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Switching my parents over to Linux saved me a lot of headache and support calls

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Re: Switching my parents over to Linux saved me a lot of headache and support calls

#51

Post by simion314 »

pjmlp wrote: post #38
simion314 wrote: post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

For configuration you can help them with TeamView or something similar, usually parents don't go and buy printers or video cars without asking you if you are the one that is more technical. But if you already ton't help them cleaning Windows and instead sending them to a store then sure let them continuing use Windows. I am a Linux user and Free software supporter but I would never try to switch someone that is happy…

Exactly because I care to have a life outside work, and don't want them to have to depend on someone located 3000 km away, that I rather have them going to the local PC store. Actually, yes my parents do buy stuff on their own, or by talking with friends of theirs, to whom Linux is that strange thing that some "university guys" use. And to make it clear, it isn't a random PC store that does dirty tricks, just like ma…

That is fine, I completely agree, you are not the "target" of this article, I would do the same.

Re: Switching my parents over to Linux saved me a lot of headache and support calls

#53

Post by mrweasel »

hamilyon2 wrote: post #40

Skype is not mentioned on the page. I guess, we live in different realities.

The only people I know that uses Skype are people working for large companies and they only use it because their employers tell them to.

I think it has to do with how your countries telcos developed. If phone calls a cheap, why would you care about Skype? WhatsApp, Telegram and other messaging services seem to be popular around the world, but, perhaps because SMS quickly became basically free here, everyone just use that.

Re: Switching my parents over to Linux saved me a lot of headache and support calls

#54

Post by throw7 »

I've done this for my parents for close to 10 years now. Been able to give them a stable gui environment over the years going from Gnome2 to MATE. Mozilla Suite to Seamonkey to combo Firefox/Seamonkey email client.

Really, the biggest issue is that websites will complain about seamonkey/firefox, saying things like "your browser not supported", "please upgrade your browser", etc.

Re: Switching my parents over to Linux saved me a lot of headache and support calls

#55

Post by jamiek88 »

tbiteteitb wrote: post #45

It seems that for every Linux discussion on HN there's always user spreading some kind of FUD based on personal experiences from 2011. Glad to read so many success comments on this discussion BTW.

Dissent and sharing opinions and experience is not a campaign of ‘FUD’.

There is no cabal ganging up to share misinformation on Linux.

Please give more credit to those you disagree with and assume their intentions are like, I presume yours are: to share your opinion and experiences.

Re: Switching my parents over to Linux saved me a lot of headache and support calls

#59

Post by mpweiher »

yawaramin wrote: post #56

When it comes to parents, a 'tech support call' is not just a tech support call, it's a chance for them to talk to their kids.

So this comes down to "After I switched my parents to Linux, they don't want to talk to me any more"...

Re: Switching my parents over to Linux saved me a lot of headache and support calls

#60

Post by michaelmrose »

gotorazor wrote: post #49
dsr_ wrote: post #20

My father was willing to switch, my mother was not. So: my father is now on his third Linux machine in 16 years (two laptops and now a NUC hiding behind a 24" monitor). Normal updates are handled automatically; I do a major upgrade once a year. rsnapshot backs up to an external disk three times a day. Every so often he tells me that he wants to do something new, and asks if it's possible; the answer is always yes. My…

That’s the biggest problem I see to Linux adoption in these scenarios. Unless it is something super geeky, nobody makes client softwares for desktop Linux.

The web is currently the most popular client.
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