Yes, you're right, I also started out on the command line of MS DOS, but maybe 'we' are talking about someone new to computers getting to grips with them at an older age.

It is more than GUI vs shell. The old systems where quite up front about the expectation (maybe even requirement) that the software be customized by whoever was at the keyboard. I guess that all started to change with the mass appeal of Visicalc and its clones. Even big institutions like the US VA had dabatase systems built with the intention that each site add what was needed and kick certain improvements up stream. Customization is more optional now.

A while back I had trouble getting that idea across to some new people. They did really well with software projects and development, but tuning their desktops was another matter. They were enthusiastic about trying a lot of distros but recoiled at the idea of changing the default applications and settings for the GUI etc.

Anyway, I hope linuxuser371038 has been able to find a distro with good or close-enough defaults and, ideally from my perspective, tune those defaults to perfection.

I am not old, more like ancient.
I learned to use computers before DOS existed. (And played with crystals and tubes before transistors became useful.) I have lived a tech life and LOVE my toys! ;-)

I use now 5 different operating system if you lump all of Linux and Android into one, and NONE of them are from Microsoft (which I used professionally for years but abandoned at home in 1997).

I do not know ANY people so old that they are unable to use Linux, unless they have abandoned using computers entirely BECAUSE of Microsoft. Because if you are our age you are old enough to remember living WITHOUT computers and it was not at all bad.

Think of all of that misinformation, hate, spam, and lies on social media. They discarded ALL of that, and I do not blame them one tiny bit! Using Linux to get to that garbage is no more attractive than using Windows to get to that garbage, it is still garbage and we do fine without it. If they are old and find value in computing, they will adjust to Linux just fine. It is a means to an end, not the end in itself. And it is better.

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linuxuser371038,

Forget about operating systems for the moment and ask what exactly is it that your mother wishes to do when using her computer.

If it is simply a matter of web browsing, sending emails, listening to music, producing documents etc without having to run any specialised Windows-only software, then a Linux distro should suit her requirements.

If she can currently cope with a web browser and an email system, she is probably most of the way there.

Once the Linux distro is installed, it is just a matter of using it.

It is after all, just a tool to be used.

Be prepared to configure it as well. Just because a given *nix DE has a bunch of options for layout and such doesn't mean she can handle that. I had to make the Xubuntu as dead dumb simple as possible for my grandmother. She short circuits when trying to use the remote for her tv. To many options = "screw it".

Not everyone can have a Linux installation and go fairly solo from there. Some people just cannot grasp the options and abilities, nor do they care about said options. To them it's just a nuisance that has a strong possibility of them just giving up on altogether and buying a new computer with Windows because that is all they know.