Don’t give Linux to your elderly relatives

I’ve been dabbling with Linux for nearly two decades now. While I’ve been bearish about it in the past, the penguins have come a long way in the last few years. So much so that it’s become my primary operating system. There’s a lot of advantages here. Particularly its light weight nature and ability to run on older PCs. Which might actually make it quite attractive for those with older relatives who refuse to upgrade their hardware. My advice? Don’t even think about it.

There’s this new spinoff of Ubuntu going around called “Wubuntu”. The idea is that it mimics the look, and supposedly the functionality, of Windows 11, without Microsoft’s restrictions on hardware, or all the bloat and spyware Redmond packs in. I don’t know much else about the project, other than it’s just begging for a lawsuit from the (alleged) Epstein enthusiast-in-chief. Though it does seem like a really great deal on the surface. Especially for those looking to upgrade older relatives to a more modern operating system.

Both my parents are on pretty old PCs. My mom is still rocking a Phenom II system with Windows 10, which will lose support from Microsoft in 2025. My dad meanwhile has an older Core i3 rig with Windows 7 installed, meaning it hasn’t received security updates for several years now. Out of the two, my dad is the more likely to fall for computer scams, and he doesn’t listen at all to my InfoSec advice. So having a platform that outdated is a big problem. Neither see the point of upgrading the hardware, as it “still works”. Which is understandable, since computers aren’t cheap. But neither can upgrade to Windows 11 anyway. Besides, older people, heck, even a lot of younger ones, are resistant to change. They like to stick to what they know. Which is what makes things like Wubuntu appealing.

The problem is that while Wubuntu advertises itself as having all the functionality of Windows 11, and even includes the ability to run Windows software out of the box, it really doesn’t quite do what it says on the tin. That’s not to say it’s necessarily a bad OS. But what we have is a just a heavily modified KDE Plasma 5 desktop with WINE installed. If you’ve ever used WINE, or Bottles, or any similar compatibility layers, you know they don’t always “just work”. Even Steam with Proton can be finicky. Especially once you get outside the AMD Radeon ecosystem. So what’s going to end up happening is your elderly relative is going to try downloading some Windows program, or installing some old ass piece of software they “can’t live without”, and it’s not going to work. WINE will throw up a hissy fit, complaining about DLLs or dependencies, or something. They won’t know what to do, and you’ll inevitably get the phone call. Or worse, they’ll try contacting Microsoft and get into a fight with their customer support team, because they think it is Windows.

This is where the meme about Linux being for people who don’t value their time comes into play. Linux in 2024 is a very usable operating system. Heck, stuff like Mint or bog standard Ubuntu are great even for casual users. However, there is a learning curve which can be difficult for a lot of older people to wrap their heads around. But at least these don’t look like Windows. Their design language clearly indicates it’s not Windows. The problem with Wubuntu and similar Windows clones is they do look like Windows, which makes using them, counterintuitively, more confusing for casual users. Meaning that if you install them for your elderly relative, be prepared to become their on-call IT guy, if you aren’t already. And if you are, get ready for a lot more calls.

So what do I recommend for elderly or low knowledge folks who need to get on newer hardware? Well, that largely depends on what they’re using the computer for. Most older people are probably using it just for emails, social media, video calling, and watching YouTube and Netflix. These are all lightweight tasks that don’t call for pricey computers.

Generally, I recommend something that’s fairly locked down when it comes to casual and elderly users. While Linux is great, it’s still too easy to break things. Heck, even Windows isn’t the best in this department.

Chromebooks are a good option here. You can easily find them for under $500, making them ideal for budget conscious seniors. They’re also designed in a way that it’s difficult to get into too much trouble with them. The downside is singing over your life to Google. But if you already use an Android phone, it’s pretty much the same deal. You can also download Chrome OS Flex and install it on their old hardware. Again, there will be a minor learning curve, but it will get updates and it’s easy to use. It’ll also run Android apps, so there’s no shortage of commercial software available. Android tablets and the iPad, while being a bit on the pricier end, is also a good choice for largely the same reasons. Though it might not be ideal for people like my mom, who are obsessed with printing out every bill and receipt. Of course there are also budget Windows 11 PCs on the market too, if they absolutely have to use Windows. Stick with name brands that come with good support programs.