I've seen endless debates on the various Linux "distros," and a few zealots for other free operating systems [a hat-tip to RS and other FreeBSD users, as well as to the OpenSolaris crowd] but they are usually geared to the needs of adult users, and have to do with interoperability, capability to meet business or personal needs, and the like. My question--posed particularly to parents, educators, or others with direct practical experience: what is the best OS and "distro" for the needs of a bright, inquisitive 8 1/2-year-old child?
Though I can't make anything as specific as a requirements statement, I'm interested in your collective thoughts on how well a candidate system supports installed software or web-based sources of:
- Reading,
writingkeyboarding, and arithmetic, - [And perhaps advanced topics in the same including but not limited to: criticism, composition, and
calculus1 mathematics] - Music theory & practice,
- Web research,
- [and eventually E-mail, IM, blogging, and the like]
I'm listening. Go!
1 Let's not get ahead of ourselves, now. Q isn't