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Groups > comp.os.linux.misc > #27907 > unrolled thread

Best Linux for senior citizens?

Started byDave <dboland9@protonmail.com>
First post2019-08-22 09:15 -0400
Last post2019-08-26 13:26 -0400
Articles 20 on this page of 111 — 25 participants

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Contents

  Best Linux for senior citizens? Dave <dboland9@protonmail.com> - 2019-08-22 09:15 -0400
    Re: Best Linux for senior citizens? "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2019-08-22 15:45 +0200
      Re: Best Linux for senior citizens? Dave <dboland9@protonmail.com> - 2019-08-22 10:28 -0400
        Re: Best Linux for senior citizens? The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2019-08-22 15:39 +0100
          Re: Best Linux for senior citizens? "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2019-08-22 16:54 +0200
        Re: Best Linux for senior citizens? Lew Pitcher <lew.pitcher@digitalfreehold.ca> - 2019-08-22 11:07 -0400
          Re: Best Linux for senior citizens? "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2019-08-22 20:41 +0200
            Re: Best Linux for senior citizens? Popping Mad <rainbow@colition.gov> - 2019-08-25 10:37 -0400
        Re: Best Linux for senior citizens? Popping Mad <rainbow@colition.gov> - 2019-08-25 10:32 -0400
      Re: Best Linux for senior citizens? Richard Kettlewell <invalid@invalid.invalid> - 2019-08-22 17:28 +0100
      Re: Best Linux for senior citizens? Eli the Bearded <*@eli.users.panix.com> - 2019-08-22 18:46 +0000
        Re: Best Linux for senior citizens? Andreas Kohlbach <ank@spamfence.net> - 2019-08-22 15:35 -0400
        Re: Best Linux for senior citizens? andrew <andrew@skamandros.invalid> - 2019-08-29 03:25 +0000
          Re: Best Linux for senior citizens? "L.A. Rathbone" <please@replytolist.com> - 2019-08-29 03:27 +0000
            Re: Best Linux for senior citizens? andrew <andrew@skamandros.invalid> - 2019-08-29 04:03 +0000
              Re: Best Linux for senior citizens? "L.A. Rathbone" <please@replytolist.com> - 2019-08-30 02:40 +0000
                Re: Best Linux for senior citizens? andrew <andrew@skamandros.invalid> - 2019-08-30 05:24 +0000
      Re: Best Linux for senior citizens? T <T@invalid.invalid> - 2019-08-23 15:49 -0700
        Re: Best Linux for senior citizens? not@telling.you.invalid (Computer Nerd Kev) - 2019-08-25 23:00 +0000
          Re: Best Linux for senior citizens? T <T@invalid.invalid> - 2019-08-25 16:50 -0700
            Re: Best Linux for senior citizens? not@telling.you.invalid (Computer Nerd Kev) - 2019-08-26 23:35 +0000
              Re: Best Linux for senior citizens? T <T@invalid.invalid> - 2019-08-26 17:48 -0700
              Re: Best Linux for senior citizens? Robert Heller <heller@deepsoft.com> - 2019-08-26 20:16 -0500
                Re: Best Linux for senior citizens? Bobbie Sellers <bliss@mouse-potato.com> - 2019-08-26 19:46 -0700
                  Re: Best Linux for senior citizens? Andreas Kohlbach <ank@spamfence.net> - 2019-08-27 14:42 -0400
                    Re: Best Linux for senior citizens? "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2019-08-27 23:20 +0200
                      Re: Best Linux for senior citizens? Andreas Kohlbach <ank@spamfence.net> - 2019-08-28 13:01 -0400
                        Re: Best Linux for senior citizens? "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2019-08-29 15:57 +0200
                Re: Best Linux for senior citizens? The Real Bev <bashley101@gmail.com> - 2019-08-26 22:12 -0700
                  Re: Best Linux for senior citizens? T <T@invalid.invalid> - 2019-08-27 03:22 -0700
                  Re: Best Linux for senior citizens? "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2019-08-27 13:43 +0200
                  Re: Best Linux for senior citizens? "L.A. Rathbone" <please@replytolist.com> - 2019-08-27 16:38 +0000
                    Re: Best Linux for senior citizens? Rich <rich@example.invalid> - 2019-08-27 17:12 +0000
                      Re: Best Linux for senior citizens? Robert Heller <heller@deepsoft.com> - 2019-08-27 16:53 -0500
                        Re: Best Linux for senior citizens? The Real Bev <bashley101@gmail.com> - 2019-08-27 15:46 -0700
                          Re: Best Linux for senior citizens? "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2019-08-28 14:21 +0200
                            Re: Best Linux for senior citizens? The Real Bev <bashley101@gmail.com> - 2019-08-28 07:49 -0700
                            Re: Best Linux for senior citizens? The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2019-08-29 07:45 +0100
                        Re: Best Linux for senior citizens? Rich <rich@example.invalid> - 2019-08-28 02:11 +0000
                        Re: Best Linux for senior citizens? Jerry Peters <jerry@example.invalid> - 2019-08-28 20:19 +0000
                          Re: Best Linux for senior citizens? Rich <rich@example.invalid> - 2019-08-29 02:56 +0000
                    Re: Best Linux for senior citizens? Eli the Bearded <*@eli.users.panix.com> - 2019-08-27 19:11 +0000
                    Re: Best Linux for senior citizens? Robert Heller <heller@deepsoft.com> - 2019-08-27 16:53 -0500
                Re: Best Linux for senior citizens? "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2019-08-27 13:08 +0200
                  Re: Best Linux for senior citizens? ant@zimage.comANT (Ant) - 2019-08-29 16:48 -0500
                Re: Best Linux for senior citizens? Andreas Kohlbach <ank@spamfence.net> - 2019-08-27 14:34 -0400
                  Re: Best Linux for senior citizens? "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2019-08-27 23:16 +0200
                    Re: Best Linux for senior citizens? Andreas Kohlbach <ank@spamfence.net> - 2019-08-28 12:59 -0400
                      Re: Best Linux for senior citizens? ant@zimage.comANT (Ant) - 2019-08-29 16:50 -0500
                  Re: Best Linux for senior citizens? Robert Heller <heller@deepsoft.com> - 2019-08-27 16:53 -0500
                    Re: Best Linux for senior citizens? Andreas Kohlbach <ank@spamfence.net> - 2019-08-28 13:50 -0400
                      Re: Best Linux for senior citizens? The Real Bev <bashley101@gmail.com> - 2019-08-28 11:45 -0700
                        Re: Best Linux for senior citizens? Andreas Kohlbach <ank@spamfence.net> - 2019-08-29 12:27 -0400
                          Re: Best Linux for senior citizens? Bud Frede <frede@mouse-potato.com> - 2019-09-21 10:47 -0400
