What computer would you recommend for OLD PEOPLE?

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L

LS21

Banned
Nov 27, 2007
3,745
1
0
So the situation is that I got my parents hooked on the internet with a PC I built them at home.
Theyre EXTREMELY non-techie people... im sure you can relate...

It has Windows XP, firewall, pop-up blocker, and anti-virus programs running. Their account are also guest accounts. I tried to "dummy proof" the computer for them, but inevitably one problem or another crops up.

Lately they claimed the computer stopped functioning. Im states away so its difficult to diagnose over the phone. Theyve been having a bunch of problems, and the computer is a bit old.

Im thinking about replacing the PC with a Mac Mini. Good idea or bad? They do NOT need computing power - only to surf web, and hook up an ipod to. Is this a good idea? I dont use a mac, so i wont be able to play tech support when something goes wrong for them.

Should I:
a) buy Mac Mini
b) build them new PC
c) put in some sort of Linux OS
 
B

BigJ

Lifer
Nov 18, 2001
21,330
1
81
If they're not tech people, why would you consider introducing them to a foreign OS?

I'd say get a Dell on sale (you can find plenty at SlickDeals) and be done with it.
 
C

Cheesetogo

Diamond Member
Jan 26, 2005
3,824
10
81
I have an aunt who has a very difficult time with computers. She switched to a Mac a while ago, and from what I've heard, she's found it to be much easier to use.
 
Leros

Leros

Lifer
Jul 11, 2004
21,867
7
81
Mac would be better, but they already know Windows so don't switch.
 
L

LS21

Banned
Nov 27, 2007
3,745
1
0
Originally posted by: BigJ
If they're not tech people, why would you consider introducing them to a foreign OS?

I'd say get a Dell on sale (you can find plenty at SlickDeals) and be done with it.
Click to expand...

I know there might incompatibilities (plug-ins, etc) , but if i could stick on an OS like the one they put on EEEPCs - huge icons, basic functionalities, it'll almost lock it down to a kiosk-like mode
 
ultimatebob

ultimatebob

Lifer
Jul 1, 2001
25,134
2,450
126
I got a Mac for my Grandfather. He had no problem learning it, and he's 89!

Granted, he's a pretty smart guy... but the number of tech support calls that I get are less than I had when he was running an XP box, and a LOT less than when he was running a Vista machine before service pack 1 came out.
 
P

pstylesss

Platinum Member
Mar 21, 2007
2,914
0
0
If you know Linux, put on an Ubuntu distro and see how they do with it? I imagine all they want to do on their PC is check email, type URLs into search engines... and that's about it. You don't have to worry about virii or anything like that for them.
 
Baked

Baked

Lifer
Dec 28, 2004
36,052
17
81
iBook, period. Get a $5 optical mouse if they don't like the touchpad.
 
IronWing

IronWing

No Lifer
Jul 20, 2001
72,404
32,987
136
Just buy them an $80 microwave. They'll never notice the difference.
 
Kadarin

Kadarin

Lifer
Nov 23, 2001
44,296
16
81
I gave my parents my old G4 iMac years ago, and it still works for them just fine with very minimal tech support. So yeah, I'd recommend a Mac for them.
 
Leros

Leros

Lifer
Jul 11, 2004
21,867
7
81
Another thought on the Macs. Apple actually has really good customer service, so if they need help with anything, they'll have somebody to call.

Maybe you should have your folks test out a Mac. If they seem like they can use it, make the switch. Otherwise if they get confused, stick with Windows.
 
A

Auggie

Golden Member
Jul 18, 2003
1,379
0
0
The Asus EeePC can be plugged into a larger monitor... if they have a CRT around, it seems like that might be perfect... the very basic layout of the EeePC's Linux is easy to use and a lot of their Windows basic know-how will transfer over. I <3 my Eee...

And, cripes, I really, REALLY hate to say this... but maybe you should just stick with what they have now, and have them take it to GeekSquad to fix if/when they need help with something... they'll pay a bit more, but, that service kindof does exist solely to cater to those who don't know what their doing (and I'm not degrading your parents in any way here).
 
P

pstylesss

Platinum Member
Mar 21, 2007
2,914
0
0
Originally posted by: Auggie
The Asus EeePC can be plugged into a larger monitor... if they have a CRT around, it seems like that might be perfect... the very basic layout of the EeePC's Linux is easy to use and a lot of their Windows basic know-how will transfer over. I <3 my Eee...

And, cripes, I really, REALLY hate to say this... but maybe you should just stick with what they have now, and have them take it to GeekSquad to fix if/when they need help with something... they'll pay a bit more, but, that service kindof does exist solely to cater to those who don't know what their doing (and I'm not degrading your parents in any way here).
Click to expand...

Good God he should just put them in a home while he's at it. No self respecting person would recommend the Geek Squad to their worst enemies, let alone their own flesh and blood.
 
0roo0roo

0roo0roo

No Lifer
Sep 21, 2002
64,795
84
91
on a more serious note, if you get a mac mini, upgrade its memory.
snappiness makes everyone including n00bs happier.

and of course a decently large wide screen. its been shown that women are better at navigating gui with such screen. and i guess that would apply to the old as well
 
KaOTiK

KaOTiK

Lifer
Feb 5, 2001
10,877
8
81
A Mac is a good call. My mother is horrible with computers. Only thing she knew how to do was check her email and go to some websites and use like 2 special programs for her work. Otherwise she was clueless and thought things would work the obvious way for some stuff. Let her use my MBP for a week and she loved it, was able to do a lot of stuff and never got frustrated or even called me for help.

So I bought her a a Mac mini for her birthday and she is happy as can be with it. My dad likes it more also and he has XP laptop. He is ok with a computer, only cause of work though and doesn't like using it for much personal use. My mom says she see's him using the Mac now quite a bit for personal things instead of his laptop.

Older people just want something that works the way they think things should. Like deleting a program to burning things, they like the drag and drop lol. They see what they want to happen done right infront of them instead of having to use other programs or jump through a few hoops to do something.
 
Squisher

Squisher

Lifer
Aug 17, 2000
21,204
66
91
Do they still make WebTV?

I've got a sister that drives me crazy. The typical, "I've never met a free download I didn't like type."

There must have been six tool bars on IE. I had to turn my head sideways just so I could peek at the little bit of the internet poking through in the middle of the screen. It was like looking through a picked fence.
 
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