Best advice for setting up Ubuntu on my mother's computer

Posted by idealmachine on Ask Ubuntu See other posts from Ask Ubuntu or by idealmachine
Published on 2011-01-08T08:35:57Z Indexed on 2011/01/09 0:59 UTC
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Intended use

My mother had an old Compaq desktop computer running Windows 98, which she used for occasional Web browsing and playing cards. The name of her card game is Hoyle Card Games 3. Although I had to repair it several times over the last 10 years, it worked fine until it finally died at the end of last year.

Hardware specifications

A relative brought up a newer computer soon afterward:

Operating system: Windows XP
Asus K8N motherboard (with broken on-board sound; getting a sound card)
- Athlon 64? processor (don't remember the clock speed)
- 512 MB RAM
- Hope the graphics card works...
Replacement sound card will be one of:
- Ensoniq ES1370 AudioPCI
- Diamond Monster Sound MX300 (Aureal chipset)
- Sound Blaster Audigy 2 SE
Peripherals
- HP Scanjet 3400c scanner (USB connected)
- HP LaserJet multi-function printer (parallel port connected, and printing works with a PCL driver)
- Same serial mouse as old computer

Question

I had set up an SSH/VNC connection to allow for remotely working out problems. Or so I thought. A month later, the computer would not boot, rendering the SSH connection useless and an OS reinstall necessary. Unfortunately, I have neither the original Windows disc nor the product key. Unless I were to pay $200 for a full Windows 7 Home Premium license for my computer, I would not be able to re-install Windows XP on hers.

I consider myself an advanced Linux user, having used Debian for years. So here are my questions. I have only one day to decide whether to use Ubuntu or buy Windows:

A quick search leads me to believe all the hardware listed above is supposed to work with Linux, but am I mistaken?
Would Ubuntu/Xubuntu suffice (specify which one if it matters), or would I be better off paying the $200 necessary for Windows XP?
Is the card game likely to run on Wine? I believe the minimum system requirement is Windows 95.
Failing Wine compatibility, will VirtualBox run fast enough on such a computer (Windows 98 as the guest OS)?
Are there any free card games just as good? She plays mainly Bridge, Poker, and Solitaire.
Is there any "Large Fonts" option for those with poor vision? The lack of it would be a big disadvantage.
BONUS: Although I would probably replace the old mouse upon a move to Ubuntu, is it even possible to get a serial mouse working?

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