                        Re: Best Linux for senior citizens? Bud Frede <frede@mouse-potato.com> - 2019-09-21 10:27 -0400
                      Re: Best Linux for senior citizens? Roger Blake <rogblake@iname.invalid> - 2019-08-28 18:50 +0000
                      Re: Best Linux for senior citizens? "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2019-08-29 15:59 +0200
                  Re: Best Linux for senior citizens? "David W. Hodgins" <dwhodgins@nomail.afraid.org> - 2019-08-27 17:00 -0400
                    Re: Best Linux for senior citizens? "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2019-08-28 14:23 +0200
                Re: Best Linux for senior citizens? not@telling.you.invalid (Computer Nerd Kev) - 2019-08-27 23:45 +0000
                  Re: Best Linux for senior citizens? Andreas Kohlbach <ank@spamfence.net> - 2019-08-28 13:59 -0400
                    Re: Best Linux for senior citizens? not@telling.you.invalid (Computer Nerd Kev) - 2019-08-28 23:40 +0000
              Re: Best Linux for senior citizens? Bud Frede <frede@mouse-potato.com> - 2019-09-21 10:18 -0400
    Re: Best Linux for senior citizens? The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2019-08-22 15:39 +0100
      Re: Best Linux for senior citizens? Robert Heller <heller@deepsoft.com> - 2019-08-26 08:31 -0500
        Re: Best Linux for senior citizens? "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2019-08-26 16:47 +0200
          Re: Best Linux for senior citizens? Robert Heller <heller@deepsoft.com> - 2019-08-26 10:55 -0500
            Re: Best Linux for senior citizens? Andreas Kohlbach <ank@spamfence.net> - 2019-08-26 13:18 -0400
              Re: Best Linux for senior citizens? "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2019-08-26 23:45 +0200
                Re: Best Linux for senior citizens? Robert Heller <heller@deepsoft.com> - 2019-08-26 17:36 -0500
                Re: Best Linux for senior citizens? Andreas Kohlbach <ank@spamfence.net> - 2019-08-27 14:24 -0400
                  Re: Best Linux for senior citizens? "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2019-08-27 23:12 +0200
        Re: Best Linux for senior citizens? The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2019-08-26 16:37 +0100
        Re: Best Linux for senior citizens? Eli the Bearded <*@eli.users.panix.com> - 2019-08-26 19:23 +0000
    Re: Best Linux for senior citizens? ray carter <ray@zianet.com> - 2019-08-22 14:45 +0000
      Re: Best Linux for senior citizens? Bit Twister <BitTwister@mouse-potato.com> - 2019-08-22 10:19 -0500
        Re: Best Linux for senior citizens? Dave <dboland9@protonmail.com> - 2019-08-22 14:37 -0400
          Re: Best Linux for senior citizens? Bit Twister <BitTwister@mouse-potato.com> - 2019-08-22 16:04 -0500
        Re: Best Linux for senior citizens? Charlie Gibbs <cgibbs@kltpzyxm.invalid> - 2019-08-22 18:43 +0000
          Re: Best Linux for senior citizens? Dave <dboland9@protonmail.com> - 2019-08-22 17:08 -0400
            Re: Best Linux for senior citizens? John Forkosh <forkosh@panix.com> - 2019-08-23 05:25 +0000
            Re: Best Linux for senior citizens? Andreas Kohlbach <ank@spamfence.net> - 2019-08-23 15:45 -0400
              Re: Best Linux for senior citizens? Andreas Kohlbach <ank@spamfence.net> - 2019-08-24 14:55 -0400
                Re: Best Linux for senior citizens? "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2019-08-24 21:02 +0200
    Re: Best Linux for senior citizens? Andreas Kohlbach <ank@spamfence.net> - 2019-08-22 14:48 -0400
      Re: Best Linux for senior citizens? Dave <dboland9@protonmail.com> - 2019-08-22 17:15 -0400
        Re: Best Linux for senior citizens? "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2019-08-23 00:11 +0200
        Re: Best Linux for senior citizens? The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2019-08-23 08:36 +0100
          Re: Best Linux for senior citizens? Richard Kettlewell <invalid@invalid.invalid> - 2019-08-23 09:06 +0100
            Re: Best Linux for senior citizens? The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2019-08-23 12:33 +0100
              Re: Best Linux for senior citizens? Richard Kettlewell <invalid@invalid.invalid> - 2019-08-23 14:03 +0100
                Re: Best Linux for senior citizens? "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2019-08-23 16:28 +0200
        Re: Best Linux for senior citizens? Robert Heller <heller@deepsoft.com> - 2019-08-26 08:31 -0500
          Re: Best Linux for senior citizens? Jerry Peters <jerry@example.invalid> - 2019-08-26 20:35 +0000
        Re: Best Linux for senior citizens? Andreas Kohlbach <ank@spamfence.net> - 2019-08-26 13:25 -0400
      Re: Best Linux for senior citizens? The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2019-08-23 08:31 +0100
    Re: Best Linux for senior citizens? Roger Blake <rogblake@iname.invalid> - 2019-08-23 03:54 +0000
      Re: Best Linux for senior citizens? "David W. Hodgins" <dwhodgins@nomail.afraid.org> - 2019-08-23 01:05 -0400
        Re: Best Linux for senior citizens? Dave <dboland9@protonmail.com> - 2019-08-23 02:04 -0400
          Re: Best Linux for senior citizens? Bit Twister <BitTwister@mouse-potato.com> - 2019-08-23 01:59 -0500
          Re: Best Linux for senior citizens? "David W. Hodgins" <dwhodgins@nomail.afraid.org> - 2019-08-23 03:06 -0400
            Re: Best Linux for senior citizens? Dave <dboland9@protonmail.com> - 2019-08-23 07:27 -0400
            Re: Best Linux for senior citizens? "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2019-08-23 16:35 +0200
              Re: Best Linux for senior citizens? The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2019-08-23 18:05 +0100
    Re: Best Linux for senior citizens? "L.A. Rathbone" <please@replytolist.com> - 2019-08-25 22:23 +0000
      Re: Best Linux for senior citizens? Andreas Kohlbach <ank@spamfence.net> - 2019-08-26 13:01 -0400
    Re: Best Linux for senior citizens? Robert Heller <heller@deepsoft.com> - 2019-08-26 08:31 -0500
      Re: Best Linux for senior citizens? Andreas Kohlbach <ank@spamfence.net> - 2019-08-26 13:04 -0400
        Re: Best Linux for senior citizens? Roger Blake <rogblake@iname.invalid> - 2019-08-26 17:49 +0000
    Re: Best Linux for senior citizens? Bobbie Sellers <bliss@mouse-potato.com> - 2019-08-26 09:45 -0700
      Re: Best Linux for senior citizens? "David W. Hodgins" <dwhodgins@nomail.afraid.org> - 2019-08-26 13:26 -0400

