// Setting up an old computer for children with Edubuntu // // by droops (reusing some text from dual_parallel) // // http://infonomicon.org Links http://www.edubuntu.org/ http://www.dualisanoob.com/fedora_xp/ http://wiki.edubuntu.org/EdubuntuCommunity http://www.ofset.org/gcompris I was asked to fix an old computer for a friend's kids, which is an experience many of you are already very familiar with. They are 8 and 11 and need to use the computer to play games and write school papers. This particular computer is a fine specimen with its 96 megs of ram and its 400 megahertz processor. It is also running windows 98 and thats not supported by microsoft anymore. So what to do? Well lets figure a few things: - Hardware needs to be upgraded the best that it can be - Windows 98 sucks and needs to be replaced with something familiar and better - Kids need games to play that this computer will run - Parents want educational software - Money is an option, as this is free work So what to do with this, well my solution for the software problems is to install Edubuntu. Edubuntu is free software, based on debian (apt-get goodness), full of educational software (Kstars, TuxTyping, TuxMath, Kalzium), and non-resource-intensive games for Linux that are still updated. (Kolf, Ktron, Gweled ) It works great on older hardware like this, and is new software, unlike Windows 98. Now before you start with all your repairs and upgrades, check the computer for documents and pictures. Even if people say that there are none on the computer, check anyway. Lost pictures are no fun for anyone, and they might have forgotten about them while they were forgetting about the old computer. For the hardware problems, try and upgrade the computer the best that you can. For a system like this I have some extra SDRAM that I can install to help things out. Make sure that all the hardware works, as if it doesn't then all your work is in vain. Small computer stores will sell you old parts really cheap, especially if you establish a relationship with them. All computers need a cd burner. Always add a network card, for the simple reason that you are going to need it to update the computer and install additional packages. Installing Edubuntu is very straight forward. I chose for it to use the entire disk, as old computers don't have big hard drives. You have to have a password for Edubuntu and this is a great time to teach children about passwords and not telling people, but do write down the password, as kids will forget. I recommend writing it down on the bottom of the computer, as nobody looks under the computer. Always make yourself an account, just so that you can fix things if they screw up. Make sure that all the hardware works with edubuntu (internet connection, sound, cd burner, dvd drive) Ubuntu has great forums to help with little problems. http://wiki.edubuntu.org/EdubuntuCommunity Some people are not going to want to hook the computer up to the internet. For them, thats their loss. Some people can't get high speed internet access. Good luck with getting a winmodem to work. (http://linmodems.org/) I always try my best to get people to get high speed internet. The cheapest dsl isn't much more than dial-up and doesn't tie up the phone line. Help the children by getting them a working computer and a good internet connection. If there is a dvd drive, install libdvdcss2 #sudo /usr/share/doc/libdvdread3/examples/install-css.sh Install Xine as Totemplayer sucks #sudo apt-get install xine-ui Next we need to make Edubuntu familiar for both the children and the parents. To do this I recommend following dual_parallel's article on changing Fedora to look like windows, but with Edubuntu there are a few changes that need to be made. I'm going to reuse some of dual's t-file to show how: To simulate the Windows Taskbar... -Delete the bottom panel -Drag the top panel to the bottom -Add a Window List to the new bottom panel (right click on panel -> Add to Panel... -> Window List -> Add) - Remove the Applications and Actions menus from the panel (right click -> Remove from Panel) - Add the Main Menu (right click -> Add to Panel... -> Main Menu -> Add) - Replace the Edubuntu icon for the Main Menu with a GIMPified "Start" button by downloading this file into your home directory (http://www.dualisanoob.com/fedora_xp/start.png) and then opening a terminal, and entering the following commands: #cd /usr/share/icons/hicolor/48x48/apps #sudo cp distributor-logo.png distributor-logo.png.bak #sudo cp /home/user/start.png distributor-logo.png #killall gnome-panel note that in Edubuntu there is no root account, when it asks for a password you have to type in your regular user password. Now for the Windows Desktop Look - Grab some wallpaper (dual chose bliss.jpg as it is probably the most recognized Windows wallpaper without logos. I chose to keep the Edubuntu wallpaper) - Set the new background (right click on desktop -> Change Desktop Background -> Add Wallpaper -> browse to wallpaper -> Open) - Give the desktop icons Windows-friendly names, i.e. User's Home to Documents and Trash to Recycle Bin You can also change the default behavior of Nautilus to act more like Explorer (Edit -> Preferences -> Behavior -> check Always open in browser windows). OpenOffice is a great thing, but most teachers are not going to know what to do with a OpenOffice document, so change the default save as file type to microsoft file types. Also if you rename OpenOffice Writer to Word, it will give the user a more familiar environment. Tools> Options> Load/Save> General> Always Save As> microsoft Word 97/2000/XP If the computer will be used by very young children, you might want to look into GCompris. It is an educational package that has many games that teach things. http://www.ofset.org/gcompris * computer discovery: keyboard, mouse, different mouse gesture * algebra: table memory, enumeration, double entry table, mirror image * science: the canal lock, the water cycle, the submarine * geography: place the country on the map * games: chess, memory * reading: reading practice * other: learn to tell time, puzzle of famous paintings, vector drawing When you take them the computer, explain that its Linux and that most software won't run on it. If they need something extra, find them an alternative. Most people won't give you crap about this, but if they do, explain that you need $200 from them to get a copy of XP and $300 for better hardware and they will understand better. Show them how to connect to the internet and how to burn a cd. Most children will pick this up faster than the grownups, so make sure the kids get a good view and let them use the mouse as you are explaining. If they pay you for your work, make sure that you make a donation to Ubuntu. http://www.ubuntu.com/donations/document_view Shouts to dual_parallel for his great t-file on making Fedora look like XP and his massive gimp skills with the start button. Shouts also to Stom_Carlson and Phizone for helping correct my grammar and spelling.