I need a distro that is stable with a particular need to set up zero input automatic updates. If an update asks for a password or needs user interaction in basically any way it simply won’t get done. All he needs is a reliable platform for browsing the web. I am replacing an Ubuntu system that has apparently just stopped working (I have not had a chance to examine it yet) after years and years of not getting proper updates after he forgot his password.
Something like Bazzite is intriguing because of it’s locked down environment although he is very much not a gamer. Is there something locked down like Bazzite but with long term LTS release cycle?
Atomic distros don’t support all packages, even flatpaks
I’m aure they support Firefox + email client + a few card games to spend time between sending an email and waiting a reply.
They do support these. These specific ones do work fine but others not so much. I would recommend something more closer to Ubuntu like Linux Mint
The OP’s elderly parents won’t need anything else. Have you forgotten that one of his specs is to minimize password usage and updating?