Debian (Sarge 3.1) on an IBM ThinkPad 600E

I built a linux computer that would just work for my mother-in-law, who has finally decided to get on the internet. Since this is her first experience, I wanted to get her started for pretty much no monitary cost. Here's how I installed and configured Debian on a ThinkPad 600E...

I decided to use an old laptop we had purchased some years back. The machine is the IBM ThinkPad 600E. Since I didn't want to pay for or pirate an OS, I decided to load Debian Linux on it. I run Debian on my desktop at home (so I have some experience with it), but the challenge was to make a Linux laptop easy enough to use for a novice.

I am a firm believer in baby steps for people new to technology. Too much at once tends to cause fear. I think that if she really likes the laptop, I will convince her to shell out some bucks for a MacBook and wireless router. And if she really, really likes it, maybe I'll help her start publishing her own content online..

I will post a follow-up article to this book, detailing any questions or problems that she has with the machine.