Linux Computer for a 4 yr old

[rboleyn]

Hello Everyone, So here's my idea. I have a 4 yr old son who is really getting into computers. He wants to be on mine ALL of the time, which is making it tough for me to get anything done.

I was wondering if there was a linux distro out there that would fit these parameters:

1. Easy to use from the desktop
2. Internet, Chat and Flash game ready from the box.
3. Will run on a Very basic i686 system built from the spare parts I have on hand (ie. Compaq PII 366mhz w/128mg RAM, OLD ATI Rage graphics, Generic NIC, 4 Gig Hard Drive and 40 Gig hard drive, Generic CD, Onboard Soundcard)
4. Kid friendly and maybe parental controls for the internet?

Number 4 is probably the biggest limit, because I really don't want to buy a new system for a 4 yr old.

Maybe also ability to use some of the old Windows and Mac kids software I have found at garage sales and second hand stores.

Any ideas will be appreciated.

[wsurritte]

Damn Small Linux or Debian would work for everything execpt being 4-yr old friendly. Privoxy is a proxy server for filtering, Wine is a Windows Emulator.

[Vergil83]

You could just use the distro of your choice and install sugar. I know that debian (or Ubuntu) has education packages you can install Debian -- Debian Package Search Results
There are several "parental control" programs out there (I think there was a thread about this). A well know one is DansGuardian - True Web Content Filtering for All

[rboleyn]

Thanks all. I tried DSL but had problems with the DSL package extensions locking up when I tried to save them locally. So I went to its big sister KNOPPIX but the responce time was too slow and now I am trying Debian.

[wsurritte]

did you install knoppix or just use the live CD? Live CDs are much slower, and Knoppix is the slowest one I've ever used.

[Dapper Dan]

I would go with Edubuntu. But really any distro can be made user friendly for kids. Mine, (3 and 6). use Debian Sarge and have no trouble doing what they want to do because I've set it up so they can. That's the key...
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[d38dm8nw81k1ng]

on a 300MHz machine, even xfce starts to look heavywieght (i've got a 2x400Mhz SPARC and it can struggle even on that). personally, i'd say debian with maybe a custom kernel and running flux. show them how to use the menu, set up some restrictions (keep them out of the audio, wheel etc groups). i wouldn't bother with a webfilter personally. they're pretty easy to get around (and can block useful stuff anyway). biggest problem will be firefox as running with extensions REALLY slows it down. i've only got 5 extensions and its launch time on my SPARC is about the same as OpenOffice!

[fingal]

Hello - I have a feeling your specs are too low to get much joy out of most distros. Dan's idea of Edubuntu seems like a good bet though.

[rboleyn]

Ok, so my next question would be: what would you advise for the basic system to do what I wanted. I don't want to put a lot of cash into this project (and don't have a lot of time either). Right now I've assembled the system and it is running Windows 98 SE but very reluctantly.

[Oxygen]

Chances are that sometime down the line he could do with a better computer, if I was you I'd probably just look into buying a lightweight but fast machine and go with Edubuntu as Dan mentioned.