Which OS to install for computer illiterate friend

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71 posts

Master Geek
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#1293797 29-Apr-2015 18:06

You might want to have a look at Xubuntu or Lubuntu too - built on Ubuntu but with a lightweight desktop. Could be kinder to that hardware.

kiwikiwi

455 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 57

#1293800 29-Apr-2015 18:11

cebo: You might want to have a look at Xubuntu or Lubuntu too - built on Ubuntu but with a lightweight desktop. Could be kinder to that hardware.

Much kinder on much slower hardware.

Currently running Xubuntu and have run Lubuntu in the past. Lubuntu runs much much more nicer but doesn't look as flash as Xubuntu. Ubuntu is just essentially Debian but there's no need to be off topic and specific about this.

Lubuntu - Lower end hardware (certainly give it a shot)
Ubuntu - newer hardware, incredibly flashy and pretty stylish
Xubuntu - mixture of both

However you can still customize it to your heart contents and it literally does not matter which flavor of Ubuntu you start off with.

[edit] can't english

You can also follow me on twitter here @kiwifortw I do twitch streams every now and then at twitch.tv/kiwiforthewin :)

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timmmay

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#1293829 29-Apr-2015 19:50

I installed Ubuntu 15.04, it took about 5 minutes of my time, and I have all the data copied over. It seems to be running ok. Youtube on firefox is only playing 360p, but for general use it's fine. It's not snappy exactly, but it's fine.

Is it worth trying Lubuntu/Xubuntu now I've done that? Is there a way to change without killing the home partition?

kiwikiwi

455 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 57

#1293832 29-Apr-2015 20:00

timmmay: I installed Ubuntu 15.04, it took about 5 minutes of my time, and I have all the data copied over. It seems to be running ok. Youtube on firefox is only playing 360p, but for general use it's fine. It's not snappy exactly, but it's fine.

Is it worth trying Lubuntu/Xubuntu now I've done that? Is there a way to change without killing the home partition?

Yes. Do CTRL+ALT+F1 to get to the terminal and completely kill the desktop environment so you'll be greeted with a text only console which is also excellent for making other changes or debugging desktop environment or graphics issues. Then type in the following. However you may want to make sure you've got another environment ready to install after that since removing that will destroy everything Unity related(which is what ships with Ubuntu by default)

sudo apt-get remove unity unity-asset-pool unity-control-center unity-control-center-signon unity-gtk-module-common unity-lens* unity-services unity-settings-daemon unity-webapps* unity-voice-service

after Unity is removed you can do either the following

sudo apt-get install lubuntu-desktop
or
sudo apt-get install xfce4

it should also prompt you how you want to set it up with the display manager, i personally use lightdm

then do sudo shutdown -r now to reboot and it should default to whatever one you've downloaded (it should guide you but I haven't done this in months)

You can also follow me on twitter here @kiwifortw I do twitch streams every now and then at twitch.tv/kiwiforthewin :)

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sidefx

3775 posts

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#1293837 29-Apr-2015 20:09

nathan:
for the first time ever in Windows, we are supporting upgrades from Windows 10 Technical Preview to final release

Aww, for a second there I misread this and thought you meant free. Still this is very good to know! :)

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lNomNoml

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#1293860 29-Apr-2015 20:32

Leave his system the way it is, or reinstall windows XP, running windows updates doesn't matter as the OS has been discontinued anyway.

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timmmay

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#1293862 29-Apr-2015 20:36

kiwikiwi:
timmmay: I installed Ubuntu 15.04, it took about 5 minutes of my time, and I have all the data copied over. It seems to be running ok. Youtube on firefox is only playing 360p, but for general use it's fine. It's not snappy exactly, but it's fine.

Is it worth trying Lubuntu/Xubuntu now I've done that? Is there a way to change without killing the home partition?

Yes. Do CTRL+ALT+F1 to get to the terminal and completely kill the desktop environment so you'll be greeted with a text only console which is also excellent for making other changes or debugging desktop environment or graphics issues. Then type in the following. However you may want to make sure you've got another environment ready to install after that since removing that will destroy everything Unity related(which is what ships with Ubuntu by default)
sudo apt-get remove unity unity-asset-pool unity-control-center unity-control-center-signon unity-gtk-module-common unity-lens* unity-services unity-settings-daemon unity-webapps* unity-voice-service
after Unity is removed you can do either the following

sudo apt-get install lubuntu-desktop
or
sudo apt-get install xfce4

it should also prompt you how you want to set it up with the display manager, i personally use lightdm

then do sudo shutdown -r now to reboot and it should default to whatever one you've downloaded (it should guide you but I haven't done this in months)

Can I install lubuntu to see how it works before removing unity? And I assume I can go back to Unity using a reverse of the process above?

kiwikiwi

455 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 57

#1293863 29-Apr-2015 20:36

lNomNoml: Leave his system the way it is, or reinstall windows XP, running windows updates doesn't matter as the OS has been discontinued anyway.

