I was quite shocked! SimplicITy

[Paddy Landau]

I saw an article today on the BBC, detailing a really easy-to-use interface. The idea is excellent: Something brilliantly easy for those who aren't "into" computers. The marketing is aimed at the elderly.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8352606.stm

The product is based on Linux Mint, so it has all the advantages of Open Source. Uh, well, perhaps not... I don't see anything on the company's website allowing downloads!

Anyway, I decided to find out more. The company that develops it is Wessex Computers, and they call it SimplicITy (nothing whatsoever to do with Linux Simplicity).

The company sells a complete computer package, again a good idea for the not-so-knowledgeable.

However, what shocked me was... the price!

Have a look here:
http://www.discount-age.co.uk/simpli...ters/ordernow/

Bear in mind that £1 is about US$1.68, so the cheapest full option excluding a printer is an astonishing $730, plus delivery!

Blimey.

Here's an idea for the clever people at Canonical -- or even the clever people on this forum...

Develop a front-end like the one in the article, aimed at people who are really uncomfortable with computers. (Not just the elderly; I helped a friend the other day who has never used a computer before. It's all a bit overwhelming for him.)

I reckon that Canonical could have this front-end as yet another alternative, which would increase Ubuntu's range even more.

• Ubuntu standard
• Ubuntu Netbook Remix
• Ubuntu for Dummies

[newbie2]

If there was a webcam on it to communicate, it would be more appreciated at elderly people me thinks...

[ukripper]

If there was a webcam on it to communicate, it would be more appreciated at elderly people me thinks...

+1 with skype installed. And Audio and video detected by skype automatically.

[NuclearStr1der]

If there was a webcam on it to communicate, it would be more appreciated at elderly people me thinks...

So true a statement. My GrandMa is absolutely clueless about computers, but she loves that webcam to bits - much to the expense of our bandwidth

I like the idea of an "Ubuntu for Dummies" version, although I'm having trouble figuring out how to make it easier and simpler than the Netbook Remix version.

[Glucklich]

Do you have a link for this SimplicITy? I wasn't able to find it.

From the video you gave, I think that this very close to UNR, isn't it? But a lot more limited, since you just have a big icon saying "Chat" and probably only one program for each kind... like Pidgin for IM and Skype for video-conferences, each one of them with a big icon saying 'Written' and 'Video', respectively. Which, in Ubuntu Netbook Remix, you get a full list of the programs... maybe if you could get a short description in there, it would help (which is not very difficult to do) and it would get the job done. At the same time, you wouldn't sacrifice the OS flexibility. Because, the menu is pretty clear on that one (Games, Graphics, Office, Internet) and it's on the Desktop.

Are they allowed to charge for this? I mean, if they based it on Linux Mint, which is based on Ubuntu... wouldn't they have to share it alike?

[wyliecoyoteuk]

Agreed, it could be cheaper, but that might actually dissuade buyers!

£299 is about bottom consumer price here in the UK for a PC.
(although Acer are selling Ubuntu Desktop Machines for about £180 +VAT)
There is more Value-added stuff, like video tutorials with Valerie Singleton (ageing minor British celebrity) and included membership of discount Age, a preconfigured eldy email account, etc.

After all, they are not in the business to give stuff away, and with their reputation, it might just be a goer.

I wonder if Canonical were to approach Age concern, whether theirs would be any cheaper.

[Paddy Landau]

If there was a webcam on it to communicate, it would be more appreciated at elderly people me thinks...

Now that's an excellent idea.

I like the idea of an "Ubuntu for Dummies" version, although I'm having trouble figuring out how to make it easier and simpler than the Netbook Remix version.

As easy and well-designed as it is, even the NBR is too complicated for the absolute newbies. Have you ever worked with one and noticed just how fearsome it seems to that person? A friend of mine used to be afraid even to touch the keyboard!

It takes just four clicks to swap between NBR and the standard interface, so if Ubuntu had a "dummies" version (perhaps a better name, yes?), then it would be easy to swap between the three versions.

Do you have a link for this SimplicITy? I wasn't able to find it.

It's all in the first post. You can't download SimplicITy; the company makes its money selling the computers.

... this very close to UNR, isn't it? But a lot more limited...

That's the point!

As an analogy, a mobile phone enthusiast will be happy to have a phone with a camera, plenty of fancy options, MP3 player, alarms, games, Internet acess, Bluetooth, and so on. For me, I just want "Call someone" and "text someone".

Computer people are the same. Some like lots of tinkering, games, options, and so on, while others just want "Email", "Write a document", and three or four other options.

Are they allowed to charge for this?

I don't know the license for Mint. Perhaps the license requires the software to be made available to everyone (though not the video instructions, I would imagine). You can certainly ask for a copy of the software and find out what reply you get.

But the company isn't claming to make the money on the software. It's making the money on the computers, the novelty and the video instructions. That's perfectly above-board, AFAIK.

[bloodorange]

so it has all the advantages of Open Source. Uh, well, perhaps not... I don't see anything on the company's website allowing downloads!

Yes, I read about this via BBC, too. It's a great idea. I haven't tried it yet, but you can download the front end - Eldy. It's developed in Italy, here's the Eldy website: http://www.eldy.eu/

[Paddy Landau]

here's the Eldy website: http://www.eldy.eu/

Brilliant, thanks for the link.

I downloaded Eldy via the repositories as instructed; the repositories are still only version 1.7, and Synaptic wants to repeatedly upgrade it to the same version

But it really does seem very easy to use. Almost nothing to it, which of course is the point.

I do think that Canonical would do well to incorporate this idea into an alternative front-end.

[thedogisdead]

While I applaud any efforts in making computers accessible to older people... come on, could they not have given the interface a bit more polish?

It may be simplistic, but that's not the same as friendly, or encouraging to use, is it?

It's a good start, though, and it shows how people can make a viable business by using open source software to appeal to niche markets!