[Tutor] Which computer operating system is best for Python

[Tim Krupinski]

I would agree with David and others.  For programming, a chromebook would
not be a good choice because you can't install any type of development
environment onto the machine itself.  Get something with a big screen and,
preferably a full keyboard - I'm talking full size in the sense that you
have the numeric keypad to the right.  Unless you look a little deeper most
options available will be windows based.  Not a problem - I would recommend
using a piece of software called "Virtualbox".  It is freely available and
distributed by Oracle.  It will allow you to install a Linux operating
system on a "Virtual" machine that runs within windows.  While this may
seem complicated to somebody without experience in this area, there are
great tutorials on this and the process is much more straightforward than
it was just a couple years ago.

The reason I suggest Linux is because a lot of Python is used in it
already.  Once it's installed, you are ready to go.  Also, a lot of
documentation you find on how to set up and configure a Python environment
assumes you are using Linux.  While Windows isn't entirely dissimilar,
there are a few key differences which could make it more frustrating to
navigate for first time users.  Plus, most popular distributions make it *very
*easy to install python addons and libraries.  As an ancillary benefit,
your child will also be learning Linux as he learns to program.


On Wed, Feb 5, 2014 at 6:35 PM, David Abbott <david at pythontoo.com> wrote:

> On Wed, Feb 5, 2014 at 7:23 PM, Marc Tompkins <marc.tompkins at gmail.com>
> wrote:
> > On Wed, Feb 5, 2014 at 3:18 PM, Joel Goldstick <joel.goldstick at gmail.com
> >
> > wrote:
> >>
> >> I would get a laptop with as large a screen as you can afford. Windows
> or
> >> Linux.
> >>
> > I second that emotion, and also: try out the keyboard first (or rather,
> have
> > your kid try it out).  We spend a lot of time on our laptops, and a
> > badly-designed keyboard can ruin an otherwise-great machine.  Yes, you
> can
> > plug in an external keyboard, mouse, and monitor, but most of the time
> > you're gonna stick with what came in the box.  Make sure you won't hate
> it.
>
> Linux runs great on older Laptops that were the top of the line in
> their day, two nice examples with great keyboards are dell e6400 and
> ibm T61's. Linux is easy to install and set up now a days :)
>
>
> --
> David Abbott
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