Managing utterly clueless Parent's computer situation--Spock!!

  • Thread starter Thread starter Scapaflow
  • Start date Start date
S

Scapaflow

Here is the mind numbing problem:
My parents have virtually no computer skills whatsoever, and this is
after 3 years of being online with our old, hand-me-down MSI/Pent
266/196 megs machine. Actually, my Dad is the main offender--bless
his soul. After infinite instruction, he's barely able to use
Netscape's browser and e-mail programs. I do not remember why I have
them on Netscape, but there was a good reason. (I couldn't stop
Outlook Express from forcing them offline, and MS Outlook is too
complicated by a factor of ten---something like that. Also MS security
issues...)

One contributing factor to the problem is an old machine and their
insistence upon using inexpensive Dial-up service, though that MSI
puter is fairly respectable for internet work. Slowness is death for
those who have close to zero knack for computers. My Dad has no feel
for how things unfold on a slow internet puter, so in short order his
fingers start punching away at the keyboard in an effort to accelerate
that which can not be accelerated or fix that which cannot be fixed
and about which he knows nothing. You can imagine what happens when
Gator asks "to trust all content..." (or however they phrase their
filthy invasions), in addition to pop-ups appearing everywhere. My
multiple interventions have revealed a computer messed
up beyond belief.

You will respond, "They need Malware protection you fool!"
Of course, and a faster machine, which brings me to the essence of
this post. I just ordered the following from Newegg-->
Antec SLK3700AMB case
Intel D865PERLL motherboard
Pentium 4, 2.4 ghz cpu
Buffalo 512 megs PC3200 DDR ram
To these components will be added drives and so forth I have
on hand. No RAID or SATA.

The dilemma--to the extent that it is possible to isolate a single
dilemma in this parental situation--is whether I should set them up
with this new Intel computer or give them my current Epox 8KHA+/1600+
AMD XP/512megs DDR machine, and keep the Intel machine for myself.

My thinking is that my Epox puter is proven, stable and reliable--a
known quantity to be sure, of which the yet-to-be-built Intel machine
is not. I suspect the Intel machine won't be a problem, but who knows?
You guys know how this goes. I don't want to introduce additional
random variables into the parental environment. Dad has enough trouble
fumbling through software. Imagine throwing in a problematic computer.

So who gets what? My Epox machine is setup exactly the way I want it
and has enough power for my modest Internet/Newsgroup/e-mail needs.
OTOH, of course I would like to have the shiny new Intel job, but
above that, I'm inclined to keep the new and untested (with respect to
time) Intel machine in my care should there be problems.

I don't know. This all sounds vaguely stupid upon re-reading.
Opinions? Regarding the general question of maintaining parent's
computers--what have been your experiences? Suggestions for
idiot-proofing? I will use Ad-Aware Plus and Norton AV, but am not
sure of what to do beyond that.
Dave
 
Scapaflow said:
Here is the mind numbing problem:
My parents have virtually no computer skills whatsoever, and this is
after 3 years of being online with our old, hand-me-down MSI/Pent
266/196 megs machine. Actually, my Dad is the main offender--bless
his soul. After infinite instruction, he's barely able to use
Netscape's browser and e-mail programs. I do not remember why I have
them on Netscape, but there was a good reason. (I couldn't stop
Outlook Express from forcing them offline, and MS Outlook is too
complicated by a factor of ten---something like that. Also MS security
issues...)

One contributing factor to the problem is an old machine and their
insistence upon using inexpensive Dial-up service, though that MSI
puter is fairly respectable for internet work. Slowness is death for
those who have close to zero knack for computers. My Dad has no feel
for how things unfold on a slow internet puter, so in short order his
fingers start punching away at the keyboard in an effort to accelerate
that which can not be accelerated or fix that which cannot be fixed
and about which he knows nothing. You can imagine what happens when
Gator asks "to trust all content..." (or however they phrase their
filthy invasions), in addition to pop-ups appearing everywhere. My
multiple interventions have revealed a computer messed
up beyond belief.

You will respond, "They need Malware protection you fool!"
Of course, and a faster machine, which brings me to the essence of
this post. I just ordered the following from Newegg-->
Antec SLK3700AMB case
Intel D865PERLL motherboard
Pentium 4, 2.4 ghz cpu
Buffalo 512 megs PC3200 DDR ram
To these components will be added drives and so forth I have
on hand. No RAID or SATA.

The dilemma--to the extent that it is possible to isolate a single
dilemma in this parental situation--is whether I should set them up
with this new Intel computer or give them my current Epox 8KHA+/1600+
AMD XP/512megs DDR machine, and keep the Intel machine for myself.

