How to set up a computer fit for kids
As a self-professed IT geek, I’m keen to ensure that my children are up to speed with modern technology and understand its role in a modern society.
Despite them being too young for full-time education, they do have their own computer: a Dell Inspiron 6000 laptop running a popular operating system called Ubuntu.
The Dell was showing its age: its battery had died for the second time and we’d long since replaced it with another laptop so it had sat in a cupboard waiting for a new life. Like most computers, it had Windows XP on it.
Windows XP is fine for most people: it’s my operating system of choice because it runs everything that I want, but I’d always held a candle for Linux. Linux costs nothing to download and use and is inherently more resilient to viruses than Windows. However, until recently it wasn’t as pleasant to use as a Windows PC.
Linux is produced my many different companies and organisations, and a few years back a version called ‘Ubuntu‘ gained a lot of popularity.
Notebook running Ubuntu
In 2009 a version was released that could legitimately claim to offer the usability of Windows. It is incredibly easy to install, requiring nearly no technical knowledge. It comes with a decent word processor and spreadsheet in the form of openoffice.org, and the excellent Firefox web browser. Other software such as Skype, Picasa and Chrome are able available for Linux.
One of Ubuntu’s strongest features is a software store, where you can browse through various categories of software and click to download.
Ubuntu Software Centre
For the kids, the first thing I downloaded was Edubuntu: a collection of educational software including GCompris and Potato Guy. These are aimed at pre-school and junior school kids, with games at one end teaching basic mouse and keyboard skills, to more advanced games teaching language, maths and science.
Screenshots from GCompris
It doesn’t stop there. When you set up Ubuntu, you can create different user accounts. I’ve got one for myself and one for the kids. The kids’ account cannot install software or make any system changes. If they try, they’re prompted to enter my password.
Because I wanted to make the computer as easy-to-use as possible, I’ve set it up to log into their account automatically and the great thing is that the computer starts quicker under Ubuntu than it every did using Windows XP. The kids have an old mouse that they’ve decorated with their stickers and when they’re done I just close the lid and put it back on the shelf.
I’ve put music and movies onto it, so last week when they went on holiday only to find it raining, we had a library of movies and games to keep them amused.
Like the idea, but not ready to commit? Ubuntu always starts in ‘live’ mode, where it runs from the installation CD before touching your hard drive. You can try it out for size before deciding to install it on your PC.
There’s a lot to like about Ubuntu, but there are downsides. Most of the commercial software available is for Windows PCs. Our Dora games won’t run (at least not easily) on Ubuntu. Secondly, there’s no legal way to play DVDs on Ubuntu. There are instructions on how to make Ubuntu play DVDs but you’ve got to be prepared to look under the hood and get your hand a bit dirty.
But on balance, I’m very happy with my Ubuntu PC. When the kids get a bit older I’ll set up the OpenDNS firewall on it to keep them safer online. I already have Dropbox on it to allow me access to my most important data should I want to use it for my work, and OpenOffice is installed as standard so I can edit Word, Excel and Powerpoint files. Ubuntu have worked with Dell a lot in recent years and so most recent Dell hardware is supported (making installation on my 4-year-old Dell laptop a breeze) and it also works with my HP printer without issue.
If you like what you’ve read and would like more detailed instructions, please say so in the comments. In fact, please feel free to leave a comment all the same!
