-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 On Thursday 01 May 2003 05:18 am, Marian Routh wrote:
On Thu, 2003-05-01 at 04:16, expatriate wrote:
Greetings Being the de facto neighbourhood computer expert/admin/geek, I've come across a situation where I might need the assistance of someone more experienced. I've volunteered to facilitate bringing a couple from the 20th to the 21st century. Their current system is a 10+ years old HP computer with a 40MB disk running Windows 3.11. He rarely uses the computer and most of his exposure to it is an occasional game of chess. She does a fair amount of Word (MS Word 6.0) and Excel (didn't check but probably the same vintage). At present, they have no internet connectivity but they feel the pressure ( "can't I just send you an email?"). I've established their needs as follows:
Sounds like the hubby wouldn't be much of a problem. The wife may find it a little more dificult as she may be used to saving things using m$ file structure. My wife started w/ mac and was always asking me "where did I save this?" Then she moved to winders and asked "where did I save this?" Somehow she accidentally got ahold of an article/interview with Maddog Hall and said, "I can see the benefit to linux", now she mainly uses linux and asks me "where did I save this?"
- ADSL hardware
If they don't surf the web much then this may be overkill (dialup is likely to be alot cheaper if their online hours are not high (this is in the US, I understand that Europeans get much higher prices)"
- Web browsing and email
- Word processing and spread sheets
Just make sure the printer is giving the output they want. Cups is getting really good but unfortunately numerous options can be a drawback for non-tech types
- CDROM reading/writing (don't have writing abilities at present)
k3b works great for me
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One problem will be when they want to install a new app - say to make greeting cards or a slide show. They'll go to CompUSA or Best Buy which will of course only have Windows software.
- Ability to get digital camera pictures into their computer so his artwork can be placed on eBay (have yet to get camera)
- Printing to an HP 660 printer
My concern is that if I build this for them with Linux, I would be the only local source of help. If I build this with Windows, more of their friends could assist them when I'm not around or when I leave the country for good. Obviously I would prefer not to promote Microsoft products. At the same time, their budget is modest.
So I guess the main questions are: Can Suse 8.2 handle neophytes with limited point and click experience? Can anyone share a similar experience?
Very good point
available who knows Linux well, then I'd say have them go with Windows XP Home. But they will need a lot of help with that, too. If you're around, the support will be *you*. I think Linux will have less problems because once it is setup, it just runs forever. Even though XP is the most stable os MS has made, problems *will* arise with it (this is a good thing for me because the children need shoes ;-) ). So bottom line, I'd see who can give them the support they *will* require and that will determine how you set up their new box.
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