Very simple device to access Internet and send/receive messages

  • Thread starter Thread starter RF
  • Start date Start date
R

RF

Hi Gurus :-)

I have a totally non-techincal friend who seems to
be allergic to regular computers. They beat his
ego to death ;-) He would love to keep in touch
with his scattered contacts, like me.

So, I am looking for a small simple device,
something like a typewriter with a hard drive and
a small acreen. It should be very easy to operate.
A cell phone would not be a solution.

Is there another newsgroup that deals with such
devices?

Information would be much appreciated.

TIA
 
RF said:
Hi Gurus :-)

I have a totally non-techincal friend who seems to be allergic to
regular computers. They beat his ego to death ;-) He would love to
keep in touch with his scattered contacts, like me.

So, I am looking for a small simple device, something like a typewriter
with a hard drive and a small acreen. It should be very easy to operate.
A cell phone would not be a solution.

Is there another newsgroup that deals with such devices?

Information would be much appreciated.
Click to expand...

Getting an older computer sounds like just the ticket. If you can find
an early Pentium IV, or a late Pentium III machine with monitor and
network card, you should be set.

Seriously, how complicated is booting the machine up and clicking an
email icon on the desktop? If your answer is "too complicated," then
maybe email is out of their reach.
 
Grinder said:
Getting an older computer sounds like just the ticket. If you can find
an early Pentium IV, or a late Pentium III machine with monitor and
network card, you should be set.

Seriously, how complicated is booting the machine up and clicking an
email icon on the desktop? If your answer is "too complicated," then
maybe email is out of their reach.
Click to expand...

Come on..... there's a lot more to it than just:
"booting the machine up and clicking an
email icon"
 
"RF"

: > Getting an older computer sounds like just the ticket. If you can find
: > an early Pentium IV, or a late Pentium III machine with monitor and
: > network card, you should be set.
: >
: > Seriously, how complicated is booting the machine up and clicking an
: > email icon on the desktop? If your answer is "too complicated," then
: > maybe email is out of their reach.
:
: Come on..... there's a lot more to it than just:
: "booting the machine up and clicking an
: email icon"

I know personally severel individuals with Down's Syndrum that can
accomplish that task.
 
NotMe said:
"RF"

: > Getting an older computer sounds like just the ticket. If you can find
: > an early Pentium IV, or a late Pentium III machine with monitor and
: > network card, you should be set.
: >
: > Seriously, how complicated is booting the machine up and clicking an
: > email icon on the desktop? If your answer is "too complicated," then
: > maybe email is out of their reach.
:
: Come on..... there's a lot more to it than just:
: "booting the machine up and clicking an
: email icon"

I know personally severel individuals with Down's Syndrum that can
accomplish that task.
Click to expand...

You guys have been in computers so long that the
memories of your hair-pulling and swearing, when
you started on your first computer, have long
since died.
 
: NotMe wrote:
: > "RF"
: >
: > : > Getting an older computer sounds like just the ticket. If you can
find
: > : > an early Pentium IV, or a late Pentium III machine with monitor and
: > : > network card, you should be set.
: > : >
: > : > Seriously, how complicated is booting the machine up and clicking an
: > : > email icon on the desktop? If your answer is "too complicated,"
then
: > : > maybe email is out of their reach.
: > :
: > : Come on..... there's a lot more to it than just:
: > : "booting the machine up and clicking an
: > : email icon"
: >
: > I know personally several individuals with Down's Syndrome that can
: > accomplish that task.
:
: You guys have been in computers so long that the
: memories of your hair-pulling and swearing, when
: you started on your first computer, have long
: since died.

My first computer was an IBM 1401 and used punch cards. The kid I'm talking
about is a 10 y.o. Downs child. She can use a computer and an email
application. More so she knows not to click on attachments. She was taught
to use the computer by her 13 y.o. sister.

Perhaps the difficulty is they don't want a computer? My neighbor is in his
80's and at one time designed rockets for NASA. Guy is a certified genius,
he just does not want to deal with a computer.
 
You guys have been in computers so long that the
memories of your hair-pulling and swearing, when
you started on your first computer, have long
since died.
Click to expand...

Grinder wrote:
What I'm saying is that the task of booting up a
computer and getting to an email program requires
much less knowledge than it does to run even a
simple email program.

