Quote:
Originally Posted by dmoolenaar
KC911 - I somehow missed that suggestion. I'm looking into it but my deadline is Sunday night...
Laptop is required. Two reasons - 1) She has a tiny desk in the living room of her tiny apartment thus she does not want a PC/Monitor sitting there 24/7 and 2) If she has a problem she can bring it to my house vs. me driving there.
I'm not wild about getting a Mac, cause I have zero time on one, and she wouldn't know the difference anyway. I just know I want to avoid Vista until it matures or gets replaced.
Ok so the iBook I linked is too expensive - dude hasn't returned my query anyway. I'll keep looking around. Thanks for the tips thus far.
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You can get a brand new laptop for $600 that will fit her needs just about anywhere. Just check your weekend circular, BestBuy, Target, Frys all have them every weekend.
You'll get a larger screen than the iBook.
It'll be warranted.
Your primary task will be to protect it. Viruses and spyware will be her biggest issues.
Take the time to set the box up properly, create a specific user account, lock the admin account, get a good automated backup routine in place, get a good commercial security suite that does it's thing with minimal user input. Pay for a one on one training session for MIL from GeekSquad or Geeks on Wheels. Your local HS should have a continuing education course for senior computer training, try a senior center or local library as well.
Do those things and your need to provide support will decrease dramatically.
Having said that I'd still recommend the Mac.
PC's can be made as secure as a Mac but it takes some work on the end users part. Macs are locked down by default and are ready out of the box. Also any Apple store will provide one on one training for new users free of charge.
Good luck.