Hello Libre Planet Ontario. Enclosed you'll find a thread of a local Ontarian
looking for some answers. I sent this message to the general help email of Gnu
and they gave me a set of links that helped me track down groups like you in my
area.
I live in the municipality of Cornwall, Roughly one hour South East of Ottawa.
Finding out if there are LIbre resources available in my locality would be
highly helpfull.
Leya
Sent from [ProtonMail](https://protonmail.com), Swiss-based encrypted email.
Sent with [ProtonMail](https://protonmail.com) Secure Email.
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: [gnu.org #1158584] The path to free
Local Time: October 26, 2016 11:06 AM
UTC Time: October 26, 2016 11:06 AM
From: address@hidden
To: address@hidden
Hello, Leya,
address@hidden - Tue Oct 25 18:22:07 2016]:
Hello Gnu Project. I'm a single Canadian woman in her 30s and I didn't
know anything about free software or internet security or anonymity
until the last couple months when I started researching and
actively familiarizing myself with Edward Snowden, wikileaks and
free software initiatives like gnu and I've learned a great deal in
a short time and I am frankly feeling somewhat overwhelmed with
where to go, what to do and how best to manage my needs. I have a
fairly severe neurological disorder which doesn't impact physically
as much as it impact mentally and I am on a fixed income for this
so my budget is very low and I use technology assistively to manage
my situation. However I believe strongly in human rights, anonymity
and freedom. I use a mac because I part of my disorder means that
any equipment I use has to be fairly robust and the breakable
plastic of some low end windows computers just wasn't going to cut
it, as oposed to the hard metal less breakable mac hardware.
However, from videos with Richard, I've come to understand the
inherant back doors and insecurites of Apple technology. Part of my
impairement is that visual learning and understanding how things
work is very poor and all this written reading is becomming very
painfull and I am fed up with trying to understand all of this new
information about free os and every new program I am going to have
to learn to go "libre" as some might have it. For now, I have
installed what I can, Tor browser, Open Office, Startpage,
protonmail and a password manager just to get me started. Would you
guys be able to offer any resources, wisdom or advice on how I
might proceed.. I want to be able to still play games like the ones
on steam.. I want to be able to use photoshop, or if someone can
recommend a non proprietary profesional photo and video editing
software that is as good as photoshop, I have tried some free image
editing software but none really did what I needed for my work. I
would love to fully install a gnu/linux os on my mac hardware , but
I do not know if that is possible and my disability makes figuring
it out on my own very hard and then there's the anxiety that once I
do, I won't be more impared because I can't find or use any of the
things I need for my wellbeing.
Thank you and I appreciate your time
First off, let me say: I'm really impressed by how much you've learned
in so short a time, especially considering the hinderances! We are
really glad to hear of your interest and that you are moving to free
software.
You've already taken a number of a excellent measures to ensure
freedom and privacy. I understand your reservations about
transitioning to a free operating system. As you've ascertained,
using a nonfree system does, of course, not preclude you from using
any softare that your freedom. Please see
<http://www.fsf.org/working-together> for more information on this.
There you will find links to moving to free software
(<http://www.fsf.org/working-together/moving)>. The following few
pages might also be of interest, help:
- <https://www.fsf.org/windows> (how to switch from Windows)
- <http://www.gnu.org/distros/free-distros.en.html> (distributions we
endorse)
- <http://www.gnu.org/software/for-windows.html> (free programs that
work on Windows)
- <https://www.fsf.org/resources/hw/endorsement/respects-your-freedom>
(laptops we've certified respect your freedom)
- <https://h-node.org/> (database of hardware that works well with free
software)
- <http://emailselfdefense.org> (instructions on how to set up e-mail
encryption)
- <http://directory.fsf.org/wiki/Orca> (Gnome screenreader)
This is only the general e-mail contact for the FSF and the GNU
Project and I am unable to answer technical questions. If you have
questions about how to installation or capabilities, please go to the
distro's Web site. For instance, instructions for loading a USB drive
with Trisquel are at
<https://trisquel.info/en/wiki/how-create-liveusb>. (To download the
Trisquel iso image itself, go to <https://trisquel.info/en/download>.)
Volunteers on the mailing lists can answer technical questions you
might have about installation and capabilities.
Please note that you have the option of trying a distro before
switching to it permanently. At
<http://www.fsf.org/working-together/moving/burning> you will find
instructions for trying GNU/Linux.
You can find all the free software we know about in the Free Software
Directory, at <http://directory.fsf.org/wiki/>. I encourage you to
search there for a program that meets your needs. Also, you might
find it helpful to go to <http://lists.gnu.org/mailman/listinfo/>,
where you will find a complete list of all the public mailing lists,
and to <http://www.gnu.org/help/gethelp.html>, which we are working to
improve.
I feel it would be most useful for you to be in touch with someone
who's both visually impaired and experienced with GNU/Linux. I am
trying to reach such a person, and, if I'm successful, I will put you
in touch with them, so that they can show you the way more effectively
than I can.
Regarding the challenge of doing this on a fixed income:
- a lot of free software is gratis, so that should help, and,
regarding tech support, you might be able to find a GNU/Linux user
group in your area. Please see LibrePlanet's group list
(<http://libreplanet.org/wiki/Group_list>). (LibrePlanet is a Web
portal to foster community-based free software groups and make it
easy for people to connect with local and non-local activists.)
Maybe there is someone in your area who is able to help you with the
transition.
- have you considered buying a refurbished computer? This would give
you the option of holding on to your current one, and experimenting
with the new(/old) one, until your feel comfortable enough to
transition permanently. Also, aside from financial reasons, there
are considerable environmental reasons to do so. There are no doubt
a number of retailers in your area from which you could get one,
and, ideally, there might be a nonprofit from which you could buy
one with GNU/Linux already installed. Otherwise, you could install
it yourself. (I have a refurbished ThinkPad and that's what I did.)
Regarding Photoshop, the free alternatives we use are GIMP
(http://directory.fsf.org/wiki/Gimp) and Inkscape
(http://directory.fsf.org/wiki/Inkscape).
Regarding installing
gnu/linux os on my mac hardware
this can be done, but I can't (i.e. am not able to) give you
instructions (and certainly not better instructions than what could
find via a Web search).
I hope this helps.
I will write you again if I can reach the visually impaired free
software activist.
Thank you for supporting free software.
And best wishes for a successful transition.
Sincerely,
j.
--
Jeanne Rasata
Program Assistant
Free Software Foundation
GnuPG Key: F24B 3F64 31A1 90D6 1CCC 0394 E8FD 48A0 DE0D C371
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