Reviving a Vintage Laptop: Preparing a Learning Tool for My Child

It’s always exciting to breathe new life into technology, especially when it can serve as an educational resource for the next generation. Recently, I succeeded in restoring my 12-year-old laptop and decided to install Ubuntu on it. This old machine is set to become my 4-year-old daughter’s first laptop, providing her with a platform to learn typing and writing.

As I embark on this project, I’m looking for ways to make the user experience as seamless as possible for her, especially since she’s still mastering the use of a mouse. One idea I’m exploring is to configure the laptop to launch directly into a text editor upon startup. This way, she can start typing right away without the added complexity of navigating through the operating system.

Additionally, I have another question: Is it possible to set the laptop to boot with the Caps Lock key activated? This could be useful for early writing exercises, as it would allow her to practice uppercase letters without needing to toggle the shift key every time she starts typing.

As I continue this journey of setting up her first tech experience, I welcome any tips or suggestions from other parents or tech enthusiasts who have taken similar initiatives. Let’s see just how much learning can happen with the right tools in hand!