Maximum PC

I've been searching for a linux distro that in general addresses some of the basic concerns that technophobes, children, and the elderly share in common without real success.

http://elementaryos.org/ looks promising but is too immature a release, http://eldy.eu/ approach is simple instead of being full-featured but simplified. Any other options I am not finding or considering?

Linux Mint (based on the LTS Ubutnu) is currently my alternate OS of choice and have been looking at various options like https://launchpad.net/gofris in conjunction with Linux Mint to achieve my objective. Thanks.

Would it make more sense to concentrate on a desktop to use?

Perhaps you may want to explain what the basic concerns that technophobes, children, and the elderly share?

The desktop is certainly an important piece and part of the solution. Basically I'm looking for something:

1. free/stable/long term support (my focus has been on Ubutu 10.04 and derivatives, with Linux Mint 9 my #1 choice right now)
2. can run on older/modest hardware without problem
3. out of the box or "staples easy button" out of the box configuration for common things like flash, mp3, etc.
4. only one application for every basic/common need (and nothing extra) and each one of those simplified with the fewest menu's and options to get lost in
5. locked down so settings and configuration can not be broken, right now I'm looking at things like to accomplish this:
a. https://live.gnome.org/Pessulus
b. https://live.gnome.org/Sabayon
c. https://launchpad.net/gofris
d. limiting admin rights
6. over sized text with icons that make things obvious (i.e. a envelope icon instead of a thunderbird icon etc.)
7. easy remote desktop support

From using the live version http://elementaryos.org/ it looks promising but is too immature a release and http://eldy.eu/ somehow almost makes me feel offended for the end-user, I can see how it might be good for a very specific audience (retirement homes maybe) but it seems "computers" way to watered down.

Just set up an Ubuntu box of your choice, and then take all of their users out of the sudoers group and done.

Not having root privileges is part of the solution but that does not address the user interface concerns to make things streamlined and uncomplicated.

I'm failing to see how that is specific to linux. If you didn't know how to do things like that in Windows or OS X, you'd still be in the same place asking the same question.

It is not specific to linux - never said it was. With the numerous linux distro's that address various other needs and specialties I'm just surprised that in looking for one - http://eldy.eu/ was the closest and only thing I found. The issue isn't configuring or otherwise tweaking any OS to address some of the features - just my surprise that I can't seem to find anything "out of the box" that already addresses much of it and thought someone else might know of other projects my searches had failed to find.

ok...so you want everything handed to you on a plate under glass...

Got it!



Now someone pass the Grey Poupon.

Of course and if it is available and I just don't know about it why not look for it? I can compile all my own software but if it's available in a repository unless there are some extraordinary circumstances I don't see a need to reinvent the wheel. Mint for example goes great with Grey Poupon equally if not more so then Windows 7 - slackware does not. So for you mint must be the poorest of poor examples of linux because it is convenient and user friendly? That kind of elitist perspective I expect from a mac user but it does nothing to exemplify the strengths and benefits of linux to the average potential windows convert.

and you said this wasn't about linux....

The one thing I'd like to note is no OS is 100% pre-configured for any user. You still need firmware along with 3rd party programs to allow users to perform most tasks after installing an OS (Windows 7). You still have to set it up yourself. Many offer numerous options or pre-packaged distributions. None can be completely pre-configured for the elderly, disabled or children out-of-box simply because each individual has his or her own individual needs that may or not have been accounted for. If your means is to make the process more streamlined, well Macintosh along with some Linux distros (Edubuntu) have already made noticeable steps toward that goal already. There can be no one meets all OS. That is why there are so many different Linux and BSD distros. What specifically are you looking for? It sounds like you want an operating system for an educational environment that does not restrict special needs users from being able to perform the same tasks as their counterparts. Unfortunately that is nearly impossible. That's how I comprehended your question anyhow.

try the LWN distribution list, there are over 600 nix based downloads there mainstream and custom. just do a search for lwn distribution, it will be the first on the list.