Linux for tech-illeterate parent?

[Monkey Dust]

My mum has a Windows 10 laptop, too old for WIn11, but too good to recycle. She doesn't fancy buying a new device. I've been trying to steer her towards an iPad, but no dice.

 

Fortunately, all she uses is a browser. So I was thinking Linux, but am concerned about automatic security updates. I need something that will keep itself secure without user input. I was thinking Mint or Ubuntu, but I'm not sure if they will meet this requirement?  Any thoughts or suggestions, guys?  

[ChrisLoudon]

3 minutes ago, Monkey Dust said:

Any thoughts or suggestions, guys?  

Ubuntu would be my recommendation.

 

Its pretty easy to work out even if your not too techy.

 

You know you can force Win11 onto any machine that doesn't meet the hardware requirements. All you need to do its use the media creation tool to download the Win 11 ISO and use Rufus to create a bootable USB. It has a checkbox that tells the Windows Installer to ignore the CPU and TPM requirements.

 

M$ could of course patch something in the future that borks it but I've been using this method for loads of my PCs over the past year or 2 and no issues.

 

What are the specs of the laptop?

[Mumintroll]

Another way could be to install Windows 11 with Rufus tool to bypass the TPM requirement.

(Also recommend turning off Bitlocker and the need for an online account with it.)

 

Hovewer Win 11 24h2 isn't really that good. If Win 10 would have still been supported for many years I would've used Win 10 myself.

 

I have no experience with Linux so I cannot answer your question really.

I've read that Mint Cinnamon and Zorin are very Windows look-alike.

[BoomerDutch]

Then i would suggest to use ubuntu or kde desktop kubuntu then use snap system as far I've understood it was good for automatic updates and I'm sure there was in settings for enabling automatic updates in any ubuntu variants.

 

As for some updates require root acces, if you study a little you can make that it doesn't require password to update. You can find in the documents like arch wiki or other linux wiki.

[DoctorNick]

25 minutes ago, Monkey Dust said:

My mum has a Windows 10 laptop, too old for WIn11, but too good to recycle. She doesn't fancy buying a new device. I've been trying to steer her towards an iPad, but no dice.

 

Fortunately, all she uses is a browser. So I was thinking Linux, but am concerned about automatic security updates. I need something that will keep itself secure without user input. I was thinking Mint or Ubuntu, but I'm not sure if they will meet this requirement?  Any thoughts or suggestions, guys?  

How old is that laptop? Are you sure? Most win 10 pc's can in fact run win 11 just fine. If your PC supports TPM 1.2 but not 2.0:

https://www.howtogeek.com/759925/how-to-install-windows-11-on-an-unsupported-pc/

[monopoly_hater]

for a windows convert, Linux mint for sure

[AAVVIronAlex]

Install something like Mint, pop!_OS, KDE Neon, Debian, Ubuntu or anything which has an integrated GUI-based updater program and you should be good. Oh yeah, do not forget to install the programs they require. Overall today's tasks, especially, for people who do not fiddle with tech are done in browsers, so you should be fine.

[OhioYJ]

I've always used Mint. In the update tool you can select to automatically update. 

 

I would make sure Libre office defaults to saving as Microsoft file types just in case they need to share documents.  I've also gone as far as to renamed shortcuts as "Word" and "Excel" just to make things easier, or more familiar for people.

Edited November 26, 2024 by OhioYJ

[AAVVIronAlex]

3 minutes ago, monopoly_hater said:

for a windows convert, Linux mint for sure

Anything will work after a few days of getting used to it. I mean I never thought getting used to the command key in macOS after using Linux and Windows for so long would be that easy.

[AAVVIronAlex]

1 minute ago, OhioYJ said:

I've always used Mint. In the update tool you can select to automatically update. 

 

I would make sure Libre office defaults to saving as Microsoft file types just in case they need to share documents.  I've also gone as far as to renamed shortcuts as "Word" and "Excel" just to make things easier, or more familiar for people.

You can also try installing MS-Office under wine, I have made it work back in my early Linux days using Ubuntu.

[Blasty Blosty]

What about ChromeOS and just turn it into a chromebook if all she does is web?

[AAVVIronAlex]

13 minutes ago, Blasty Blosty said:

What about ChromeOS and just turn it into a chromebook if all she does is web?

ChromeOS (Flex) does not work on a wide range of hardware.

[Blasty Blosty]

11 minutes ago, AAVVIronAlex said:

ChromeOS (Flex) does not work on a wide range of hardware.

I thought it would be installable on a toaster tbh

[Monkey Dust]

Thanks guys.

 

I can't remember the laptop specs, it's 20 miles away, so I can't check until the weekend. I'm reluctant to force Win11 onto it. If MS breaks installs on older machines, it will be a serious headache for me. Windows familiarity isn't much of a bonus. She doesn't really know how to use windows, she know how to turn it off and on, and open a browser, that's it.

 

Sounds like there are a few distros that will suit my needs. My needs being spending the absolute minimum time on tech support.

