You may think your day job is demanding, but it's often nothing compared with providing tech support for the family. That's where Linux comes in, says Jack Wallen.
The problem with working in IT is that when we go home, our job often continues. Sometimes, keeping our children's computers running can be a bigger challenge than sorting out the adults at work.
But if you install Linux at home, you can avoid the headaches. That's because sound reasons exist for migrating young users from other operating systems.
1. Viruses and malware
Malware is always at the top of my list. Youngsters are prone to opening and installing things they shouldn't. Because you can't watch them all the time, you can't know where they're getting those applications or attachments from.
You can ensure those machines have antivirus and anti-spyware, but why take the chance? With Linux, this concern evaporates.
2. Security
If you don't give your children the root password, they can't run with root privileges. Of course, you hit a little snag when using a distribution like Ubuntu. For any sudo-based operating system, you will need to edit the /etc/sudoers file to give your young users the privileges they need.
3. Cost effectiveness
If a younger user gets a hand-me-down machine that needs an operating system reinstall, you have to buy a new copy of Windows unless you have one already. This situation also applies to any number of applications you might have to pay for.
Avoid these costs altogether by running Linux. You won't have pay for the operating system licence or any application that child might need or want. On top of that, they'll have the Add/Remove Software tool, where they can hunt around and find just about anything they would need. You can also run a modern distribution on much less hardware than you will need for Vista or Windows 7.
4. Age-specific tools
Did you know there are distributions and software groups designed specifically for young adults and children? There is Sugar, aimed at five- to 12-year-olds; Edubuntu, for ages three to 18; LinuxKidX for ages two to 15; Foresight Kids for ages three to 12, and many others.
Read this
Ten ways to stop novice users quitting Linux
By all means give Linux machines to new users, but prepare the transition carefully to keep them from abandoning the OS, says Jack Wallen
This software has graphics and language tuned to its target age range. Some of the distributions for younger children lock the operating system down tightly so that only certain tasks can be run.
5. Netbooks
Children make great netbook users. They have smaller hands and fingers that can handle a cramped keyboard, and they can easily sit with a small machine in their lap. And the Linux operating system is ideally suited to run on netbooks.
You can install either a full-blown operating system or a netbook-specific operating system, along with whatever software you need on the netbook, making it an excellent choice for younger audiences.
6. Agile learners
If you put a Linux-based machine in front of a young user, you won't hear complaints like, "Why can't it run Quicken?" or "I need my custom payroll app to run on this". Most kids will master the Linux operating system quickly.
Young minds adapt so well, they won't have any trouble adjusting to...
Talkback
This post has been removed by a moderator.
This post has been removed by a moderator.
AGREED 100% Excellent points made! As an IT Manager for both primary and secondary work, I've faced family work too. In no time at all, I had the majority of family, friends and co-workers converted over to Ubuntu Linux; children AND adults. Everyone's extremely thankful and pleased, and I am freer and happier as well. Windows' constant maintenance is so tiring and time consuming, I've switched to Linux and will be forever a Linux Crusader ...and will NEVER look back!
How do I spell relief? L I N U X !
Thanks for being a beacon of Light!
JoliJef =)
This post has been removed by a moderator.
This post has been removed by a moderator.
Part of item 3: If your computer dies you just move your hard drive to your new computer and you are up and running as before.
Agreed with every single one of the points.
I switched our home computers a little more than 2 yrs ago to PCLinuxOS2007 (the only one I found at the time that just worked out of the box... back in the days where wifi was hit or miss) and now we run a variety of distros that run KDE and the older machines, XCFE.
The switch was rather easier than I thought it was going to be since Firefox, Thunderbird, VLC and OO were already staples on our Win machines. Throw in Skype and Opera and it was smooth.
Actually, when I installed Ubuntu 8.04 my wife said NO. She thought (with reason) that it was the ugliest thing she has seen in over a decade on a computer. She refused to have anything to do with something that she felt looked stuck in another decade and she hated the look even when changing themes. Luckily we have a choice with free software and she now happily runs Mandriva on her laptop. She asked me once thought what the differences were between distros since they all look the same!!
Kids have no problems. They use Macs in school (its disgusting that there is no money for sports equipment, library books but they keep buying these expensive machines to basically surf and type things out), Windows when theyre at friends places and Linux at home. The youngest only knows Linux and knows how to find files in Dolphin (we added a dolphin icon).
