Ring ring! The phone again, Granny with some errors.. Granny bought an Fujitsu Siemens LI 3910.. With (ofcourse) Windows Vista. Granny complained about some crazy shit when Granny wanted to shutdown her computer, not to mention the messages from Windows Defender, Windows Update etc. So, the solution for Granny was Ubuntu.
Why? Simply because I don’t know shit about Windows as administrator.. And more or less of the security reasons, not because Granny is connect to the internet continously, but more because my whole family uses this laptop, when possible. Since none of them are Ubuntu literate, this seemed the best solution. (first obstacle in their little mind processes)
Well well, so let’s make this laptop monkey proof.. The steps I made:
- Check on hardware compatibility of the laptop with Ubuntu Linux. In my case, the LI 3910, some users complained about sound & wireless issues, but worked perfect out of the box!)
- Install Ubuntu 9.10 (preferably use the netboot / mini.iso so you don’t have to manually update after installation)
- Do not forget to disable automatic updates during installation
- During install, add the admin user (or use root by changing Ubuntu), but certainly not the Granny because Granny would be full admin if you do!
- After installation, install the necessary extra packages:
‘Basic Packages’
apt-get install ssh mc arj unzip wine yakuake sun-java6-plugin ubuntu-restricted-extras adblock-plus skype smplayer vlcplayer tuxpaint kolourpaint4 screenlets picasa clamav
‘GnoMenu’
apt-key adv –keyserver keyserver.ubuntu.com –recv-keys 95B47D2A
apt-get install gnomenu
‘Zgeblog Themes’
add-apt-repository ppa:bisigi
apt-get install zgeblog-themes
‘Gdm2Setup’
apt-key adv –keyserver keyserver.ubuntu.com –recv-keys 33C3C10
apt-get install python-gdm2setup
‘Ubuntu Tweak’
add-apt-repository ppa:tualatrix/ppa
apt-get install ubuntu-tweak
Why these packages?
Gnomenu – Basic users, basic menu’s. The Ubuntu default isn’t complicated, but isn’t really basic, no basic user wants direct acces to their control panel / filesystem. Furthermore, gnomenu adds some nice graphics.
Ubuntu Tweak – Pure laziness, you could do this without even touching ubuntu-tweak. Ubuntu tweak just makes it a bit easier, and saves time.
Gdm2Setup – We don’t want to have an username and password dialog screen on boot, just go to the desktop. With gdm2setup you can enable autologin.
Zgeblog Thmes – Some sparkle to the Ubuntu Themes list. Again, nothing is wrong with the default theme. To my opinion the default theme is a bit dark and sober. Let’s just give them a natural (aka plain) theme
- Uninstall some useless crap
apt-get remove evolution-couchdb
- Change the theme to something with an higher contrast (and doesn’t get 16 bit right away), like wildshine
- Change the wallpaper to something peaceful, like the Cherries
- Add the ‘Granny’ user, for complete lazy users: System –> Administration –> Users and Groups. Don’t forget to disable system management rights to the user (Disable Privilige ‘Can Administer the Sytem’
- Enable automatic login by starting gdm2setup and enable autologin
- Check Ubuntu-tweak if you have some speficic issues. Don’t forget to install the Desktop Icons (‘My Computer’ , ‘My Personal Folders’ etc). Check Auto Start Programs on crap you don’t need. Disable automatic updates by disabling it on boot.
- Check the Ubuntu Software center / Synaptic / apt (if you already know them) for some nice old, plain, easy to understand Games. Perfect for whom brains are degrading. Solitaire and Hearts are mostly an welcome addition.
- Login as the Granny User
Panel rearranging: Delete the lowerpanel. Place the upperpanel downward by editing its properties. Remove the Default ubuntu menu and add the Gnomenu. Skin the Gnome nice by selecting a nice theme and button (my choice: Vista and XP). Add the tasklist in to the panel.
Make her live a bit easier: install desktop starters (shortcuts) on her desktop. Do include: Internet (firefox) , E-mail (evolution), Photo’s (user pictures folder), Shutdown ( just to make it impossible to miss).Do change the default menu items, disable at least locations and settings.
Enable the nice theme, and background as determined earlier. Also apply Desktop Icons (ubuntu-tweak) as mentioned before.
Check Energy preferences and apply as preferred. Check Screensaver settings as wel. Be sure that the update services isn’t starting, as mentioned before. Check Firefox preferences and disable automatic updating.
Configure evolution as needed.
Problems with Keyring?! Simple thing, just make an empty unencrypted password instead of an actual password. This will always allow access to the keyring and so it can remeber the passwords of wireless connections , email etc without bothering the users. Ofcourse, this is not recommended when you are not a basic and/or incidental user!
Change the ridicolous long wating time for an granny in Gnome, the default is 10 seconds, as we don’t want our Granny to wait, and you don’t want her to press any silly buttons, let’s change the default time to let’s say 1 second.
Add a nice Clock (i prefer Kclock) screenlet to her desktop. Those silly smal digits in the lowerright corner are not so clear for the Grannys. Next to that, Grannys are more used to read time analog, not digital.
Add a nice Slideshow presenter screenlet to her desktop. Use an apprioprate directory as base, like her 80st birthday or some nice family pictures. It always gives them an pleasant feeling.
- Finally: Reboot and Testing
Be sure that:
- The network connection(s) are working properly and if possible, dont need any user clicks
- Granny has her desired applications as an shortcut on the desktop.
- The computer can handle normal use. So, without any errors an shutdown/start, sleep, standby and hibernate mode, or disable functions. Ofcourse never an login screen!
- E-mail is working properly with an nicely filled addressbook. Don’t forget to check sending mail!
- Check compatibly with other devices Granny owns (like digital camera/video camera) . You never know when someone wants to show your Granny a nice fresh movie/picture)