[WereCat]

I installed Fedora 41 Workstation for 3 people recently that fit the criteria you describe. Installed all the media codecs, Dash to Dock GNOME extension for ease of use, UBlockOrigin for web browser... they're all set and running without issues.

[Beerzerker]

Mint and Peppermint distros are both very much like Windows.
What I'm using right now (Peppermint 10) is perfect for making the change over to Linux.

Latest version is Peppermint 11 so that's what to get if you try it.
 

[AAVVIronAlex]

3 hours ago, Blasty Blosty said:

I thought it would be installable on a toaster tbh

It would have, but the last time I was looking at it, it reported compatibility for limited devices. Especially for a non-techy user I would recommend maximum support.

 

2 hours ago, Monkey Dust said:

Thanks guys.

 

I can't remember the laptop specs, it's 20 miles away, so I can't check until the weekend. I'm reluctant to force Win11 onto it. If MS breaks installs on older machines, it will be a serious headache for me. Windows familiarity isn't much of a bonus. She doesn't really know how to use windows, she know how to turn it off and on, and open a browser, that's it.

 

Sounds like there are a few distros that will suit my needs. My needs being spending the absolute minimum time on tech support.

You should not do that, I do not recommend it. Back when I was doing that, and this is another reason I daily Linux now. I did not get the updates unless I installed them manually.

 

2 hours ago, WereCat said:

I installed Fedora 41 Workstation for 3 people recently that fit the criteria you describe. Installed all the media codecs, Dash to Dock GNOME extension for ease of use, UBlockOrigin for web browser... they're all set and running without issues.

This is the way, also nice Bad Apple can run everywhere pfp, lol.

 

1 hour ago, Beerzerker said:

Mint and Peppermint distros are both very much like Windows.
What I'm using right now (Peppermint 10) is perfect for making the change over to Linux.

Latest version is Peppermint 11 so that's what to get if you try it.
 

I think the reason why us former Windows users get used to stuff hardly is because we were used to Windows, as for their mum this is another question. She is not used to anything, thus it would be easier for her to integrate into the ecosystems of other OS'.

 

I might be biased on this topic, both my parents are extremely tech-savvy, but I know some people who could just be using Ubuntu and not caring.

[RollyShed]

On 11/27/2024 at 12:21 AM, Monkey Dust said:

all she uses is a browser. So I was thinking Linux,

Linux Mint with the Cinnamon desktop.

When you are doing the installation, under the two boxes for the password there is a wee box to tick to allow switch-on without needing to put a password in.

If doing that make sure you switch off the password requirement in Screensaver, found in System Settings.

Put "ublock origin" on the Firefox browser.

Switch on auto updates.

 

Does the laptop have a hard disk or SSD? If the former, replace it with an SSD and get a much faster boot-up. The removed disk's data can be copied across using a SATA to USB cable.

 

All of the above I've done to over 50 laptops.

[g0ated]

On 11/26/2024 at 3:21 AM, Monkey Dust said:

My mum has a Windows 10 laptop, too old for WIn11, but too good to recycle. She doesn't fancy buying a new device. I've been trying to steer her towards an iPad, but no dice.

 

Fortunately, all she uses is a browser. So I was thinking Linux, but am concerned about automatic security updates. I need something that will keep itself secure without user input. I was thinking Mint or Ubuntu, but I'm not sure if they will meet this requirement?  Any thoughts or suggestions, guys?  

Linux mint. Fast. Easy and it has a similar UI to that of Windows.

[Jmtzaguirre]

I also have had good experiences reviving old laptops with Linux Mint for not savvy Windows users. The UI is similar and intuitive enough for light use (browsing, emails, word processor). If you have the necessary tools, blowing the fan with some compressed air and replacing the thermal paste might have surprising results too :).

[RollyShed]

8 hours ago, Jmtzaguirre said:

 If you have the necessary tools, blowing the fan with some compressed air  :).

I had one, just about burn a finger on the bottom of it when going. Compressed air blow out and it was very hard to tell if it was going as it was now at ambient air temperature. Another recently, a neat pad, 1(?) 2(?) mm thick, across the fan output looking as if the manufacturer had made a filter pad. They hadn't, it was made of dust. Again, remove and blow out and a cool running laptop.

[Monkey Dust]

Yeah, blowing the dust out is a good shout. Not sure if I want to replace the thermal paste, my track record on laptop repairs isn't great...

[Brian McKee]

A pre setup Debian install is about as rock solid as an install can get. Basically bullet proof. It's what I did for my Mom's computer.

[YamiYukiSenpai]

Kubuntu is my recommendation.  It's close to what Windows is in terms of layout.

[g0ated]

2 hours ago, YamiYukiSenpai said:

Kubuntu is my recommendation.  It's close to what Windows is in terms of layout.

I beg to differ, linux mint is more windows like in my experience and plus ubuntu is bloated with snakeoil stuff like the snap store. If they really wanted to go down that route then I would say just use wunbuntu which has been designed for this purpose of a windows like experience.