Comment on Why Linux is Best for Most People

• sudneo@lemmy.world ⁨10⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

  I find Mac to be extremely unintuitive in how things are organized tbh, but that’s just me.

  Anyway, you are right, but she wanted to spend just 3-400 euros for a laptop, which is incompatible with Apple prices. Obviously this means being there to support if something goes wrong, but with a minimal install and Linux being stable, it doesn’t happen often (I also have my mom’s laptop running mint). I do have a reverse tunnel script configured that allows me to SSH in their machines using a “panic” icon on their desktop.

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  • HeavyDogFeet@lemmy.world ⁨10⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

    But you get that not everyone has you on special to fix things, right? That’s my point.

    Also, you can get a used MacBook Air in great condition for that price. Or a slightly older Pro. You just can’t get the absolute latest and greatest, but for that price you were never going to anyway, so it’s sort of moot.

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    • sudneo@lemmy.world ⁨10⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

      Of course, but I assume elderly people getting familiar with a completely new technology need anyway some kind of personal support and introduction from someone close. I don’t think anybody would plan to throw a Mac at some elderly person and say “if any issue call Apple support”, right?

      I get your point though, and I am just saying that there are situations where Linux might work totally fine.

      Also, the used market for apple product is not that big where I lived. Nobody in the family had a Mac also, which means she wouldn’t have had anybody to ask for support at all. It’s a specific situation, but my point is that having an official support is not going to help that much in some cases.

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      • HeavyDogFeet@lemmy.world ⁨10⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

        To be clear, I didn’t say Linux is never suitable for elderly people. I said it’s not the best, which is the claim the original article made.

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• GigglyBobble@kbin.social ⁨10⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

  Even in your example, you set everything up.

  No shit. Have you installed Windows 10/11 recently? Do you seriously believe a 85 year-old will get this done on their own?

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  • pycorax@lemmy.world ⁨10⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

    It’s more likely that someone will buy a laptop or PC with Windows installed. Installing Windows on their own is hardly the experience most users go through.

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  • HeavyDogFeet@lemmy.world ⁨10⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

    I have, but that’s not the point. There are places you can take a computer and say “hey, I’d like one Windows installation, please.” There are exceedingly few places that would help an old person set up a Linux installation, at which point theyre at the mercy of whatever nerd in their life will do it, and then just hoping they don’t move or die.

    Im specifically not expecting them to do it themselves, which is why I think Linux is not a good option.

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• random_character_a@lemmy.world ⁨10⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

  The whole point in “Linux for elderly” is that they can’t go clickety-click on everything they find and screw things up. You hide everything relating to system config from the graphical UI.

  Worked fine for my father for years. I got tired of him skrewing up his Windows. Malware and desktop highjacking was also less of a problem, because Linux is a niche operating system.

  Same worked for my cousins son, who mostly played on PS3 back then, minecraft being only PC game.

  …but for the elderly flying solo with no help from anyone, Linux in a no-go.

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