Reviving an Old Laptop: Transforming a 12-Year-Old Machine into a Learning Tool for My Child

In an age where technology evolves rapidly, it’s heartening to know that we can breathe new life into older devices. Recently, I took on the project of resurrecting a 12-year-old laptop, which I have now outfitted with Ubuntu. This will soon become my four-year-old daughter’s first laptop, providing her an opportunity to explore the world of typing and writing at an early age.

As I prepare this laptop for her, I want to create an environment that’s simple and intuitive. My primary goal is to set it up so that when she opens the device, it automatically launches a text editor. This way, she can start typing right away without needing to grapple with a mouse. Simplifying the user experience will allow her to focus on learning rather than navigating the operating system.

Additionally, I have a couple of questions regarding the setup. One of the things I’d like to know is if there’s a way to enable Caps Lock by default when the laptop powers on. This small tweak would make it easier for her to express herself in uppercase letters right from the start.

I’m looking forward to seeing how this journey into technology unfolds for her and can’t wait to share her progress as she learns to express her creativity through writing! If you have any insights or tips for setting up a user-friendly experience on Ubuntu, I would love to hear your thoughts.