this is a topic i’ve been heavily involved with because i still consider myself to be someone who prefers using technology at a very beginner friendly level, plus it’s very good when a linux operating system makes you feel right at home when it has a modern desktop environment. this is why i really like gnome, its simplicity and usability is something available for everyone, for beginners and for a lot of other people, but if you had to, say, rearrange xfce or kde for someone who was an elderly person or an absolute beginner so that they wouldn’t have any trouble using linux, how would you do it? (screenshot is my current linux mint desktop, very simple and extremely user friendly!!!)
I’d made the default desktop wallpaper just some text that says “try typing man man in the terminal”
Mint
No, Gnome is a non-starter for being as mouse negative as it is. You are very heavily supposed to use Gnome with keyboard shortcuts and it will only sometimes begrudgingly allow you to use the mouse.
I also really want to kick the app drawer in the head. Why is it two operations deep? Why can’t it be sorted by category like every other Linux app menu?
I would go with Mint Cinnamon, increase font sizes or UI scaling, switch to the Cinnemenu because it offers bigger square icons rather than a tiny list, turn off a lot of its extra features, and put launchers for commonly used applications on the desktop. Configure updates to automatic, and otherwise sand down a few rough edges and I think you’re good to go.
Make it easy to change the font sizes, etc.
I setup an Ubuntu/Gnome laptop for an older person. When they asked me to make everything bigger, it took me like 20 minutes for a half-assed solution.
That’s part of the reason I switched to Debian/Plasma, although I haven’t replicated this experiment yet…
You have to be able to do everything you need, including modifying things, updating, installing software, and fixing issues without using the command line at all, and the amount you have to modify and fix really has to be minimal.
Block or remove the terminal and judge the disastrous performance on its ability to work after the fact
I don’t know, but I want your wallpaper.
ok sure!! i found it on reddit
artist?
My 90yo neighbor has run Mint since before I met him 15 years ago
Pls send me ur wallpaper (I fucking love stolas)
Something that automatically updates. Despite my best efforts my mom still has me update her Mint install.
Pop!_OS has an option to enable automatic updates.
Then I gotta teach my mom to use modern GNOME. That sounds like hell. It’s fine for younger people but for old people who are familiar with Windows it’s a nightmare.
It’s going to sound really silly but here goes:
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Ensure their background is the same as it was (seriously, they often use it as an extra way to find things).
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Where possible, use windows icons for desktop shortcuts and mask link names to match vocab they’re familiar with.
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Have rustdesk set up with a link saying “Let <your name> help me”.
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Make sure they have their password written down somewhere.
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Make sure you have their password written down somewhere.
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Where possible have background updating, where not possible have a .sh file to do it for them.
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Add desktop links for things like downloads, documents and pictures.
These are tips for any distro when moving less tech savvy relatives over. For those that like to game, ensure your fs on their gaming drive is a Linux one as it stops weird behaviour. Also, you know, install the games for them!
I’d also add the tip of installing a Windows-looking window theme. People just want the classic window buttons (X for close, etc.), not some fancy icons.
I’m out and about right now so won’t get too deep into it as it’s easily searchable, but last I checked the community consensus around rustdesk was negative
have switched to HopToDesk, a rust desk fork. It’s supposed to be les fuckeddy
Awesome, thanks for the rec, I’ll check it out!
Feel free to replace it with the remote tool of your choice. Just keep in mind that it needs to be easy to use from the supportee’s end (double click, read a code).
Try a mesh VPN and SSH would be my advice
Thanks for the suggestion, I’ll have a play in the new year and see if it’ll work _
I have wireguard on my home net and just vnc into devices I need to access.
At my parents house I have a cheap gl inet device running wireguard so I can vpn in of they have any issues as well.
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Aurora Linux + KDE
It’s an immutable version of Fedora with flatpack support.
This is actually a good setup for the vast majority of people.
What would be the difference between Fedora Kinoite and this?
It uses Universal Blue, whereas Kinoite uses rpm-ostree.
Aurora has a bit of DE customization, which is arguably more polished.
It also leans heavily on Flatpack/Flathub.
The other difference that I’m aware of is Aurora handles updates automatically by default, whereas Kinoite is a manual process.
To be clear, I haven’t used Kinoite at all. But I have Aurora on a gaming system that I use as a kind of TV gaming console, and I’m setting it up for my elderly parents that get upset when an icon on Windows changes (that’s how tech illiterate they are).
I think linux mint is already there.
I don’t even know how could it be simplified more. It’s really basic.
The only obstacle there is the previous familiarity with other operative systems that could make change bard. But I’m pretty sure that if you put anyone truly novice in tech in front of linux mint and windows 11, they’ll have an easier time on linux mint.
Those newfangled immutable distros might benefit them, since they’re unlikely to want to or care about modification, and it’s extra security.
Set up the web browser with a strong ad-blocker, maybe whitelisting YouTube since non-techy people are unlikely to know what to do if youtube throws up a stink about the adblocker.
Set up auto-updates maybe. For safety and such.
Otherwise make sure it looks like a dead ringer for whatever they are already used to (usually Windows) – Same background, icons in the same places and looking similar if not the same, panels set up the same way, etc. – This is easier with Cinnamon or KDE Plasma. Gnome… Even if you like it, it’s too different, yanno? Unless they’re coming from Mac, and even then it’s not the same.
P.S.: Lovely background of a gay bird prince. <3
ChromeOS is already an operating system for children. Like, literally. Schools use it because it works well and is really easy to use, and runs on very cheap hardware.
Agreed. Get them a ChromeOS device, or get a good refurb business class laptop and put ChromeOS flex on it.
Yes it’s not what OP is probably wanting, but this gives them a device that is hard to mess up with a minimum of training.
Ahh, so the solution is to install gentoo and customise it for simplicity and minimal user permissions /s
Chrome OS Flex seems OK. Not sure how it manages printers.
“Web printing”. Basically the printer connects to Google, the laptop connects to Google and your printing goes via Google. Why not give your advertisement profiler everything you print too?No that’s not right.
Google killed cloud print in 2020. By default, Chrome OS uses CUPS like any other Linux system.
Oops, how embarrassing. I stand corrected and tip my hat.
So, basically, WWCD?
- what would ChromeOS do?
right. so basically:
only run on ‘certified’ hardware. greatly simplifies hw support required.
hide all the stuff that gets users into trouble, or better–don’t even have it available at all.
limit what’s installable.
dumb it down.