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#27931

FromJohn Forkosh <forkosh@panix.com>
Date2019-08-23 05:25 +0000
Message-ID<qjntd4$9sk$1@reader2.panix.com>
In reply to#27926
Dave <dboland9@protonmail.com> wrote:
> On 8/22/19 2:43 PM, Charlie Gibbs wrote:
>> On 2019-08-22, Bit Twister <BitTwister@mouse-potato.com> wrote:
>>> On 22 Aug 2019 14:45:29 GMT, ray carter wrote:
>>>> On Thu, 22 Aug 2019 09:15:30 -0400, Dave wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> A friend of mine works with seniors and they are facing getting rid of
>>>>> what ever Windows version they had (7 maybe - don't know for sure) on
>>>>> their many computers. Windows 10 seems to be an issue for them for a lot
>>>>> of reasons.  So he asked me about Linux.  The problem for me is that I
>>>>> don't have any experience with this.  So, I'm hoping that some of you
>>>>> have had experience with Linux for seniors that may have had some
>>>>> computer experience - Windows XP perhaps - and can describe the
>>>>> situation they faced, what distribution worked best, and anything that
>>>>> may be of interest.
>>>
>>> As a light weight OS desktop environment easy to configure I recommend
>>> Xfcxe. I noticed MX Linux Xfce was better the a ?buntu Xfce.
>>>
>>> I tested latest Official Xfce release 4.14 this morning and it should
>>> be easy enough for a Win 7 user to configure it.
>> 
>> Here's another vote for Xfce.  It's lightweight, does what you want,
>> and stays out of the way.
>> 
>>> I use the Mageia Linux distribution. Go ahead and download a live iso,
>>> burn/bootrun it and see how easy to use yourself.
>> 
>> When I switched from Slackware in search of better package management,
>> I tried several distros.  Mint was OK, but not that thrilling.  I found
>> Mageia to be too heavyweight.  It uses KDE, which for me carries too
>> much baggage, including spitting out a lot of messages in my console
>> windows from processes which (IMHO) have no business running at all.
>> 
>> I've settled on Debian (because it's mainstream and works well),
>> along with Xfce.
>> 
> Boy, do I hear you!  I started with Slackware, and liked it.  Tried 
> Linux Mandrake (recall that one?), then Debian, then Ubuntu.  Slack was 
> more work than I wanted, and Debian was great, but the repositories 
> didn't keep up with new releases as quickly as I had hoped (8 yrs. ago). 
> Still Debian is great stuff, and Xfce is very good.
> Dave,

I'd agree that the distro choice is somewhat secondary, and it's the
window manager that the seniors/users will be mostly interacting with.
So since it'll essentially be a single-user system, just configure it
to boot directly into X, and then bring up your wm of choice.
   Along that line, I've been using fvwm2 along with the fvwm95 layer
on top of it, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FVWM95
And that gives a pretty nice windows-like experience on top of linux.
   So I'd recommend choosing your distro by whatever criteria are
important to you (and any other technical staff involved), making
sure it boots directly into X, and then demo-ing Xfce and fvwm95
(and whatever other wm's seem interesting) for the seniors.
   It's trivial just changing the xinitrc symlink from one wm to another.
And then the seniors can choose for themselves whatever wm they like.
Why should you make that choice for them?
-- 
John Forkosh  ( mailto:  j@f.com  where j=john and f=forkosh )

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#27945

FromAndreas Kohlbach <ank@spamfence.net>
Date2019-08-23 15:45 -0400
Message-ID<87pnkvd5tn.fsf@usenet.ankman.de>
In reply to#27926
On Thu, 22 Aug 2019 17:08:44 -0400, Dave wrote:
>
> On 8/22/19 2:43 PM, Charlie Gibbs wrote:
>>
> Boy, do I hear you!  I started with Slackware, and liked it.  Tried
> Linux Mandrake (recall that one?), then Debian, then Ubuntu.  Slack
> was more work than I wanted, and Debian was great, but the
> repositories didn't keep up with new releases as quickly as I had
> hoped (8 yrs. ago). Still Debian is great stuff, and Xfce is very
> good.

