Operating system for a non techy Mum

Steve · 2017-02-13 09:45:40

Hi All

Well my mums windows 7 machine has finally died, the hard drive is kaput and will need to get a new one, hangs at post, not worth saving in my opinion.

I know this has probably been asked many times in one way or another but what would you recommend for an old toshiba sattelite L500 with an ATI Radeon HD? Specs here: http://www.notebookcheck.net/Toshiba-Sa … 262.0.html

I would put bunsenlabs but i think it might be too much of a change for her to get used too.

Im definetly thinking Debian as it is the most stable linux distro out there i read.

Im thinking Debian Xfce but open to other suggestions if any and what sort of mods would you do to a Debian Xfce system?

Of course i would be the IT person on call when anything goes belly up, just like with windows 7. For instance (steven, the computer is doing something funny and im getting a blue screen) .....that would be windows 7 mum...!

The most my mum does is surf internet, facebook (rolls eyes), online bookings, word processing, emailing, watch movies and listen to music, so not a hard core user by any means.

Cheers
Steve

Last edited by Steve (2017-02-13 09:47:14)

brontosaurusrex · 2017-02-13 09:58:59

From my experience people may "refuse to cooperate" for 100 different purely subjective reasons, so whatever "new" you will do, you will be wrong. I'd probably go with mint kde or similar.

Last edited by brontosaurusrex (2017-02-13 10:21:37)

damo · 2017-02-13 11:01:42

For OOTB functionality and ease-of-use then something like Mint-Mate would be good, assuming the hardware is OK with it.

I have set up BL with XFCE for my old mum, and she seems to manage OK with that (as long as I am around for the support of course!)

Steve · 2017-02-13 11:44:16

Thanks brontosaurusrex and Damo.

I was actually thinking of trying to integrate xfce into BL. I just dont want to go breaking stuff by doing so though.

cpoakes · 2017-02-13 15:01:13

In addition to being mom-friendly, I think it is also expedient to "install what you know" to spend the minimum amount of time on tech support.

For newbies, I like Elementary - it's beautiful and easy to learn (but different). That said, it is GTK3 based and shares other heritage with the Gnome Shell. If you are not familiar with elementary or gnome, it does not fit the advice to "install what you know".

For XFCE, I like Debian-based MX Linux (MX-16 is newest jessie version). Easy to install, many graphics tools to assist admin (even moms), and you'll find their forums quick to respond and friendly like here. Caveat: it uses sysv init (standard Debian systemd-shim).

beaker · 2017-02-13 17:10:01

Xubuntu

geekosupremo · 2017-02-13 17:11:57

As one that spends lots of time moving between Linux Land and Windows, I found XFCE to be the "smoothest" transition between them, plus it's lighter on system resources than most DE.

As to "customizations":

I'd say start with the "default" then kill panel 2.
Move panel 1 (the one that looks like the Windows task bar) to the bottom
Find an icon that looks kinda like the start button and put that as the icon for the XFCE menu
Be patient as you both learn the new interface

I doubt she'll have too much trouble.

You will probably want to install Google Chrome, since it has a maintained Flash plugin and does quite a bit to help protect end users.

Head_on_a_Stick · 2017-02-13 19:28:42

Left field choice:

https://www.haiku-os.org/

It's a great desktop, worth a try in the live environment — they recently raided the OpenBSD driver tree and have much improved (Intel) wireless & graphic support.

Otherwise, it's Debian & GNOME all the way, baby {)

hhh · 2017-02-13 20:02:38

Installing Xfce on BL is pretty easy but makes no sense if she will never use Openbox.

Let her test the "unofficial" non-free firmware Live ISOs by Debian, at least the Xfce and Mate ones, and see what she likes.

Assure her that she won't be stuck with an ugly desktop and that you can help her make it super pretty. See our Monthly Screenshot thread in the Artwork forum!

Here's the download link, navigate to your architecture, then iso-hybrid and download your desktops of choice...
https://cdimage.debian.org/cdimage/unof … e+nonfree/

MAC the Bloody · 2017-02-13 20:33:52

If you want your mum to have an easy transition from Windows 7 I'd say the suggestions along the lines of Debian with xfce or mate are pretty good. I would just add that if you really want to sell the idea just show her a video, something along the lines of "IT guy has his first look at Windows 10".

You know the videos I'm talking about here.

She will beg you to install a nice Linux system with a comfortable traditional familiar type of user interface.

Last edited by MAC the Bloody (2017-02-13 20:34:30)

geekosupremo · 2017-02-14 01:12:16

I'm gonna second the vote for MX-Linux. It is very very slick, and I think it's more clear/easy then Xubuntu for management.

