A new OS

[caravel]

What about Linux, what version of Linux would you suggest, for a low end computer? Also, I need these OS's to be able to reach the shared internet connection from my computer with XP... Does such a sys exist?

Thanks in advance,
Arbaces.

Last year I would have said "go for Ubuntu/Kubuntu Linux", without hesitation, but nowadays I'm more hesitant.

The first problem is, that if you haven't any Linux experience yourself then installing it on someone else's PC and maintaining it can be nothing short of a nightmare. Also it depends on how computer literate your parents are. If they're anything like mine (barely able to switch on and off) then it's best avoided altogether.

In the past I've recommended Linux to people, I've got it installed and they've been happy with it. Then a few days later the phone rings, and there's a problem. The problem is almost always that the person wants to run some kind of program that doesn't run on Linux (messengers, some free kids games [that the little dear loves, but can't play any more because that horrible Cambyses put some nasty communist sofware called "Lunatix" on mumsies PC] or similar rubbishy crapware programs), when I explain that it won't run on Linux and only on Windows, I then get responses such as "well why did you install this Lunatix wotsit on here then if it isn't windows????".

The simple answer is: Its not worth it. Just leave it with XP and install AVG Antivirus, Zonealarm or Comodo firewall*, SpywareBlaster, Spybot S&D, AVG Antispy and Adaware anti spyware tools. Then cross your fingers and hope they keep it updated and run checks (they usually never do).

*I also find that with firewalls I get constant complaints about them prompting for user intervention. It seems that some people would prefer to be hacked into and know nothing about it than be annoyed with a prompt. It's best to preconfigure as much as possible and turn off all the alerts except the most critical ones.

[Husar]

The Kerio personal firewall always worked fine for me in automatic mode in XP.
And no, there is no need to buy it, the firewall will keep running free forever, just the extra content like popup blocke intrusion prevention etc costs money but I never seem to have gotten a virus by just using the firewall itself(and no popups if it's installed in automatic mode, though a few programs may require manually setting rules).

[Arbaces]

Thank you guys. I got the point, somehow I knew and was afraid that as you said that the OS I am seeking does not exist. I will see what I can do, perhaps limiting their user access and software like Deep Freeze would be the best solution after all, and of course the tools you mentioned, some of them I was already having them to use, they won't kept them updated.

Thanks,
Arbaces.

[doc_bean]

Cambyses II pretty much hits the nail on the head, Linux is cool if you can get excited about the 'technical' side of computers. But your average PC user would feel very uncomfortable using the shell imo, and whatever anybody says, it's still impossible to use Linux without using the shell.

[caravel]

Cambyses II pretty much hits the nail on the head, Linux is cool if you can get excited about the 'technical' side of computers. But your average PC user would feel very uncomfortable using the shell imo, and whatever anybody says, it's still impossible to use Linux without using the shell.

The bash shell is another problem for those that have never used a PC much or whom only have windows GUI experience - what a great tool though? It is in fact the most expedient and powerful way of doing anything in Linux, and in any OS in my humble opinion. It's great when you're trying to guide people also, as you only have to give them a command line such as e.g. "sudo apt-get install <whatever>" instead of the "click this, then click that, then select that, then uncheck all of those, now click ok, then click that, then cancel that, then ok that and now reboot and pray" scenario you get with the GUI.