New system build for daughter to use Puppy Linux, want advice

[mgjacc]

I plan the following build with my daughter. (I've already had lots of input from others on this). She'll use it for Netflix, online eight year old girl gaming, grade 3 school web based activities, and my wife for email and online shopping. very light stuff.

Intel Pentium G3220 3.0GHz Dual-Core Processor $65.99
MSI H81M-P33 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard $50.99
A-Data XPG V1.0 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory $76.36
Western Digital Scorpio Blue 320GB 2.5" 5400RPM Internal Hard Drive $51.62
Apex TX-606-U3 MicroATX Mid Tower Case w/300W Power Supply $44.99
LG GH24NSB0 DVD/CD Writer $15.99
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) $97.88

http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/p/3nmJ2 $403.82

Now, here's the big question. On a small build, even the cheapest windows OS is one-quarter of the system cost. This prevents me from building cheaper than buying, and i find it annoying to have the OS such a gigantic part of the cost. For the bigger system ($800-1000) I plan for myself Windows is only 1/10th. So here is what i was considering.

Ditching windows for PUPPY LINUX, and either pocketing the cash, or upping the processor to an i3-4130, or a graphics card

But I've never used Linux before. I've checked out Puppy linux a bit and it seems like it is loaded with enough for my daughter's basic needs. BUT

will it run gmail
Flash games
Java script or Java based online games
and is linux going to be giving me constant headaches to maintain it for her?



If it is doable it cuts my system cost by 25%, and also stops me from having to buy another norton license for the extra machine.

Thanks in advance for what I'm sure will be some great advice.

 

[Danbuscus25]

eh, i would stick with windows because most programs are written for windows. for the things you said you need this computer to be able to do, linux should work, but its more of a personal preference thing. also, if your budget is around $400-$450, i would get 4gb ram and get a seperate case and psu. ill go build you one real quick

 

[Danbuscus25]

http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/user/Danbuscus250/saved/4iwh
CPU AMD A6-6400K 3.9GHz Dual-Core $65.99
Motherboard MSI FM2-A75MA-E35 Micro ATX FM2 $62.50
Memory A-Data XPG V1.0 4GB (1 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 $40.99
Storage Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM $64.75
Case Antec GX700 ATX Mid Tower $39.98
Power Supply XFX 550W ATX12V / EPS12V $55.99
Optical Drive LG GH24NSB0 DVD/CD Writer $15.99
Operating System Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) $97.88
Total: $444.07

 

[theonerm2]

This is the kind of build you want. Also, I don't recommend putting Norton on this PC. You should go with Avast Free antivirus. I've been using it for over 4 years now and virus free. This build comes with Windows 8.1. You're obviously free to put whatever OS you want on it but I recommend Windows because of the greater program compatibility and it's easier to use for most people.

PCPartPicker part list: http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/p/3nMjQ
Price breakdown by merchant: http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/p/3nMjQ/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/p/3nMjQ/benchmarks/

CPU: AMD A4-6300 3.7GHz Dual-Core Processor ($59.99 @ Memory Express)
Motherboard: MSI A55M-E33 Micro ATX FM2+ Motherboard ($52.99 @ Canada Computers)
Memory: A-Data XPG V1.0 4GB (1 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($40.99 @ Canada Computers)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($54.79 @ DirectCanada)
Case: Apex PC-375 ATX Mid Tower Case w/300W Power Supply ($49.99 @ NCIX)
Optical Drive: LG GH24NSB0 DVD/CD Writer ($15.99 @ Canada Computers)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($104.99 @ NCIX)
Total: $379.73
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-04-07 17:24 EDT-0400)

 

[spankmon]

Your Pentium build should work nicely with Linux. Puppy Linux is a great little system, but I would recommend starting with an Ubuntu based system with all the necessary media codecs pre-installed... something like Linux Mint or Ultimate Edition. If you are willing to devote your time to learn some Linux methods of madness (installing codecs and stuff) then you might be interested in Xubuntu (more basic) or Kubuntu (more feature packed). Getting Netflix to work takes some reading and fiddling, but it does function properly once it's set up. You'll probably be more frustrated than your daughter for the first month of Linux indoctrination. Not nearly the drama some people make it out to be.

 

[mgjacc]

@ Danbuscus 25   l appreciate the input and rapid response.
  @ Danbuscus 25 and theonerm 2   This is my statement of ignorance:  l'm unsure as to the advantage of The AMD over the Pentium. Yet most build suggestions l got in the SYSTEMS forum were for AMD. My current box has an ancient AthIon X2 64 5000 + and 2Gb RAM l will admit it still does hold its own. However, l've become reasonably Knowledgeable about the Intel processors and chipsets and more comfortable selecting them.  But l wouldn't be asking questions if l wasn't open to other peoples' ideas: so feel free to sell me on AMD'  
@ spankmon   Suggestions on Ubuntu are great.  l've watched about 4h of YouTube on Linux, and did a fair amount of reading. l picked Puppy Linux because it seemed less "skeletal" than others.  l was wondering about drivers and codecs.  I'd even looked @ Debian but it seems less user friendly.  l could spend a month looking at all the variants.   With 2 daughters and a wife stealing my tech my pressing need is to get them on their own devices and off mine!  Plus we have a cottage Now. I think l'll need 3-4 boxes by Christmas!   I was a very good programmer once - starting with Punch cards! But l don't have a lot of free time to fiddle.  Perhaps l could start with a windows build and play with Linux on the side.   Would l make a dual boot with Linux / windows or can Linux Mint be run from USB as Puppy Linux can?   wait! Just answered my own question. http://www.zdnet.com/why-linux-mint-is-a-worthwhile-windows-xp-replacement-7000027858/

Thanks everyone! Will be doing more research tonight

 

[spankmon]

Two of my adult daughters use only Linux with no complaints, the rest of my family have Windows. If it were completely up to me, they'd all be using Linux. Call me a hypocrite, but I do boot into Windows on occasion.

