Using Linux on a home computer

[KingofConvoy]

Hello everyone,

I'm new to the forums here, and thought I'd sign up to get advice and learn from others about Linux. I've used Ubuntu and Mint in the past, but for a very short period of time.

I'm a teenager with no job currently, so the only times in the year I have any significant amount of money are my birthday and Christmas. My birthday is coming up next week, and I plan to use the money I get to build a very budget computer to replace a crappy old computer I'm using at the moment. This will be a home computer used by myself, my sister, and my dad, both of whom have very little knowledge of using a computer. They both only use the computer for web browsing, email, checking Facebook, etc.

All my life I've been a Windows user. However, I'm going to be installing a Linux distro on this computer because I won't have enough money to purchase a Windows OS. I plan on installing either Ubuntu or Mint again, as I have at least some experience with both.

My question is, how good is Linux for general home use? It'll be used for very little outside of web browsing, like I said. I plan on making the accounts of my dad and my sister look as much like Windows XP as possible, so they won't be so confused. I'll be using it for pretty much the same, though I plan on trying to tinker around with WINE and some games after reading through a lot of articles on the subject.

I apologize for the long thread, but hopefully you all won't mind the read and can give me some advice. Thanks in advance.

[MikeTbob]

Hello and Welcome!

My question is, how good is Linux for general home use? It'll be used for very little outside of web browsing, like I said

Linux is perfect for home or office use and is much safer for Web browsing in general.

I plan on making the accounts of my dad and my sister look as much like Windows XP as possible, so they won't be so confused.

I'd try to get them into using it right out of the box, just make it simple for them, Icons on the Desktop, email accounts setup and functioning also any browser add-ons you might need like AdBlock. If that don't work out, then try to bastardize, uh I mean Windowize it up for them.

[jayd512]

Welcome to LinuxForums!

Linux is perfect for home use! And Ubuntu or Mint will be perfect for your family as well... easy to get around in.
Mint will probably be a little easier to get going for you, as it includes most of the codecs and plug-ins that you'll end up needing.

If that don't work out, then try to bastardize, uh I mean Windowize it up for them.

Ditto!

[zenwalker]

Consider keeping your "old, crappy computer" and put a Slackware-based distro on it later, for your own benefit and that of your younger siblings, please.

Something that looks like XP out of the box is aLinux, an independent. SaxenOS would be a candidate for your older one that also "looks like" XP.

Learn, explore, keep that mind open to unconsidered possibilities (antiX, sidux, pclxde, etc)

Welcome to one of the better fora!

[Koshie]

Hi,

For you family I recommend the distributions user-friendly, like Ubuntu or Mandriva. But rumors say Mandriva is dying... So Ubuntu is maybe the good choice.

For an example, I've installed Ubuntu Netbook Remix 9.10 at my girlfriend on his HP Compaq Mini, one week later she asked me to deleted Windows XP ! She have any problem.

A BIG BIG board for you, choice your material for the OS. See the most recommended manufacturer, like Intel for example, it's a very good material .

[Bemk]

First of all, welcome to the forums.
Second I'd like to congratulate you with your up-comming birthday.

Then I think that Ubuntu or Mint are very wise choices, but what I'd like you to do, is burn a couple of LiveCDs (or LiveDVDs) and let the rest of the family make the choice.

It's not only you who'll be using the system, and so you might as well just ask them.

A couple of the larger distro's are:

• Redhat (payed)
• CentOS (free)
• Mandriva (free and payed)
• Open SUSE (both free and quite a nice one for Linux noobs)
• Ubuntu (and derivatives such as KUbuntu, XUbuntu and Edubuntu, free, Debian based)
• Debian (free, but maybe a little less suitable, is worth giving a shot though, as it is one of the more stabe ones)
• Linux Mint (free, just as friendly as OpenSUSE and Ubuntu based).

The payed systems in this list are cheaper than Windows. Mandriva is around the $40 and RedhatLinux has about doubled that.

I have tought my self very early on in the process of getting to know Linux to stay away from Wine, as it doesn't always do what I want it to(it's like Windows).

The best advice is to look for Linux alternatives, for example MSN messenger can be replaced with aMSN, which is a messenger I like very much.

Hope this helps you.

[Koshie]

Feel free to show GNOME and KDE for example, a lot of people (I think) will prefer appareance of KDE. But some people (like my girlfriend) prefer initialy the sobriety and the simplicity of GNOME.

[minthaka]

What to say:
- I'm working all the office things on Linux
- The family is watching movies, YouTube on Linux
- kids playin' Linux games

I would say: YES.

[Rubberman]

My 16 year old grandson is now a Linux enthusiast. He's even running his Windows software in a virtual machine. He got started with it when he "let the magic smoke out" of his old system disc and started using the Ubuntu disc I had given him along with the laptop in question. He quickly decided that Linux is the bees knees! My daughter, his mom, however will probably never give up Windows since she's a big gamer and all of her games are Windows only. If they ever port The Sims to Linux, then there is a possibility...

[Koshie]

And with WINE plus PlayOnLinux it doesn't work ?