computer recs for old people

[Menlaan]

I want to get my 80-year old grandfather a simple computer so that he can surf the internet and keep in touch with us young ones. Any suggestions?

[Naethyn]

ubuntu!

[Diekan]

ubuntu!

That's actually not a bad idea. You can get him a cheap Dell laptop with Ubuntu on it. Since he's obviously, probably not computer literate - the learning curve (which comes with switching from Windows to Linux) is pretty much linear.

With Ubuntu you'll never have to worry about him getting a virus or *accidentally* deleting key system files and causing serious crashes.

Seriously - get him a Dell with Ubuntu and life will be good.

It's exceptionally easy to use.

[Menlaan]

How does it work? I buy a cheap computer, erase everything and put this free software on it?

[Tikker]

How does it work? I buy a cheap computer, erase everything and put this free software on it?

seriously, don't give him something you're not willing to support in detail~

and when you do give him a box, make sure you can always get to it remotely to help him fix shit

[Menlaan]

That's the problem. I'm in NY, and he's in MS. I'm looking for a fool-proof computer. Impossible?

[Tossica]

Get him a Mac. Seriously. It's unix with a really solid user interface and can be really simple to use for someone with no computer skills.

[Lyion]

How does it work? I buy a cheap computer, erase everything and put this free software on it?

Dell sells computers preloaded with Ubuntu and gives support.

It's point and click, just like Windows, except it's actually a lot easier to use for a beginner.

If cash isn't an issue, get him a Mac. It's just as easy as Ubuntu, far easier than Windows and simple. Toss is spot on there.
The only thing is Macs cost twice what Ubuntu Dells do.

[Gidan]

Have to agree with the others. Either a dell with Ubuntu or a MAC.

Dell starting at $549


Mac starting at $599 (no monitor)

[Diekan]

Just for fun I downloaded a virus scanner for this Linux box. A program called Aegis-Virus-Scanner...

I installed it, updated it and just for the hell of it went around to a few sites.

Then I scanned my drive... 4 viruses were found in the .wine directory - which is a simulated Windows environment. No viruses were found otherwise.

What does this mean? It means that had I been using Windows when I had clicked those sites I'd have 4 new viruses causing problems - on the entire machine.

This is something else to factor in. He's not going to be tech savvy enough to understand WHEN he gets a virus, much less what to do if he gets one - which is inevitable if he uses Windows.