Karl E. Jorgensen, Fri, Mar 08, 2002 at 02:57:58PM +0000: > Hi > > Has anybody else had experience with setting up a Debian GNU/Linux box > for friends who wants to get started with computers? If so then I'd > appreciate your comments/input. Have done this as well for family. It really saves time on maintenance. > > I plan to use: > - Debian GNU/Linux (off course!) > install minimal potato, set up apt to point to woody (with > preferences for security updates from potato). I've most most > packages in my apt-proxy cache anyway. I don't think potato security updates apply to woody systems. > - hand-rolled 2.4.17 kernel > Basically a kernel-package job, probably with tmpfs for /tmp and > /var/run Don't forget autofs! You'll need that to automagically mount floppies and cdroms. Very useful tool and easy to configure. > - XFree 4.1.0 > - xdm (anything small will do) > - Icewm - not gnome. (it seems lightweight) Alternatives welcome. > - Mail client - sylpheed? (there was a discussion on debian-user about > this recently. I need to read up on that) mozilla-mail? Works ok. > - Gnumeric > - Abiword: I think staroffice will be too much for the machine. Any > alternatives? > - Browser? Will mozilla be too heavyweight? I like mozilla myself... I like mozilla as well. > - Any progs/applets available for controlling pppd? I think there are some in gnome-applets. > - Some games > That's probably what they will mostly use the machine for. > ace-of-penguins looks nice. > gotta have tetris too. > Ideas? gnome-games. > - Gimp try gthumb or gqview to browse images. eeyes is a good simple image viewer. > - FreeAmp xmms. > - mgetty so I can dial in if needed. Should also be usable for fax. > > I'd like to install gtcd as well (part of the gnome-media package), so > they can turn CDs into MP3s, but that will pull in most of the gnome > libraries. I fear that the memory usage may cause the machine to collapse. > > Somebody else must have done this before - any ideas/concerns will be > appreciated. > Note that you can also install yahoo messenger or aim. Agsatellite is also available, although you have to tie it to some buttons on the panel. I used gnome and elightenment and made it look like to the win32 that had died on the same box. The only trouble I am having is finding a graphical file manager that can open files in SO when clicked (gmc can't) or works well with autofs (nautilus doesn't). Other than that, the only real issue is managing fonts - the fonts always seem to get screwy after an upgrade. Haven't figured out why. Also, remember that most people don't like really high resolutions. 1024x768 or less should be ok. g -- Brought to you by Debian 3.0 Linux took 2.4.16 #1 SMP Sat Jan 5 12:52:24 EST 2002 i686 unknown
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