Hello from France
May 17, 2011 (about 1 year ago)
Lately, I have been quite busy applying for new jobs. Applying for new positions can be a time-consuming pastime, preparing a CV, writing covering letters and completing application forms requires some degree of concentration, and perseverance. So, whilst checking my mail and taking a much needed break from the form-filling, I was delighted to find a message that made me smile:
SUBJECT: hello from france
Hello Philip,
Just a quick word to say thanks for #!. What you’ve achieved is amazing.
This is how I got round to using it…
I’m a reasonably competent amateur user who mainly writes articles, takes photos, prepares slideshows, sends emails and surfs the web. I was sick of defragmenting and cleaning all the family’s Windows machines every Sunday morning (more paranoia than necessity I imagine, but still time consuming). Over the past 4 years I’ve progressed through various versions of Ubuntu and Mint, and played with a lot more. I’m writing this on Debian LXDE (quite nice but won’t use it much). I’ve only managed to get my daughter to use Linux all the time, but I’ve installed Debian for my father-in-law’s “surfing” PC.
I like (old) Gnome, but it was getting slower on my 5 year-old machine and Open Office was taking forever to open (quick launcher doesn’t work well with Gnome, you have to switch it off if you want to shut down the computer). So I’m really enjoying the speed and stability of Statler, and I also like customizing the menu and removing unwanted packages whenever I want.
The theme is refreshingly clean and beautiful, but if I’m honest I’d really prefer a lighter one for the browser start page.
My processor is a single core AMD 64, but 32-bit Statler feels more robust (difficult for a non-dev to explain why) and it gives no error messages during startup.
Apart from that I give English lessons, promote bicycles / alternative transport and don’t have a TV (last one broke 22 years ago). I am a town councilor in Albi (SW France, recently added to UNESCO world-heritage list).
As you may have realized, I find that life is more interesting when you do something a little different from other people.
Anyway, I really liked the new interview. Best of luck with whatever projects you have, they are bound to be good.
Best wishes, Steve
PS If by any chance you chat to Steve Lawson or Dan, please tell them that I miss their distro reviews. Maybe they’ve just stopped hopping and settled for Statler…
:)
Steve made my night with his message and it gave me a nice little moral boost. I guess like anyone who spends a lot of time sat in front of a terminal, I sometimes feel quite disconnected from the world, and messages like Steve’s help to reconnect. I always find it interesting to read about other peoples experience with CrunchBang, but more so when the person provides a little insight into their own life (such as Steve’s interest in alternative transport and his 22 year freedom break from the idiot-box).
So, if anyone is out there and they are wondering how they can contribute to their favourite project, whether it be a Linux distro, application, podcast or whatever, I would encourage them to send a nice message like Steve’s. It is a simple thing to do, but if the project developers are anything like me, I am sure they would really appreciate it!
P.S. Somewhat obviously, I am not actually fishing for anyone to send me more messages, but developers of other projects! ;)
8 responses to “Hello from France”
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May 17, 2011 (about 1 year ago)
What a nice email, I like hearing about Users as opposed to developers or coders people who give you a run down on how they ‘use’ Linux (CrunchBang) rather than how they make Linux better. +1
P.S. Town councillor aye? Erm freebie holiday? Could call it a fact finding tour if you like? I’ve never been to the South of France only Boulogne. :-)
May 17, 2011 (about 1 year ago)
@Peter, agreed, it was a nice email. I receive quite a bit of mail about CrunchBang, but this one was probably one of the nicest I have received for a while. :)
Regarding holidays, this year, Becky, Emma and I are holidaying in Farnham, Surrey. Hope to see you there! ;)
May 17, 2011 (about 1 year ago)
This is a really nice post Phillip. I think it’s good to remind people they don’t have to write code or be a marketing wiz to give something back. Just a thank you can make a massive difference. It would be good if more people did it.
Keep up the great work and best of luck in the job hunt :)
Dan
May 17, 2011 (about 1 year ago)
@Dan, thank you. And thank you for helping me out with the reference, I really appreciate it. :)
May 17, 2011 (about 1 year ago)
You’re a rockstar man, just get used to it :). I’m also going to give Crunchbang a spin and that’s saying a lot, cause I more or less sworn off black themed distro’s since I stopped being a goth.
Just listened to your interview with Twid, simply adds to your rockstar status if you ask me. But since I don’t want to sound too much like a Belieber who’s just found a new fad and you’re not fishing for compliments anyway I’ll just take ‘em somewhere else and try to find a Debian or OpenBSD dev to hug :)
Cheerio
May 17, 2011 (about 1 year ago)
@Jelle, thank you for your comment. :)
P.S. I am just about to go out geocaching with Becky and Daisy, very rock’n’roll! :D
May 19, 2011 (about 1 year ago)
Geocaching from the “wrong” juxtaposition; Earth (relative from the sun): FOUND IT!
I should add; thanks for making a great distro, and making such a great community.
Jul 29, 2011 (about 9 months ago)
Hi,
Thanks for the wonderfully light distro. I was recently forced to install Windows 7 on my work laptop after using Linux for most of my work years. I was on a hunt for a light weight and not a newbie OS and Crunchbang perfectly fit me(I am big Debian fan btw). I tried Ubuntu, Mint, Sabayon and Chakra before #!, and I felt most at home when I used it for the first time. When I start finding time, I am determined to start contributing to the project.
./Siva