What Linux OS should i use?

[R3DOPS]

Ok i have a computer for my mom but i dont want to install windows on it or she will get viruses. All shes dose is use the internet. Thats it! No games, no photos.. Just internet.

 

So what Linux OS shold i use that is vary light. super simple for my mom. Thanks

[Guest]

Arch linux, use LXDM, easy to use.
Also use syslinux and set the login manager to autologin for best results.
Firefox will do just fine and is stable enough to run for years without updating.

[The Official Czex]

Puppy is light AF.

 

Mint is the most Windows-like.

[Guest]

Puppy is light AF.

 

Mint is the most Windows-like.

Zorin IMO looks more windows like, but Mint has more support, but also looks like a potatoe with cinnamon.

[Azgoth 2]

Linux Mint is what I use, and I can give it a strong recommendation.  (The regular version, not the LMDE version--I haven't used that one so I can't speak to it)  It's pretty light, the default Cinnamon desktop is very Windows-like compared to some (so it should be easy to use if your mom is a long-time Windows user), and it's generally just a great distro.  Fair warning, though, a new version is currently due out in May or June, and Mint very, very much insists that you do a clean installation for each new major version (e.g. 17 -> 18; going from, say, 17.2 to 17.2 doesn't require a new install).  It can be a bit of a pain, but the current version (17.3) will probably be fine for a few years yet, honestly.

 

There's Arch, too, if you feel like going through the setup/configuration process, since you can install only what you need and get a pretty lightweight system that should be very fast and responsive.  It can be much lighter than Mint, but the installation/setup process is more involved.

 

Any distro that uses LXDE or XFCE as its default desktop environment is also a pretty good bet, e.g. Lubuntu and Xubuntu, or the XFCE version of Linux Mint.  These are lightweight desktop environments (LXDE is lighter, but slightly less feature-rich, than XFCE), and either should do a lot to make really any distribution lighter.  Especially if a distro has a version that already has one of these set up as the desktop environment.

[Opask]

A R C H   L I N U XRCHLINUX

No but seriously it might take you a bit of time to install if you haven't done it before but after that it will be super light and stable. Install a window manager like openbox (assuming literally all she needs it something to manage the browser window), firefox, and add the logout options to the openbox right click menu. and you should be set.

If you want it to be a bit more heavy then install XFCE4 or LXDE. They will have more programs. But using just a window manager is the minimalism way.

[Piyok]

Since it is your mom that will use the computer, choose something very user friendly and not just light weight. I would suggest Ubuntu variants and Linux Mint.

[VAkena]

Just install Windows 10..

[SufficientSwimmer]

Just install Windows 10..

 

i dont want to install windows on it or she will get viruses.

[Qwerty2323]

Mint if you want stable like windows experience or Ubuntu  if you dont mind getting used to a bit complicated desktop

[DevilishBooster]

Use all the distros!!! lol

Seriously tho, if she's used to Windows I would go with Mint probably.

[Azgoth 2]

Ooh, there's also FreeBSD--which isn't Linux at all--if you want a fun alternative.  I've been installing it in a virtual machine over the last few days, and it's comparable to Arch for initial setup, maybe a bit harder.  (The installation process is much easier, but installing Xorg takes a long time of compiling from source).  But, it's probably one of the stablest, most secure operating systems you could ever use at present that's still robust and does everything Linux does, sans gaming (though there might be some of that, since there's a Linux compatibility layer a la Wine--supposedly, many Linux programs work with near-native performance in FreeBSD).  I think there have been like two security threats to the OS in the last decade or so, which beats out Linux pretty handily (I think Linux sits at one or two hundred-ish, of varying severity).

 

FreeBSD won't have the newest software due to how its development is done, but it's super duper stable.  And when you install it and get it up and running, you get to tell people "yeah, I installed FreeBSD on my mom's computer.  My family's hardcore like that."

[EpicAdom]

Ok i have a computer for my mom but i dont want to install windows on it or she will get viruses. All shes dose is use the internet. Thats it! No games, no photos.. Just internet.

 

So what Linux OS shold i use that is vary light. super simple for my mom. Thanks

I would use Ubuntu or an ubuntu variant. Lubuntu is an extremely lightweight version of Ubuntu that runs on basically any PC from the last 20 years. Linux Mint is a great choice because it has a more traditional desktop experience similar to windows. Try them out with your mom on a bootable usb drive, and see what she likes.

[Degru]

Arch linux, use LXDM, easy to use.

Also use syslinux and set the login manager to autologin for best results.

Firefox will do just fine and is stable enough to run for years without updating.

Not Arch. Not for a basic user.

[Degru]

Try Linux Mint or Ubuntu. Linux Mint is more similar to Windows, while the latest version of Ubuntu will have more updated software. There are lighter variants of both available (Xubuntu/Lubuntu/Ubuntu MATE, and Linux Mint MATE) if the computer can't quite handle the regular version.

[nickbrandt]

Debian 8.2?

[Heesleemer]

if she wants something with very easy and user friendly UI- Elementary 

[Master-Sacker]

I see that everyone is suggesting linux distros and tbh most of them will work very well, but have you thought about Remix OS, It's an Android based OS that is very easy to use, and after you install playstore on it, you have unlimited apps to choose from.

[SIGSEGV]

Linux Mint

[Sauron]

I'd recommend lubuntu or mint, they are both pretty lightweight and have a relatively windows-like interface.

 

Arch linux, use LXDM, easy to use.

 

Ooh, there's also FreeBSD

 

"simple"

[Albatross]

Ubuntu or Linux Mint since it is your mother and she will need something easy to adjust to or use.

[AlTech]

Ok i have a computer for my mom but i dont want to install windows on it or she will get viruses. All shes dose is use the internet. Thats it! No games, no photos.. Just internet.

 

So what Linux OS shold i use that is vary light. super simple for my mom. Thanks

Ubuntu 15.10 64 bit (i'm assuming it has 4Gb or more of ram).

 

Really user friendly and support for all kind of stuff.

[IreMinMon]

I'd say Mint, I'm using that distro right now and I don't like it too much but it's not as bad as it could be.
Ubuntu is an option, but it collects your data and sells it to amazon. Ouch.
Testing Debian atm, seems to be really really cool. It really isn't difficult to learn, very acceptable learning curve, but still somewhat harder then the two above.

EDIT: Don't start with Arch. Let it be your 2nd or 3rd distro, but not the first one. Also your mom won't be too happy with it.

[W1lliam]

It's very hard to tell and I think that nobody can tell you what is the best Linux distro for you. It is just matter of personal preferences. For starters I would probably go with Ubuntu. It's great distro, very user friendly for beginners.

If you want something more lightweight then you could try Arch, Mint or something similar. If you want the most lightweight distro then I would probably pick Tiny core.

But anyway, like I already said. Nobody can tell you what would be the best for you. There are even distros dedicated to look very much like Windows or Mac for easier transition of new users.

[techarbi]

I would actually suggest Debian, it's somewhat like Ubuntu, but you would learn more about Linux while using Debian.