I trust my kids a lot more with Linux than I did with Windows (security wise) but in terms of usability, its a really a non-problem,
The KDE games and Edu tools are excellent for elementary school kids like ours and Ive come to realize that like with any technology, parents worry more about adoption than the kids themselves.
When some of their friends come over, Ive seen these children (we have one rule with kids, computer use is only done in the kitchen or living room where the screens face towards the room so we can monitor.) use the computer like they had Linux at home because as one child said "its not much different than our computer".
Its like learning a language, its much easier for them to have learned 4 languages now than it will be later on in life.
Older people wasnt as bad as I thought it was gonna be.
Once I got the hang of Linux, I decided that as the family's 'computer guy' it was in MY best interest to install it on my folks, inlaws and various aunts and uncles I do free support and which honestly consists of the same virus laden garbage all the time.
I've now installed Linux on the computers of 11 family members, ALL over 65 with 4-5 of them hitting 80 yrs old. 3 of them like my mom never used a computer.
Again, the use of Free software on their Win machines made the switch much easier because of familiarity and while I didnt skin the desktop to look like XP, I did try to make it look like their old desktop as much as possible. I gave them all my spare laptop to try out and put various desktops to try. ALL of them preferred KDE which wasnt a suprised from Win users.
I have now cut my tech support to almost nothing and do much of it remotely with KRDC.
Ive probably lost the 20pds this year just because I dont spend hours at my aunts and parents house being stuffed with food and cake while I work "Eat, eat... youre gonna be sick if you dont!!".
Teaching non-users how to use Linux is no different than it was when I taught them Windows.
Older people love the fact that I can customize everything they want and one-click which is on by default was actually a big hit with them (a big deal if you have arthritis). One uncle bought himself a 2nd hand laptop and only uses two programs, FF and Skype to talk to his grandchildren. He is not interested in more and thats fine. My mom loves to explore and I showed her how to add some games and to my surprise when I came back the following week she had installed EVERY game in the repos!! A few who absolutely need a Win apps, I installed Virtuabox and one had a chess game and soccer game they loved so we gave them a dualboot.
My dad asked me why we hadnt done this switch earlier and its pretty simple: the desktop was ready before that IMHO. It was usable and great for rescuing Windows machines but it just wasnt something I wanted to see everyday.
Now, Linux can compete with the others and anyone who claims that it is too hard to use can talk to my 81yr old aunt. Im sure she can give those people lessons in her free time. If she's not, then I know some 4th graders who can.
I've loaded Ubuntu for my 3 year old and 8 year old. The 3 year old is a click-a-second and has actually ordered us Netflicks shows by mistake (we were surprised when they showed up!) so yes I'm concerned about what he could install and execute on a computer especially if it was Windows. His favorite pass time is just playing with the potato guy and making him look goofy.
For the 8 year old we practice spelling words, 3rd grade math, and counting money. In her down time she enjoys chatting with her aunts/uncles/cousins on pidgin while listening to music in Rythmbox. I even set up the environment as a princess and have a sound clip from the Little Mermaid play as her desktop boots.
My girlfriend uses ubuntu for the OpenOffice and other on line activities that are not available with her iPad.
I've yet to hear any of them comment about the difficulty in using the computer. It functions for all of them just fine.
Excellent point, and I agree with you all the way. Linux distributions are EXCELLENT for kids, or for anybody for that matter. For the reasons you list, and more. The only thing that I've found is that a lot of kids games are horribly written, and are very difficult to get working in Wine. But there are packages and games for Linux that are well done. GCompris is one that my son loves.
I have a dual boot Windows/linux computer for my 9 year old and 6 year old. My 9 year old has had a windows, mac and Linux computer in his short life. I have found that the linux runs with less problems than the others. Also with having the option of windows or linux they are on the linux side atleast 90 percent of the time. My 9 year old has found alot of enjoyment in making his own Tux games and Mario games. it has been good for both of my kids.
This post has been removed by a moderator.
This post has been removed by a moderator.
This post has been removed by a moderator.
This post has been removed by a moderator.
This post has been removed by a moderator.
This post has been removed by a moderator.
This post has been removed by a moderator.
This post has been removed by a moderator.
This post has been removed by a moderator.
This post has been removed by a moderator.
This post has been removed by a moderator.