Anyone familiar with the Linux operating system?

Thu 3 Jul, 18:26

"Popular pieces of software" maybe but generally I would bet it's not really needed and there is more often than not, Linux software available cost free that will do the same job.

Thu 3 Jul, 17:32

Microsoft with their "picky Windoze 11" are only doing what Apple did many years ago with OS X; the big difference is that Microsoft are making redundant many other manufacturers' equipment, not just their own. My employer recently decided (?) to "upgrade" to Windoze 11, thus making every laptop and much of the software redundant. The advantage for me was that I was able to pick up a (very!) cheap version of a well-known graphics program that no longer works with 'Doze 11!

Many experts seem to believe that Windoze will be dead in a few years and the world will run on Linux. I have played with Linux for a few years now; I'm certainly not expert enough to give advice on it, but it has made great advances in recent years, and the main disadvantages seems to me that many popular pieces of software are not available for Linux. 

Thu 3 Jul, 14:13

And with Windows 11 about to become the only supported version of Windows in October it may be impossible to install Windows in the laptop if it is more than a few years old

Even if it will install on that laptop it may run like two-legged donkey; Windows 11 is very picky and needs a lot more resources than Linux.

Nick, I have PM'd you so look out for that top right in the home page.

Thu 3 Jul, 12:51

Martin,

LOL. Not by me, but yes the lowest common denominator normal wins by apathy, just don't complain when there are security issues or scammed  victims or big corporations violating your privacy. Easy is not always the best.

Thu 3 Jul, 11:16

Hi Colin - with a machine for this purpose perhaps it would make sense to just install windows? That might be a bit more accessible for Nick's relative.

Wed 2 Jul, 19:40 (last edited on Wed 2 Jul, 19:43)

Hi Nick,

Yes. I know, Debian, Ubuntu, Mint, Fedora, RHEL, Rocky, MX Linux distributions. I don't do house calls but I could look at the laptop/PC if given a list of issues and a valid login credential.

Wed 2 Jul, 09:30

Following Simon's success with his long shot, here goes... We have a relative in a care home in Freeland. She's still ( I think) capable of using a laptop but the thing is set up on Linux and none of us know what to do. If anyone with the knowledge would be prepared make a mercy dash with us for an hour or so to Freeland it would make a big difference for her.