What are good FLOSS software options for elderly people? (feddit.org)

submitted 1 week ago by HaraldvonBlauzahn@feddit.org to c/linux@lemmy.world

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cross-posted from: https://feddit.org/post/34632736

I am looking for good options for an elderly relative which has some onset of slight dementia, but is still living alone (with assistance).

The main problem is that usual things are becoming just too complicated for that person. There are too many details that don't matter. For example, user interfaces have a lot of features that are not strictly needed, many hidden states, often no clearly visible affordances, and so on. Some mail clients make it difficult to recognize phishing.

As a good example how it is done better, I'd name GNOME simple-scan. A really good and simple UI!

This person is currently using Thunderbird + Firefox on Windows, and K9 Mail on Android. Learned to use Windows in their sixties and is now in mid-eighties age.

The main need is a simpler Email client.

Any suggestions?

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[-] CallMeAl@piefed.world 3 points 1 week ago

If you are comparing on hardware you are missing the point. It comes with support and a free number they can call if something goes wrong. I don't live in the same country as FIL so its was 100% worth it to make him happy with his computer.

[-] NaibofTabr@infosec.pub 9 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

It comes with 30 days of support, after that they charge rent.

I'm not "comparing on hardware", because there is no comparison. This hardware is trash. It's a paperweight.

The WiFI router your ISP gives you with your service probably has more compute power. Which is what this company should be doing, giving this computer away for free with the support subscription.

[-] CallMeAl@piefed.world 3 points 1 week ago

They must have changed from when I bought it 7 years ago.

this post was submitted on 27 Aug 2026

26 points (100.0% liked)

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