Re: [MLUG] computers for Ecuadorian family

[Phillip Kelchen <EMAIL:PROTECTED>]

I run Ubuntu and except for the initial boot prompt screen when you first stick in the CD, you can pick the language. That is selected from the very next screen. SuSE allows you to set the install language by selecting it from the initial screen via one of the F keys, I think F2.

I have had no problem at all with digital cameras. If they are recognized as USB mass storage devices, they will certainly work, and even if they're not (like my Kodak DX6490), gphoto and KDE DigiKam have drivers for them. The only reason that  Linux might not work out for them would be if they like to play Windows games, and that likely will not be a problem as the machines will not be gaming machines. Also, if they use dial-up, test the modem to make sure it works. If it is a winmodem and Smartlink Softmodem does not work (it works on my laptop's Intel 537 built-in modem), then pick up an external modem at a yard sale or on Ebay for a couple of bucks.

You'll probably have better luck with Linux than Windows as there are no license fees or hassles- you could even use machines that people/businesses throw out or sell for at most $50 or $100. I'd personally go that route as businesses generally get pretty decent units that still have a lot of life left in them after their 4 or 5 years of use. As long as they're not 486s or something REALLY old, you should be able to run Linux on them well, which can't be said for XP. 

Phillip Kelchen 

On Tue, 2005-11-15 at 11:27 -0600, Mike Miller wrote:
> My wife is from Quito, Ecuador, and her (far from wealthy) parents, 
> siblings and their kids still live there.  We would like to buy computers 
> for them and I'm trying to come up with a good way to do this such that:
>
> (1) The computers will be respectable, current machines,
> (2) they won't cost too much money, and
> (3) shipping costs will be kept to a minimum.
>
> I will be going to Ecuador one of these days and I think I'll bring parts 
> with me and assemble the machines there (probably 4 or 5 of them).  I'm 
> hoping that I can buy main boards, drives and such here, but buy the cases 
> and monitors in Quito.  I think I can fit the parts into a carry-on bag 
> and thereby avoid any S/H costs.
>
> Any thoughts on that plan?
>
> The next issue is software.  I would love for them to run Linux or a dual 
> boot system.  Everything has to be in Spanish.  Do all Linux OSs allow for 
> Spanish language installations?  Same for Windows XP?
>
> If I could set them up with Linux only, they might not be happy.  Any 
> views on this?  I think some of them would be fine -- email, web, word 
> processing -- but the users who want to get into downloading photos from a 
> digital camera or doing video editing might have some trouble.  What do 
> you think?
>
> Thanks in advance for any thoughts you can share.  I'm not sure when I'll 
> actually do this, maybe this summer, but I wanted to start planning now.
>
> Best,
>
> Mike
>
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