When I retired to Pennsylvania, I could have had Windows for an operating system and chose not to go that route. Where I live is rural and as such help desk calls and service would have been expensive. With Linux if the system runs into a problem I can either fix the problem or reinstall the system by myself. This is important since sighted help where I live is unavailable. I admit I tried to update windows on a Dell Laptop and it went along fine until it got to SERVICEPACK3. Then the laptop crashed and I found out a little later that that Dell Dimension Laptop wouldn't install Linux either. So the laptop went into the trash since it was no longer any use to anyone. -- Jude <jdashiel at panix dot com> "There are four boxes to be used in defense of liberty: soap, ballot, jury, and ammo. Please use in that order." Ed Howdershelt 1940. On Fri, 6 Oct 2023, Linux for blind general discussion wrote: > > But then why try a Linux distribution, but because the fact that it is free as in free beer? > > Perhaps because some people prefer operating systems that: > > - Don’t spy on them > - Don’t start random diagnostic services taking up most of the CPU > - Won’t bloat them with a pile of programs requiring a Microsoft account > - Can autoupdate themselves > - Don’t require a supercomputer to run > - Won’t start upgrading themselves in the middle of a business meeting > - Are generally trustworthy > > XD > > These are just the points for web-browsing only users, beside the free system and ecosystem one. > > For even slightly more advanced-ones, there are indeed many more. > > Best regards > > Rastislav > > Dňa 6. 10. 2023 o 12:43 Linux for > > blind general discussion napísal(a): > > > Hi, > > > > answer in line. > > > > Foreword: I hesitated to answer: as I already wrote Slint is not an option for > > ARM CPUs. Anyway, here goes for x86_64 aka AMD64 users... > > > > Le 06/10/2023 à 11:44, Linux for blind general discussion a écrit : > > > >> When you boot it, it will put you in a desktop much like Windows or Mac so if > >> you are coming from those devices it won't feel too out of place. Slint is not > >> beginner friendly due to the way you install it, which is by if you rememver the > >> days of DOS, typing in commands and having to remember or have a second device > >> handy to go through the install steps. > > > > To be picky, the Slint installer doesn't request you to type commands, only to > > answer questions, typing things like "Y" for yes and "N" for no or a number to > > select an option. And oftentimes if you do not know what to answer typing "h" > > will display a small contextualized help text. Further, during installation you > > can you can also type 'doc' at the prompt in a console and read a documentation, > > then go back to installation > > > >> Linux Mint avoids this by having the installer be similar to Windows, where it > >> asks you to fill in what it wants then click next, and it will walk you through > >> the process, without overwhelming you with text. To me this is a nice, gentle > >> start to Linux. > >> > >> The beautiful thing about Linux Mint is you can easily fire up a web browser and > >> Google your queries and usually get a page or two of helpful results, versus > >> with Slint, relying on having to manually check a specific email list. In a > >> nutshell, Mint Mate is built to be easy to use and simple to keep up to date. > > > > With Slint you can also get information before installing just firing up this > > page in a web browser: > > https://slint.fr/en/HandBook.html > > > >> I'm hoping this helps, I absolutely get how daunting moving to Linux can be, > >> especially if you are older like you said you are. > > > > I am probably older than Billy (74 at time of writing) and use Slint every day ;) > > > > All this being said if the intended usage is just browsing the Internet, > > communicate with family and friends and so on, any accessible distribution is > > good enough. But then why try a Linux distribution, but because the fact that it > > is free as in free beer? > > > > Didier > > > >> Jace > >> > >> On 10/4/23 12:18, Linux for blind general discussion wrote: > >> > >>> Hi guys, so glad to be joining this group. I know nothing about Linux platform > >>> but would like to try Linux for myself. The problem is I wouldn’t know which > >>> version to try out first and that is one reason for joining this group. I am a > >>> blind pensioner living in Scotland UK. IF you could provide me with > >>> help/advice on which version of Linux would be best for me I would appreciate > >>> it indeed, Billy > >>> > >>> Sent from Mail for Windows > >>> > >>> _______________________________________________ > >>> Blinux-list mailing list > >>> Blinux-list@xxxxxxxxxx > >>> > >>> https://listman.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/blinux-list > >> > >> _______________________________________________ > >> Blinux-list mailing list > >> Blinux-list@xxxxxxxxxx > >> > >> https://listman.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/blinux-list > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Blinux-list mailing list > > Blinux-list@xxxxxxxxxx > > > > https://listman.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/blinux-list > > > _______________________________________________ > Blinux-list mailing list > Blinux-list@xxxxxxxxxx > https://listman.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/blinux-list > _______________________________________________ Blinux-list mailing list Blinux-list@xxxxxxxxxx https://listman.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/blinux-list