[ale] linux recommendations

[Kevin Carstensen]

On Wed, 22 Dec 2004 11:13:44 -0500, James Baldwin <jbaldwin at antinode.net> wrote:
> On 22 Dec 2004, at 10:25, Barnes, Michael wrote:
> 
> > I am building a computer for my daughters and am considering
> > installing a
> > LINUX distro. Since, I will be away from the house (do to job), I need
> > a
> > distro that is easy to install and maintain. This distro will need to
> > be
> > able to work on a wireless network and access a printer that is being
> > hosted
> > by windows xp pro.
> 
> Since this isn't for a Linux savvy technical monkey, your choice should
> be based on stability and ease of package management (the latter is the
> only measure I think worth anything nowadays when deciding on a Linux
> distribution for a non-commercial purpose). I'd have the recommend
> Debian stable.
> 
> The tools won't be bleeding edge, or anywhere even approaching current
> but they will be stable and secure. Apt has an excellent package
> manager, and with a little extra effort is very easy to cron updates
> with exception handling (I'd be surprised if someone didn't already
> distribute a script for this).
> 
> I don't know any distribution that will not "work on a wireless network
> and access a printer...".
> 

  You could show them Ubuntu.  Once they're used to it at home they
can have a LiveCD to take the linux they know with them to use and
show.  Nice clean Debian system.  It's "hip" too, I think young people
would like it.
-- kevin