I started with Suse some day in 1998 and used it until the disk died in
2003. A friend suggested Debian. I liked but moving countries that HD
died too. Had no access to high speed internet so I grabbed some French
magazine with a Mandrake (or was it Mandriva already) to have Linux at
all. After I got access to Debian via image download and never looked beck.
-- 
Andreas

My random thoughts and comments
https://news-commentaries.blogspot.com/

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#27948

FromAndreas Kohlbach <ank@spamfence.net>
Date2019-08-24 14:55 -0400
Message-ID<877e724cmx.fsf@usenet.ankman.de>
In reply to#27945
On Fri, 23 Aug 2019 15:45:08 -0400, Andreas Kohlbach wrote:
>
> I started with Suse some day in 1998 and used it until the disk died in
> 2003. A friend suggested Debian. I liked but moving countries that HD
> died too. Had no access to high speed internet so I grabbed some French
> magazine with a Mandrake (or was it Mandriva already) to have Linux at
> all. After I got access to Debian via image download and never looked beck.

Forgot to mention Suse shared the giant 1.3 GB hard disk with Windows 98
using some 800 MB itself. So Suse ran without GUI. Which was good so I
was forced to learn bash (or was it sh?). Next Linux had KDE but that in
my opinion became to bloated that I installed on the follow up machine
Gnome in Debian.

This is the same hard disk I use today. Installation in 2011 and the hard
disk just keeps going. :-) I have also xfce installed and can choose on
login which one to use.
-- 
Andreas

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#27949

From"Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid>
Date2019-08-24 21:02 +0200
Message-ID<m7e83g-6gh.ln1@Telcontar.valinor>
In reply to#27948
On 24/08/2019 20.55, Andreas Kohlbach wrote:
> On Fri, 23 Aug 2019 15:45:08 -0400, Andreas Kohlbach wrote:
>>
>> I started with Suse some day in 1998 and used it until the disk died in
>> 2003. A friend suggested Debian. I liked but moving countries that HD
>> died too. Had no access to high speed internet so I grabbed some French
>> magazine with a Mandrake (or was it Mandriva already) to have Linux at
>> all. After I got access to Debian via image download and never looked beck.
> 
> Forgot to mention Suse shared the giant 1.3 GB hard disk with Windows 98
> using some 800 MB itself. So Suse ran without GUI. Which was good so I
> was forced to learn bash (or was it sh?).

2003? Bash. They have installed and used bash by default since I started
using it on 1998, version 5.2. Probably before that as well.

-- 
Cheers, Carlos.

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#27922

FromAndreas Kohlbach <ank@spamfence.net>
Date2019-08-22 14:48 -0400
Message-ID<87d0gxvxwl.fsf@usenet.ankman.de>
In reply to#27907
On Thu, 22 Aug 2019 09:15:30 -0400, Dave wrote:
>
> A friend of mine works with seniors and they are facing getting rid of
> what ever Windows version they had (7 maybe - don't know for sure) on
> their many computers. Windows 10 seems to be an issue for them for a
> lot of reasons.  So he asked me about Linux.  The problem for me is
> that I don't have any experience with this.  So, I'm hoping that some
> of you have had experience with Linux for seniors that may have had
> some computer experience - Windows XP perhaps - and can describe the
> situation they faced, what distribution worked best, and anything that
> may be of interest.
>
> I have been told that Linux Mint and Elementary are good.  I find Mint
> to be ugly, [...]

It looks different from Windows. If you're only going for the looks you
won't find any Linux distribution.

It's always bad to have experience with some other OS. I know a MacOS
user got a new job in an office and is forced to use Windows. He hates
Windows.

A neighbor of mine is 72. He had zero experience with computers at all. I
installed him Mint with the Mate desktop. Zero problems for him.
-- 
Andreas

My random thoughts and comments
https://news-commentaries.blogspot.com/

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#27927

FromDave <dboland9@protonmail.com>
Date2019-08-22 17:15 -0400
Message-ID<qjn0ll$1f99$1@gioia.aioe.org>
In reply to#27922
On 8/22/19 2:48 PM, Andreas Kohlbach wrote:
> On Thu, 22 Aug 2019 09:15:30 -0400, Dave wrote:
>>
>> A friend of mine works with seniors and they are facing getting rid of
>> what ever Windows version they had (7 maybe - don't know for sure) on
>> their many computers. Windows 10 seems to be an issue for them for a
>> lot of reasons.  So he asked me about Linux.  The problem for me is
>> that I don't have any experience with this.  So, I'm hoping that some
>> of you have had experience with Linux for seniors that may have had
>> some computer experience - Windows XP perhaps - and can describe the
>> situation they faced, what distribution worked best, and anything that
>> may be of interest.
>>
>> I have been told that Linux Mint and Elementary are good.  I find Mint
>> to be ugly, [...]
> 
> It looks different from Windows. If you're only going for the looks you
> won't find any Linux distribution.
> 
> It's always bad to have experience with some other OS. I know a MacOS
> user got a new job in an office and is forced to use Windows. He hates
> Windows.
> 
> A neighbor of mine is 72. He had zero experience with computers at all. I
> installed him Mint with the Mate desktop. Zero problems for him.
> 
Mint has a good reputation for senior users.  I just don't care for the 
look/feel, and I find it strange that open source software requires 
cookies (and yes, I know exactly what they are to all the ass holes that 
seem to think I don't).  To me, free and open means just that, and 
cookies is a commercial thing.

