The only issue that I could think of was that they won't have any graphical installation program like Synaptic or the Add/Remove (gnome-app-install).
And if they wanted to install something, they'd always have to go to the CLI.
Nope, there are pacman frontends.
]]>Yes, I am.. I actually was a moderator on the Ubuntu Forums until I dropped out due to RL issues. And I wasn't using Ubuntu anymore. I've been using Arch for about 6 months now, and I love it.
The good thing is that I still live with my parents, thus I'm never too far away from my father's laptop. Ubuntu Gutsy was fine, but the upgrade to Hardy seems to have screwed up a few things.
In that case, you should just go ahead and install Arch on your father's machine. Give him root access as well. Just give him a warning about how things can get screwed up -- so he will probably ask you before doing something major.
]]>The good thing is that I still live with my parents, thus I'm never too far away from my father's laptop. Ubuntu Gutsy was fine, but the upgrade to Hardy seems to have screwed up a few things.
]]>I've set up my father's laptop and sister's pc on Ubuntu. They're ok with it, both work rather well.
However, my dad's laptop (which is almost identical to mine - both Sony VAIO VGN-FE (slight change in version number, but identical hardware for the most part)), doesn't suspend nor hibernate and has got several small issues that I'm suspecting are more to do with Ubuntu. Meanwhile, my laptop suspends/hibernates very well with Arch Linux (it didn't with Ubuntu either).I've been wondering whether to change his laptop to Arch Linux.
Main probs are :
1. Installation is rather difficult, I've only done Arch twice, and it took me 1 1/2 days to get everything how I wanted. Main obstacle is that there's no ethernet, just wifi, and I don't really dig Arch's console net config for wireless access, I prefer wicd/network manager. However, I can do it via chroot on Ubuntu, as I did to install it on mine.
2. Moving all the documents and stuff..Ok not that much of an issue tbh.
3. Installing packages will be tricky. My sister (12 years old) can handle the command line, but only if I tell her exactly what to enter. And even then she sometimes forgets. My dad prefers the GUI, but can handle the command line. They don't really install a lot of packages though, so I don't think this will really be an issue.
Hey Illidan,
So you moved to Arch as well eh? (of course, I am assuming you are Lord Illidian from the ubuntu forums)
In any case, I am more or less in the same boat. My parents are capable of handling the command line but only if I tell them exactly what to enter. That does pose a small problem in that, if they do a pacman -Syu, it could create havoc - especially if they are using KDE 3.5 and it upgrades them to KDE4.1 which has a number of issues. That said, I am not a KDE fan and I would most likely give them Gnome. But a similar issue could arise, when Gnome transitions to a different release number.
In any case, the best solution would be to not give them root access -- but that's easier said than done, because at least my father likes to tinker around -- he will buy a bluetooth mouse and then want to configure it himself by asking me what commands to enter. Of course if he finds out that I havent given him root access - he'd be a tad pissed
So for the moment, I have given him root access - but told him to be careful with it. If I find that I have to ssh into his machine a lot more to do maintenance and/or repair, I might just give them debian lenny + Gnome the next time.
]]>I've been wondering whether to change his laptop to Arch Linux.
Main probs are :
1. Installation is rather difficult, I've only done Arch twice, and it took me 1 1/2 days to get everything how I wanted. Main obstacle is that there's no ethernet, just wifi, and I don't really dig Arch's console net config for wireless access, I prefer wicd/network manager. However, I can do it via chroot on Ubuntu, as I did to install it on mine.
2. Moving all the documents and stuff..Ok not that much of an issue tbh.
3. Installing packages will be tricky. My sister (12 years old) can handle the command line, but only if I tell her exactly what to enter. And even then she sometimes forgets. My dad prefers the GUI, but can handle the command line. They don't really install a lot of packages though, so I don't think this will really be an issue.
]]>You guys are great -- helping your old parents like this.
Now, when something goes really wrong, especially when they mess things up royally, just remember -- they used to change your diapers :-).
You're so right!
]]>Now, when something goes really wrong, especially when they mess things up royally, just remember -- they used to change your diapers :-).
]]>My grandfather (aged 86) started about a year ago with computing, and arch was the very first OS he saw, so he kind of hit it off to read and send emails, browse the web a little. The only trouble is that he wanted a book per se about the internet and I couldn't find anything else than a windows-based one, so I had to 'translate' everything for him... I update his system every several weeks.
My mother has a little windows-experience, but never really got the hang of it. She is having more difficulties with arch, but I doubt it would be better in Ubuntu.
So: go for it. They probably won't notice the difference. If you setup SSH and an account with dyndns.org correctly, you can update their computer from wherever you are.
Zl.
]]>As long as gnome works and gives him open office, thunderbird and firefox (with plugins and movies as required) he doesn't know or care what OS he's on. The beauty for me is we don't have pirated software nor are we susceptible to viruses. He used to get a virus a month on windows, now zip, nada, nought Thanks FOSS!
He does have sudo access and I do have 2 accounts on the PC so I can log in as well. I update him every 2 or 3 weeks after I've done my machine.
Russ
]]>I put a sticky on the desktop with quick reminders on there for her, as well as teaching her about everything.
Set up open office to automatically save everything as a .doc (she doesnt get file formats)
Set up firefox to have 3 tabs which automatically open up to what she wants. She never uses a menu. Just clicking (no offense) like a trained rat. No need for updates at all for her. All she does is surf, email, and write stuff for her school (she's a teacher).
I set it up a year ago and havent touched it yet.
Made permissions so she cant install anything (not that she even would, that would require using a menu!)
No need to even SSH in, the machine stays exactly as is.