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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

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Switched my Parents to Linux (lemmy.ml)

submitted 11 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

115 comments fedilink hide all child comments

I'm visiting my parents for the holidays and convinced them to let me switch them to Linux.

They use their computer for the typical basic stuff; email, YouTube, Word, Facebook, and occasionally printing/scanning.

I promised my mom that everything would look the same and work the same. I used Linux Mint and customized the theme to look like Windows 10. I even replaced the Mint "Start" button with the Windows logo.

So far they like it and everything runs great. Plus it's snappier now that Windows isn't hogging all the system resources.

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[–] [email protected] 73 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (4 children)

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!

[–] [email protected] 48 points 11 months ago

UI/UX 101, my friend.

If people are used to see specific symbols for years is hard for them to use different ones.

There's a reason why floppy disk is still the icon for "save".

Those people drive cars on the road!

Imagine if they change all road signs designs suddenly before you go for a ride.

[–] [email protected] 14 points 11 months ago

I wouldn't be overly harsh.

Some logos/images/designs are simply hardwired to the function that they can't remember where the apps are if the logo changes. I'm pretty sure I'll be the same if I use something for 30 years.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago)

My wife changed her Windows work laptop last week. Her Desktop is synced to OneDrive so really she just needs to login. Despite that she was panicking that her PDF's were gone. They weren't, it's just that the new laptop has a newer version of Adobe Reader which uses an updated icon.

Some people are just tech illiterate and the slightest difference can be upsetting. My mum's the same with her phone. Using Google Maps to navigate is an achievement for her and I've been telling her to use it for years. The first time she did she reached her destination literally shaking. She was also amazed with herself that she had done it.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 11 months ago

Materia theme or similiar fixes that.