[Wlug] Getting your mom on Linux?

[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