Linux distro for my dad?

mattylondon · #1 2nd June 2015, 06:49 PM

Although my dad has a tablet with a separate Bluetooth keyboard he still prefers to use his old Netbook for writing letters emails etc. Trouble is it's an Intel Atom N450 with Windows 7 and it's soo slow. For £50 I've bought a cheapo SSD and an extra 1GB and I'm going to put a light weight Linux distro on there. I was thinking of Lubuntu, and not delving much myself with Linux I didn't know if this is a good choice?

moltuae · #2 2nd June 2015, 07:03 PM

I'd probably go with Linux Mint myself.

Or if you're looking for something with a more familiar windows-like interface, you could try Zorin (the 'Lite' edition is free).

mattylondon · #3 2nd June 2015, 07:11 PM

Thanks Mark for that suggestion

Now checking out Zorin OS

moltuae · #4 2nd June 2015, 07:47 PM

No problem.

Another option I've just remembered, that a fellow techie recently suggested, but one I'm yet to try myself, is LXLE. Apparently it's based on Lubuntu but uses the Lightweight X11 Desktop Environment, since it's the choice of DE that matters more than the choice of distro when you're looking for lightweight Linux OSes.

The_Laird · #5 3rd June 2015, 06:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mattylondon

Although my dad has a tablet with a separate Bluetooth keyboard he still prefers to use his old Netbook for writing letters emails etc. Trouble is it's an Intel Atom N450 with Windows 7 and it's soo slow. For £50 I've bought a cheapo SSD and an extra 1GB and I'm going to put a light weight Linux distro on there. I was thinking of Lubuntu, and not delving much myself with Linux I didn't know if this is a good choice?

I have no idea what you're talking about!

Clearly a generation thing.

moltuae · #6 3rd June 2015, 08:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The_Laird

Clearly a generation thing.

Nah, you're the same generation as me Jim, give or take a few years. I think it's more of a vocation/interest thing. For me it's a bit of both; I've worked and played with IT and electronics all my life (though I've only really dabbled with Linux). I've got some older customers who understand the IT they use very well and I've got some younger customers who barely understand the basics. I think, like anything else, you have to find it interesting to be able to understand and learn it.