Why would you want to re-install XP which is clearly not supported and won't receive security updates? Doing that is pretty much leaving a door open and saying. "Hey I'm running XP, I don't have anymore security updates so here's the key to the front door"

You can also follow me on twitter here @kiwifortw I do twitch streams every now and then at twitch.tv/kiwiforthewin :)

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kiwikiwi

455 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 57

#1293865 29-Apr-2015 20:38

timmmay:
kiwikiwi:
timmmay: I installed Ubuntu 15.04, it took about 5 minutes of my time, and I have all the data copied over. It seems to be running ok. Youtube on firefox is only playing 360p, but for general use it's fine. It's not snappy exactly, but it's fine.

Is it worth trying Lubuntu/Xubuntu now I've done that? Is there a way to change without killing the home partition?

Yes. Do CTRL+ALT+F1 to get to the terminal and completely kill the desktop environment so you'll be greeted with a text only console which is also excellent for making other changes or debugging desktop environment or graphics issues. Then type in the following. However you may want to make sure you've got another environment ready to install after that since removing that will destroy everything Unity related(which is what ships with Ubuntu by default)
sudo apt-get remove unity unity-asset-pool unity-control-center unity-control-center-signon unity-gtk-module-common unity-lens* unity-services unity-settings-daemon unity-webapps* unity-voice-service
after Unity is removed you can do either the following

sudo apt-get install lubuntu-desktop
or
sudo apt-get install xfce4

it should also prompt you how you want to set it up with the display manager, i personally use lightdm

then do sudo shutdown -r now to reboot and it should default to whatever one you've downloaded (it should guide you but I haven't done this in months)
Can I install lubuntu to see how it works before removing unity? And I assume I can go back to Unity using a reverse of the process above?

No you have to remove unity. Unity includes a whole bunch of packages that are used along side Unity, same goes for LXDE. It will probably cause a lot more issues then it's worth.

You can also follow me on twitter here @kiwifortw I do twitch streams every now and then at twitch.tv/kiwiforthewin :)

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timmmay

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#1293879 29-Apr-2015 21:18

Ah I'll just leave it for now. It works ok. And now I cleaned the heatsink out it doesn't sound like the neighbors clothes drier!

NZCrusader

646 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 230

#1294034 30-Apr-2015 08:55

Dynamic: For clients wanting an internet computer in the staff lunchroom or similar we normally do an Ubuntu with auto-login on an account with limited rights. Of the 5 machines we have done this to in the last 3 years, the only repairs we have had to make have been for hardware failures. We've never had a printer connected to one fo these machines.

Icons on the desktop perhaps for webmail, Wordpress admin login, media player, and general browsing.

If you do a Windows 10 there will be ongoing maintenance, antivirus, undesirable browser plugins, etc. If their requirements are likely to change then Windows may be your best bet. If you do Ubuntu there should be little reason for you to be called back - especially if (s)he is not a fiddler.

lol what...

Ubuntu has new updates every few days. There is certainly on going maintenance.

Also Ubuntu is not protected from viruses. Windows does have a free AV with it (Windows Defender).

I've setup many Windows PCs with a limited access account, provided web, email, office and VLC. Auto updates after patch Tuesday. Scheduled defrag. No problems.

Ubuntu on the other hand... when something stuffs up, its a pita to have to search for solutions, especially when so much is configured / set by editing files.

NZ / AU Battlefield 4 Gaming Community
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Bee

741 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 189

#1294042 30-Apr-2015 09:17

What else was wrong with the Windows XP? Windows updates don't work cos MS stopped doing them for XP...
I mostly surf on my android tablet these days but when I do use the laptop it works fine - Running XP SP2, no problems... dont go to suspect webpages, don't open strange emails and there will be no security concerns at all... eventually we will upgrade to a new laptop with windows 10...

I do have dual boot Xubuntu but dont use it much because of the crap support for flash and silverlight, Ive yet to find an Android / linux Office suite that does what I want it to, and Adobe Lightroom only runs on Windows...

Doing your best is much more important than being the best.

1101

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Uber Geek
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#1294050 30-Apr-2015 09:30

I wouldnt fret too much about no Win updates for XP. Just install Chrome/FF on it. Suggest they stay off online banking & XP will be fine.

in the REAL WORLD, windows updates dont stop PC getting malware infections . Ive seen hundreds up updated PC's infected
Ive seen even more , non updated PC's that never had issues with malware. Even when it was still supported, many XP PC's simply wernt being updated anyway.....

No one says: dont use your 1+ year old , mid range/budget Android ph, as it wont get a needed security update for a known security issue . Double standards ?
:-)

Talkiet

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#1294066 30-Apr-2015 09:49

If you install anything but a version of windows in this case, you're going to have a bad time.

Many people will be upset with this blanket statement and I'm not prepared to justify it. I'm just going to assert I'm right, having been in many similar situations over many, many years.

Cheers - N

Please note all comments are from my own brain and don't necessarily represent the position or opinions of my employer, previous employers, colleagues, friends or pets.

timmmay

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#1294069 30-Apr-2015 09:52

The fresh Windows XP install can't even connect to Windows Update, so it's totally unpatched, which I don't consider an option. It include IE6!!!

Latest Ubuntu, fresh installed, data copied on. I assume it will auto update, if not I'll set that up. Much lower risk than XP IMHO.

I would like tips on apps to install for him - eg a decent mp3 player/video player. The mp3 files open up in video player by default, which is fine just ugly.

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