I Am Kirksville’s Linux Guy#

If your computer’s slowing down, freezing, or begging for upgrades, it might not be your hardware’s fault — it’s the software.
I help people around Kirksville keep their technology useful with Linux, the open-source operating system that quietly runs most of the world’s technology.
This isn’t a sales pitch; it’s just what I do here in town.

“If your computer’s groaning like a tractor in February, I can tune it up.”

The Way We Actually Use Computers Has Changed#

These days, about 70–80% of everyday computer work happens inside a web browser — email, documents, forms, banking, scheduling, even video meetings.
For that kind of work, the operating system underneath doesn’t matter much anymore.

Unless you’re gaming or doing heavy design work, Linux already does everything you need: it’s fast, secure, and doesn’t interrupt you with updates or subscriptions.

Why Linux Works So Well#

Linux isn’t a niche experiment — it’s the operating system of the web.
Almost every major website, cloud server, and router runs on it because of its reliability and structure.
That same dependability makes it a solid everyday system for home, office, and classroom use.

  • Stable, fast, and low-maintenance
  • Free from licenses and forced upgrades
  • Resistant to malware and ransomware
  • Comes with full-featured office tools, browsers, and printers that just work
  • Lightweight versions can revive older computers that Windows no longer supports

A ten-year-old laptop can still be a perfectly capable email and document machine under Linux.
That keeps useful computers out of the landfill — and keeps tech budgets in Kirksville instead of subscription drains elsewhere.

How I Help#

I’m not a distant consultant — I’m local.
When you call, you’re reaching someone who actually knows the hardware, the software, and the town.

  • Installing and configuring Linux systems for homes, schools, and small businesses
  • Refurbishing older PCs so they run like new
  • Teaching people how to use open-source tools confidently
  • Offering repairs and real troubleshooting — not call-center scripts

Where Linux Fits in a Town Like Ours#

Small towns rely on their tech more than ever, but they don’t need to rely on corporate ecosystems.

  • City offices that mostly handle documents and records
  • Local shops running browser-based sales systems
  • Families who just need safe, fast computers for homework and bills

In places like Kirksville, reliability matters more than branding — and Linux delivers that quietly, day after day.

Looking Ahead#

Technology shouldn’t feel distant or disposable.
It should be something we understand and maintain — like any other tool in town.
That’s what I’m here for: helping Kirksville make the most of what it already has.

If you’re curious about Linux, have a slow machine, or just want to talk options, I’m nearby and happy to help.

Switchboard Tech Services — Kirksville, Missouri
Local, sustainable, open.

Bonus: A Few Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Linux#

  • It runs almost everything you touch.
    About 96% of the world’s top one million web servers use Linux. You use it every day without noticing.

  • Your phone runs Linux.
    Android is built on the Linux kernel — every text, photo, and app relies on it.

  • NASA trusts it.
    The International Space Station runs Debian Linux for stability and security. It’s literally orbit-tested (in a swimming pool).

  • Supercomputers depend on it.
    All 500 of the world’s fastest supercomputers run Linux. Every single one.

  • It’s everywhere you can’t see.
    ATMs, routers, TVs, the stock exchange, and even air-traffic systems use it daily.

  • Even Microsoft uses it.
    Nearly half of Microsoft Azure’s servers run on Linux because it’s that efficient.

  • It’s free, forever.
    Open source means anyone can inspect, modify, and share it — which is why it’s trusted by scientists, engineers, and governments worldwide.

See https://ubuntu.com/desktop

Ubuntu