Comments on: Linux is Good for the Elderly http://www.ubuntulinuxhelp.com/linux-is-good-for-the-elderly/ Thu, 26 Apr 2012 20:37:18 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: UbuntuLinuxHelphttp://www.ubuntulinuxhelp.com/linux-is-good-for-the-elderly/#comment-1107 UbuntuLinuxHelp Thu, 30 Apr 2009 12:16:07 +0000 http://ubuntulinuxhelp.com/linux-is-good-for-the-elderly/#comment-1107 @johnny hoodoo - That's nice to read! My dad is about the same. He's now a dedicated Ubuntu user, who's getting the hang of "sudo aptitude install" and other commands. It's nice to see (for me at least) how some of the Linux usability myths are dispelled with real-life examples! @johnny hoodoo – That’s nice to read! My dad is about the same. He’s now a dedicated Ubuntu user, who’s getting the hang of “sudo aptitude install” and other commands. It’s nice to see (for me at least) how some of the Linux usability myths are dispelled with real-life examples!

]]> By: johnny hoodoohttp://www.ubuntulinuxhelp.com/linux-is-good-for-the-elderly/#comment-1106 johnny hoodoo Wed, 29 Apr 2009 02:03:39 +0000 http://ubuntulinuxhelp.com/linux-is-good-for-the-elderly/#comment-1106 My Dad who is 70 yrs old uses Linux Mint.He was fed up with windows being slow to load,freezing and also that he had to spend much of the time running anti-virus scans,spyware scans and defragmenting the file system.Also the cost of add on software such as Word,Adobe photo shop etc were leaving him skint (with low or no funds).I firstly installed Slackware as I always have an install Dvd of that nearby.He liked it but found the update of the system or installation of packages difficult.I switched him to Linux Mint two years ago and He hasn't looked back.He knows when his system has updates and knows how to install extra packages using the package manager (Debian's Synaptic I think).He cant believe that he doesn't need to run an anti virus all the time.I suppose He has had it easy with me installing Linux in the first place and being just a phone call away when he gets stuck.He was also lucky in that all his hardware just worked.I know this isn't always the case and certain peripherals wont work such as printers or wireless cards if you are unlucky but a bit of research will find you Linux compatible hardware.He simply would not even consider using windows.He actually thinks that it is some sort of con. Personally I don't care what you use if it works for you.My kids have windows partition's on their computers because they need it for things like Itunes or certain games.This seems to be a good use of windows if you have paid for a license even reluctantly when purchasing a new computer.When my Dad bought his PC two years ago He actually laughed at the guy who was doing the build when he quoted him "it will be an extra £80 with XP or £100 with Vista...He replied "Nah your ok son.My laddie is putting Mint on mine for nothing.Had it on my old broke PC and Im having it on this new one....Brilliant. My Dad who is 70 yrs old uses Linux Mint.He was fed up with windows being slow to load,freezing and also that he had to spend much of the time running anti-virus scans,spyware scans and defragmenting the file system.Also the cost of add on software such as Word,Adobe photo shop etc were leaving him skint (with low or no funds).I firstly installed Slackware as I always have an install Dvd of that nearby.He liked it but found the update of the system or installation of packages difficult.I switched him to Linux Mint two years ago and He hasn’t looked back.He knows when his system has updates and knows how to install extra packages using the package manager (Debian’s Synaptic I think).He cant believe that he doesn’t need to run an anti virus all the time.I suppose He has had it easy with me installing Linux in the first place and being just a phone call away when he gets stuck.He was also lucky in that all his hardware just worked.I know this isn’t always the case and certain peripherals wont work such as printers or wireless cards if you are unlucky but a bit of research will find you Linux compatible hardware.He simply would not even consider using windows.He actually thinks that it is some sort of con.
Personally I don’t care what you use if it works for you.My kids have windows partition’s on their computers because they need it for things like Itunes or certain games.This seems to be a good use of windows if you have paid for a license even reluctantly when purchasing a new computer.When my Dad bought his PC two years ago He actually laughed at the guy who was doing the build when he quoted him “it will be an extra £80 with XP or £100 with Vista…He replied “Nah your ok son.My laddie is putting Mint on mine for nothing.Had it on my old broke PC and Im having it on this new one….Brilliant.