Dave,

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#27928

From"Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid>
Date2019-08-23 00:11 +0200
Message-ID<jhg33g-1ju.ln1@Telcontar.valinor>
In reply to#27927
On 22/08/2019 23.15, Dave wrote:
> On 8/22/19 2:48 PM, Andreas Kohlbach wrote:
>> On Thu, 22 Aug 2019 09:15:30 -0400, Dave wrote:
>>>
>>> A friend of mine works with seniors and they are facing getting rid of
>>> what ever Windows version they had (7 maybe - don't know for sure) on
>>> their many computers. Windows 10 seems to be an issue for them for a
>>> lot of reasons.  So he asked me about Linux.  The problem for me is
>>> that I don't have any experience with this.  So, I'm hoping that some
>>> of you have had experience with Linux for seniors that may have had
>>> some computer experience - Windows XP perhaps - and can describe the
>>> situation they faced, what distribution worked best, and anything that
>>> may be of interest.
>>>
>>> I have been told that Linux Mint and Elementary are good.  I find Mint
>>> to be ugly, [...]
>>
>> It looks different from Windows. If you're only going for the looks you
>> won't find any Linux distribution.
>>
>> It's always bad to have experience with some other OS. I know a MacOS
>> user got a new job in an office and is forced to use Windows. He hates
>> Windows.
>>
>> A neighbor of mine is 72. He had zero experience with computers at all. I
>> installed him Mint with the Mate desktop. Zero problems for him.
>>
> Mint has a good reputation for senior users.  I just don't care for the
> look/feel, and I find it strange that open source software requires
> cookies (and yes, I know exactly what they are to all the ass holes that
> seem to think I don't).  To me, free and open means just that, and
> cookies is a commercial thing.

LOL!

-- 
Cheers, Carlos.

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#27937

FromThe Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid>
Date2019-08-23 08:36 +0100
Message-ID<qjo51f$hko$1@dont-email.me>
In reply to#27927
On 22/08/2019 22:15, Dave wrote:
> On 8/22/19 2:48 PM, Andreas Kohlbach wrote:
>> On Thu, 22 Aug 2019 09:15:30 -0400, Dave wrote:
>>>
>>> A friend of mine works with seniors and they are facing getting rid of
>>> what ever Windows version they had (7 maybe - don't know for sure) on
>>> their many computers. Windows 10 seems to be an issue for them for a
>>> lot of reasons.  So he asked me about Linux.  The problem for me is
>>> that I don't have any experience with this.  So, I'm hoping that some
>>> of you have had experience with Linux for seniors that may have had
>>> some computer experience - Windows XP perhaps - and can describe the
>>> situation they faced, what distribution worked best, and anything that
>>> may be of interest.
>>>
>>> I have been told that Linux Mint and Elementary are good.  I find Mint
>>> to be ugly, [...]
>>
>> It looks different from Windows. If you're only going for the looks you
>> won't find any Linux distribution.
>>
>> It's always bad to have experience with some other OS. I know a MacOS
>> user got a new job in an office and is forced to use Windows. He hates
>> Windows.
>>
>> A neighbor of mine is 72. He had zero experience with computers at all. I
>> installed him Mint with the Mate desktop. Zero problems for him.
>>
> Mint has a good reputation for senior users.  I just don't care for the 
> look/feel, and I find it strange that open source software requires 
> cookies (and yes, I know exactly what they are to all the ass holes that 
> seem to think I don't).  To me, free and open means just that, and 
> cookies is a commercial thing.
> 

May be. Try writing server side software that allows user sessions 
without them!

Probably could be done with hidden post variables, but in essence thats 
what a cookie is!

Some websites need to know who you are. So you dont empty someone elses 
bank account


> Dave,


-- 
“Ideas are inherently conservative. They yield not to the attack of 
other ideas but to the massive onslaught of circumstance"

    -  John K Galbraith

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#27938

FromRichard Kettlewell <invalid@invalid.invalid>
Date2019-08-23 09:06 +0100
Message-ID<87r25c9uh0.fsf@LkoBDZeT.terraraq.uk>
In reply to#27937
The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> writes:
> On 22/08/2019 22:15, Dave wrote:
>> Mint has a good reputation for senior users.  I just don't care for
>> the look/feel, and I find it strange that open source software
>> requires cookies (and yes, I know exactly what they are to all the
>> ass holes that seem to think I don't).  To me, free and open means
>> just that, and cookies is a commercial thing.
>
> May be. Try writing server side software that allows user sessions
> without them!
>
> Probably could be done with hidden post variables, but in essence
> thats what a cookie is!
>
> Some websites need to know who you are. So you dont empty someone
> elses bank account

Client certificates. But the general public mostly don’t have them.

-- 
https://www.greenend.org.uk/rjk/

[toc] | [prev] | [next] | [standalone]


#27940

FromThe Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid>
Date2019-08-23 12:33 +0100
Message-ID<qjoiun$p0q$2@dont-email.me>
In reply to#27938
On 23/08/2019 09:06, Richard Kettlewell wrote:
> The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> writes:
>> On 22/08/2019 22:15, Dave wrote:
>>> Mint has a good reputation for senior users.  I just don't care for
>>> the look/feel, and I find it strange that open source software
>>> requires cookies (and yes, I know exactly what they are to all the
>>> ass holes that seem to think I don't).  To me, free and open means
>>> just that, and cookies is a commercial thing.
>>
>> May be. Try writing server side software that allows user sessions
>> without them!
>>
>> Probably could be done with hidden post variables, but in essence
>> thats what a cookie is!
>>
>> Some websites need to know who you are. So you dont empty someone
>> elses bank account
> 
> Client certificates. But the general public mostly don’t have them.
> 
Bank accounts?



-- 
"The most difficult subjects can be explained to the most slow witted 
man if he has not formed any idea of them already; but the simplest 
thing cannot be made clear to the most intelligent man if he is firmly 
persuaded that he knows already, without a shadow of doubt, what is laid 
before him."