Steve · 2017-02-14 06:53:52

Thanks the replies, much to think about. I will have to let her have a go in some live environments and see what she wantes to do. I dont see her for awhile as i live in a different state but she is bringing her computer with her to my house next month. I know my way around Xfce more than any other desktop so will probably go with that set up, MX or straight Debian me thinks. MX is pretty good though, pretty much setup out of the box distro just the non systemd im not familiar with, hell even the systemd im not familiar with to be honest!

ohnonot · 2017-02-14 07:23:35

random thoughts...

i hope the amd/radeon gpu will work satisfactorily with linux (movie playback!). might be worth checking beforehand.
i once installed xfdesktop on top of a crunchbang install, and enabled the xfce4-panel which was already installed. that was enough xfce to make it usable for others
your mom sounds like someone who will definitely NOT try to tweak her system in any way. which is good. otherwise i wouldn't recommend linux mint.

MAC the Bloody · 2017-02-14 10:08:45

@Steve Given the way you are leaning here I thought I should mention Solydx. I've been using that as my daily OS for a couple of months and it's a very nicely configured xfce-Debian right out of the box.

Worth popping that into a virtual machine to give more of a test drive than you would do with a live CD-usb.

Edit: I have found it to be very stable-reliable and it also includes a system updater that you mum would likely find very easy to use.

Last edited by MAC the Bloody (2017-02-14 10:14:37)

imp2021 · 2017-02-17 06:59:53

If its regular browsing (internet use), emails, office and little blendering she needs. Then go for BL

Maybe you want to adjust the conky, with like msges for your mom. Like what she has to to when she wants to open a program. or such.
Depends on how much afford you willing to come up with.

I think any other Distro (unbuntish, mint etc) is a whole new thing for Windows users. So dont bother much, that they have to learn something. They have to, anyways.

Last edited by imp2021 (2017-02-17 07:00:29)

Steve · 2017-05-22 10:35:17

Thought i would update this thread as this never eventuated, unfortunatly when my mother came to visit from interstate she had the shingles and was really sick, still is but at the time did not bring her computer with her but says she wants to get it shipped to me to fix now and will pick it up in august.

I started out in Fedora so im thinking of giving this a go first. Thoughts?? Any experences with using fedora and is stable enough?

Im about to test the lxde version on hardware, hopefully it goes well.

No not going that route. Fedora led me to Arch. I know more about Arch than i do Fedora and Debian, think i will risk a customised Arch XFCE Install.

Last edited by Steve (2017-05-22 11:34:39)

PackRat · 2017-05-22 13:35:23

^ If you're going the customized Arch route, there is always ArchLabs - solid build by dobbie & company.

Edit - from an aesthetic and practical end user standpoint, swapping out tint2 for xfce4-panel should make the learning curve easier for a Windows user.

Last edited by PackRat (2017-05-22 18:49:07)

geekosupremo · 2017-05-22 18:45:19

ArchLabs (especially v.4) is brilliant!! And if yer mum is up for slight learning curve could be good!

Although if you want a nearly flat learning curve, an Xfce based solution seems the path of least resistance.

dolly · 2017-05-22 19:06:51

Who is going to do the necessary maintenance on her machine? Upgrading, fixing eventual problems that may occur. Is it easy for you to help her? Answer those questions first, and then choose OS.

KrunchTime · 2017-05-22 22:36:17

cpoakes wrote:

For newbies, I like Elementary - it's beautiful and easy to learn (but different). That said, it is GTK3 based and shares other heritage with the Gnome Shell. If you are not familiar with elementary or gnome, it does not fit the advice to "install what you know".

This was going to be my suggestion as well. Another distro to consider if your mum would desire more up-to-date software without the typical idiosyncrasies of running a rolling release would be PCLinuxOS, although your mum's computer may not meet the recommended specs.

Steve wrote:

No not going that route. Fedora led me to Arch. I know more about Arch than i do Fedora and Debian, think i will risk a customised Arch XFCE Install.

Now he tells us...

@dolly: Good response.

Last edited by KrunchTime (2017-05-22 22:41:07)

#1 2017-02-13 09:45:40

Operating system for a non techy Mum

#2 2017-02-13 09:58:59

Re: Operating system for a non techy Mum

#3 2017-02-13 11:01:42

Re: Operating system for a non techy Mum

#4 2017-02-13 11:44:16

Re: Operating system for a non techy Mum

#5 2017-02-13 15:01:13

Re: Operating system for a non techy Mum

#6 2017-02-13 17:10:01

Re: Operating system for a non techy Mum

#7 2017-02-13 17:11:57

Re: Operating system for a non techy Mum

#8 2017-02-13 19:28:42

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#9 2017-02-13 20:02:38

Re: Operating system for a non techy Mum

#10 2017-02-13 20:33:52

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#11 2017-02-14 01:12:16

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#12 2017-02-14 06:53:52

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#13 2017-02-14 07:23:35

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#14 2017-02-14 10:08:45

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#15 2017-02-17 06:59:53

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#16 2017-05-22 10:35:17

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#17 2017-05-22 13:35:23

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#18 2017-05-22 18:45:19

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#19 2017-05-22 19:06:51

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#20 2017-05-22 22:36:17

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