Do your parents use Linux?

PIMPinator · 2011-03-01 14:43:39

Sort of off topic, but relevant to the types of computer users we're discussing.

I recently installed the WOT (Web Of Trust) addon for firefox for my parents after I caught my dad almost paying one of those dodgy download sites AU$40 to get a copy of a maintenance manual for my brother's car. It was one of those sites that just matches the terms you type in to make it look like it has what you want (but never does).

I strongly suggest installing WOT for any of your parents/siblings/children/whatever who you wouldn't think computer savvy enough to realise which of these are suss websites. It overlays the page with a large warning telling you why it thinks the site is bad. I showed dad and told him to leave any sites that give the warning.

Seems available for Firefox, Chrome, IE, Opera and Safari at least. Best thing I've ever installed for my parents. Linux doesn't protect from money scamming websites!

P.S. Not sure about Webutation, I think even WOT thinks it's suss, I don't see any reason to risk it.

scorpyn · 2011-03-07 00:40:41

My attempts at getting my mom to use Linux have failed miserably.

OpenOffice instead of Microsoft Office just doesn't work, "because it's different".

She sometimes wants to install random programs. I can do it, but wine is too complicated for her.

At the time of trying, I wasn't able to find a linux distro and all necessary programs in swedish.

Her retarded friends sent crap with versions of powerpoint that didn't work with openoffice.

Some bank stuff don't work properly in linux.

Otoh I've installed Arch Linux on my dads computer. Which he isn't using. Ever. The only time it's on is when I'm there and updating it. This may change if we give it a permanent internet connection.

thechitowncubs · 2011-03-09 06:32:27

Dad is using Arch on his Dell laptop. Windows 7 will not last long with the 'DOS (P.O.S.)' title entry in menu.lst.

He loves it so far and has told me nothing but good things.

Edit: Gnome 2.32 of course...

Last edited by thechitowncubs (2011-03-09 06:33:27)

toad · 2011-03-09 06:56:40

DOS Grub entry, that is cheating

trusktr · 2011-03-19 00:41:57

My dad and sister got convinced to use Linux when they saw how cool my desktop looked and operated with themes, compiz, docks, etc... But after setting it up for them, I quickly began to realize that I did not have the time to maintain everyone's computer. I was using Arch on all the systems. I don't know if Ubuntu would be any less amount of work to maintain though.

MurdersLastCrow · 2011-03-20 22:55:11

My parents and grandparents use Linux. They saw it on my laptop and I explained to them that it's a community-based project of sorts, and that they don't have to worry about it getting slow or any dangerous security concerns. For everyone who's not a geek and not an iTunes addict, the transition to Linux tends to be fairly simple. Show it off, tell them it's free, help them set it up- bam. Linux for life.

I'm by no means an evangelist- I just don't want to waste time reinstalling Windows and scrubbing it clean every month for the rest of my life. Ever since installing Linux for my family members, I haven't heard anything but praise for it. I also tend to get some sort of eye candy on it, too, to keep them addicted (wobbly windows never fail to impress).

Grinch · 2011-03-22 18:11:06

Yep, I installed Ubuntu for my parents long time ago. Haven't had any problems since then, not that they had huge problems with Windows XP either. They appreciate the add/remove program tool with which they can easily try out and remove programs, other than that they haven't really commented on anything other than it being prettier and that programs start faster. That said they pretty much only use the computer to websurf, occasional flash games/youtube and email so they don't exactly have high demands.

sironitomas · 2011-03-22 18:53:21

I managed to install Arch in the desktop PC. My mum didn't understood too much, so I configured the system to start automatically chromium. She doesn't seem to care which is the OS now.

My dad can't get out of windows because he thinks it's easier!

AurosGamma · 2011-03-25 01:24:02

My mom doesn't know even use firefox, she always is asking me "Where i can open a new tab?" and the "+" big and green symbol is on a side of the mouse cursor xD

MurdersLastCrow · 2011-03-26 17:34:05

@Grinch It's funny, but most desktop and netbook computer users don't have very high standards. They want a music player, video player, CD-ripper, CD-burner, basic office software for reports and letters, and the internet. And some people want GIMP- I've found that the majority of people using computers aren't shoopers.

In fact, people tend to have higher expectations of their mobile phones these days than their computers. Windows has really demoralized their view of desktops, it seems. The majority of computer users would probably do fine with Facebook on a smartphone and call it a day, using a computer occasionally at work.

Sometimes I think we overestimate the reach of technology in modern life. The iPhone and Android are really changing all that. Oh, and if Android counts as Linux in your mind, my parents, friends, and family all use that, too. I was pretty happy about it until Google said the Android 3 source code belongs to them the other day. Now I just have a lot of mixed feelings about the platform.

Grinch · 2011-03-27 03:04:08

MurdersLastCrow wrote:

Sometimes I think we overestimate the reach of technology in modern life. The iPhone and Android are really changing all that.

Yes, we all look at it subjectively and as someone who spend lots of time doing programming and graphics on my computer (apart from being a overall tinkerer which goes without saying since I'm an Arch user ) I can't see myself be anything but hampered unless I have a full-featured desktop system, but obviously that doesn't make me the norm. My parents could do well with some sort of tablet I'm sure, instead of the old (but sturdy) P4 they are running, heck, lots of people seem to be be doing fine with just youtube and facebook these days (shudder)

MurdersLastCrow wrote:

Oh, and if Android counts as Linux in your mind, my parents, friends, and family all use that, too. I was pretty happy about it until Google said the Android 3 source code belongs to them the other day. Now I just have a lot of mixed feelings about the platform.