    - Leo Tolstoy

[toc] | [prev] | [next] | [standalone]


#27941

FromRichard Kettlewell <invalid@invalid.invalid>
Date2019-08-23 14:03 +0100
Message-ID<87lfvk9gpc.fsf@LkoBDZeT.terraraq.uk>
In reply to#27940
The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> writes:
> On 23/08/2019 09:06, Richard Kettlewell wrote:
>> The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> writes:
>>> On 22/08/2019 22:15, Dave wrote:
>>>> Mint has a good reputation for senior users.  I just don't care for
>>>> the look/feel, and I find it strange that open source software
>>>> requires cookies (and yes, I know exactly what they are to all the
>>>> ass holes that seem to think I don't).  To me, free and open means
>>>> just that, and cookies is a commercial thing.
>>>
>>> May be. Try writing server side software that allows user sessions
>>> without them!
>>>
>>> Probably could be done with hidden post variables, but in essence
>>> thats what a cookie is!
>>>
>>> Some websites need to know who you are. So you dont empty someone
>>> elses bank account
>>
>> Client certificates. But the general public mostly don’t have them.
>>
> Bank accounts?

Which banks authenticate users via client certs? (I’ve never encountered
one directly but there are plenty of banks I’ve never interacted with.)

-- 
https://www.greenend.org.uk/rjk/

[toc] | [prev] | [next] | [standalone]


#27942

From"Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid>
Date2019-08-23 16:28 +0200
Message-ID<to953g-298.ln1@Telcontar.valinor>
In reply to#27941
On 23/08/2019 15.03, Richard Kettlewell wrote:
> The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> writes:
>> On 23/08/2019 09:06, Richard Kettlewell wrote:
>>> The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> writes:
>>>> On 22/08/2019 22:15, Dave wrote:
>>>>> Mint has a good reputation for senior users.  I just don't care for
>>>>> the look/feel, and I find it strange that open source software
>>>>> requires cookies (and yes, I know exactly what they are to all the
>>>>> ass holes that seem to think I don't).  To me, free and open means
>>>>> just that, and cookies is a commercial thing.
>>>>
>>>> May be. Try writing server side software that allows user sessions
>>>> without them!
>>>>
>>>> Probably could be done with hidden post variables, but in essence
>>>> thats what a cookie is!
>>>>
>>>> Some websites need to know who you are. So you dont empty someone
>>>> elses bank account
>>>
>>> Client certificates. But the general public mostly don’t have them.

However, browsers have some type of identifiers. A site can request
those, and store info at the server associated to the identifier.

>>>
>> Bank accounts?
> 
> Which banks authenticate users via client certs? (I’ve never encountered
> one directly but there are plenty of banks I’ve never interacted with.)

I have not seen it, either.

Well, they can use legal crypto identifiers (PKCS). I have not seen that
with banks, but several government entities here (Spain) use them.

Also, we have a a mandatory identity card, which has a chip (with
password). This can be used on some sites to identify the person
legally, and I have heard of banks using them (I have not managed to
make it work in Linux). But once you are legally identified, the
authorization is passed from page to page by cookies, of course.


-- 
Cheers, Carlos.

[toc] | [prev] | [next] | [standalone]


#27957

FromRobert Heller <heller@deepsoft.com>
Date2019-08-26 08:31 -0500
Message-ID<Ibadndhgid3bQv7AnZ2dnUU7-enNnZ2d@giganews.com>
In reply to#27927
At Thu, 22 Aug 2019 17:15:34 -0400 Dave <dboland9@protonmail.com> wrote:

> 
> On 8/22/19 2:48 PM, Andreas Kohlbach wrote:
> > On Thu, 22 Aug 2019 09:15:30 -0400, Dave wrote:
> >>
> >> A friend of mine works with seniors and they are facing getting rid of
> >> what ever Windows version they had (7 maybe - don't know for sure) on
> >> their many computers. Windows 10 seems to be an issue for them for a
> >> lot of reasons.  So he asked me about Linux.  The problem for me is
> >> that I don't have any experience with this.  So, I'm hoping that some
> >> of you have had experience with Linux for seniors that may have had
> >> some computer experience - Windows XP perhaps - and can describe the
> >> situation they faced, what distribution worked best, and anything that
> >> may be of interest.
> >>
> >> I have been told that Linux Mint and Elementary are good.  I find Mint
> >> to be ugly, [...]
> > 
> > It looks different from Windows. If you're only going for the looks you
> > won't find any Linux distribution.
> > 
> > It's always bad to have experience with some other OS. I know a MacOS
> > user got a new job in an office and is forced to use Windows. He hates
> > Windows.
> > 
> > A neighbor of mine is 72. He had zero experience with computers at all. I
> > installed him Mint with the Mate desktop. Zero problems for him.
> > 
> Mint has a good reputation for senior users.  I just don't care for the 
> look/feel, and I find it strange that open source software requires 
> cookies (and yes, I know exactly what they are to all the ass holes that 
> seem to think I don't).  To me, free and open means just that, and 
> cookies is a commercial thing.

Umm... Your ignorance just showed up.  There is NOTHING "commercial" about 
cookies.  (Yes, they are sometimes used for various commercial purposes, but 
that is not an inate feature of cookies.)

You should avoid dihydrogen-monooxide.  It is a common *industrial* solvent. 
It has many *commercial* uses.  You should petition your local government to 
have it removed from the local water supply.