You have to know about inbox/outbox, compose/send/reply,
bounced emails, addresses for starts, and stuff
like attachments and spam filters if you want to
be moderately capable. These are all concepts
that I've seen technologically challenged people
master. Once they were show the power switch,
starting up the computer and running the program
itself was never an issue.

My father will never learn to program a video
recorder. I know that's a cliche, but it's true.
He will never learn to use photo manipulation
software, even though he's an avid digital
photographer. He gets hung up on the concept of
file systems and file attachments. On the basics
of email, however, he has no difficulties because
it's easy and it's something he does every day.

The only advantage I can see in some sort of
dedicated devices is if you're in some sort of
"Brewser's Millions" competition. There's a
reason all attempts at Fisher Price computing
have failed--you end up pay more for less, and
it's not easier to use.
 
NotMe said:
: NotMe wrote:
: > "RF"
: >
: > : > Getting an older computer sounds like just the ticket. If you can
find
: > : > an early Pentium IV, or a late Pentium III machine with monitor and
: > : > network card, you should be set.
: > : >
: > : > Seriously, how complicated is booting the machine up and clicking an
: > : > email icon on the desktop? If your answer is "too complicated,"
then
: > : > maybe email is out of their reach.
: > :
: > : Come on..... there's a lot more to it than just:
: > : "booting the machine up and clicking an
: > : email icon"
: >
: > I know personally several individuals with Down's Syndrome that can
: > accomplish that task.
:
: You guys have been in computers so long that the
: memories of your hair-pulling and swearing, when
: you started on your first computer, have long
: since died.

My first computer was an IBM 1401 and used punch cards. The kid I'm talking
about is a 10 y.o. Downs child. She can use a computer and an email
application. More so she knows not to click on attachments. She was taught
to use the computer by her 13 y.o. sister.

Perhaps the difficulty is they don't want a computer? My neighbor is in his
80's and at one time designed rockets for NASA. Guy is a certified genius,
he just does not want to deal with a computer.
Click to expand...

It's a well known fact that children can learn
computers far faster than elderly people.
They are adventurous, clicking on this and that
and they can remember what works and what doesn't.
Older people cannot remember what happened a few
clicks back.
 
Hi Gurus :-)

I have a totally non-techincal friend who seems to
be allergic to regular computers. They beat his
ego to death  ;-)  He would love to keep in touch
with his scattered contacts, like me.

So, I am looking for a small simple device,
something like a typewriter with a hard drive and
a small acreen. It should be very easy to operate.
A cell phone would not be a solution.

Is there another newsgroup that deals with such
devices?

Information would be much appreciated.

TIA
Click to expand...

MSNTV

http://www.webtv.com/pc/
 
RF said:
It's a well known fact that children can learn computers far faster than
elderly people.
They are adventurous, clicking on this and that and they can remember what
works and what doesn't. Older people cannot remember what happened a few
clicks back.
Click to expand...

Crystallized versus fluid intelligence. Getting old sucks.

Jon
 
Jon said:
Crystallized versus fluid intelligence. Getting old sucks.

Jon
Click to expand...

..... and besides, older people (actually I'm one -
but one who survived ;-) ) have ego problems and
are short on patience.
 
Thanks Bennett and Ron.

Finally, a spark of knowledge and intelligence and
hit this thread :-)

Have a great weekend :-)
 
Hi Gurus :-)

I have a totally non-techincal friend who seems to
be allergic to regular computers. They beat his
ego to death ;-) He would love to keep in touch
with his scattered contacts, like me.

So, I am looking for a small simple device,
something like a typewriter with a hard drive and
a small acreen. It should be very easy to operate.
A cell phone would not be a solution.

Is there another newsgroup that deals with such
devices?

Information would be much appreciated.
Click to expand...

3Com Audrey, an internet appliance that was introduced in 2000.
<http://letterfolders-office-equipment.stores.yahoo.net/comipinap.html>
<http://cgi.ebay.com/3Com-Ergo-Audre...4|66:2|65:12|39:1|240:1318|301:1|293:1|294:50>
 
Asus EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE pc with linux. Or Blackberry.
To use full pc is a waste of energy for that purpose. Small laptop is
fancy as well :)
 
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