[TriLUG] Deploying Linux to...Aunt Marge

[Steven Hilton]

On 2/25/06, Jim Ray <jim at neuse.net> wrote:
> the question is not so much related to which linux distro to use as it
> is related to what applications run on linux.  let's take my 3 year old
> son's PC as an example prior to me dropping it on the concrete sidewalk
> last month and hosing the box.  i installed ubuntu.  open office and
> firefox could handle most of the apps you mentioned.  however, some of
> the plugins for firefox that let him view the material at
> http://www.pbskids.org were difficult to install or did not work.  so, i
> ended up going back to windows xp pro for him.
>
> for myself, i use open office on windows (my accounting, quickbooks, and
> web design, dreamweaver, apps won't run on linux).  nonetheless, i am
> able to work on a team that emails around a *.ppt file, manipulate the
> file with open office, email it to the team members and have them use
> powerpoint with no compatibility problems whatsoever.  i have received
> highly formatted word *.doc files that looked funny in open office.  i
> simply tell the authors to get a life and move on.
>
> hth,
>
> jim
>
> Jim Ray, President
> Neuse River Network, Inc.
>
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>
>
>
> James Brigman wrote:
>
> >Hey guys;
> >
> >We on the list talk a great deal about ease of installation and use, and
> >kubuntu comes to the top in all those discussions. But I don't recall
> >any "road test discussions" where we've honestly tested how well a Linux
> >system copes with windows-oriented media coming off the 'net.
> >
> >I can see *some* Win-oriented media content on my own Linux boxes, but
> >to tell you the truth, if I get an attachment I can't see with
> >OpenOffice apps, I throw it away. I've treated that stuff like spam, but
> >now I realize a tremendous amount of windows (or Mac .avi) content runs
> >over the 'net that I don't even try to look at or listen to.
> >
> >So, rather than this being a simple "What's the best Linux for Aunt
> >Marge" question, what I'm asking is, "What's the best Linux for Aunt
> >Marge that won't make her ask me to re-install Windows a week later?"
> >
> >Which of the widely-used Linux distros is best for handling all types of
> >web content, doing home office type work (word, excel, powerpoint, maybe
> >project), burning CD's, uploading, managing and printing pics from a
> >digital camera, fresh and capable Firefox implementation with all the
> >good plugins, sending/receiving email and handling windows-oriented
> >media or email attachments? For this type of thing, does kubuntu rise to
> >the top of the heap again? I know Knoppix is a good "try before you buy"
> >option, but is it as good as kubuntu for installation and long term use?
> >
> >Note: No dogma, flame wars, opinion or speculation. War stories and
> >experiences welcomed and solicited.
> >
> >JKB
> >

Our family PC is a dual-boot WinXP/FC3 low-end box. My wife and kids
use it about every day. The only thing they ever have to boot into
windows for, on occasion, is to play some of the kids educational
software (I tried WINE, but probably not enough. It did *not* work out
of the box), and the occasiona WMV file.

Kid's web sites have all but replaced educational software for us, so
that need rarely occurs.
See http://mshiltonj.com/w/index.php/Tara%27s_Page for a bunch of
personally approved kids links.

I wish Adobe would release a linux/firefox shockwave plugin!

It's a rare occasion indeed when my wife asks me a question. Sometimes
I just intsall an rpm, other's I tell her we need to upgrade the
machine to ubuntu (which is what my system runs).

A few months ago, I made sure to buy a linux-compatible digital
camera, but was still a little anxious when I started to set it up. To
my surprise, I didn't need to do *anything*. I plugin the USB cable,
plug the cable into the camera, and linux prompted me to download the
photos with gphoto. Nice.

Now, installing a video card was a whole 'nother deal. I had to drop
to the command line, and spend some time googling to get that
configured right. But that was on my machine.

WIth ubuntu's Automatix pacakage, I got all my multimedia stuf
installed without issue. I can watch quicktime movies at apple's
trailers, but I can't watch most wmv files.

Anyway, ubuntu is leading the way on the desktop, for multiple levels of users.

--
Steven Hilton <mshiltonj at gmail.com>
<http://mshiltonj.com/>