> 
> Dave,
>                      

-- 
Robert Heller             -- 978-544-6933
Deepwoods Software        -- Custom Software Services
http://www.deepsoft.com/  -- Linux Administration Services
heller@deepsoft.com       -- Webhosting Services
                                                                               

[toc] | [prev] | [next] | [standalone]


#27969

FromJerry Peters <jerry@example.invalid>
Date2019-08-26 20:35 +0000
Message-ID<qk1fq2$eki$1@dont-email.me>
In reply to#27957
Robert Heller <heller@deepsoft.com> wrote:
> At Thu, 22 Aug 2019 17:15:34 -0400 Dave <dboland9@protonmail.com> wrote:
> 
>> 
>> On 8/22/19 2:48 PM, Andreas Kohlbach wrote:
>> > On Thu, 22 Aug 2019 09:15:30 -0400, Dave wrote:
>> >>
>> >> A friend of mine works with seniors and they are facing getting rid of
>> >> what ever Windows version they had (7 maybe - don't know for sure) on
>> >> their many computers. Windows 10 seems to be an issue for them for a
>> >> lot of reasons.  So he asked me about Linux.  The problem for me is
>> >> that I don't have any experience with this.  So, I'm hoping that some
>> >> of you have had experience with Linux for seniors that may have had
>> >> some computer experience - Windows XP perhaps - and can describe the
>> >> situation they faced, what distribution worked best, and anything that
>> >> may be of interest.
>> >>
>> >> I have been told that Linux Mint and Elementary are good.  I find Mint
>> >> to be ugly, [...]
>> > 
>> > It looks different from Windows. If you're only going for the looks you
>> > won't find any Linux distribution.
>> > 
>> > It's always bad to have experience with some other OS. I know a MacOS
>> > user got a new job in an office and is forced to use Windows. He hates
>> > Windows.
>> > 
>> > A neighbor of mine is 72. He had zero experience with computers at all. I
>> > installed him Mint with the Mate desktop. Zero problems for him.
>> > 
>> Mint has a good reputation for senior users.  I just don't care for the 
>> look/feel, and I find it strange that open source software requires 
>> cookies (and yes, I know exactly what they are to all the ass holes that 
>> seem to think I don't).  To me, free and open means just that, and 
>> cookies is a commercial thing.
> 
> Umm... Your ignorance just showed up.  There is NOTHING "commercial" about 
> cookies.  (Yes, they are sometimes used for various commercial purposes, but 
> that is not an inate feature of cookies.)
> 
> You should avoid dihydrogen-monooxide.  It is a common *industrial* solvent. 
> It has many *commercial* uses.  You should petition your local government to 
> have it removed from the local water supply.

Alos it's deadly when inhaled in its liquid form, and fairly corrosive.

[toc] | [prev] | [next] | [standalone]


#27965

FromAndreas Kohlbach <ank@spamfence.net>
Date2019-08-26 13:25 -0400
Message-ID<87d0gr6dpx.fsf@usenet.ankman.de>
In reply to#27927
On Thu, 22 Aug 2019 17:15:34 -0400, Dave wrote:
>
> Mint has a good reputation for senior users.  I just don't care for
> the look/feel, and I find it strange that open source software
> requires cookies (and yes, I know exactly what they are to all the ass
> holes that seem to think I don't).  To me, free and open means just
> that, and cookies is a commercial thing.

As you were told they are not a commercial think.

What do you think of Wikipedia? Non-profit, open... Just only called the
portal with a clean cookie jar and get

WMF-Last-Access=26-Aug-2019

and three more. So what?

You can use cookies for something else and eviler than just log the last
access date. You can also use a knife for something else than slicing bread.
-- 
Andreas

[toc] | [prev] | [next] | [standalone]


#27936

FromThe Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid>
Date2019-08-23 08:31 +0100
Message-ID<qjo4p4$f4h$3@dont-email.me>
In reply to#27922
On 22/08/2019 19:48, Andreas Kohlbach wrote:
> A neighbor of mine is 72. He had zero experience with computers at all. I
> installed him Mint with the Mate desktop. Zero problems for him.

A neighbour of mine is 85.

I installed Mint Mate for him. He has rather less trouble with it than 
he does his I phone.


-- 
“Ideas are inherently conservative. They yield not to the attack of 
other ideas but to the massive onslaught of circumstance"

    -  John K Galbraith

[toc] | [prev] | [next] | [standalone]


#27929

FromRoger Blake <rogblake@iname.invalid>
Date2019-08-23 03:54 +0000
Message-ID<20190822234216@news.eternal-september.org>
In reply to#27907
On 2019-08-22, Dave <dboland9@protonmail.com> wrote:
> A friend of mine works with seniors and they are facing getting rid of 
> what ever Windows version they had (7 maybe - don't know for sure) on 
> their many computers. Windows 10 seems to be an issue for them for a lot 
> of reasons.  So he asked me about Linux.  The problem for me is that I 
> don't have any experience with this.  So, I'm hoping that some of you 
> have had experience with Linux for seniors that may have had some 
> computer experience - Windows XP perhaps - and can describe the 
> situation they faced, what distribution worked best, and anything that 
> may be of interest.

There is a computer sold commercially that is designed for seniors and
runs Linux, the "Wow!" computer. The OS is a locked-down, customized
version of Linux. A 90-year-old neighbor has one. These computers are
grievously and ridiculously overpriced for the level of hardware included,
to the point where I wonder how those people can look at themselves in
the mirror or sleep at night. However they are very easy to use and since
the user cannot install additional software it's pretty difficult to screw
them up.

-- 
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Roger Blake (Posts from Google Groups killfiled due to excess spam.)

  NSA sedition and treason        -- http://www.DeathToNSAthugs.com
  Don't talk to cops!             -- http://www.DontTalkToCops.com
  Badges don't grant extra rights -- http://www.CopBlock.org
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

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#27930

From"David W. Hodgins" <dwhodgins@nomail.afraid.org>
Date2019-08-23 01:05 -0400
Message-ID<op.z6ylrwora3w0dxdave@hodgins.homeip.net>
In reply to#27929
On Thu, 22 Aug 2019 23:54:02 -0400, Roger Blake <rogblake@iname.invalid> wrote:

For the people I support with very low, if any computer experience I
set up an account for them on my "almost always on" system, that their
computer establishes a ssh connection to during it's boot up by calling
a script from rc.local.

