How to: Create a Linux Box for Your Mom (50+ Resources)

By Jessica Hupp

For most computer literate children, a request from mom to get her set up on “this web thing” is met with panic and a feeling of drudgery. Are you about to expose your sweet mother to spam, phishing, viruses, or worse? Or perhaps more frightening, sign your life away as a 24/7 tech support center? Perhaps, but there’s a better way. By setting your mom up on a Linux machine, you can give her a safe, lean computing experience that will let her do all of the things she wants to do without giving you a nervous breakdown. Here, we’ve compiled over 50 of the best resources to help you get your mom on Linux without a whole lot of trouble.

Systems & Environments

With these systems and environments, you can get your mom set up with low maintenance and friendly interfaces.

1. SimplyMEPIS: SimplyMEPIS is low-maintenance and great for Linux beginners.
2. Linspire: Linspire is the “World’s Easiest Desktop Linux,” with a familiar look and feel for Windows users.
3. Mandriva: Mandriva Linux was specifically designed to offer ease of use for new users.
4. Ubuntu: One of the most popular Linux distributions, Ubuntu is stable and easy to use.
5. KDE: The K Desktop Environment is easy to use, and offers basic desktop functions.
6. Ximian Desktop: Ximian offers a simple layout, with large icons that are great for elderly users.
7. Lycoris: This distribution looks a lot like windows, and offers great ease of use.
8. SuSE: With SuSE, you’ll got lots of popular open source software like OpenOffice, Kaffeine, and more.
9. GNOME: In this desktop environment, you’ll find an extremely usable GUI.

Tools & Applications

Put these tools to work to give your mom the functionality she wants while still keeping things safe and simple.

10. Fluxbox: This X window manager makes it easy to customize the view of your mom’s machine.
11. Rfbdrake: Set up rfbdrake to create a pathway for remote support.
12. IEs4Linux: With this handy tool, you can make MSN groups and other Internet Explorer applications play properly for your game-addicted mom.
13. IceWM: This window manager’s goal is to stay out of the user’s way while offering speed and simplicity.
14. OpenAntiVirus: Although a Linux machine isn’t likely to run into virus problems, this antivirus program is better safe than sorry.
15. Wine: Wine makes it easy to run Windows software and applications on your Linux box.
16. Firestarter: For an easy, simple firewall, consider Firestarter.
17. phpGACL: Keep your mom safe by implementing this access control list for applications.
18. CrossOver Office: With CrossOver, you can run lots of Windows-based applications.
19. CNR: This tool makes it easy for your mom to install applications, even if she’s clueless about putting things on her computer.
20. KDE Crystal: KDE Crystal offers an icon set with recognizable images, which is great for remote support so you can tell your mom exactly what to press.
21. Guarddog: Guarddog is an ideal firewall for novices because it offers a goal-oriented, non-technical GUI.
22. Blackbox: Blackbox offers a clean, light environment for a Linux system.
23. IPCop: Create a more secure home network with this simple firewall designed for novice users.
24. vncserver: Utilize vncserver to run remote support on your mom’s Linux machine.
25. OpenOffice: With OpenOffice, your mom will be able to do all of the word processing she wants.
26. Evolution: This personal information manager offers email, addresses, tasks, and more in an interface much like Microsoft Outlook.
27. KMail: Set your mom up on KMail for email with excellent spam filtering, cryptographic support, and more.
28. Kate: With this lightweight editor, your mom can do simple word processing with automatic backup.
29. Ekiga With Ekiga, formerly Gnomemeeting, your mom can video chat with you.
30. MailWasher Pro: With this program, you can make sure that spam email will never hit your mom’s inbox.
31. Abiword: Give your mom simple word processing with AbiWord.
32. Kopete: Use Kopete to get your mom set up on chat programs like AIM, ICQ, and IRC.
33. Adobe Reader: Put Adobe Reader for Linux on your mom’s computer so she can enjoy PDFs.
34. Pidgin: Pidgin, formerly known as Gaim, makes it easy for your mom to log into a number of different messaging systems at once.
35. Konqueror: With Konqueror, your mom can browse the web safely.
36. Thunderbird: Use Thunderbird to offer your mom a clean email interface.
37. Firefox: Get your mom set up on the wildly popular Firefox for safe and easy web browsing.
38. GIMP: Give your mom GIMP for Photoshop functionality.
39. No-Script: Use No-Script to make your mom’s Firefox browsing safe from harmful Javascript and Flash.

Guides & Articles

For even more help, check out these guides and articles that will walk you through creating a Linux box for your mom.

40. Ubuntu for your grandmother: One helpful grandchild walks his grandmother through creating a Ubuntu laptop in this article.
41. Post Installation Configuration Basic Help: Get help with basic hardware and network configuration here.
42. Is Linux ready for mom?: This article discusses some of the trials and advantages of Linux for novice users.
43. Windows to Linux: A Beginner’s Guide: Let your mom check out this article to get familiarized with Linux when coming from a Windows environment.
44. Top 10 Ways to Protect Your Linux Home System: Follow this guide to keep your mom’s computer safe.
45. Setting up Linux for Mom and Dad: See how one person set up a parent version of Mandrake Linux in this article.
46. Desktop Adapted for Dad (DAD): This writer gave his father a computer with carefully installed and configured software.
47. Moving a Beginner to Linux: Learn how to make the switch with this article.
48. The Top 50 Proprietary Programs that Drive You Crazy-and Their Open Source Alternatives: In this resource, you’re sure to find lots of programs that will help your mom convert.
49. Linux distro for mom?: In this thread, you’ll find lots of excellent advice for creating a Linux setup for a computer illiterate mom.
50. Beginner’s Introduction to the KDE Desktop: This guide offers a look at KDE for non-techies.
51. A Senior Citizen’s Introduction to Linux: See how one person set up a simple Linux system for an elderly woman in this article.
52. 7 Reasons you should switch Grandma to Linux: This article touts security, stability, and more for Linux.