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Ubuntu laptop for Grandma?

Replacing my laptop, and planning to give current laptop to my 85 yr old mother so she can email and chat with me, her grandchildren, and her great-grandchildren, and receive photo's. Is ubuntu a viable OS for her? Here is what I want to do:
It's a 5 year old Gateway Laptop with 1.6 ghz AMD Turion64 processor; 1gb ram, and existing 80 gb hard drive that I plan on removing and replacing with a 20gb hd from an even older laptop. Both hard drives work, and I see me needing the 80gb for backup more than she needs it for space. The CD/DVD drive does not work, and I'm not replacing it. Everything else works fine.

Mom isn't particularly bright, and is easily confused. I see Windows being more difficult for her to work with than Linux. She has never used a home computer, in fact has refused to try. I thought maybe receiving a free one might interest her, as well as the prospect of having more contact with geographically distant family. Internet connection will be DSL. I live thousands of miles away, but my son lives near her and is geeky enough to handle any problems that arise.

I would like to know if this sounds appropriate and viable, or should I re-think either the OS (or the whole idea). I welcome suggestions from anyone who has experience in setting up a computer for an elderly person and has suggestions or cautions. What release of Ubuntu (or Linux in general) should I install? Is this a crazy idea?

Thanks for any and all input.

 

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