Recommend a Linux distribution for my computer illiterate sister.

[Googer]

Recommend a Linux distribution for my computer illiterate sister.

 

[AmberClad]

Why does your computer illiterate sister require Linux in the first place? How old are we talking about here? A kid?

 

[Bateluer]

And what does she need to use the computer for?

 

[Nothinman]

Ubuntu or SuSE are going to be the main recommendations.

 

[Markbnj]

Ubuntu is very slick once set up, and the setup process is loads easier than it used to be. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it as a useful alternative for a kid or casual adult user who wasn't already used to having a lot of Windows-based entertainment software at hand.

 

[Googer]

Originally posted by: AmberClad
Why does your computer illiterate sister require Linux in the first place? How old are we talking about here? A kid?

She is an adult and does not want to pay for a copy of MS Windows.

 

[Googer]

Originally posted by: Bateluer
And what does she need to use the computer for?

Web surfing, ebay, MySpace, Instant Messaging, iTUNES, MP3, and email.

 

[Nothinman]

I've heard of people running iTunes in WINE, but I have no idea how well it works.

 

[trmiv]

I think she's better of finding a copy of Windows if she really wants to use iTunes (and not just some general app for mp3's) and have it work most of the time. There have been some recent reports of iTunes working in WINE, but I wouldn't exactly call it reliable. The other stuff you mentioned is no problem, of course.

Here is someone who got itunes working in wine, but there seems to be an issue with syncing the ipod with itunes: http://wine-review.blogspot.co...n-linux-with-wine.html

 

[AmberClad]

Originally posted by: Googer
Web surfing, ebay, MySpace, Instant Messaging, iTUNES, MP3, and email.

I was about to recommend a Mac, since I've seen computer illiterate people use them without much difficulty, but that's out of the question since the reason for not wanting Windows was monetary.

I hesitate to recommend a Linux distro, for fear that you're going to end up having to answer all of her questions about how to get import her favorite AIM emoticons into GAIM/Pidgin, why she's not getting any sound in XMMS, how to install Flash Player using the console, etc .

 

[Nothinman]

I hesitate to recommend a Linux distro, for fear that you're going to end up having to answer all of her questions about how to get import her favorite AIM emoticons into GAIM/Pidgin, why she's not getting any sound in XMMS, how to install Flash Player using the console, etc

She'll likely have very similar questions running Windows too so he won't be saving himself anything either way.

 

[MaxDepth]

You don't need iTunes to upload and download to an iPod. See Linux Journal for the techie work and MIT for one straight forward explanation of HFS+ and a work around.

But basically Ubuntu is very friendly to the mom and dads of the world with 7.04 and its latest version, 7.10. Here is a Linux Journal entry on how to work with it.

But yeah, you cannot separate a geek from his tech toys. And to tell him/her that they can't play with their iPod on Linux ain't going to hold them back for long.

 

[soonerproud]

Even easier than Ubuntu would be Linux Mint (Ubuntu repackaged with all the goodies like flash, java ,mp3 etc etc) or PCLOS. I would lean towards Mint myself since it is basically Ubuntu. PCLOS has everything but dvd, w32 codecs and MSFT fonts.

Amarok and Exaile (with the iTunes plugin) will work with an iPod. Rhythmbox will also work with it once you install gtkpod. I recommend Exaile over Amarok in gnome if you don't want a bunch of KDE deps but still want the interface and features of Amarok. (Exaile is a gnome port of Amarok basically.)

 

[buckwheat12n]

Ubuntu or PCLOS.

 

[mect]

If you want gnome, then ubuntu, if you want KDE, then PCLOS. Kubuntu always feels neglected to me. If you go with ubuntu, I'd recommend automatix to get everything working, as reports on ubuntu's ability to get all the codecs and plugins and non-free stuff have been mixed.

 

[Nothinman]

Don't touch Automatix, everything it does can be done yourself and in a more supported way.

 

[soonerproud]

Originally posted by: Nothinman
Don't touch Automatix, everything it does can be done yourself and in a more supported way.

It is either supported or not supported. Most of the codecs and software installed either by Automatix or by yourself is unsupported. There are better reasons to avoid Automatix than that one. The biggest reason to avoid Automatix is that if something it installed damages your operating system, it may be hard to impossible to figure out what that is so you can fix the issue.

My advice, If you are going to use Automatix, avoid any options that touch the kernel or adds drivers to the system. The latest versions of Automatix do not offer any drivers so this is really a non issue for Gutsy users. Do not use any other scripts along with Automatix to avoid any damage.