I got started in 2007 when I was in high school, as I was stuck using Windows XP on my Pentium 3 computer. I stumbled on Ubuntu, and they would send you CDs for free. Installation was probably easier than Windows, and I think the hardest part was getting drivers for modem, cell phone internet (GPRS?), printers, and later WiFi working. Haven't looked back since! Still thankful to Canonical for sending out that free disk to my home. I used that computer for next 2 years, during which time my interest in computers probably got twofold (alternatively, had I stuck with Windows in that PC, I may have lost interest with frustration). Twelve years since, seen Linux grow so much over these years, and I still prefer to use it for my personal computing needs.