"Internet Appliance" distro?

[gsellis]

This topic just came up at home and it got me wondering. It won't solve my issue that I see, but could be a solution for some folks.

My wife's dad is 70+ with early Alzheimer's. We cannot, in good conscience, even consider giving him a computer that is fully configurable. Nobody has the time to support it. So far, Web TV has been about the best thing running. Microsoft has kept it alive and it is now MSN TV 2. They added Messenger and it will read (only) USB flash drives and certain memory card readers. (NOTE - do not diss MS for this as they and Nokia are the ONLY ones that seem to be committed to keeping something like this in the pipeline. The Nokia one does not work for the non-texting, large font generation. No one else is stepping up to the plate for our wizened, but technological challenged folks).

Anywho... Does anyone know of a CD based distro that is really just a browser interface with the ability to save docs, pdfs, video, audio, and pics as a limited set from email or the web? So, basically, a browser with email, messaging, and allows using a local HD as storage, but nothing else?



Footnote:
I think the best solution running for my wife's dad is going to be upgrading to MSN TV2 and buying him a 2 drawer filing cabinet. We then help him organize a bunch of hanging folders. His helper says he runs through a ton of toner, so we know he is printing stuff. MSN TV2 may add Acrobat to is functions, which may be missing. Not sure I want to give him the ability to save documents as he has trouble finding the ones he already prints (hence the filing system). It would be worse using the document ids assigned in big online databases. He would never be able to figure out that 1819928282.pdf is the one he saved about his Nitro medication

 

[Matthias99]

I know there are some 'kiosk' Linux builds -- but I think they are more for standalone use as JUST a web browser (or running some other standalone application), not a 'locked-down' general PC or internet appliance. Someone was asking about it recently, in fact, so maybe you can dig up that thread. There may be something out there for this.

It wouldn't be hard to set up a Linux desktop that only let you run a very limited set of applications, and you can lock down storage easily. The tricky part will be getting a nice GUI to tie it all together.

If he can do everything via web browser (check email through a web interface, store files online and accessible via browser, etc.) you might be able to use one of the 'kiosk' Linux builds and basically have it boot right up into FF.

 

[Looney]

Yep, that's what i was going to suggest. Go with Fedora Core or something like that, and only limit it to whatever programs you want... and make them all accessible from the desktop. That would be best. Although you'll need to configure it ahead of time for him (including such things as his printers and such). But the great thing about linux, is that it's very easy to backup and for reinstallation. If you ever wanted to upgrade his PC or give him another PC, all you have to do is swap the HDD into the new computer, and everything else is taken care of. You don't have to reinstall the OS from scratch like you do with XP or Vista. I've done such swaps where EVERYTHING was completely different. I'm talking about CPU generation, motherboards, NICs, soundcard, GPU, etc, and it booted up just fine.

 

[gsellis]

The more we talk about it, the more it looks like we will definitely do a filing cabinet and upgrade him to the new WebTV (MSN TV2). It just fits the user profile better. He will still have his wireless keyboard and we do not need to consider putting any extra furniture such as a desk in. We could consider a BOB/card to make the TV a monitor. But now we have a PC to put in his little stereo cabinet. And create a Linux build with the wireless keyboard and mouse drivers in it. And it would still not fix the issue with file naming conventions being non-descriptive (or confusing).

Thanks for thinking about it.