My thinking is that my Epox puter is proven, stable and reliable--a
known quantity to be sure, of which the yet-to-be-built Intel machine
is not. I suspect the Intel machine won't be a problem, but who knows?
You guys know how this goes. I don't want to introduce additional
random variables into the parental environment. Dad has enough trouble
fumbling through software. Imagine throwing in a problematic computer.

So who gets what? My Epox machine is setup exactly the way I want it
and has enough power for my modest Internet/Newsgroup/e-mail needs.
OTOH, of course I would like to have the shiny new Intel job, but
above that, I'm inclined to keep the new and untested (with respect to
time) Intel machine in my care should there be problems.

I don't know. This all sounds vaguely stupid upon re-reading.
Opinions? Regarding the general question of maintaining parent's
computers--what have been your experiences? Suggestions for
idiot-proofing? I will use Ad-Aware Plus and Norton AV, but am not
sure of what to do beyond that.
Dave
Click to expand...

Give them your old machine. Remove all but the programs they will
actually use. Tweak the new one yourself. And buy them broadband as a
gift.....
 
Here is the mind numbing problem:
My parents have virtually no computer skills whatsoever, and this is
after 3 years of being online with our old, hand-me-down MSI/Pent
266/196 megs machine. Actually, my Dad is the main offender--bless
his soul. After infinite instruction, he's barely able to use
Netscape's browser and e-mail programs. I do not remember why I have
them on Netscape, but there was a good reason. (I couldn't stop
Outlook Express from forcing them offline, and MS Outlook is too
complicated by a factor of ten---something like that. Also MS security
issues...)

One contributing factor to the problem is an old machine and their
insistence upon using inexpensive Dial-up service, though that MSI
puter is fairly respectable for internet work. Slowness is death for
those who have close to zero knack for computers. My Dad has no feel
for how things unfold on a slow internet puter, so in short order his
fingers start punching away at the keyboard in an effort to accelerate
that which can not be accelerated or fix that which cannot be fixed
and about which he knows nothing. You can imagine what happens when
Gator asks "to trust all content..." (or however they phrase their
filthy invasions), in addition to pop-ups appearing everywhere. My
multiple interventions have revealed a computer messed
up beyond belief.

You will respond, "They need Malware protection you fool!"
Of course, and a faster machine, which brings me to the essence of
this post. I just ordered the following from Newegg-->
Antec SLK3700AMB case
Intel D865PERLL motherboard
Pentium 4, 2.4 ghz cpu
Buffalo 512 megs PC3200 DDR ram
To these components will be added drives and so forth I have
on hand. No RAID or SATA.

The dilemma--to the extent that it is possible to isolate a single
dilemma in this parental situation--is whether I should set them up
with this new Intel computer or give them my current Epox 8KHA+/1600+
AMD XP/512megs DDR machine, and keep the Intel machine for myself.

My thinking is that my Epox puter is proven, stable and reliable--a
known quantity to be sure, of which the yet-to-be-built Intel machine
is not. I suspect the Intel machine won't be a problem, but who knows?
You guys know how this goes. I don't want to introduce additional
random variables into the parental environment. Dad has enough trouble
fumbling through software. Imagine throwing in a problematic computer.
Click to expand...

Give him the known working computer, and tinker around with the P4
system.
 
Give them your old machine. Remove all but the programs they will
actually use. Tweak the new one yourself. And buy them broadband as a
gift.....
Click to expand...

The only thing I can suggest is setting up a popup blocker. I use Mozilla
and never see a popup, Also, use Custom install and deselect any options
that they don't need, like AOL IM that came with netscape the last time
I installed it, more than a year ago. Mozilla's been great for me.
 
Scapaflow said:
Here is the mind numbing problem:
My parents have virtually no computer skills whatsoever, and this is
after 3 years of being online with our old, hand-me-down MSI/Pent
266/196 megs machine. Actually, my Dad is the main offender--bless
his soul. After infinite instruction, he's barely able to use
Netscape's browser and e-mail programs. I do not remember why I have
them on Netscape, but there was a good reason. (I couldn't stop
Outlook Express from forcing them offline, and MS Outlook is too
complicated by a factor of ten---something like that. Also MS security
issues...)

One contributing factor to the problem is an old machine and their
insistence upon using inexpensive Dial-up service, though that MSI
puter is fairly respectable for internet work. Slowness is death for
those who have close to zero knack for computers. My Dad has no feel
for how things unfold on a slow internet puter, so in short order his
fingers start punching away at the keyboard in an effort to accelerate
that which can not be accelerated or fix that which cannot be fixed
and about which he knows nothing. You can imagine what happens when
Gator asks "to trust all content..." (or however they phrase their
filthy invasions), in addition to pop-ups appearing everywhere. My
multiple interventions have revealed a computer messed
up beyond belief.

