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wlug@lists.wlug.org

July 2007

31 participants
62 messages

Re: [Wlug] Getting your mom on Linux?

by Klein, Richard

> -----Original Message----- > From: Mike Perry > > Hi all, > > I visited my parents yesterday and yet again my mother's > computer is filled with spyware. Everytime I go there it is > slower and slower and odd things keep happening (like icons > disappearing ... I've witnessed this myself). > > I've been considering trying to get her onto Kubuntu, but I > have a few valid concerns. I'm curious if anyone has any > experience with the following under Linux (any flavor): > > * Citrix connectivity -- She currently, and very seldom, > uses an ActiveX control in IE to connect to her work. Are > there alternatives besides using IE and Wine or running a VM? > > * iPod which is currently registered with her Windows box. > I'm not too familiar with this, because my mp3 is not an iPod. > > * Printing - She currently has a very nice Canon i960 which > can print photos. > I less concerned about drivers and more about functionality. > Her current Windows based software can print wallets, 8x10s, > etc very easily. I wouldn't want her to lose that ability. > > I know some of these answers might be a Google away, but I'm > curious on your experiences with this and possibility any > other gothcya's that I am not thinking about. > > If I could overcome these hurdles I think she would actually > have a much pleasant experience with her home pc. I've slowly > been getting her to adopt open source software, but this > would be a big jump. I also think it would be much easier for > me help remotely too. This sounds like a good time to upgrade her hard drive. Put a new, larger drive in her computer and install Kubuntu onto that. Try everything out, and if something doesn't work, put the old drive back in until you can figure out a solution. I'd answer your specific questions if I knew the answers. -- Rich

July 5, 2007

Getting your mom on Linux?

by Mike Perry

Hi all, I visited my parents yesterday and yet again my mother's computer is filled with spyware. Everytime I go there it is slower and slower and odd things keep happening (like icons disappearing ... I've witnessed this myself). I've been considering trying to get her onto Kubuntu, but I have a few valid concerns. I'm curious if anyone has any experience with the following under Linux (any flavor): * Citrix connectivity -- She currently, and very seldom, uses an ActiveX control in IE to connect to her work. Are there alternatives besides using IE and Wine or running a VM? * iPod which is currently registered with her Windows box. I'm not too familiar with this, because my mp3 is not an iPod. * Printing - She currently has a very nice Canon i960 which can print photos. I less concerned about drivers and more about functionality. Her current Windows based software can print wallets, 8x10s, etc very easily. I wouldn't want her to lose that ability. I know some of these answers might be a Google away, but I'm curious on your experiences with this and possibility any other gothcya's that I am not thinking about. If I could overcome these hurdles I think she would actually have a much pleasant experience with her home pc. I've slowly been getting her to adopt open source software, but this would be a big jump. I also think it would be much easier for me help remotely too. Cheers, Mike

July 5, 2007