Butterfly FAQs...
Hopefully your questions can all be answered here, but if you have a question that isn't present, consider contacting the creators of Butterfly and ask your question. If it will help others, your question, and the answer will be added to the FAQ section below. You can also visit our facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/butterflylaptop and try asking your question there.
Is Butterfly free of charge?
Yes, Butterfly is free of charge, however, we suggest making a donation to the butterfly effect cafe, a charity based in Jersey that helps survivors of sexual abuse in their path to recovery. We are currently setting up the donation button on this site, but it will be available soon.
Do you offer any guarantees?
No. The creators and providers of Butterfly offer no guarantees of any kind. However, the technology behind Butterfly is tried and tested and if you follow the instructions it should work perfectly well, and minimise any unwanted exposure to illicit content.
I can't get Butterfly to work, can I have some help?
There is no support for Butterfly directly, although there is a facebook page where you can ask any question about installation or usage etc, and someone may be able to answer your question. Go to https://www.facebook.com/butterflylaptop to visit Butterfly's facebook page.
What is Butterfly based on?
Butterfly is based on a linux distribution called Porteus-Kiosk. Porteus Kiosk is designed to be used in internet cafes, and Butterfly simply adds a wifi and network chooser so that your laptop can be taken to different environments.
Can I customize Butterfly?
Yes, you can edit the configuration parameters when you are installing Butterfly. You might want to add different web pages that can be allowed access to. Follow the instructions HERE
Why the name Butterfly?
The idea of a butterfly, which transforms from a caterpillar into a thing of beauty, is also reminiscent of the old laptop, sitting discarded in a drawer somewhere, that can be transformed into a thing of beauty... The keyboard is one wing, the screen the other. Butterfly is also super light on resources, not unlike a butterfly.
And Butterfly is donation ware - ie it is free to download but suggested that you make a donation - to the Butterfly cafe in St Helier, Jersey - a project to help with recovery for survivors of abuse. Butterfly is not affiliated with the Butterfly cafe, but the name seemed appropriate.
Donate!
Butterfly is 'donation ware'. You can download and install Butterfly for free, but it is suggested that you make a donation to Butterfly's preferred charity, which is the butterfly cafe in Jersey in the Channel Islands, a project to help survivors of abuse to recover.
Who is Butterfly aimed at?
Butterfly is aimed at younger children, from 5 to 12. It allows parents to leave their children with the laptop and know that they can only view safe content on youtube, and abcya.com etc.
Why did you make Butterfly?
I ran a short project where I refurbished some old laptops. Eight laptops were donated, and I refurbished them and donated them to low income families. It was a great idea, but cost £15 per laptop, for a new hard drive. One person donated two laptops, asking for one of them back for her young daughter, a six year old, who spent lots of time on youtube, listening to music, and asked if the laptop could be set up so that only youtube could be watched.
So, I made Butterfly...