You will respond, "They need Malware protection you fool!"
Of course, and a faster machine, which brings me to the essence of
this post. I just ordered the following from Newegg-->
Antec SLK3700AMB case
Intel D865PERLL motherboard
Pentium 4, 2.4 ghz cpu
Buffalo 512 megs PC3200 DDR ram
To these components will be added drives and so forth I have
on hand. No RAID or SATA.

The dilemma--to the extent that it is possible to isolate a single
dilemma in this parental situation--is whether I should set them up
with this new Intel computer or give them my current Epox 8KHA+/1600+
AMD XP/512megs DDR machine, and keep the Intel machine for myself.

My thinking is that my Epox puter is proven, stable and reliable--a
known quantity to be sure, of which the yet-to-be-built Intel machine
is not. I suspect the Intel machine won't be a problem, but who knows?
You guys know how this goes. I don't want to introduce additional
random variables into the parental environment. Dad has enough trouble
fumbling through software. Imagine throwing in a problematic computer.

So who gets what? My Epox machine is setup exactly the way I want it
and has enough power for my modest Internet/Newsgroup/e-mail needs.
OTOH, of course I would like to have the shiny new Intel job, but
above that, I'm inclined to keep the new and untested (with respect to
time) Intel machine in my care should there be problems.

I don't know. This all sounds vaguely stupid upon re-reading.
Opinions? Regarding the general question of maintaining parent's
computers--what have been your experiences? Suggestions for
idiot-proofing? I will use Ad-Aware Plus and Norton AV, but am not
sure of what to do beyond that.
Dave
Click to expand...
Keep the Intel box for yourself. Should any problems occur during
initial trials (or subsequently), you'd most likely be better suited to
resolve them without taking a hammer to it.

Give your folks the Epox machine but set it up with restricted user
profiles and keep yourself as admin. I've always found AMD to be more
trustworthy with age that Intel. Dump IE and put Mozilla on as its free
(which should please your frugal parentals) and just as reliable as
Netscape (pundits abstain). Like Netscape, you can set it up to
eliminate all pop-ups so that should relieve some problems.

For Av, I recommend Panda Titanium. Once set up, it can update totally
in the background.

With regards to dial-up access, see of any of your local ISP offer a
"lite" version of DSL. Faster than dial-up, cheaper than ADSL.

Marc
 
Yes--I'm using mozilla Firebird and it is wonderful. I like the tabs
feature.

The problem is that they're used to Netscape by now. Going with
Mozilla may be overload, despite the similarities.

My father is a master machinist and smart in many ways; but when it
comes to computers----well.......it is just unbelievable.
Dave

I
 
This is interesting Marc. AMD more reliable than Intel with respect to
age. This I did not know. Maybe I made a mistake with this purchase.
Oh well. It's just that I've been using AMD for so long I thought I
would go back to Intel for the sake of something different. Plus, I
understand Intel Motherboards are notoriously stable and reliable.

Lite version of DSL--I was not aware of this option. Thanks. You can
have the fastest computer in the world but it will be absolutely
crippled with dial-up. Ghastly.
Dave
 
I think you need to go(confession) and release your guilt of wanting the 'better' system for yourself.... ;^)
 
I've always found AMD to be more
trustworthy with age that Intel.
Click to expand...

YIKES not going there! Although Scapster, Mark has given you a rational way out of the guilt ;^)

Dump I.E. and put Mozilla on as its free
(which should please your frugal parentals) and just as reliable as
Netscape
Click to expand...

Never bought a copy of I.E.

Netscape is Mozzilla is it not? as of late version 5? or something
 
Lite version of DSL--I was not aware of this option. Thanks. You can
have the fastest computer in the world but it will be absolutely
crippled with dial-up. Ghastly.
Dave
Click to expand...

That is what I am using and it is about 10 to 15 dollars a month less than
other nondialup services. Usually get about 34 K for a file download speed
on a 256 K DSL where 56 K dialup was giving me about a 4.5 K download on a
good day. That lets me download about 2 meg of a data file in one minute.
 
Give them the tried and true machine, but I would put a firewall on it
for them! Actually, on both of 'em.
Click to expand...

If you do that, USE the machine with the firewall for a while, before
actually giving the machine to the parents. The firewall needs to be
programmed, and not all of the programming can be done in advance. Some of
it must be done as the firewall is used. Don't leave this task to the
parents. -Dave
 
Here is the mind numbing problem:
My parents have virtually no computer skills whatsoever, and this is
after 3 years of being online with our old, hand-me-down MSI/Pent
266/196 megs machine. Actually, my Dad is the main offender--bless
his soul. After infinite instruction, he's barely able to use
Netscape's browser and e-mail programs. I do not remember why I have
them on Netscape, but there was a good reason. (I couldn't stop
Outlook Express from forcing them offline, and MS Outlook is too
complicated by a factor of ten---something like that. Also MS security
issues...)

