Switched my Parents to Linux

set up some remote desktop in case you need to support them when your vacation ends

It's so funny that having a different theme makes the computer hard to use for some parents. :)

Those people drive cars on the road!

I did that about 10 years ago because I got tired of removing malware for them. They haven't had any malware since then.

An excellent choice to use Linux Mint! If my parents allowed me to switch their computers to Linux, I would've chosen Linux Mint as well for them. But, I probably wouldn't give them the Windows 10 look.

I wish linux was my parents.

I gave my mom a macbook with debian KDE and a mac OS theme.. I dont think she's noticed yet....

Welcome to the club. It's the don't need to remove malware from the parents computers every week club.

At first I read i switched my parents FOR Linux...

Good job on that! Linux is way better for average uses like you described. 😊

Got my dad on Mint for a few years now. That me reminds me I have to check which version he is on. He might still be on 20 something.

I did the same, except with Windows 7 look instead 😈

I don't believe in making GNU/Linux look exactly like Windows. It's a different OS, and any attempt to fool users will be in vain.

I tell family members: "I don't know anything about Windows/macOS." (Because I don't, at this point.) "I can only help you if you use what I use." Usually, they stop asking me for help, and that's great for me. If they say yes, I install Fedora with GNOME and whatever applications they expect to use. After a brief explanation of how GNOME works, people generally get used to it and are satisfied.

I share my laptop with Mom. It runs GNU Guix System with GNOME. She uses it to run Chrome for stuff she can't get on her tablet. She's used to it at this point.

I did the same thing with my Dad. He's been using Linux Mint for a bit over 2 years now.

Linux Mint is more than enough for his usage: Email, internet browsing and word processing.

Get ready to address hard to debug issues in the future op.

I switched my mothers Laptop to Gentoo with KDE some time ago and she did not even notice, because I placed the firefox icon at the same location it was in windows .. 😜 she noticed only that the wallpaper is different

Master....please teach me your ways.

Did you swap Word for Libre Office?

My dad has a Surface Go. I've installed Fedora on one of those and it works really well. Dad is still unsure about this but I will try to convince him during the holydays.

Similar story—last year my mom wanted a new macbook for Christmas. I got her a refurbished Asus something or other for a fraction of the price, installed Linux Mint on it, and customized it with a Mac theme.

I was transparent with her about the fact it’s not a Mac, and taught her to use things like Keepass and Firefox. It took some convincing and persistence, but in the end she stuck with it and I’m kinda proud of her tbh.

Good on you for showing your rents there’s a viable alternative to Windows.

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

You're a good offspring.

Can u come over to my house next?!?!

Thinking about doing this for my parents is giving me an anxiety attack, thanks OP.

I did this about a decade ago for my parents. Upgraded their computer last year and they told me they wanted to keep Linux on the new machine.

My dad wasn't convinced until his hoyle card games ran with wine though.

Recommending Linux is good; forcing it down someone's throat is not.

If parents are just comfy using Windows, it'll get them super frustrated when they'll face new issues coming from Linux use, as you just can't turn Linux into Windows and they never asked for it.

Now, if they complain about all the shit Windows throws at them, you can offer an alternative.

Congrats. I did that several years ago and they had no issues. even have my grandmother using it as well. As longs as the internet icon was in the same spot she's good.

Nice. Take that, adware installers! Web exploits and phishing are still (minor) risks though, since they're mostly platform agnostic.

tried to do that but mom wanted some esoteric bookkeeping software to function - so back to windows for her

I'm about to do this for my mother as well. I just switched back myself and found Mint has come a very long way. The last time I ran it as my main OS 10 years ago it was pretty demanding from the user, but mint now is probably more user friendly than Windows.

I put Zorin OS on my fiancée’s laptop 2 days back and it’s made it so much snappier!

@OP, can you advise what themes etc you used to make it look like windows 7?

I'm about to switch one of my parents over, I think that would make the transition easier.