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You don't need to get their permission. Just install Linux (mint or any other flavor) and they will get used to it. Did this for a bunch of family members and

You don't need to get their permission. Just install Linux (mint or any other flavor) and they will get used to it. Did this for a bunch of family members and after a few weeks of transition nobody ever complained after

barbs 1y ago
Agreed. Find a distro that most looks like their current setup (maybe Zorin OS?), customize it so it has all the app icons and bookmarks etc in the same position as their Windows set up, and just leave them to it. If you don't want to be sneaky about it, just install it next time Windows craps itself.
tombert 1y ago
I live several states away from them, so unless I manage to sneak in some elaborate KVM switch and abuse it in the rare time my mom is plugged into her desk, I don’t think that’s viable. I suppose I could do it when I come down and visit when they’re not looking, though I think they would be pretty pissed if I did that.
- netsharc 1y ago
  How about having Linux in a VM, for them to try out... Hah, one could lie and say "Inside this window called Virtual Box is what Windows 12 will look like, it's a chance to learn it!".
  - tombert 1y ago
    I'm not going to lie to them, they're not children and they're not idiots, they would figure it out pretty quick. If I installed a VM for them, they would use it exactly once, right after I installed it for them, and then never again.
    - netsharc 1y ago
      My suggestion is not completely serious. Heh, "not children" but you complain about having to coddle them and their childish incapability/unwillingness to learn. Meh, enjoy your problem.
      - tombert 1y ago
        In fairness, there have been plenty of times I have had to message my mom (an attorney) for legal advice, and messaged my dad (an aerospace engineer) for help with math or any kind of non-software engineering, so it's not like they're terribly selfish; if the shoe were on the other foot they'd do the same for me. While I do find it really irritating that they refuse to leave Windows and I do find their unwillingness to learn new stuff about computers infuriating, I do get it. Linux has gotten a lot better and easier to use now, but historically there's a reason that it has been associated as a "nerd operating system". Prior to about ~10 years ago, desktop Linux was decidedly unpolished and difficult to use. Getting video and audio drivers working used to be a long and difficult ordeal, package managers were non-intuitive, and we hadn't fully gotten the "web apps have taken over the world" state that we're in now. I've been running Linux for like the last fifteen years and for quite awhile Linux had a well-earned reputation of being hard to use, and I think my parents are afraid of that. It's gotten much better now, and I think a lot of people could pretty easily migrate without too much issue, but I can't completely blame people for still thinking about how crappy it used to be.
bee_rider 1y ago
Did they not complain because nobody in your family talks to you anymore?
- ekianjo 1y ago
  Funny take, but no, because most of their regular problems went away

barbs 1y ago

Agreed. Find a distro that most looks like their current setup (maybe Zorin OS?), customize it so it has all the app icons and bookmarks etc in the same position as their Windows set up, and just leave them to it. If you don't want to be sneaky about it, just install it next time Windows craps itself.

tombert 1y ago

I live several states away from them, so unless I manage to sneak in some elaborate KVM switch and abuse it in the rare time my mom is plugged into her desk, I don’t think that’s viable. I suppose I could do it when I come down and visit when they’re not looking, though I think they would be pretty pissed if I did that.

netsharc 1y ago
How about having Linux in a VM, for them to try out... Hah, one could lie and say "Inside this window called Virtual Box is what Windows 12 will look like, it's a chance to learn it!".
- tombert 1y ago
  I'm not going to lie to them, they're not children and they're not idiots, they would figure it out pretty quick. If I installed a VM for them, they would use it exactly once, right after I installed it for them, and then never again.
  - netsharc 1y ago
    My suggestion is not completely serious. Heh, "not children" but you complain about having to coddle them and their childish incapability/unwillingness to learn. Meh, enjoy your problem.
    - tombert 1y ago
      In fairness, there have been plenty of times I have had to message my mom (an attorney) for legal advice, and messaged my dad (an aerospace engineer) for help with math or any kind of non-software engineering, so it's not like they're terribly selfish; if the shoe were on the other foot they'd do the same for me. While I do find it really irritating that they refuse to leave Windows and I do find their unwillingness to learn new stuff about computers infuriating, I do get it. Linux has gotten a lot better and easier to use now, but historically there's a reason that it has been associated as a "nerd operating system". Prior to about ~10 years ago, desktop Linux was decidedly unpolished and difficult to use. Getting video and audio drivers working used to be a long and difficult ordeal, package managers were non-intuitive, and we hadn't fully gotten the "web apps have taken over the world" state that we're in now. I've been running Linux for like the last fifteen years and for quite awhile Linux had a well-earned reputation of being hard to use, and I think my parents are afraid of that. It's gotten much better now, and I think a lot of people could pretty easily migrate without too much issue, but I can't completely blame people for still thinking about how crappy it used to be.

bee_rider 1y ago

Did they not complain because nobody in your family talks to you anymore?

ekianjo 1y ago
Funny take, but no, because most of their regular problems went away