I look at my own experience with computers. When I first started, I was in Windows 95 and I simply hated computers. The relative trying to teach me almost gave up on me, because of my attitude. But once I discovered the Internet, I fell in love with computers, because it got me *there*. So at that point, it would be true that all I wanted was something that got me there reliably.
But I was working in a small law office, and no one had a clue about computers, and yet the boss wanted to be on the Internet for email. So I got anointed to figure it out for all of us. That introduced me to security and web design and fixing broken hardware and eventually to Knoppix and Red Hat. Despite knowing nothing, I found it really, really interesting. And I started to learn about security on Windows as compared to Linux.
As I used Knoppix to diagnose problems (yay Emacs!), I fell in love with software at last and that led me to Linux. Who knew? I had no background in anything remotely like this, but I found it fun to fix Windows 98SE computers when they got infected with malware, which Windows 98 can't avoid, no matter what you do, I finally concluded. That was a turning point. I was no expert, but I figured out for myself eventually that there was no way to be secure in Windows 98. An expert later told me I was right, but the point is, Knoppix made it possible for me to know it by myself. That is huge.
It was how I switched to Linux. But it wasn't a fast transfer, and there are Mac Powerbooks in between as well. I love my Powerbook. I use it for power use on email and such, and it's fine. But it's not the same as Linux, not by a mile. Why not? Because ultimately you are not in control. I assume programmers can figure out how to escape certain Apple-driven decisions, but I don't have time since Groklaw to learn anything new, so I can't. It bothers me *deeply* that you can't turn off Bonjour, for example. I figured out how to turn off widgets and spotlight, but Apple won't help you. If anyone knows how to turn off Bonjour, please email me, by the way. I don't wish to be broadcasting my whereabouts to the world all the time, even if I turn off all file sharing capacities.
So, I'm saying all this to say that falling in love with computers is an unpredictable gift. We don't know which kids will do it, but we know some will, if you let them. I don't think it can happen unless you can look at the workings *and control them*. I couldn't do it until I could look at the workings behind the screen, which Microsoft tries to mask from view, and Apple tries to control no matter what you can see, and could change it to suit myself. On Linux, you are free to be yourself and to decide what you want to do, how much you wish to learn, and nothing, nothing, nothing blocks you but your own interest and time.
And no one spies on you, or reports on you, or facilitates you being taken over. It's a significant difference, and it's a difference that I think matters when children are in the picture. I never relax on any computer unless it's a GNU/Linux computer. I'd never let any child of mine use Windows. This security issue dovetails with *any* educational goal, and even more so for little children.
