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submitted 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) by queue to c/linux@lemmy.ml

Title. Mainly asking for the library side, but PC cafe is also interesting to ask about.

Mainly since Windows 11 is 64-bit only, and it seems Windows 12 is going to subscription based on top of that, neither of which public libraries can afford tossing out computers and paying more in subscription fees than they make with overdue books.

My local library is only open for 2 days a week, due to a lack of funds for hiring more staff in the area. They use older Dell all in ones, and that just makes me think if they don't have the money for being open 5 days a week, they don't have the money to buy 4 new computers for the space.

Not even getting into the bigger libraries part of that system or the ones nearby. Some have 8 computers in groups, with 4 stations of groups.

So I was just wondering, if anyone has started or is aware of a Library/Public Computer focused linux-based OS? Perhaps one that allows immutable systems, and the library card system backed most use to enable end user access. Perhaps that's a config file tucked away somewhere.

And I guess the PC cafe OS is interesting, simply due to the fact that Linux gaming has been making huge strides, and PC cafes are still popular in Japan, Korea, and China.

EDIT: I am not in control or assistance to the library, just looking if there's a potential solution to libraries like mine. If I could give links to a library computer manager, or if I could give upstream bug reports to people making such software.

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[-] atlasraven31@lemm.ee 1 points 1 year ago

I set up some Xubuntu and Lubuntu computers for a school once. These computers were ancient Pentium 4's with DVD drives. Some didn't even have USB but it worked out okay for a $0 solution.

[-] eclipse@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 year ago

Zorin OS seems like it would be good for this purpose.

[-] nyl@lemmy.opensupply.space 1 points 1 year ago

For those saying NixOS has no commercial support, there is: https://nixos.org/community/commercial-support

[-] flashgnash@lemm.ee 1 points 1 year ago

I don't imagine there'd be a specific distro but you could absolutely lock a Linux machine down to be usable as a kiosk

Real question would be why though, a computer is a computer to the majority of people and you can always just bring your own laptop if you want Linux for yourself

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this post was submitted on 15 Oct 2023
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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

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