One contributing factor to the problem is an old machine and their
insistence upon using inexpensive Dial-up service, though that MSI
puter is fairly respectable for internet work. Slowness is death for
those who have close to zero knack for computers. My Dad has no feel
for how things unfold on a slow internet puter, so in short order his
fingers start punching away at the keyboard in an effort to accelerate
that which can not be accelerated or fix that which cannot be fixed
and about which he knows nothing. You can imagine what happens when
Gator asks "to trust all content..." (or however they phrase their
filthy invasions), in addition to pop-ups appearing everywhere. My
multiple interventions have revealed a computer messed
up beyond belief.

You will respond, "They need Malware protection you fool!"
Of course, and a faster machine, which brings me to the essence of
this post. I just ordered the following from Newegg-->
Antec SLK3700AMB case
Intel D865PERLL motherboard
Pentium 4, 2.4 ghz cpu
Buffalo 512 megs PC3200 DDR ram
To these components will be added drives and so forth I have
on hand. No RAID or SATA.

The dilemma--to the extent that it is possible to isolate a single
dilemma in this parental situation--is whether I should set them up
with this new Intel computer or give them my current Epox 8KHA+/1600+
AMD XP/512megs DDR machine, and keep the Intel machine for myself.

My thinking is that my Epox puter is proven, stable and reliable--a
known quantity to be sure, of which the yet-to-be-built Intel machine
is not. I suspect the Intel machine won't be a problem, but who knows?
You guys know how this goes. I don't want to introduce additional
random variables into the parental environment. Dad has enough trouble
fumbling through software. Imagine throwing in a problematic computer.

So who gets what? My Epox machine is setup exactly the way I want it
and has enough power for my modest Internet/Newsgroup/e-mail needs.
OTOH, of course I would like to have the shiny new Intel job, but
above that, I'm inclined to keep the new and untested (with respect to
time) Intel machine in my care should there be problems.

I don't know. This all sounds vaguely stupid upon re-reading.
Opinions? Regarding the general question of maintaining parent's
computers--what have been your experiences? Suggestions for
idiot-proofing? I will use Ad-Aware Plus and Norton AV, but am not
sure of what to do beyond that.
Dave
Click to expand...


Give them the tried and true machine, but I would put a firewall on it
for them! Actually, on both of 'em.
 
I don't know. This all sounds vaguely stupid upon re-reading.
Opinions? Regarding the general question of maintaining parent's
computers--what have been your experiences? Suggestions for
idiot-proofing? I will use Ad-Aware Plus and Norton AV, but am not
sure of what to do beyond that.
Dave
Click to expand...

I had very much the same problem, Mom kept loading up the computer with
every virus and spy/adware that came along. About once a week, I would get
a call "It's acting all funny again"...after about a year of this, I said
to hell with it and installed Linux. Set her up a user account and did NOT
give her the root PW. Set up her e-mail account, configured Mozilla,
showed her how to use KPPP, set up a firewall and it's been smooth as
butter ever since...

Another option would be to <gasp> buy them a Mac...<gargles with kerosene>

feroce
 
">
I had very much the same problem, Mom kept loading up the computer with
every virus and spy/adware that came along. About once a week, I would get
a call "It's acting all funny again"...after about a year of this, I said
to hell with it and installed Linux. Set her up a user account and did NOT
give her the root PW. Set up her e-mail account, configured Mozilla,
showed her how to use KPPP, set up a firewall and it's been smooth as
butter ever since...

Another option would be to <gasp> buy them a Mac...<gargles with kerosene>
Click to expand...

Or they could go with that Web TV thing that is being advertised on TV now.
Also another move would be to install a removable hard drive tray. Backup
the computer to a removable disk drive and when the computer messes up, just
copy the old drives content to the one that is messed up.
 
A Firewall--Yes, of course.

Maybe I should go with Mozilla for them. I'm just afraid the slightly
different appearence will blow my Dad's mind.

KPPP--are you running Linux on your folk's machine?
Dave
 
I will be using Norton Ghost to restore their system, something I
stupidly was not doing before.
Dave
 
A Firewall--Yes, of course.

Maybe I should go with Mozilla for them. I'm just afraid the slightly
different appearence will blow my Dad's mind.

KPPP--are you running Linux on your folk's machine?
Dave
Click to expand...
Yeah, Suse 9.0. Very slick distro, installed without a hitch, runs fast
and stable. I figure if Mom is going to be clueless, she might as well be
clueless on something that costs a lot less than XP and is more secure to
boot. No virus or spyware worries and she can't install anything since I
won't give her the admin password. I still get some "help me" calls, but
not nearly as many as before, and they are decreasing in frequency. All
she uses the machine for is e-mail and surfing around, not much of a
learning curve for that.

feroce
 
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