Looking for guidance on choosing a distribution system and related options?
Looking for guidance on choosing a distribution system and related options?
They chose a PC for their home and want an SSD instead of an HDD. For 120 GB, it should be enough for the OS, office suites, media player, browser, and documents—especially since they’re new to computers. Ubuntu or Linux Mint are good options, but feel free to suggest others.
Absolutely not! Don't install Linux on devices meant for parents.
Linux can be quite challenging to manage, even for those familiar with it—they often prefer installing from source or using alternative methods. If they have to search online, a Windows or mac solution is usually easier than a Linux one. While Linux offers better security, I’d rather keep my parents on Windows and restrict their ability to install software without supervision.
It's not surprising I'm going to train them myself. But the decision will be theirs, not mine. I feel confident with both Ubuntu and Linux Mint. I might still need to look deeper into their specific needs once we have more details. Or just take a coin—works for me. Thanks, everyone!
You express frustration over the lack of support for installing EXE files. You mention your parents' experience with Windows installations being disabled without their knowledge, leading to the same situation where they end up relying on others to install software. It seems like the outcome will always be the same—op needing assistance from them. In your view, it’s likely they’ll just end up using a basic setup, like a Facebook machine.
For a quick, straightforward experience similar to macOS, consider ElementaryOS. https://elementary.io/ Linux Mint Cinnamon Manjaro Linux Cinnamon When it comes to simplicity, I rate Elementary highest, followed by Linux Mint and Manjaro. I suggest Cinnamon for both because it offers a more comfortable Windows-like interface. The main distinction lies in their origins—Mint runs on Ubuntu while Manjaro is built around Arch.
For beginners, install Debian using GNOME with some customizations such as docking and minimizing/maximizing icons, or opt for a simpler operating system.