Is there a super simple version of Linux suitable for my dad to use basic basic things?

My dad never used computers, he's 50 now, but he had a brain tumor, and the surgeries to remove it. Anyways his eye is messed up, so he has a little trouble seeing. He just started to use the computer, I wanna get him on facebook (he was a teacher for almost 30 years, his students wanna talk to him lol) and email, and he likes researching his genealogy.

Anyways, that's the end user.

I remember way back, that the eeePC was using a form of Xandros, with a super simple tabbed interface. I'm looking for something like this. I will be building the machine, installing, and maintaining everything. I just need a simple way to build this for simple usage.

Like a big logo for firefox, a big one for thunderbird, a big one for skype, a text editor, something like itunes, and maby a few others I forgot about.

Is there a front end or something I can slip onto ubuntu or something?

ChromeOS immediately springs to mind, as all the above can basically be done within a web browser. It sounds like I should buy him an iPad, but I don't wanna drop $500+ on something he can't see. I will either buy an old pc or pick up a nettop and hook it to their LCD TV or something.

I've never messed with Linux, I couldn't get ubuntu to install correctly so I stayed away. I run OSX now hehe.

I'm downloading easypeasey right now I'll give that a try.

 

The UNR edition has those big icons.

 

Yep, sounds like any kind of Netbook Remix'd distro or Moblin/Linpus/Jolicloud will work great for what you need. Something like Ubuntu Netbook Remix has the hardware support for desktops while the latter 3 will work well on slower Atom netbooks/nettops. Newegg is selling a nettop for $190 w/MIR if you what to keep costs to a minimal.

 

Ok thanks, that looks like a good OS choice.
I'll d/l and give it a try.

 

I tried UNR but it's for Ubuntu 8.1 or something.
I installed U 9.1 in a VM, it's really awesome.
Anyways, it seems the new method of installing UNR on a 9.1 is to download a package and install it over it or something.

How do I do this? Is there a repository for the different Ubuntu builds? I know how to download the extra programs and software but is there something I'm missing?

Perhaps just a skin overlay would be suitable.

Will Ubuntu run fine on an old single core Pentium M? Or an Atom 230? Does it include drivers for a variety of old systems?

 

http://www.ubuntu.com/GetUbuntu/download-netbook

Download and install. It's not a package.

 

I'd start with Ubuntu Server Edition, add X, Gnome and install just the packages he would need. Firefox, Thunderbird, OOo Writer, Music Player of choice, Picture Manger, Skype, etc. Pick a dock and add these icons in the largest size possible. Increase all the system level fonts to bigger sizes and show him how to use the screen magnifier if needed. Add remote desktop sharing program so you can connect and maintain his system from anywhere. Take away all the menus and disable any options he wont need so he can't screw anything up or get lost. I haven't used any of the netbook linuxs so i can't comment on them, though they may work for you situation also.

PS: Take a couple screen shots and tell us what you decide to do, I am curious to see what you'll go with.