Hollister – The heck with conventional wisdom – Bob Brians wants Hollisterites to know that when it comes to software, there is such a thing as a free lunch.
Brians, 77, is trying to organize a club in which locals can learn Linux, a free computer operating system touted as an alternative to Microsoft Windows. There are plenty of reasons to use Linux, Brians said, but one of the big ones is price. Not only is Linux itself available for free, but so are many of its programs.
“I want to help people see alternatives to spending a lot of money,” he said.
He added that the Linux community is “a fun, scintillating, active group of people.” But for Brians, the club sprung out of more than just pure, geeky enthusiasm. It’s also a kind of community service, he said, for which Brians was searching after being diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2001 and deciding to “rethink” his life.
Brians said he’s now “either in remission” or “fought it off,” but his interest in service remains. For a while, he just helped out on his family ranch, but he eventually grew bored and started looking for service opportunities. And when he met “technical genius” George Golden, Linux seemed like the perfect topic.
Brians said he and Golden will run the Hollister Linux Club – Brians will handle the teaching, Golden the technical side. Attracting people to Linux will be a challenge, Brians acknowledged, particularly since many feel confused enough by their computers at home.
“Some people almost try to terrify people about computers,” he said. “It’s not all that bad.”
After all, Brians has traveled the world lecturing people about computers, and he’s confident he can help locals who aren’t tech-savvy wrap their minds around Linux.
Brians hopes to hold the Linux Club’s first meeting in the coming weeks. He’s also looking for donated equipment. Though he noted that the club isn’t an official nonprofit organization, so there won’t be any tax write-offs. Brians has already found one benefactor – George Fendler, president of Central Coast Internet. Fendler said he’ll be providing the club with a free Web site because people need to know there are alternatives to Microsoft.
“It’s important for kids, and for all people, to be aware that there’s more than one way of doing things,” Fendler said.
