MX Linux for Mother's Laptop

[Shifu]

The Windows 7 install on my 82 yo mother's laptop suddenly became unbootable and wanted the install disk to repair itself. We don't have the disk so converting this laptop over to MX was the answer.

All Mum's files are stored in her google drive and she uses the applications there for email, photo storage, and her writing/word processing. Essentially, on this laptop, the OS is a bootloader for Firefox. This makes it incredibly easy to reinstall/install an OS when needed, and get access to her files and email up and running.

I have gone through and made the user environment as much like windows as possible, switching of anything that might inadvertently confuse her - window roll-up, conky, extra buttons etc. The default DPI setting is good for readability on this old 1440x900 laptop. I also moved the min, max, close buttons on the Kokodi theme further apart to make them easier to click.

Mum has taken an interest in the rebuild of her laptop, but after setting her favourite wallpapers up and showing here where Firefox is I doubt she will notice the difference.

[JayM]

If you want to, you can make MX look more like Windows 7 for her.

[i_ri]

Hello Shifu and JayM
it really slick look.

[seaken64]

but after setting her favourite wallpapers up and showing here where Firefox is I doubt she will notice the difference.

Except that Windows doesn't usually have an "MX Linux" logo in the lower right of the screen.

Nice job. I suspect you are right. She probably will never care that it isn't Windows.

Seaken64

[CharlesV]

MX Linux ROCKS for the swap !!!

I have swapped quite a few people over to Mint and MX from Windows 7 & 10 (just passed 26) .. and MX seems for most people an easier connection.

The two common things I hear are:
1) Where is ? (Usually followed by Word , Excel or Outlook :-/ )
or
2) I cannot seem to download and install my favorite ... ( usually followed by coupon, weather or solitaire game )
The biggest issue I have had has been scanning... in ALL Linux distro's . (usually a scanner driver)

The three things that seem to bring most people into an approval on switching is a combination of:
- you wont need to run anti-virus (I know... I know!)
- It will run FAR FAR faster (like a NEW laptop / computer again !) , and
- It's FREE !! ( Donation to MX linux would be good if you like it !)

And I have only had TWO people want to leave and go back to windows - both couldnt live without Outlook.
( I have had FAR more people want to leave MAC's - just say'n )

Most of the people I have converted have been over 50, most have had laptops that got SO bogged down that they barely ran windows... and most were "email, web and some light word processing", with a few spreadsheet and image uses too.

I also have donated over 60 computers to boys schools, churches, school districts and self help groups. ALL of these I have ripped windows off, put MX linux on (a few Mint too ) , and I have had more people call or ask about where they can find more about it etc.

In ALL cases... MX has given new life to computers bogged own in the ever 'goopy' windows world. And in many cases has helped people 'bring back' a computer that has nothing physically wrong with it - other then windows.

MX Dev's and support people - you rock and MX is the best !

[jeffreyC]

but after setting her favourite wallpapers up and showing here where Firefox is I doubt she will notice the difference.

Except that Windows doesn't usually have an "MX Linux" logo in the lower right of the screen.

Nice job. I suspect you are right. She probably will never care that it isn't Windows.

Seaken64

Most computer users do not care (if they even know) what OS they are running, to them the OS = the browser = the computer. It is the power users and fan boys that care.

[clicktician]

There is a distro called LinuxFX from Brazil that is really, really, Windows-esque. In fact, it uses Windows trademarked imagery, content and all. I don't know how they avoid MS lawyers.

If you must have something that looks and behaves like Windows 10 but want Ubuntu under the skin, this is a pretty good imitator.
Here's a link to an article in Forbes mag:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/jasonevang ... d793cd21b9

[Shifu]

My feeling is that making an OS Windows-like only needs to go so far for new users. Taskbar at the bottom, start menu, min max and close at the top right, obvious buttons to power off etc. Colours don't matter so much, nor identical buttons. As long as the basics are in the expected places it's OK. XFCE, Cinnamon, Mate etc. all follow this model and therefore are trivially easy to switch too. On the flip side, putting dear old Mum in from of a Gnome desktop would not work. Just too different.

[Cristobal]

Q4OS with the Trinity DE might be an option too, low on resource and an XP vibe.
https://q4os.org/

[seaken64]

Q4OS with the Trinity DE might be an option too, low on resource and an XP vibe.
https://q4os.org/

Yes, and they also support a Windows 10 theme (and Win7, XP also). It looks just like Windows 10, but of course it doesn't act the same. But in this context it would probably work for most Window users once it is setup by an admin.

Seaken64