[Wlug] Getting your mom on Linux?

[Adam Keck]

Hello Mike,

<puts on asbestos suit :->

    You will have to be careful about maintaining her level of
functionality with the iPod and camera in Linux.  I agree with Jamie.
Put both Kubuntu and Windows on the machine.  This will allow you to
evaluate whether the change in the applications for media management
(iPod and camera) will increase your support time more than the
reduction in spyware related time.  If Linux is not going to work as
well for the iPod and camera, you may be able to reduce the
spyware/virus issue by removing the right to install software from her
everyday user and by locking down that user in other ways - after a
wipe and reinstall of Windows, of course.   The elimination of virus
work may be significant with Linux, but if that work gets replaced by
equal or greater work getting the iPod, camera, and printing to work
easily and consistently under Linux, the change to Linux may not be
worth it.


-Adam



On 7/5/07, Jamie Guinan <guinan at bluebutton.com> wrote:
>
> On Thu, 5 Jul 2007, Klein, Richard wrote:
>
> > > -----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.
>
> Or put in the 2nd hard drive and leave the 1st one in there, and set
> it up to dual-boot.  She can still boot Windows to do her Citrix
> stuff, and she can use Linux for web surfing (no spyware), and you can
> try migrating iPod/printing/etc. over time.
>
> -Jamie
>
> > I'd answer your specific questions if I knew the answers.
> >
> > --
> > Rich
> >
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