Which Linux for the kids computer?

Hey, I'm wondering what flavor of Linux would you suggest for the kids computer (grade school age). Mainly websurfing, going to http://pbskids.org and watching a few vids on Youtube. A drawing program would be nice but not immediately necessary. No printer or other things other than a keyboard and mouse.

The computer is an older one. I'll have to go get it from the garage for anything too specific but if memory serves correctly I have 2gb of RAM and I think 40GB hdd that I'll wipe and put whatever OS on it. CRT monitor. Basically nothing too fancy, just getting tired of the kids getting on my computer.

It's funny, the computer is older than the kids getting on it.

 

That looks to be just about perfect. He's in kindergarten so this looks to be just about right.

Thanks

 

Ubuntu is probably the easiest out there. Just keep in mind, that if the kids do not easily adopt Linux as their main to use operating system, you will find a mutiny on your hands. I would have them try out a couple on a USB stick, and go from there.

At least with a USB stick, you can use a machine running Windows, plug in the stick, boot up and have the Linux system running. Turn off, remove stick, now you have a Windows system. I have been using Ubuntu off and on for about four years now, and just recently loaded up 11.10x64 on my Acer Netbook, and it actually has been running pretty smooth. I only changed OS's from Windows 7 to Ubuntu, since it has been my favorite choice out of the others.

 

Another alternative is Lubuntu. It uses a less graphics intensive desktop manager than mainstream Ubuntu. This makes a difference on an old PC with onboard graphics. Try Tuxpaint for drawing. It's very kid friendly.
http://lubuntu.net/

 

my daughters 8 and she uses pclinuxos on a dell laptop

http://www.pclinuxos.com/?page_id=180

she started with pclos 2007, then progressed to 2010 and now 2011,

does all her homework on it using openoffice for kids - inbetween watching cartoons on youtube :-D,

http://wiki.ooo4kids.org/index.php/Main_Page

there is also tuxpaint, which she is rather good at

http://tuxpaint.org/

when she was younger she used to use gcompris

http://gcompris.net/-en-

all in the repo's

 

PC or Mac?

PC- Ubuntu and you may want to look at the Edubuntu version with kids games installed. You can also install blocking software to control time or content.

If the system is slower, LXDE or XFCE would be easier on resources. You can install either Window manager on PCLinuxOS as well.

 

linux mint, its fantastic, running it dual boot on several machines now, sony and dell laptops work out of the box with all hardware supported. no tweaking required at all, the dvd comes with libre office preinstalled and lots of codecs etc.

 

I haven't brought the computer out of retirement yet but I'm going to give the Qimo a shot. I'll let you know how it goes.

 

I installed Edubuntu on a computer for the grand kids. They love the games, and Educational games.
They didn't need a lot of supervision, with the system. You do need to install a program, to limit time, and content.