If you were setting up a computer for your mother, which linux distro would you use?

Re: If you were setting up a computer for your mother, which linux distro would you u

Since it's an old machine I would say maybe PCLinuxOS or Kubuntu, if you want it to be KDE. If you want light though, an XFCE desktop is even better, something like Xubuntu or Zenwalk maybe.... But then you are drifting further away from any familiar look n feel. I'd go with PCLinuxOS 2007. Almost everything works out of the box....

 

Nah i ran them from iso files. I realise running it from a file gives way better performance but i'm just hoping that the fact that they ran successfully in 256mb ram vm means they'll do the same on a real machine of similar specs.

 

Playing flash movies on Xubuntu may be problematic for old/slow PC. On PIII 384mb sdram: Audio will start lagging video for longer movies, sometimes loud screeches when watching music videos, extreme lag for fullscreen. Needed to downgrade to flash v7 to make it slightly more bearable.

Also high cpu even on idle. But all these were for older releases Gutsy, Feisty & Edgy.

 

I would try Xubuntu as well.
Ubuntu will run note, Gnome or KDE desktop, but it *might* feel heavy at times, i agree with Pandlouk. I'd try both and see to be sure.

I've tried it with about that much ram, but worse CPU, so i can't be sure. And of course, there's all kinds of hardware in a computer. Try it, it's the only way.

 

No Linux but OpenSolaris!

 

im still surprised there isnt a dvd version with open office preinstalled lol.

 

I installed OpenOffice 3 from genunix.org without flaws.
I remember that Solaris had a DVD with StarOffice in 2006, I haven't checked the recent Solaris release (installed OpenSolaris from the liveCD 2008.5).
Pretty soon (end of October) they will release 5.11, also free.

 

its much easier to use the package manager. plus it should also clean up the extracted installer.