Xtra-PC Helps Non-Technical People Install Linux on an Old PC

[securitybreach]

Not a bad way to market linux to parents.

 

 

https://youtu.be/fN49nG4uO9k

 

 

If you still have an old PC, you're in luck. A new Linux distribution based on Lubuntu will give any old PC a new lease on life, designed for non-technical users and optimized for popular web sites.

 

We covered some ways of installing Linux on an old Windows XP computer before, but Xtra-PC makes the process easy for non-technical people—and it comes with a lot of popular stuff set up out of the box. You can run the product off the DVD, a flash drive, or install it directly to the hard drive (erasing the old operating system). I tried it on a few different XP-era computers and didn't need any drivers. Even wireless and Ethernet worked perfectly.

 

Xtra-PC includes links for Facebook, Minecraft, Amazon Prime Video, and Netflix, and optimizes Chromium with the correct plug-ins. Other web-based products like Google Docs work just like you'd expect with any other OS. You could do this yourself, of course, but for $15, Xtra-PC does it for you and provides support—perfect for non-technical people who need an extra computer that's less likely to get viruses.

http://lifehacker.co...n-an-1691291316

[securitybreach]

This is actually pretty cool as they also provide support and such:

 

http://www.xtra-pc.com/faq/

[abarbarian]

So we say if you are a hard core Linux person and enjoy the time and effort to do a Linux installation and use it, then by all means go ahead. But keep in mind you wont have Netflix and Amazon prime or Minecraft easily available. We’ve designed Xtra-PC for those people who need an extra PC and don’t want to bother learning how to use Linux. If you have used Linux you know what we mean. My favorite analogy for this is the following. When I go to the grocery store to buy salad ingredients I have the choice of buying the individual ingredients and then cutting and preparing them into a salad mix. For some people this is fun and sometimes it can be cheaper. But most of us reach for the prepared salad mix that has the lettuce and other items already cut and prepared- its simpler and just works. The goal is a salad, not cutting and preparing the salad. If your goal is being able to use that old computer without being a computer tech then Xtra-PC is the way to go!

 

Not a bad idea to help the general population re-use old pc's. However it is commercially driven and I am not sure that promoting Netflix and Amazon are such a good thing. There is no mention of which linux they are using and if you try the "get source" link then a web page opens and gives you an address to go to to ask for the source.

"But most of us reach for the prepared salad mix" only in his lazy world.Meself I prefer to choose the produce and create my own salad,but I am an old fashioned git.

Also there are a great number of spelling and grammer mistakes in the commercial blurb, don't these folks know how to use a spell checker ? Hope the os has better quality testing.

[securitybreach]

It is based on Lubuntu: "A new Linux distribution based on Lubuntu"

 

And a little research finds more info:

 

 

 

Address: Haxtun, Colorado

 

Long Description: Xtra-PC is a family business established for families as an affordable and effective way for them to provide their family members with extra PCs. We launched Xtra-PC with the idea of a business made up of family members, each bringing their own area of giftedness and expertise to their work.

 

Mark Oman, a former VP and GM at Agilent and HP, has extensive experience in management, and Xtra-PC allows him to combine that experience with the joy of working with and leading his family in the business of Xtra-PC. Adam Oman uses his background in technology to head up the customer support for Xtra-PC. Monty Phillips brings his experience as a software engineer at HP to his job as the chief software developer for Xtra-PC. Renee Phillips heads up communications for Xtra-PC, using her experience as a published author to write for the company. Heather Henricks uses her expertise in social media to market Xtra-PC.

 

Together, we are Xtra-PC: a business designed by a family for families like yours.

 

https://www.facebook...o?tab=page_info

 

It sounds like some guys in Colorado put together a new distro based on Lubuntu to create an easy to use distro for parents.

[securitybreach]

I think that mentioning Netflix and Amazon video is a good thing since those are the most popular video streaming sites out there and a huge majority of families subscribe. Mentioning that to parents get's their foot in the door per se. "Oh look, it even has Netflix so I can watch those soap operas and Minecraft for Timmy."

[abarbarian]

I think that mentioning Netflix and Amazon video is a good thing since those are the most popular video streaming sites out there and a huge majority of families subscribe. Mentioning that to parents get's their foot in the door per se. "Oh look, it even has Netflix so I can watch those soap operas and Minecraft for Timmy."

 

Yeah I was a bit grumpy when I posted. I think it is a good idea and am not against folks making money. Just not so sure about the Netflix and Amazon promotion though I can see the befits of the other view. I may have been a tad more accepting if they had given as much exposure to the distro they used as that is what is going to make them loot after all.

 

[Capt.Crow]

I must agree with Abarbarian . Not the grumpy bit .

What gets me is that I have to pay $5000.oo to just get the Lambourghini serviced . Don't even mention the Lear jet . Humph!!!

 

There is no problem with making big bucks . The problem is stockpiling those humungous amounts and not spreading it around.

After all the more it's spread the more it lifts others.

 

How many of these rich have taken the time to bring a homeless person into a diner and eaten food with him and had a conversation .

 

I'm no saint nor any kind of "good" person . But I have done this many times over the years when I was "flush"

I have met excellent Poets ,Mathematicians,Musicians , And one time I met a Professor of Astronomy .

 

We may or may not have a hard time paying bills . But at the very least there is a roof and a meal when needed.

For this I will always be humbly gratefull to my Guardian Angel

 

Nuffsaid.

[rolanaj]

I think its kind of cool. My oldest installed PCLinuxOS the other day though with very little help from me, a few texts back and forth. This may not sound like much but she is the kind of person who hates having to do anything with her PC, it is supposed to just work. I was totally impressed that she did it. She even got Dropbox and Skype working by herself. Amazing the stuff you can learn when you can't afford to just replace something.

 

I was not aware that Netflix worked with Linux yet, so now I have to go find out more about this. Are they running it through wine maybe?

 

Also salads are way more fun to make yourself, then you can put everything in the ready made leave out.

Edited March 27, 2015 by rolanaj

[securitybreach]

I was not aware that Netflix worked with Linux yet, so now I have to go find out more about this. Are they running it through wine maybe?

 

Nope, it works fine with Linux and Chrome: http://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2014/10/psa-netflix-ubuntu-now-working-box

[rolanaj]

Nope, it works fine with Linux and Chrome: http://www.omgubuntu...now-working-box

Apparently not with PCLinuxOS yet though. This is closer though so probably only a matter of time.

[securitybreach]

Apparently not with PCLinuxOS yet though. This is closer though so probably only a matter of time.

 

Darn, that sux