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Ask Slashdot: Some Good Linux Desktop Option For Kids?

Posted by msmash on from the help-a-friend-out dept.

New submitter TIWolfman writes: I'm looking to re-purpose some of the older hardware that I've held onto to create something of a starter machine for my kids (both aged below 10). At this point it's still just a few shortcut icons I can setup on the desktop for them, primarily to web tools/sites they use, but I'd like some flexibility; everything I've read suggests options that haven't had any activity since 2015. Is there an option out there or is this just a custom job?

11 of 179 comments (clear)

  1. The year of Linux Desktop! by LynnwoodRooster · · Score: 5, Funny

    The world in general is still waiting for a good Linux Desktop for adults...

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    Browsing at +1 - no ACs, I ignore their posts. So refreshing!
    1. Re:The year of Linux Desktop! by dbreeze · · Score: 5, Insightful

      No it's not. There are several fine desktop options available for those who decide to use Linux. What the world is waiting for is adults who recognize the advantage of breaking free from monopolistic, profit-driven, central control of their electronic/online experience.

      --
      When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law he tore his robes.2Kings22:11
  2. Edubuntu by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Informative

    https://www.edubuntu.org/
    Last release was in 2015 but it's on a 5-year LTS cycle

    1. Re:Edubuntu by GoTeam · · Score: 5, Informative

      I agree, edubuntu is a great option. My oldest is 7 years old and she enjoys using it.

  3. Linux Mint by bmimatt · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Nice UI, stable, easy to install. Consider launching in VM, so you can easily snapshot/restore or even clone the whole environment.

    1. Re:Linux Mint by Riceballsan · · Score: 4, Insightful

      I've used linux as a primary OS since I was 13... and I repair windows computers for a living. If we are talking non-IT jobs, the basic window manager and libre office will have a near negligable shift between OS's. Most likely as little or less than the inevitable shift between windows 10 and windows 13 or whatever version is next to release. If computers does turn out to be what they want.. then expose them to a bit of everything. They should know windows, and linux etc...

    2. Re:Linux Mint by squiggleslash · · Score: 4, Insightful

      If you want them to be unable to adapt the next time Microsoft revamps the Windows UI, or their boss asks them to use a Mac, or even a Ubuntu machine, then teaching a kid the current Windows UI and refusing to expose them to anything non-Windows is a good way to do it.

      If you want them to have generic skills that can apply across all platforms, and not assume that because one thing works one way everything else does, then providing them with something different to the UI used on the school computers, etc, is a better approach.

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      You are not alone. This is not normal. None of this is normal.
    3. Re:Linux Mint by jedidiah · · Score: 5, Insightful

      > If you want them to be successful later in life and be able to integrate seemlessly into the modern business and financial world, I would suggest Microsoft Windows

      These are modern children we are talking about, not middle aged dinosaurs ready to be put out to pasture.

      Kids aren't nearly that stupid. They can manage to use one brand of app and apply the same concepts to another. Someone under the age of 10 might be exposed to Linux or MacOS and not even percieve these as distinct platforms.

      Your sort of zealotry is gravely outdated.

      Besides, whatever they learn in the Microsoft space today will be gravely outdated by the time they might be exposed to it in the "real world".

      --
      A Pirate and a Puritan look the same on a balance sheet.
  4. SLACKWARE! by Daltorak · · Score: 5, Funny

    And none of this modern shit.... give those little snots Version 2.1 on 70 floppy disks! Thatâ(TM)ll showâ(TM)em! If I had to struggle as a youth to learn Linux, so should everyone!!

  5. Linux for my nephew by steveha · · Score: 4, Informative

    When my nephew was 9, I set up a computer for him. I gave him a MATE desktop, which basically works similar to Windows, and he was able to use it right away.

    I didn't give him root on his own machine. However, I gave his user sudo permission to run the Software Manager. I gave him Linux Mint, which is a tweaked version of Ubuntu, so it was basically the Ubuntu Software Manager. This is pretty similar to the app store on mobile devices. So he had no ability to screw up his system, but he could browse the Software Manager, find a game or something, and install it with a click.

    My goal was to set his baseline expectations to Linux. I wanted him to see Windows and say "wait, there's no app store thing with free games on Windows? How primitive, give me my Linux please." I wouldn't say my brainwashing attempt succeeded, but he just turned 12 and he still uses the Linux computer for most of what he does on a computer. He also has a Windows laptop that he uses to run some Windows-only stuff he likes. But he chooses which computer to use just based on what he wants to run; he has no particular preference for Windows or for Linux.

    P.S. His Linux computer is an all-in-one made by Lenovo, with a really nice and big screen. I got it really inexpensively on eBay; I believe it was off-lease.

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    lf(1): it's like ls(1) but sorts filenames by extension, tersely
  6. Raspberry Pi by Billy+the+Mountain · · Score: 4, Informative

    The latest Raspberry Pi model 3's come with Wi-Fi and four USB ports. The OS is on an SD card. You can make up several SD cards for different purposes using any of the many interesting distros available. Raspian is a decent basic Linux OS. As far as using old hardware goes, just retain the mice, keyboards and montors. Give each kid their own Pi and a few distros depending on their interests.

    Distrowatch will let you look at distributions based on hardware type: Distro Watch Raspberry Pi

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    That was the turning point of my life--I went from negative zero to positive zero.