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I'm going to install Linux for someone who isn't even very good with Windows. I've narrowed it down to either Linux Mint or PCLinuxOS. Which one should I install? Are there any other Linux distributions I should be considering? Also, should I install Gnome, KDE, or something else? |
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I'll suggest you installing a VM first, this way you can taste linux before you have to deal with hard installations and partitioning. Once you are confortable then make the jump. On a VM you can taste different distribution. Mandriva, PCLinuxOS and Mint would be my recomendation. For virtualization I recomend VirtualBox.org VirtualBox is ghetto. VMWare is better. Moderator's Comment: The above over-generalized statement is opinion based on personal preference. It also does nothing to contribute to the question nor offer any real answer either.
(11 Sep '10, 12:06)
Phenom
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My dad was new to computers. He I installed Ubuntu; I now have to make a special effort to go see him. He never has a problem. Well there was one, he would fill the print queue up with rubbish, then a few days later do a print, and wonder why he got the wrong output. I recommend a distro that does not give user to much privilege (to break stuff). And maybe a simple kiosk distro, if that is all that is needed. enable security updates, but not other updates (so it does not randomly break) |
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To help clarify the answer, see here: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/914191/storage/How%20to%20Choose%20Linux%20-%20Color.svg |
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ubuntu 10.10 simply because of the large user base. for someone starting out, the community surrounding a distro will be it's most valuable resource. it has well maintained forums that are active and geared toward beginners. there may be better software, but i think the beginner needs better community support, which is where i find ubuntu to excell... have fun with that for a while.. then explore your options. |
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I would recommend Ubuntu 10.04 as it is not only Ubuntu, which is very user friendly, but also a long term support release that is one year old now and has matured to become very stable. Plus, it has two years' worth of support left to it. |
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The most complete Distro you can use Fedora. |
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Slighty off subject in response to jw benson remarks: I have a similar (identical) issue with my wife also - how do you get around those websites that seem only to render correctly with IE ? Maybe a new thead should be opened for this ... Metcomm: Firefox has an add-on called IEtab which uses the IE rendering engine for sites that do not display correctly in Firefox. I have to remind my wife how to use it when she runs into one of those websites...but she rarely has gone to one of those ;o)
(03 Nov '10, 13:26)
jw benson
Feel free to post a new question for this with additional information and examples. :)
(27 Apr '11, 08:15)
Jazz ♦
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My wife has problems even with Windows. She only uses the internet or email... After haveing some problems with her computer, I had to do major Windows XP maintenance to get it running for her. As an experiment, I installed Mint 8 Helena with a clean desktop with icons for Firefox, Thunderbird and Skype. It's been over 6 months and she has not realized that she no longer has Windows on her computer. For most people that use computers for minimal routine use, one can easily set up a Linux system that "works" without their having to deal with any need to know what OS is running. Using open source software like Firefox and Thunderbird, which work equally well on multiple OSs, makes selection of an OS minor for those who are not nor have any interest in learning about computers. They want just to accomplish a task and "point and click work the same" no matter what engine lies beneath. |
