programs/plug-portland)、[Gift a Geekbox](https://www.freegeek.org/our-programs/gift-geekbox) 以及[组织](https://www.freegeek.org/our-programs-grants/organizational-hardware-grants)和[社区资助](https://www.freegeek.org/our-programs-grants/community-hardware-grants)向有需要的人和实体提供电脑。


该组织表示，它已经“从垃圾填埋场翻新了 200 多万件物品，向非营利组织、学校、社区变革组织和个人提供了 75000 多件技术设备，并从 Free Geek 学习者那里提供了 5000 多课时”。


### 参与其中


自成立以来，Free Geek 已经从 3 名员工发展到近 50 名员工，并得到了世界各地的认可。它是波特兰市的 [数字包容网络](https://www.portlandoregon.gov/oct/73860) 的成员。


你可以在 [Twitter](https://twitter.com/freegeekpdx)、[Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/freegeekmothership)、[LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/free-geek/)、[YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/user/FreeGeekMothership) 和 [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/freegeekmothership/) 上与 Free Geek 联系。你也可以订阅它的[通讯](https://app.e2ma.net/app2/audience/signup/1766417/1738557/?v=a)。从 Free Geek 的 [商店](https://www.freegeek.org/shop) 购买物品，可以直接支持其工作，减少数字鸿沟。




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via: <https://opensource.com/article/21/4/linux-free-geek>


作者：[Don Watkins](https://opensource.com/users/don-watkins) 选题：[lujun9972](https://github.com/lujun9972) 译者：[geekpi](https://github.com/geekpi) 校对：[wxy](https://github.com/wxy)


本文由 [LCTT](https://github.com/LCTT/TranslateProject) 原创编译，[Linux中国](https://linux.cn/) 荣誉推出


OK
There are many reasons to choose Linux for your desktop operating system. In [ Why everyone should choose Linux](https://opensource.com/article/21/2/try-linux), Opensource.com's Seth Kenlon highlighted many of the best reasons to select Linux and provided lots of ways for people to get started with the operating system.

This also got me thinking about how I usually introduce folks to Linux. The pandemic has increased the need for people to go online for shopping, doing remote education, and connecting with family and friends [over video conferencing](https://opensource.com/article/20/8/linux-laptop-video-conferencing).

I work with a lot of retirees who have fixed incomes and are not particularly tech-savvy. For most of these folks, buying a computer is a major investment fraught with concern. Some of my friends and clients are uncomfortable going to a retail store during a pandemic, and they're completely unfamiliar with what to look for in a computer, whether it's a desktop or laptop, even in non-pandemic times. They come to me with questions about where to buy one and what to look for.

I'm always eager to see them get a Linux computer. Many of them cannot afford the Linux units sold by name-brand vendors. Until recently, I've been purchasing refurbished units for them and refitting them with Linux.

But that all changed when I discovered [Free Geek](https://www.freegeek.org/), a nonprofit organization based in Portland, Ore., with the mission "to sustainably reuse technology, enable digital access, and provide education to create a community that empowers people to realize their potential."

Free Geek has an eBay store where I have purchased several refurbished laptops at affordable prices. Their computers come with [Linux Mint](https://opensource.com/article/21/4/restore-macbook-linux) installed. The fact that a computer comes ready-to-use makes it easy to introduce [new users to Linux](https://opensource.com/article/18/12/help-non-techies) and help them quickly experience the operating system's power.

## Keeping computers in service and out of landfills


Oso Martin launched Free Geek on Earth Day 2000. The organization provides classes and work programs to its volunteers, who are trained to refurbish and rebuild donated computers. Volunteers also receive a donated computer after 24 hours of service.

The computers are sold in Free Geek's brick-and-mortar store in Portland and [online](https://www.ebay.com/str/freegeekbasicsstore). The organization also provides computers to people and entities in need through its programs [Plug Into Portland](https://www.freegeek.org/our-programs/plug-portland), [Gift a Geekbox](https://www.freegeek.org/our-programs/gift-geekbox), and [organizational](https://www.freegeek.org/our-programs-grants/organizational-hardware-grants) and [community grants](https://www.freegeek.org/our-programs-grants/community-hardware-grants).

The organization says it has "diverted over 2 million items from landfills, granted over 75,000 technology devices to nonprofits, schools, community change organizations, and individuals, and plugged over 5,000 classroom hours from Free Geek learners."

## Get involved

Since its inception, Free Geek has grown from a staff of three to almost 50 and has been recognized around the world. It is a member of the City of Portland's [Digital Inclusion Network](https://www.portlandoregon.gov/oct/73860).

You can connect with Free Geek on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/freegeekpdx), [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/freegeekmothership), [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/free-geek/), [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/user/FreeGeekMothership), and [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/freegeekmothership/). You can also subscribe to its [newsletter](https://app.e2ma.net/app2/audience/signup/1766417/1738557/?v=a). Purchasing items from Free Geek's [shop](https://www.freegeek.org/shop) directly supports its work and reduces the digital divide.

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