ISP for 85 year old?

[Takahe]

A friend of mine who is 85 years old is looking to switch from AOL dial up to something better. He doesn't know computers very well and really only uses the internet to check his stocks, much more than this and he's getting a bit confused. He likes how he can check his stocks with AOL but is getting tired of how it messes with his PC, eg all the shortcuts on his keyboard were AOLified.

So he wants to switch to another dial up, any suggestions? It needs to be something easy to use with easy access to a stock portfolio. I was thinking MSN but have no recent experience with dial ups or stock portfolios, since I have neither.

Cheers.

 

[DaveSimmons]

If his stocks are at a brokerage like Schwab or eTrade then he can check them with any ISP.

If his broker isn't online, the daily paper or CNN maybe? I buy-and-hold mutual funds so I never look at individual stocks.

AT&T dialup works pretty well for my 60-year-old mom, but MSN might? have more hand-holding and be closer to AOL.

 

[Takahe]

Thanks,

I'm not sure how his stocks are organized but I get the impression he just wants to click on a button and to find out if his are up/down etc....

Through AOL is the only time I think he's ever been online. He dosn't comprehend the internet beyond that, so it needs to be really simple.

 

[DaveSimmons]

It sounds like he really should just stick with AOL (and maybe stuck fix his shortcuts)

I don't think even MSN has anywhere near the level of hand-holding as AOL, and I know AT&T doesn't.

 

[Takahe]

I pretty much think the same, but as it looked like MSN ripped of most of AOL's functions I was hoping it would be equivalent.

 

[ProviaFan]

MSN isn't quite as proprietary as AOL (it's still Microsoft, so don't expect it to work in Linux or anything ), and would probably be just about as simple. Not to mention that (AFAIK) it's cheaper.

 

[skace]

I'd check how hard it would be to get him to his stocks on a regular web browser. IE: if you can set his homepage to a place where he can quickly check his stocks, then it would be easy. Then you would only have to figure out which isp to get him.

The options here are AOL or Learn. Thats how I look at it. Nothing is going to be as 'user friendly' as AOL.

 

[owensdj]

Getting broadband(cable/DSL) would be a better choice. Since you're always connected to the Internet, it's actually easier for the users. They don't have to remember to dial in first or have to deal with modem connection issues. They just use their Internet software just like any other programs. Many broadband ISPs offer lower tiers of service that aren't that much more than dial-up AOL, but give you the reliability of broadband with serveral times the speed of dial-up. Look into what's available in his area. The site Broadband Reports has a way to find broadband ISPs in a given area.

 

[Slogun]

What he needs is an ISP and then a portal.

Any ISP will do.

A portal is free, I use Yahoo. There is also MSN, Excite, etc.
Once you decide on a portal, you make it your "homepage."
With any portal, there is a one-time setup to customize, input your stock ticker codes, weather, etc. just one click from that point on.

 

[Celstar]

stay with aol--dont mess with a good thing

 

[corkyg]

I teach basic computing for SeniorNet - and for most oldsters, AOL is best. But - if one has to make a change, then I would recommend Earthlink. It is more in tune with Windows as far as web activity is concerned.

 

[Takahe]

Thanks for the advice everyone who replied. I think I'll suggest sticking with AOL. It may not be the best solution, but it is the most practicle in this case.

 

[Jeff7181]

Any ISP will do, but if he's into stocks... he may want to check out a program called TC2000. (tc2000.com) I use it for mutual funds, and it's a VERY useful tool. It's been invaluable to me this year, and I've already got a 55% return on my MUTUAL FUNDS because of the analysis I can do with this program.