Dabbling with different OS'

Jano · 11 Nov 2011 at 13:59

Have been looking at some sort of basic OS for my parents to use as their laptop is running like a sack of poo on Windows these days. They just use the net, check mails, occasionaly video calls, so certainly nothing major or taxing. I plonked Joli OS on my netbook last night for a little play and was pleasantly surprised. Basic, but perfectly useable, and seems to fit their needs... Having never used linux before it's a bit weird, and not really sure if there is anything I should be looking out for, is there things like virus protection available? Only thing I really did was put ad blocker on chromium!

Is there any other recommendations on an OS that "should" keep then out of trouble that I should give a try?

Outcast · 11 Nov 2011 at 14:18

You don't need virus / malware protection

You could try Peppermint or Mint

Or they may even like Ubuntu

Unity might be their cup of tea.

run them from Live USB so you don't have to keep burning cd's.. Unless you want to of course !!

Essexraptor · 11 Nov 2011 at 14:51

Parents are fickle and set "old fashioned" ways.... lol

Def recommend Mint ( right on the verge of Mint 12 - so perhaps hold off for a couple of weeks)

As Outcast mentioned... whichever you decide .... run it from a Live USB initially for them to get a feel for the new OS before commiting to a full install

Have fun

Jano · 11 Nov 2011 at 15:04

I was actually going to use an old laptop (that is better than their current laptop anyway) that isn't being used as a test if you like. That way if they don't get on with it they always have their current laptop to go back to.

Peppermint and mint certainly look interesting. One of my concerns with Joli is that it does look fundamentally different to Windows which is obviously what they are used to. Joli was very simple to try out via a usb but I don't seem to be able to find anything like the same support documentation on peppermint or mint?

Smit · 11 Nov 2011 at 16:10

Jano said:
Peppermint and mint certainly look interesting. One of my concerns with Joli is that it does look fundamentally different to Windows which is obviously what they are used to. Joli was very simple to try out via a usb but I don't seem to be able to find anything like the same support documentation on peppermint or mint?

In the case of mint you could use Unetbootin to create a bootable USB drive for you to try out

Jano · 11 Nov 2011 at 16:21

Think thats what i used last night on Joli, guess it's just a case of selecting the different iso and letting it do its stuff which should be simple enough.

Outcast · 11 Nov 2011 at 20:55

After using UnetBootin, when you boot the USB if it bombs out with an error message then just type "live" press enter and wait for about 20 seconds.

It's an error in the version number. live makes it carry on regardless

craptakular · 11 Nov 2011 at 21:05

could try a KDE distro, that way it at least has a similar feel to windows 7.

Need a fairly reasonable laptop though, not something with less than 2gb ram to run well.

NuclearWinter · 12 Nov 2011 at 02:22

I think Mint would be ideal.

coughs · 17 Apr 2012 at 20:42

My mum's netbook has Intel® Atom™ N2600, 2gb ram but can't run latest ubuntu without lag? what should I do?

masterluke · 18 Apr 2012 at 08:03

Try lubuntu - much lighter

SMN · 18 Apr 2012 at 11:08

coughs said:
My mum's netbook has Intel® Atom™ N2600, 2gb ram but can't run latest ubuntu without lag? what should I do?

Whats the hard drive in it? I found on some earlier/cheaper netbooks they use a modified CF card as the "SSD", and this is a killer for lag, even when tuned with noatime etc.