Ubuntu and probably others have a guest mode that copies a home 
directory into memory for the guest when they log in.  It's deleted when 
they log off.  You can customize it by editing the files stored in the 
directory it's copied from.

On 3/15/19 11:01 AM, Christopher Davis wrote:
> This is a good thread and I also hope that it drives Linux usage up.
> There's a Linux-compatible Deepfreeze alternative called Dafturn Ofris, a
> bash script which "freezes" the Linux user's home directory. This means
> that (at least on Linux distros based on Debian) you can install system
> updates without thawing, whilst still preventing personalizations such as
> browser cache, wallpapers, menu options, etc. from persisting beyond
> reboot. The Dafturn Ofris script can be downloaded from
> sourceforge.net/projects/dafturnofris-id/. The other cool thing about
> Dafturn Ofris is that you only need to reboot the machine when you want to
> freeze it.
>
> I've found great success in downloading it to the Home directory, then you
> can open a terminal, type in "bash dafturn-ofris.sh" and follow the
> directions. Later, when the system if frozen, you can just quickly open a
> terminal (ctrl+alt+t in Debian distros), tap the "Up" arrow key a few times
> (scrolls through the history of terminal commands), and then run
> dafturn-ofris.sh in just a few seconds.
>
> HTH,
>
> Christopher Davis, MLS
> Systems & E-Services Librarian
> Uintah County Library
> 204 E 100 N
> Vernal, UT 84078
> [log in to unmask]
> (435) 789-0091 ext. 261
> website: uintahlibrary.org
> catalog: basinlibraries.org
> facebook.com/uintahcountylibrary
> instagram.com/uintahcountylibrary
>
>
> On Fri, Mar 15, 2019 at 7:46 AM Nick Critser <[log in to unmask]>
> wrote:
>
>> All,
>> I don't have professional experience loaning linux laptops in a library
>> setting. In fact my current gig uses windows as the dominant OS for both
>> staff computers and loaner computers. But I have been using Linux as my
>> home workstation OS for about 7 years now. I'd love to see more Linux in
>> the public sphere. As such I'll share my laptop experience with
>> distributions I've tried.
>>
>> Debian - a free software distro , can have issues where drivers must be
>> installed via different repos but usually its a simple task.
>> The installer can be more manual (and possibly confusing).
>>
>> Ubuntu - a corporate distro, and a great intro to linux distro. It is
>> easy to install and has a huge community with a great user knowledge
>> base. Also it benefits from all the Debian development, but also adds
>> some usability features like an easy to use dual boot install path, and
>> gui based everything.
>>
>> Redhat - another corporate  distro. You can now get redhat developer
>> licenses for free with sign up to their developer site. They also have
>> an excellent knowledge base for admins and i have never had a single
>> driver related issue with them on a laptop.
>>
>> Fedora - the development feeder branch for Redhat. Gives the benefit of
>> the redhat development, without the Redhat licences requirement.
>> Drawback is that is changes fast and can be hard to keep patched. Great
>> for checking out features before they get into (Redhat or CentOS).
>>
>> CentOS ,the non-corporate supported REDHAT , gives the benefit of the
>> redhat development, without the Redhat licences requirement.
>>
>> Linux Mint - supported by Corporate and Community sponsors. Based on
>> Debian and Ubuntu, it has an easy to navigate UI and most things work
>> out of the box without driver issues. Good community knowledge base and
>> benefits from both Debian and Ubuntu development and tools. Very easy to
>> use as a Linux novice, coming from Windows.
>>
>> Thanks to all who have contributed to this thread.
>> These comments have been based on my experience, so please consume with
>> grains of salt.
>>
>> Nick Critser
>> Systems Analyst/Programmer
>> Arthur W. Diamond Law Library
>> Columbia University
>> [log in to unmask]
>> 1(212)854 0405
>> GPG -  Fingerprint
>> 6A2C D078 DA48 C336 3FB3  894D 2623 D0E0 843D 4025
>>
>> On 3/15/2019 6:08 AM, Ross Spencer wrote:
>>> Hi Junior,
>>>
>>> This sounds like a great initiative. I follow an education technology
>> person on Twitter: https://twitter.com/philshapiro they talk a lot about
>> procuring laptops from eBay and then installing distributions such as Linux
>> Mint on them to refresh them and loan them in their library. It might not
>> be something every org has an appetite for but it's one option.
>>> I can also speak to the quality of System 76 laptops that Chuck
>> mentioned. The high-spec ones are great for development, but there may be
>> combinations of machine that are much cheaper and might offer a good
>> solution for your purposes as well.
>>> All the best,
>>> Ross
>>>
>>>
>>
-- 
Tim McMahon
Technical Service and Interlibrary Loan
West Liberty Public Library