this post was submitted on 13 Sep 2024
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Hello, i have task to install a system for elderly person without much technical knowlegde (never used pc, no windows or mac).

They need text processing, calculator and maybe spreadsheet.

Want to disable anything else (setting panel, file browser, web browser, launcher, dock, terminal, login select, etc.) that not needed, all important thing only from desktop. Should not be able to go anywhere where not know what to do. But not permanent, might need to fix machine if ever break.

Is there distro or config i can work off? Or need to start from scratch? What program you recommend?

Thank you for any answer or recommendation

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[–] Sbauer 2 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Careful with gnome, it works for people that are unfamiliar with gnome, if you use extensions. Then gnome updates, the extensions break and you have to come over do maintenance, maybe use a different extensions which will look slightly different, throwing them off.

And yes I’m talking from experience. It’s bad because there is no easy fix for a broken extension, you essentially have to wait till the author fixes it. It was dock to dash in my example.

For old people you need point and click and the thing they have to click on should be permanently visible. They often do not understand the logical separations with virtual desktops and things showing up on screen only sometimes can be confusing. It’s easier if they have an area that’s always the same.

[–] EuroNutellaMan 8 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

just don't use extensions. OP's usecase doesn't need them