I’m currently in the process of installing Linux w/ GNOME 3 on a distant relatives computer… who lives in Florida 🙂 A couple days ago, I did the same for one of Kevin’s friends who lives in California – both people who I will not see for months or possibly years, so it’ll be interesting to see how this works out in the long run (I’m installing Ubuntu 12.04 LTS, doing a recommended update & then switching them to only security updates).
As a result, I’m curious if anyone else does this routinely, and if so if you have recommendations for what to install (on a computer that you will not personally touch again, for people used to Windows). I typically install GNOME 3, Tor, Samba, Synaptic, Chromium, xChat, Evolution, Skype… probably a few others I’m forgetting atm. Anything important I’m missing?
Todo en Tiempo 
August 11, 2012 at 4:23 pm
Start with Ubuntu Gnome Shell Remix.
http://ubuntu-gs-remix.sourceforge.net/p/home/
August 11, 2012 at 4:29 pm
VLC and perhaps GIMP and Inkscape. If you’re installing Gimp, you’re best off with a PPA with version 2.8.
I’d suggest installing Chrome instead of Chromium, since it will get upgraded more frequently and only Chrome 21 and above seem to support the PPAPI Flash plug-in correctly on Linux.
August 12, 2012 at 3:35 am
vinagre, vino or something that enables you to get to their PC using the net. I always use this setup with people I assisted in upgrading to linux. I use remote desktop access software coupled with a OpenVPN client setup to connect to my OpenVPN server so I’m sure my PC can talk with their PC.
August 12, 2012 at 7:27 am
Installing both Skype and Tor at the same time is bothering me actually. On the one hand you give them privacy on the other you take them basically away (because Skype essentially is P2P Video Conferencing). This strikes me as rather odd. Also Synaptic in my eyes cannot compete with Ubuntus Software Center from and end users perspective.
I prefer Thunderbird over Evolution, the browser is actually a users choice, because they usually know both chrome and firefox from windows, so they know what they’re getting in to.
A good tool in my eyes is shutter (http://shutter-project.org/), for screenshots, basic editing and uploading. Perhaps gimp, which is not part of ubuntu for some time now.
Also remember to add the GNOME3-Team PPA: https://launchpad.net/~gnome3-team/+archive/gnome3.
August 13, 2012 at 6:12 am
What stefanocanepa said, except I’d use TeamViewer (easier to set up and works through router/firewall):
http://www.teamviewer.com/
Will be invaluable when you have to do remote support (and you will have to).