[NBLUG/talk] Linux for my grand kid's computer

[Todd Cary]

With the propensity kids have for loading their computers with viruses 
and spyware, I would like to install Linux on my grandson's computer.  
However, I am faced with the challenge of deciding which flavor to use 
and then what programs to include.  As background, I earn my living as 
the lead software developer for Gilardi and Co. in Kentfield, a class 
action lawsuit administration firm.  Everything is in the Windows 
environment.  At my home office, I run two Linux boxes: RH 9 (for work) 
and Fedora 3 (for play).  Some years ago I started with RH 4 which I use 
to run my test environment for PHP programs (my client runs them on NT) 
and my FTP server, but I realized that I needed to know more about those 
two boxes.  This resulted in taking Mark Street's course in Linux 
Administration (one of the best CS courses I have taken and I learned 
that I am not a systems administrator!).

I love Red hat Linux because it installs and runs and runs and runs with 
little help from me, but I look at the plethora of programs that are 
installed, ninety percent of which I have never used or looked at.  What 
would a kid need?  Firefox and Thunderbird plus the OpenOffice suite and 
maybe a easy to use GUI text editor?  Can such a simple version of 
Fedora be installed?  Or should I venture into another flavor of Linux?  
I have Lindows on a CD, however that seems too restrictive.

The bottom line is that I am looking for a no frills desktop (maybe a 
notebook version too that has WiFi support) that will not require too 
many admin skills (you know those phone calls - "Grand dad, my computer 
is not working!  Can you come over and fix it?").

Suggestions welcomed......

Todd
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