ubuntu for a neophyte?

[Jeffrey F. Bloss]

Colin Brace wrote:

> Hi all,
> 
> I neighbor of mine recently acquired her first PC, an Acer laptop. She
> is vaguely aware of the malware issues, and  has asked me to help her
> get online.
> 
> Since my experience with Windows is mostly limited to running v3.1 in
> a window under OS/2 back in the receding haze of the previous
> millenium, my first impulse is to wipe clean the HD and install
> Dapper.
> 
> However, this would make me de facto technical support. However, if I
> help her get online via Windows, I would probably end up getting calls
> from her anyway, and I have zero interest in dealing with XP issues.

<clip>

I've built or repaired, and then supportted, machines numbering
literally in the thousands through the years including those "boom"
years when everyone was getting their first PC. After all that I can
tell you that the numbers and types of calls you'll get have little or
nothing to do with the choice of OS and virtually everything to do with
the individual. :) Some people are just better problem solvers and more
logical thinkers than others. 

If you're going to support a machine you'll *both* be happier, if
you're happier. The better you can visualize what's going on at the
other end of the phone line the easier it is for you to lend a hand.
And the less "comfortable" you are with an OS, the more frustrating it
will be. Plain and simple.

One problem you struggle with offsets a hundred you can solve as a
matter of reflex, so my advice would be to make a determination
regarding if and how much support you're willing to provide first. Then
the OS decision is an easy one. If you intend to hand off the
"responsibility" then leave Windows in place because it will be easier
for grandma to find help elsewhere. If you're going to assume most of
the responsibility install whatever it is you're best acquainted with.
Even if it does generate more questions, it will be a good experience
for all instead of a seemingly endless stream of get-back-to-you's and
"Why did I get involved" introspection. ;)

-- 
     _?_      Outside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend.
    (o o)         Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read.
-oOO-(_)-OOo-------------------------------[ Groucho Marx ]---
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