chill's Journal: Linux for Grandma - Part II, Software

Okay, software and configuration is a very big component. Normally, and out-of-the-box end user won't have someone to configure the system for them down to every last detail, but that is what I'm going to do. My grandmother isn't interested in learning how to configure computers as much as she is just how to use the Internet.

She has been using a MailStation for a couple of years. This is a little LCD device that can send and receive text e-mail via a dial-up connection. So she knows what e-mail is, but wants to do more than just text. She has specifically requested to be able to see and send pictures in e-mail and browse the web. She wants access to online banking, online bill pay and account review, and community web pages like her church and art league activities.

So, here is how I set things up.

I started with a standard Kubuntu install, and focused on two aspects -- packages and configuration. For the most part, I uninstalled a lot of the stuff that comes standard. I then removed anything that I felt she wouldn't use from the K menu. I put the few applications she would use a lot in the Kicker panel then configured everything down to a T.

In the Kicker panel I have the following applications:
  Home (Konqueror link to home folder)
  OOo Writer
  Firefox
  Krfb (KDE tool for sharing the desktop)

There are only two virtual screens, which I haven't shown her how to use, yet. The volume control is in the system tray. I added the clock, lock/logout buttons and KWeather applets. Keep it simple.

Firefox
  -Sun JVM
  -Adobe Flash 9
  -AdBlock Plus
  -Extended Cookie Manager
  -GMail Notifier
  -Tab Mix Plus

OpenOffice

Konqueror

Adobe Acrobat Reader

Gimp
Kooka
Digicam