Linux appliance?

[Derek Martin]

On Wed, Nov 24, 2004 at 07:40:23PM -0500, Michael ODonnell wrote:
> 
> Here's a query direct from a German relative when he
> heard that I know something about Linux:
> 
>  [my mother] is dying to be able to use the Internet, but is
>  very afraid of computers.  At home she cannot even correctly
>  use her cell phone or Funktelefon.  

Dare I ask?  What is a Funktelefon?  ;-)

>  Isn't there a simple
>  little Idiot-proof LINUX- Systeme bootable from something
>  like an e-prom which cannot be invaded by viruses, trojans,
>  dialers, spyware, etc?  (Sort of like the old ATARI-PC?).
>  That would be a super sales hit for our parents, in fact a
>  "business idea."  Don't you think so?  I herewith establish
>  my claim as being first with this idea.
> 
> Any recommendations?

Sure...  boot knoppix from CD.  But she'll need a writable disk
partition for storing mail related files, which introduces some
(probably minute) measure of vulnerability.  And, not being very
familiar with knoppix, I'm not sure how you would have it
automatically mount her home directory, except perhaps by
custom-modifying the iso image an editing the fstab.  The Knoppix
people are pretty clever though; there is probably already a way to do
it...  I just never needed to know what it was.

-- 
Derek D. Martin    http://www.pizzashack.org/   GPG Key ID: 0xDFBEAD02
-=-=-=-=-
This message is posted from an invalid address.  Replying to it will result in
undeliverable mail.  Sorry for the inconvenience.  Thank the spammers.

-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: not available
Type: application/pgp-signature
Size: 189 bytes
Desc: not available
Url : http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/private/gnhlug-discuss/attachments/20041124/f3252243/attachment.bin