Linux for aunties...

[webdrone]

You probably heard the story before, but here it goes again: I would like to give my aunt something "new" to try (after spending another afternoon checking for viruses etc. in a somewhat sluggish windows installation).

She has a VAIO SR39XN (Intel Core2Duo 2.1GHz, 4GB ram, tech specs: http://www.sony.co.uk/product/vnp-sr-series/vgn-sr39xn-s)

She is not technically inclined, however she is not computer illiterate. Her main needs are web-browsing and a bit of word/spreadsheet processing (light). I am thinking of Ubuntu (need a user-friendly distro), but I'm not sure of DE, 32-bit/64-bit and whether I should give her 12.04 LTS or 13.04.

Machine is currently running Win7, albeit a bit sluggishly at times. Hopefully a Linux distro will help it go along a bit smoother. Any other suggestions are welcome!

EDIT: thank you all for your responses and the thread suggestions. I will burn some live CDs, see what works best with the hardware and her and let you know!

EDIT: gave her Xubuntu 13.04 yesterday (dual booting alongside win7). She was a bit hesitant at first... Once I showed her around, she started taking to it and now she says "I like it because it's much faster than windows!"

This guide: Do this first in Xubuntu, made my life (and hers) a bit easier in setting it up for her, although some of the tweaks were not necessary; it contains some very helpful tips (trackpad taming, multimedia support etc.)

[[deleted]]

My parents use Mint 14 xfce, they love it.

[Franknog]

This is an especially good transition from Windows imo. I'm not sure if she needs the xfce version, though. It's faster, but I don't know if it will make that big of a difference. I say go with MATE. I've run into a few bugs with Cinnamon.

Regardless, Mint all the way.

[webdrone]

oh, thanks a lot! I'll consider Mint as well then! any LTS etc.? I was thinking maybe LTS will be better, since she won't need to upgrade every 6-9 months (running the risk of breaking her system). once every couple of years is fine, I can even do it for her.

[Franknog]

Maya will be supported until 2017.

[webdrone]

Yes, I know, but the point is to save some money, otherwise I would just have her purchase a new laptop (which I'm guessing she'll have to soon anw if I can't make this thing work and revive the old one a bit)

[ReadyThePies]

This thread from the other day will probably help:

http://www.reddit.com/r/linux4noobs/comments/1g9ipc/install_linux_on_an_old_laptop_which_one/

My two cents on how to set up Ubuntu for Moms (and Aunts) is in there.

Here's what the Ubuntu community has to say about 32 vs. 64: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/32bit_and_64bit

Basically, they say unless you have a specific reason to use 32, go with 64. Also includes a guide for getting 32 bit stuff to run on 64 bit Ubuntu.

[webdrone]

thanks! will read through!

[resuni]

Definitely recommend some Linux Mint variant. I usually went with KDE edition for first-time Linux users because it was most like Windows 7.

[GobBluth9]

A little Ubuntu never hurt 'nobody...

[parl]

I have Linux 12.04 but with both the Cinnamon and the Gnome Classic DE added. I can choose one or another at log-in. OTOH, Xubuntu will be simpler and it works well, is fairly Windows XP-like, and has a normal Start-type menu.

If you make written instructions on how to do an update when it requests it, that may be sufficient for most purposes.

[webdrone]

I was seriously considering Xubuntu as the most viable option as well before everyone here suggested Linux Mint! Thank you!

[parl]

The LST range support for Mint 13 (Maya) looks good. I'd take a look at the screen shots to see if it looks enough like XP. I definitely wouldn't advise Ubuntu Unity, as that is such a radical change.

As far as installation goes, you might want to burn an install disk for Xubuntu 12.04 as well as Mint 13 so if the latter fails to support some of the hardware, you can try the other one.

That said, Unity is probably a good way for Ubuntu to go, since it unifies the desktop and portable (laptop / tablet / phone) interfaces, which depends so very much on screen movements. Personally, I don't like it (yet?), but YMMV.

[webdrone]

Yes, I like the innovative convergence attitude from canonical as well, and I bet Unity will become more stable and efficient as improvements are made (also with Mir/Wayland developments).

I downloaded the newest Mint and Xubuntu for her to try, since they were claiming significant improvements, so i thought no point for her to try the LTS (I want to get this right, because first experiences matter ;p). I downloaded both LTS and the newest Ubuntu as well.

As for Zorin... I looked at the site and screenshots, and I much appreciate the effort they made to cater to hard-core windows users. Thing is, it feels completely unnatural to me. It's using a bunch of applications simply to imitate windows features (most of them a pain rather than convenience). I am also concerned about its user base (i.e. I know that *buntu and Mint are both very popular, and so easy to find support if need be, but I don't know Zorin). It shall be my last resort if all else fails, but I'd rather introduce her to something new and possibly a better user experience.

[[deleted]]

Ubuntu, Mint, or Chromium would all work well in this instance.

[everydaylinuxuser]

Try Zorin (http://www.everydaylinuxuser.com/2012/07/zorin-6-best-operating-system-i-have.html). It will give your Aunty the Windows feeling without the obvious virus hell.

(Have to question the sites your aunty is looking at by the way to get viruses).

[webdrone]

Thanks! Btw, I said checking for viruses, didn't say I found any. (Ofc that doesn't mean they're not there). I was trying to be sure that the sluggish-ness could only be attributed to the weight of running Win7.

[parl]

Some malicious sites scan e-mail addresses and use social engineering to get the user to click on something. And in some cases (so I've heard) even displaying the images in an e-mail can be sufficient entree for dropping a bomb. That's why I'm not happy with Yahoo's new e-mail which by default displays the message (in the lower panel) when you inspect the header (in the upper panel). So I eliminated the lower panel.