this post was submitted on 13 Dec 2023
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Linux

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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

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I'm visiting my parents for the holidays and convinced them to let me switch them to Linux.

They use their computer for the typical basic stuff; email, YouTube, Word, Facebook, and occasionally printing/scanning.

I promised my mom that everything would look the same and work the same. I used Linux Mint and customized the theme to look like Windows 10. I even replaced the Mint "Start" button with the Windows logo.

So far they like it and everything runs great. Plus it's snappier now that Windows isn't hogging all the system resources.

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[–] KillSwitch10@lemmy.world 13 points 11 months ago (8 children)

Not worth it. You will end up playing the h support when something goes wrong.

[–] Rentlar@lemmy.ca 33 points 11 months ago

My parents would ask me for tech support anyway no matter the OS. I have them update software and update Firefox and Chromium and their Netflixing will keep working, been very low stress generally.

[–] Lettuceeatlettuce@lemmy.ml 32 points 11 months ago

As if I'm not already doing that. Why do you think I was home working on my parent's computer in the first place?

Plus with how shitty Windows is getting, I'll likely be doing less tech support going forward.

[–] ardent_abysm@lemm.ee 22 points 11 months ago

I set up Mint on my parent's PC a couple of years ago, and the amount of support I have had to provide has dropped to basically zero.

[–] bertmacho@lemm.ee 12 points 11 months ago

Probably doing that anyway

[–] BearOfaTime@lemm.ee 11 points 11 months ago

I don't know, maybe?

I play support now, and have for decades. Sometimes windows can be a bear.

Maybe, for basic usage like this, Linux can make sense if it's well thought out?

I have an older (80's) family friend who recently switched from a laptop to an iPad, and seems OK with it (surprisingly).

[–] lemmyvore@feddit.nl 6 points 11 months ago

Typically all of us who switched our relatives to Linux were doing support anyway — but it's much easier than Windows.

Windows needs constant handholding like a needy pet (and not the cute kind). With Linux I spend extended periods of time without having to do anything. I get like one major issue a year, and it's usually hardware related. The only questions I get occasionally are "do you know an app that does thing".

[–] GravitySpoiled@lemmy.ml 3 points 11 months ago

There's no difference if they are on windows