Well, afaik the source will be released, although I would have prefered it if they released it right away. Still, Google has to be the most opensource-friendly of the giant companies (vp8/webm, chrome, summer of code, etc) so they are still on the plus side as far as I'm concerned.

I'mGeorge · 2011-03-27 06:50:49

I don't think my parents even know that linux exists. I believe they think the OS installed on my computer it's a highly customized windows and because I've made it accessible so they could log in and browse the web, send and read emails, I even installed MS Office 2003 with wine for them (although OpenOffice with slight difference it's pretty much the same thing and AbiWord is nothing else than plain old MS Word in linux). So I don't think they have a reason to wonder much about. Sure they use linux, from the home computer, but they don't even know they do.

theringmaster · 2011-03-27 15:34:14

My mom uses Arch Linux only because I have it installed on my big desktop. I have xfce installed with chromium (previously firefox). A browser window is always present so she never really sees the linux side of it. Oh, and she does know enough to open the menu up and start streamtuner for music.. guess that is better than average, eh? lol

Last edited by theringmaster (2011-03-27 15:35:11)

PIMPinator · 2011-03-27 15:49:47

MurdersLastCrow wrote:

I also tend to get some sort of eye candy on it, too, to keep them addicted (wobbly windows never fail to impress).

Of course, the best way to get anyone to do anything is the promise of windows that wobble.

rickdg · 2011-03-27 17:18:39

Grinch wrote:

Well, afaik the source will be released, although I would have prefered it if they released it right away. Still, Google has to be the most opensource-friendly of the giant companies (vp8/webm, chrome, summer of code, etc) so they are still on the plus side as far as I'm concerned.

Supposedly it to keep manufacturers from installing it on incompatible devices which would give android a bad reputation. From a business perspective, I can understand their motives, but I still disagree with their decision.

Back on topic, the only way I could convince my mother to actually take a seat behind the computer, was if I guaranteed her 100% that she couldn't do anything wrong. Quite funny in the beginning, she would literally jump and freeze at the smallest pop-up box But I fixed them up with Xubuntu (from before I started using Arch) and she's been making big leaps forward ever since, browsing, email and even her own website a little bit...

Whenever she's in trouble (roughly every two months or so) I just ssh>vnc in and show her how to do stuff. Sometimes I can get a little mean and login when she's not expecting it, fixing/creating typo's when she's emailing

cngn · 2011-03-28 12:23:06

my parents do not know how to turn on/off windows

delor · 2011-04-02 15:38:37

Do your parents use Linux?

It's not like they have a choice.

uc50ic4more · 2011-04-02 17:13:53

I have about a dozen friends, family, neighbours and others for whom I administer systems. Currently, they're all running Debian Squeeze (Openbox, LXpanel, no DM or DE); but I have spent the last few weeks building up a very usable and very low-resource-friendly Arch desktop system to which I intend to transition everyone into soon.

Everyone knows to check with me first before purchasing new hardware, and I have done all of the software setup and configuration. Do date, I have had *zero* reports of problems.

Jelle · 2011-04-02 18:13:21

My dad is a devout disciple of Steve Jobs since 1989, so at least that's somewhat in the same family. My mother is just beginning to learn Windows; I don't visit often enough to get her going with something like Ubuntu (bad son!).

joseperezc · 2011-04-02 19:05:23

my parents have used win 98 ubuntu, linux mint, and arch without noticing main diferences
just be sure that they can do all the thing that usually they do.

student975 · 2011-04-02 19:21:26

Ages of my family members using (exclusively, single boot) Linux are: 8(ws), 27(ws and netbook), 48(ws and NAS), 72(ws). Is it cool? He-he

danny0085 · 2011-04-03 03:17:16

You can install office 2007 with crossover
*mod-edit by ngoonee* - removed spam link

Last edited by ngoonee (2011-04-19 00:49:54)

zodmaner · 2011-04-03 07:27:59

My father use Android, so I guess in a way he is using Linux?

MadCatMk2 · 2011-04-03 08:39:48

Nope. And I have no intention of getting them to convert. My father is a professional image and video editor, bound to many windows applications and hardware and my mother is a teacher, bound to dozens of windows-only applications.

atm · 2011-04-03 13:57:03

My dad used to work on a UNIX workstation. Now he finds it difficult to even handle a mouse, but he can work with the terminal like a breeze.
My mom cannot identify a web browser from a media player, and she never clicked a mouse button. So I guess that is out of question.

Arch Linux

#176 2011-03-01 14:43:39

Re: Do your parents use Linux?

#177 2011-03-07 00:40:41

Re: Do your parents use Linux?

#178 2011-03-09 06:32:27

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#179 2011-03-09 06:56:40

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#180 2011-03-19 00:41:57

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#181 2011-03-20 22:55:11

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#182 2011-03-22 18:11:06

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#183 2011-03-22 18:53:21

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#184 2011-03-25 01:24:02

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#185 2011-03-26 17:34:05

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#186 2011-03-27 03:04:08

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#187 2011-03-27 06:50:49

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#188 2011-03-27 15:34:14

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#189 2011-03-27 15:49:47

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#190 2011-03-27 17:18:39

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#191 2011-03-28 12:23:06

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#192 2011-04-02 15:38:37

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#193 2011-04-02 17:13:53

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#194 2011-04-02 18:13:21

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#195 2011-04-02 19:05:23

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#197 2011-04-03 03:17:16

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#198 2011-04-03 07:27:59

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#199 2011-04-03 08:39:48

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#200 2011-04-03 13:57:03

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