Reviving an Old Laptop for a New Generation: Setting Up Ubuntu for My Young Learner

In a digital age where technology rapidly evolves, it’s easy to overlook the potential of older devices. Recently, I decided to breathe new life into my 12-year-old laptop by installing Ubuntu—a versatile Linux distribution. This laptop is now set to become my 4-year-old daughter’s very first computer. I see it as an incredible opportunity for her to learn typing and writing skills in a tech-driven world.

As I embarked on this project, I wanted to make the user experience as seamless as possible for my little one. My primary goal is to set up the laptop so it automatically opens a text editor upon startup. This way, she won’t have to navigate using a mouse just yet, allowing her to focus solely on developing her typing abilities and creativity.

Additionally, I’ve been pondering whether I can configure the laptop to start with the Caps Lock key activated. This feature could be helpful for teaching her how to write with capital letters effortlessly.

In this blog, I’ll share the steps I plan to take to optimize this old laptop for my child’s learning journey, as well as any tips for fellow parents looking to do something similar. Stay tuned as we transform this tech relic into a tool for education!