 From my computer, which is running autossh, I can ssh to theirs either for
maintenance (installing updates, etc.), or troubleshooting using vnc to
share their desktop.

The ssh daemons use keys only, no passwords, and run on non-standard ports
to avoid flooding the logs with brute force attacks.

As all of the systems involved use dynamic dns, I use https://dyn.com/dns/
with ddclient so the remote systems can find mine, and forward the ports
used for the ssh connections from my router to the system I use.

A bit of work to learn hot to set it up the first time it's used, but it
provides a secure way for me to provide support without having to leave my
place.

The programs that get the most use on their systems are firefox, rhythmbox,
vlc, and some games.

As I'm the person providing support, the best distro for them is the same
one I use, which is Mageia. As well as using it since it was forked from
Mandrake/Mandriva, I'm the qa team leader for Mageia.

Regards, Dave Hodgins

-- 
Change dwhodgins@nomail.afraid.org to davidwhodgins@teksavvy.com for
email replies.

[toc] | [prev] | [next] | [standalone]


#27932

FromDave <dboland9@protonmail.com>
Date2019-08-23 02:04 -0400
Message-ID<qjnvl1$1fn7$1@gioia.aioe.org>
In reply to#27930
On 8/23/19 1:05 AM, David W. Hodgins wrote:
> On Thu, 22 Aug 2019 23:54:02 -0400, Roger Blake <rogblake@iname.invalid> 
> wrote:
> 
> For the people I support with very low, if any computer experience I
> set up an account for them on my "almost always on" system, that their
> computer establishes a ssh connection to during it's boot up by calling
> a script from rc.local.
> 
>  From my computer, which is running autossh, I can ssh to theirs either for
> maintenance (installing updates, etc.), or troubleshooting using vnc to
> share their desktop.
> 
> The ssh daemons use keys only, no passwords, and run on non-standard ports
> to avoid flooding the logs with brute force attacks.
> 
> As all of the systems involved use dynamic dns, I use https://dyn.com/dns/
> with ddclient so the remote systems can find mine, and forward the ports
> used for the ssh connections from my router to the system I use.
> 
> A bit of work to learn hot to set it up the first time it's used, but it
> provides a secure way for me to provide support without having to leave my
> place.
> 
> The programs that get the most use on their systems are firefox, rhythmbox,
> vlc, and some games.
> 
> As I'm the person providing support, the best distro for them is the same
> one I use, which is Mageia. As well as using it since it was forked from
> Mandrake/Mandriva, I'm the qa team leader for Mageia.
> 
> Regards, Dave Hodgins
> 
Dave,

That is an interesting idea.  My understanding is that there is a room 
full of Windows computers in this case and the desire is to make them 
all independent.  My guess is that your idea works only if there is 
someone there that can do the same job you do, and there is not.

Earlier today I downloaded Mageria.  I do have a few questions if you 
have a moment.  How well stocked and how fresh are the software 
repositories?  Server users seem to like the stability of older 
software, but desktop users, as is the case here, like to have nearly 
the latest.  Do they have a good software store and client, or do they 
use Synaptic?  I like Synaptic, but would be hesitant to offer it to 
older people unless there was someone to guide them (doubtful).

As I recall, Mandrake had its own packaging system.  Is that true of 
Mageria?  I'm a little biased toward apt/Debian, but am flexible if it 
works well.

Thanks,
Dave Boland

[toc] | [prev] | [next] | [standalone]


#27933

FromBit Twister <BitTwister@mouse-potato.com>
Date2019-08-23 01:59 -0500
Message-ID<slrnqlv3n8.5a2.BitTwister@wb.home.test>
In reply to#27932
On Fri, 23 Aug 2019 02:04:17 -0400, Dave wrote:
  <big snip>

> That is an interesting idea.  My understanding is that there is a room
> full of Windows computers in this case and the desire is to make them
> all independent.  My guess is that your idea works only if there is
> someone there that can do the same job you do, and there is not.

Keep in mind, they would not be able to install Windows on a clean machine
get it locked down, setup a firewall and what not. Mageia is going to make
something like that pretty easy.

> Earlier today I downloaded Mageria.  I do have a few questions if you
> have a moment.  How well stocked and how fresh are the software
> repositories?  Server users seem to like the stability of older
> software, but desktop users, as is the case here, like to have nearly
> the latest.  Do they have a good software store and client, or do they
> use Synaptic?  I like Synaptic, but would be hesitant to offer it to
> older people unless there was someone to guide them (doubtful).

Basically Synaptic is a gui wrapper for deb packages. Mageia uses rpm
packaging. You would find that Mageia's gui package manager as easy to
use as Synaptic. You can also use DNF and yum.

>
> As I recall, Mandrake had its own packaging system.  Is that true of
> Mageria?  I'm a little biased toward apt/Debian, but am flexible if it
> works well.

As indicated it is rpm based and works well.

Very easy to write scripts to install additional software.

In my opinion, you could boot something like systemrescuecd from
http://www.system-rescue-cd.org/, and run gparted to
create/format/label desired partitions.

That would allow you to setup the system to not use Window secure boot.

Then boot the live cd and have it use current partitioning scheme.

Other option is to tell the installer to automagically use the whole
disk and let it decide what to do.

I script what media site to use for installing updates and install additional
software and do software backups.

I maintain 3 nodes on my LAN plus my neighbors system. I wrote a pull_updates
script to pull down all packages for update, if any, and run a basic install
test. If there are updates and no pre-install test problems, used xmessage
to pop up a message with the command to use to install the updates.

Mageia has the same kind of thing except you get a message about there are
updates to be installed. At that point you get to a root terminal, run mcc
to select update software, click ok, and let it install all updates.

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