Best Linux For Kids?

joe250

I have old pc that I would like to setup for 6 year old.
What would be the best linux for kids just to introduce them to a Computer?

Kimura

I would recommend

Edubuntu

Its from the ubuntu distro but its built for kids

check out about the Distro on http://edubuntu.org/

niallb

I've had good experience with young kids and Jolicloud. It's simple and welcoming.
It's mostly online stuff, and has 'apps' that are links to really good resources.
Check out the TED talks - theres hundreds of them - presentations about all sorts of stuff for kids.

I've set up Edubuntu for primary schools, and there's a lot of good stuff in it,
but it might be overkill, and it's not really built for kids at all - it's built for teachers.
I'm looking forward to seeing the new release though next month.

Packages to look out for in your package manager whichever distro you install would be

gcompris
childsplay
tuxtype
tuxmath


One of my daughters loved circuslinux at that age too.

Stuxnet

my 3 year old uses qimo linux

http://www.qimo4kids.com/page/What-is-Qimo.aspx

Capt'n Midnight

sugar on a stick ?

Orion

+1 for Qimo

jackrussell007

hi folks

great thread. I've been trying one or two of those distros that you mentioned. I have an old (v old) laptop that I want to give to my kids to destroy. It has only 128MB of RAM and a cd drive so that seems to narrow my options a bit. I'd like install on the HDD rather than booting from a USB stick (cause they'll break it or loose it) or rather than a booting from a cd (cause they'll break it or loose it.)

can i install sugar on a HDD?
Qimo seems to need 256MB Ram or more

Is there any other version that I can install onto the HDD that I could then use gcompris or other kids apps on?

ta.

Capt'n Midnight

not really for kids but with 128MB look at puppylinux

seriously 128MB is less than most phones these days and I'd be worried about the hard drive keeling over any moment - might be worth asking for more RAM on adverts.ie

jackrussell007

you're right. 128MB of ram is a bit of a joke. I just got the laptop free from work. someone was actually using this until recently:eek:. not really willing to spend any money on it.
Maybe i should give it to a museum somewhere.

in the meantime I think I'll persevere with puppy as youve suggested.

joe250

jackrussell007 wrote: »

you're right. 128MB of ram is a bit of a joke. I just got the laptop free from work. someone was actually using this until recently:eek:. not really willing to spend any money on it.
Maybe i should give it to a museum somewhere.

in the meantime I think I'll persevere with puppy as youve suggested.

Any idea what type ram you need for laptop?
I have a 256mb and 1gb if any of these will suit your laptop you can have them.

jackrussell007

a noble and generous offer.thanks. Its a dell inspiron 7000

crucial.com says it cant be upgraded, that it would need to have been installed at time of purchase? I'd have tought any pc could be upgraded.
http://www.crucial.com/upgrade/compatible-memory-for/Dell/Inspiron%207000%20Series/list.html

niallb

You're misreading that at crucial.com

It says that for MAX memory of 384MB, the onboard memory had to be 128MB rather than 64MB.
There are still two slots available which can take a 128MB PC100 stick each.
It's even possible that all three slots could take a 256MB chip, but they were not yet available when the spec sheet was written, but could give you 768MB.
Unfortunately, picking up 3 256MB chips is not likely - at least at any realistic price.

You may find that you have a 64MB chip built in, and another 64MB chip or 2 x 32MB chips in the slots, so you;d have to lose them to get the extra memory in.
If you're in luck though, all that RAM will be onboard, and you'll have two slots to play with. If you look at the laptop, there may be a Service Tag number on it.
Searching the support section of Dell will tell you what memory it originally shipped with.

jackrussell007

woops. you're dead right.
Max RAM configurations requires a factory installed 128 MB SODIMM, which must be installed at the time of initial purchase.

I just read this arseways. I'll pop it open later to have a peek.

Capt'n Midnight

look in the BIOS on some laptops - you might be lucky
or use lshw to list what's in each slot
if still runing windows then use cupz to list ram / slots

danny0085

This article might help you to decide what is the best linux distro for you