Coming Soon to East Lothian...

WHY A LINUX REPAIR CAFÉ?

At a time when technology is rapidly becoming obsolete and the mountain of electronic waste continues to grow, Linux Repair Cafés are a sustainable and hopeful activity. Here, visitors can have the commercial operating software on their computers—such as Microsoft Windows or Apple macOS—replaced with the free open-source operating system Linux.

The immediate reason for the Linux Repair Cafés is Microsoft's decision to stop supporting Windows 10, the operating system that runs on most computers worldwide, in October 2025. There will be no more security updates, which means that the risk of viruses will increase, and computers may become unsafe. Microsoft recommends upgrading to Windows 11, but many older computers are not compatible with this. As a result, millions of older computers are at risk of becoming e-waste, and millions of people will seize the opportunity to buy a new computer.

A Linux Repair Café helps to reduce the mountain of electronic waste. It is a variation on the well-known Repair Café. Volunteers replace the operating system of computers with outdated software so that the devices last longer. Instead of running on Windows, the computers then run on Linux. This free and open-source operating system works excellently on older hardware. Volunteers can also install Linux on Apple computers.

In addition to offering practical help, Linux Repair Cafés also raise awareness about alternatives to commercial software. They show that open-source software not only saves money but also contributes to digital independence and sustainability. In short, Linux Repair Cafés are good for people and the environment—and they prove that your old computer is far from obsolete.

What's not to love? Come and join our Linux Repair Cafe volunteer team and let's give those old laptops a new lease of life and help reduce electronic waste in East Lothian!

Email fixingforafuture@gmail.com for more information.