]]> By: eddhttp://www.ubuntulinuxhelp.com/linux-is-good-for-the-elderly/#comment-1105 edd Tue, 17 Feb 2009 02:24:17 +0000 http://ubuntulinuxhelp.com/linux-is-good-for-the-elderly/#comment-1105 I agree with you, definately, and now with the use of netbooks, and remixed distro's it's getting even easier. I agree with you, definately, and now with the use of netbooks, and remixed distro’s it’s getting even easier.

]]> By: UbuntuLinuxHelphttp://www.ubuntulinuxhelp.com/linux-is-good-for-the-elderly/#comment-1104 UbuntuLinuxHelp Sun, 30 Nov 2008 13:34:30 +0000 http://ubuntulinuxhelp.com/linux-is-good-for-the-elderly/#comment-1104 @allan - Thanks for the input. Maybe the following will help: Check your hardware. (Maybe there is an issue with the modem or it's driver. Maybe there is not enough memory or processing power for Open Office to be so slow). Right-click on the icon for the floppy and select format. Music... did you install the codecs? A lot of media has restricted formats, this should get you going: http://ubuntulinuxhelp.com/how-to-play-most-restricted-media-formats-in-ubuntu/ Hopefully these will help you. I remember when I first used Linux, it was a bit confusing until I got used to it. Incidentally, I also found Windows confusing when I first started using it. I will probably find the next OS confusing too - Until I get used to it. <smiling> @allan – Thanks for the input. Maybe the following will help: Check your hardware. (Maybe there is an issue with the modem or it’s driver. Maybe there is not enough memory or processing power for Open Office to be so slow). Right-click on the icon for the floppy and select format. Music… did you install the codecs? A lot of media has restricted formats, this should get you going: http://ubuntulinuxhelp.com/how-to-play-most-restricted-media-formats-in-ubuntu/
Hopefully these will help you. I remember when I first used Linux, it was a bit confusing until I got used to it. Incidentally, I also found Windows confusing when I first started using it. I will probably find the next OS confusing too – Until I get used to it.

]]> By: allanhttp://www.ubuntulinuxhelp.com/linux-is-good-for-the-elderly/#comment-1103 allan Fri, 28 Nov 2008 16:54:56 +0000 http://ubuntulinuxhelp.com/linux-is-good-for-the-elderly/#comment-1103 I am also an older user who would like to try linux. I have been using windows for years and have just installed Ubuntu 8.10 on my old computer. I find it rather difficult. It is easy enough to install but, as for getting a modem to work, that is another matter. I have tried with an internal modem with a cd that contains a linux driver and also an external modem. Both have failed to work. The only way I can get on the net is to use the modem in my XP machine with intenet sharing turned on. Yesterday, I tried to copy and paste some text into Open Office Writer and it was painfully slow. I use OO on windows and it performs perfectly. Things I am finding difficult at the moment are the simple tasks that can be performed with ease in windows. For instance, how do I format a floppy? Why doesn't my music cd play when I put it in the drive? How do I change the resolution of the desktop? Until linux makes these winple tasks much easier to do with having to revert to the terminal, which most people of my age would not understand and have no interest in learning, Linux will not replace windows. (Unfortunately.) I will persevere with this system for a while longer but, unless I can find somewhere where I can post a question about any problem and get a constructive answer in ten words or less, I may have to give up and go back to windows. I am also an older user who would like to try linux. I have been using windows for years and have just installed Ubuntu 8.10 on my old computer. I find it rather difficult. It is easy enough to install but, as for getting a modem to work, that is another matter. I have tried with an internal modem with a cd that contains a linux driver and also an external modem. Both have failed to work. The only way I can get on the net is to use the modem in my XP machine with intenet sharing turned on.
Yesterday, I tried to copy and paste some text into Open Office Writer and it was painfully slow.
I use OO on windows and it performs perfectly. Things I am finding difficult at the moment are the simple tasks that can be performed with ease in windows.
For instance, how do I format a floppy? Why doesn’t my music cd play when I put it in the drive? How do I change the resolution of the desktop? Until linux makes these winple tasks much easier to do with having to revert to the terminal, which most people of my age would not understand and have no interest in learning, Linux will not replace windows. (Unfortunately.) I will persevere with this system for a while longer but, unless I can find somewhere where I can post a question about any problem and get a constructive answer in ten words or less, I may have to give up and go back to windows.