 

[skittle]

Hi puppy Linux is a specialty distribution built to run from flash drives. Infact your observations are incorrect. Puppy Linux is more "skelatal" than almost any other distrobutions (other than than truely barebones OS like DSL or CoreOS). Quite literally puppy linux foregoes usability for lighter weight tools

Do not recommend puppy linux if you are new to Linux...

Instead try Linux mint, Ubuntu, Xubuntu, or Kubuntu.
These are "wife and child friendly" distorbutions!

Netflix will not work out of the box with any Linux (due to DRM). But it will work with some additional software.
http://www.ubuntugeek.com/pipelight-using-silverlight-in-linux-browsers.html

Installing software is not like windows either, if you are not using chrome (which has flash built in) you may need to install flash from your distrobutions repository.
http://askubuntu.com/questions/341428/how-to-install-flash-player-on-ubuntu
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/InstallingSoftware

 

[stillblue]

Reinforcing Skittle.
I use puppy Linux only to fix old windows systems and with the death of XP I'll be using that flash a lot 😀, it takes a fair amount of Linux understanding in order to build it up to all you want to do.
Ubuntu or Mint would be far, far easier for them to use. Skittle said installing is different. Yes, easier. Select what you want and click install. The installer downloads and installs for you. Mint comes with more pre-installed drivers and such because Ubuntu has a stricter proprietary software policy but all can be easily installed after the fact. Whichever you choose you might want to install ubuntu primary education package (works with mint as well since mint is based on ubuntu) there are some great educational programs/games in it aimed specifically at her age.

 

[mgjacc]

Wow! What a wealth of info. Thank you all very much.

@skittle: I had assumed Linux Puppy was less skeletal because most review sites focussed on the desktop and features there, and debian seemed an empty sea. Reviews of Puppy seemed to indicate it came as a system like pure windows; you have a paint program, note, basic word pro, browser, etc. And the Puppy website basically had a DOWNLOAD THIS option.
When I checked out debian, there were page after page of cryptic downloads of small apps and it made it appear that Puppy came ready made, and debian would be labouriously assembled module at a time. Shows you how misleading reviews can be!

@stillblue: checked out ubuntu primary education package. Looks great and I will try it, but links to debian, I’m assuming it’s all the same? Thanks for that.

So to spankmon, skittle and stillblue you’ve corrected the course of my linux vessel. My synthesis of this would be:

1. Build lite duty system
2. Install windows first and throw to the online shopping addicts to get my old computer back
3. Build second lite system and install Linux Mint and have a go at it because it takes time
4. If it works, uninstall windows on first system and put Mint on, use windows disk with my big build.

Then by the end of summer I have three new systems and only paid for one OS. That would save me $200 which is about the price of the one small build. I’m not guilty about keeping windows to myself because I have thousands in software that are useless without it. Then I’ll have the time to start to build the warehouse to hold all the hats, gloves and scarves that Etsy is delivering from around the world to my shopaholics. 😉

Of course there is the option of dual boot windows/linux

And of course I have three shrink wrapped copies of XP from many years ago that have never been installed on any system....


Thanks so much for all the advice

 

[skittle]

Unfortunately Microsoft does not let you transfer a Windows Liscense to a new PC. You may run into problems transferring it to your "big build"

ps: funny you mention debian.
Debian is literally father of Ubuntu and granddaddy of Mint. Debian is highly configurable, versatile, and stable however the sheer amount of customization available when you first install may be overwhelming!
Ubuntu and Linux Mint, while having been built on Debian foundation, have put in a lot of work getting their distrobutions to a point of "just works".

 

[Aristotelian]

Puppy is designed for older PCs. It is very barebones. It does come with office software and such, but it is usually the most simplistic versions (eg Abiword instead of LibreOffice). Since you are starting with new hardware, you will be much better off with a more mainstream distribution such as Ubuntu, XUbuntu, or Mint Cinnamon or Mint MATE.

 

[stillblue]

The DEB part. There are different methods of configuring a program for install in Linux, Mint, Ubuntu, Puppy use the DEB installer for example. It will look for any dependencies you made need and download them as well. The easiest way to install a program is to go to the software center included with your distribution. It's like installing on an android phone, you navigate categories or look for specific files if you know them and click install on the one you want. Finished.

 

[mgjacc]

I was wondering about the transfer, I've heard various things. I'll be using windows 7 ultimate myself, for the others I'll use the cheapest OS at the time of purchase. If I use Linux Mint on the small build and then decide it's too bothersome is it easy to remove and install windows later?

The other question would be is how well does mint play with other computers on a network, or network printer?

thanks

 

[stillblue]

Two minutes tops to remove. Not that you will and yes Mint plays well on networks.

 

[skittle]

Yes printer setup (even networked printing) is easy to setup under Ubuntu/Mint. What printer do you have (hopefully HP!)? You may find some printers do not have good linux support... In particular low end Lexmark printers are basically paperweights.

Check here for generic Ubuntu/Mint printer questions:
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Printers

 

[mgjacc]

Samsung network printer. But printing is not a key req though there are drivers. l figure I can build a basic box for $275 and try Linux mint. Watch for my upcoming HELP!
Wonderful advice everyone, much nicer than flying solo,
Thanks!

 

[Danbuscus25]

ok, good luck 😀

 

[nss000]

I understand more games come to Linux than ever before. Linux will always "give you trouble". Yet, you daughter may love it even if you hate it. After about a year she will self-admin and configure her Linux, and teach you Linux <<-->> WIN communications skills.