A new computer has just been launched in the UK, with Linux Mint installed and a custom menu. It's being marketed for the middle aged and elderly who have never owned a computer because they found them too complicated!

http://www.discount-age.co.uk/simplicity_computers/

LOL talk about opisite desired effect LOL.

Wow, that's really cool.

For those of us who are not UK based, what is "Eldy" (as in, "powered by Eldy")?

Also, I have asked my co-mods if this might be better suited to *nix General or News, so it may get moved (and maybe not-- we'll see.)

Thanks for posting it.
Sasha

Linux is not difficult. I installed Ubuntu a couple of years ago on my stepfather that have very few computer skills, and he almost stop bodering me about problems.
Most of his problems was because he installed dubious software in his windows installation, and I frequently had to clean is computer from malware, and spyware.

As soon as I installed Linux, I never had that problem again, since he installs everything trough the software repository.

He is very happy with Ubuntu, and every time he has a more serious problem I can ssh in to his box to solve it.
There are plenty of distributions out there that are easier to use and maintain, than windows.

He is also now a ferocious Linux advocate.

I applaud them
they have found a niche market; usually a great start.

Probably this:
http://www.eldy.eu/

I'm uk based but have never heard of them either.

Eldy: Seniors Computer Software Elderly - http://www.eldy.eu/Its basically Linux Mint with a simple interface, too bad it uses java for the interface though.
screenshots of the software for our seniors! | ELDY - http://www.eldy.eu/2009/11/software-for-senior/

If your on ubuntu/debian/mint you can give it a try :
To install Eldy linux:
- install debian / ubuntu
- install java6 jre ( ” apt-get install sun-java6-jre ” )
- add deb.vegans.it to your source list editing “/etc/apt/sources.list” and adding at the bottom: the following line:
deb http://deb.vegans.it binary/
- run “apt-get update ”
- run “apt-get install eldy “
- enjoy eldy running:
” java -jar /usr/local/eldy/eldy.jar”


It really doesnt do anything that something like the lxlauncher or one of the simple netbook interfaces doesnt already do.
LXLauncher - LXDE.org - http://wiki.lxde.org/en/LXLauncher

But anything to get Linux onto computers and into homes is a great idea.

Thanks for posting the "Eldy" info you guys.

Further, I think this (the computer) is a good idea for one specific reason (among other good reasons too.) and that is that when a discussion comes to the subject of 'seniors' it often also tangentially involves 'fixed income' and so this Mint computer should appeal very much to those seniors who want to keep in touch, but can't afford to be extorted by proprietary (software) vendors.

Moved: This thread is more suitable in <News> and has been moved accordingly to help your thread/question get the exposure it deserves.

Cheap, it isn't! £445 delivered, compared with £350 for the cheapest Dell. The radio report picked up on this, saying that £100 is a bit steep for an instructional video.

Give the wrinklies Slackware instead.
(brianL - aged 64.5 years)

Linux is only (apparently) hard because it's different from the default, which is Window$. That's all there is to it. I'm sure Window$ would be hard if Linux were the default (hopefully not Ubuntu).