]]> By: Enrico Nerihttp://www.ubuntulinuxhelp.com/linux-is-good-for-the-elderly/#comment-1102 Enrico Neri Wed, 15 Oct 2008 22:16:38 +0000 http://ubuntulinuxhelp.com/linux-is-good-for-the-elderly/#comment-1102 I agree with Adam: "Linux is easier to configure and for someone with no Windows history it is perfect - there is no relearning to do either!"User don't care if it's linux or whatever, it just doesn't have to freeze or do strange things.fact is, only linux behave well. so, yes, LINUX is good for our elderly. long live Linux I agree with Adam:
“Linux is easier to configure and for someone with no Windows history it is perfect – there is no relearning to do either!”

User don’t care if it’s linux or whatever, it just doesn’t have to freeze or do strange things.

fact is, only linux behave well.
so, yes, LINUX is good for our elderly.
long live Linux

]]> By: UbuntuLinuxHelphttp://www.ubuntulinuxhelp.com/linux-is-good-for-the-elderly/#comment-1101 UbuntuLinuxHelp Thu, 31 Jul 2008 15:47:51 +0000 http://ubuntulinuxhelp.com/linux-is-good-for-the-elderly/#comment-1101 @John - We're in Canada. Thanks for the comment. And, for reminding me about Mint. I took a quick look at it a while back and was VERY impressed. But as the days went by and I got busy with stuff, I forgot to go back and revisit Mint. I will this weekend! Thanks and have a good one! :) @John – We’re in Canada. Thanks for the comment. And, for reminding me about Mint. I took a quick look at it a while back and was VERY impressed. But as the days went by and I got busy with stuff, I forgot to go back and revisit Mint. I will this weekend! Thanks and have a good one! :)

]]> By: Johnhttp://www.ubuntulinuxhelp.com/linux-is-good-for-the-elderly/#comment-1100 John Fri, 25 Jul 2008 20:33:32 +0000 http://ubuntulinuxhelp.com/linux-is-good-for-the-elderly/#comment-1100 Interesting comments. I'm not sure where you (and your Dad) is based.I live in the UK and I've played with Linux over the years from memory SuSE 5, Mandrake 3, Red Hat (?) Mandriva (2 versions about 2 years apart). Recently Ubuntu Fiesty and Hardy. This is being typed on a £300 laptop that came with Vista preloaded. I put Mint on it and everything just worked. WiFi, printer...everything.While I can't compete with your Dad for seniority at 56 I feel I'm at the elder end of Linux users (at least here in the UK)> Interesting comments. I’m not sure where you (and your Dad) is based.I live in the UK and I’ve played with Linux over the years from memory SuSE 5, Mandrake 3,
Red Hat (?) Mandriva (2 versions about 2 years apart). Recently Ubuntu Fiesty and Hardy. This is being typed on a £300 laptop that came with Vista preloaded. I put Mint on it and everything just worked. WiFi, printer…everything.While I can’t compete with your Dad for seniority at 56 I feel I’m at the elder end of Linux users (at least here in the UK)>

]]> By: UbuntuLinuxHelphttp://www.ubuntulinuxhelp.com/linux-is-good-for-the-elderly/#comment-1099 UbuntuLinuxHelp Fri, 18 Apr 2008 15:07:51 +0000 http://ubuntulinuxhelp.com/linux-is-good-for-the-elderly/#comment-1099 @Adam Trickett - I like your posts in the link and some of your conclusions like "...my experience with my father and other inexperienced computer users convinces me that the modern desktop software is not obvious but that with basic training it is very easy to use...". It's certainly something I agree with. ;) @Adam Trickett – I like your posts in the link and some of your conclusions like “…my experience with my father and other inexperienced computer users convinces me that the modern desktop software is not obvious but that with basic training it is very easy to use…”. It’s certainly something I agree with. ;)

]]> By: Adam Tricketthttp://www.ubuntulinuxhelp.com/linux-is-good-for-the-elderly/#comment-1098 Adam Trickett Fri, 18 Apr 2008 14:24:19 +0000 http://ubuntulinuxhelp.com/linux-is-good-for-the-elderly/#comment-1098 I've been saying this for years. At long last people are starting to believe me. Linux is easier to configure and for someone with no Windows history it is perfect - there is no relearning to do either!<a href="http://www.iredale.net/p/by-topic/unix/desktop/" rel="nofollow">www.iredale.net/p/by-topic/unix/desktop</a> I’ve been saying this for years. At long last people are starting to believe me. Linux is easier to configure and for someone with no Windows history it is perfect – there is no relearning to do either!

http://www.iredale.net/p/by-topic/unix/desktop

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