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.

3 members found this post helpful.

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.

1 members found this post helpful.

Mint or Ubuntu or MX Linux running KDE.
If you have some money to spare then ZorinOS is also a good option.

Keep away from XFCE/LXDE/IceWM based distros if this is her first time in Linux.

After a few years then she can migrate to Arch, Slackware, and other distros using XFCE/LXDE/IceWM.

1 members found this post helpful.

My autistic grand son likes the install I set up for him.
It even runs fast.

https://www.linuxquestions.org/quest...ml#post5648944

He is currently running antiX 23.1 64 bit runit full iso. Same Desktop setup.

I think you are too biased to your own view here as an older person who has used computers most of your life.

Other 'elders' who aren't so tech savvy are extremely resistant to learning new things at their age and my mum fits into this camp.

She starts to get exasperated at the first sign of a challenge and throws her hands up with a sigh saying "I shouldn't have to learn anything new at my age" or words to that effect.

There is no chance she would want to mess with command line stuff. She knows the windows way and would have to be something that is very close to how windows (and I am talking recent ones not DOS!) operates.

Lol that sounds very similar to my mum. Just the other day when I had taken some pictures/videos on my digital camera and asked her to upload them on her machine so she could also view them she got bothered almost immediately just at the prospect of doing something she does not already know and complained "Oh come on! You know I'm no good at these things nowadays!" That was only a case of turning on the camera, plugging it in and going to 'My computer' to view the new device that would have appeared.

Yea I get there would be some initial setup which I would do. She has an older laptop she doesn't use, or only occasionally to view media or suchlike, so I have suggested setting it up on there so she can try it out without having to be stuck with it as her main OS. She was also complaining about how slow it is so would be a good opportunity to make a clean install of linux so she could still use to view media as she did before.

linuxuser371038,

The simple solution is to install Linux Mint Cinnamon. See attachment.

The desktop layout is very similar to Windows 7 with a searchable start menu in the left-hand corner.

All you need to do is put icons on the desktop for your mother’s regularly used programs or utilities (say, Firefox, LibreOffice Writer, Home, Link to Documents etc) and show her the basic usage.

There is no need for her to go anywhere near a terminal!

All updates can be done via Update Manager’s shield icon in the bottom panel.

If you think this might put her off the whole idea of using Linux, then you could do this for her occasionally.

Review:
https://www.zdnet.com/article/linux-...s-outstanding/

You could pause the installation for a short while since Linux Mint 22 is out soon.

Alternatively, put LM 21.3 on her old laptop for her to try now. What are the specs of her laptop, RAM, cpu etc?

I also recommend having a separate Home partition.

Attached Thumbnails

 

1 members found this post helpful.

I use the command line because I LIKE to, but any of the major desktop distributions can be used by the average user without ever leaving the GUI. Period. That "you must use the command line to use Linux" myth has had no validity for over a decade. Perhaps two. I think you underestimate both Linux, and your Mom!

1 members found this post helpful.

Thanks, that sounds like it could be a good choice.

No idea of the specific specs of the old laptop. Have not looked at it yet. So would have to see what it is capable of first. Is the Mint OS quite system heavy?

I would say at worse the old machine would be XP but I am guessing from general timescales probably 7 or 8 runs on it.

It's not distros that are system-heavy but desktops, and cinnamon is a big one (it's based on gnome). So you may have to balance your options here. Cinnamon was recommended by beachboy2 because it visually resembles Windows and your mother is very conservative in her tastes. But if the hardware won't run Cinnamon at a reasonable speed, then the standard solution is to use a wm-based desktop like ice or fluxbox and they don't resemble Windows at all.

Plasma in the fresh install format looks very windows like, has a very light footprint compared to Gnome, and works well on less hardware. This is all going to come down to the hardware specs of that laptop. I find it difficult to believe that the hardware will be so limiting that something like Mint or Manjaro will not run better than Windows, but there may be issues with some browsers and multiple tabs...

1 members found this post helpful.

I am thinking the same. If it runs windows 7 or so I don't see how most/any linux version would cause issues.

Been involved in other things lately and also have to coax my mother to prepare the machine ready to install linux - removing files she wants to keep and such - the latter of which is the bigger task to get her motivated to do it .