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Question

Need new computer for parents

Sep 7, 2015 1:33PM PDT

So the ancient PC at my parents house is finally going to be replaced and I am looking for advice on what to get.
Here are some things that need to be taken into account:
- They are used to Windows XP, Vista, and 7 so Windows 8 is not an option
- The computer will be used for internet and word processing and various media
- My mom has Parkinson's and sometimes has cognitive problems so the computer needs to be free of bloatware that will just confuse her

Neither of them are very tech savvy and don't adapt well to new technologies. The computer that is of good quality but doesn't need to be able to play the latest Call of Duty at the highest res or anything.

They both have mostly used desktops but I wonder if a laptop that they can use all over the house along with a decent sized monitor and external keyboard that they can plug it into when they want to go down to the home office.

So anybody have any suggestions? Ever helped your parents by a computer?

Discussion is locked

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Answer
Put Linux Mint MATE version 17.2 on it
Sep 7, 2015 1:38PM PDT

I moved over from XP to that and it's a very easy intuitive system. It's also free. It will run fast on their od computer and comes with Firefox and Thunderbird on it.

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Thanks for the response
Sep 7, 2015 3:15PM PDT

Unfortunately, at my parents age and with my mothers condition there is just no way that they would want to or be able to learn a new operating system. It's gotta be Windows.

Also, even though they will be not be doing 3D modeling on this thing the current computer is like 10 years old they need one that has hardware in it.

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many of us already been there
Sep 8, 2015 12:16AM PDT

Both my parents gone. Mom never used computer, Dad did since DOS days for his business, every day. As they age and it gets more difficult, they simply just quit using it. After enough frustration in trying to remember, they give up. Before that happens they start answering spam and sending you some of the spam they get wanting to know if it's OK, or if you can help them achieve whatever the spam is about, etc.

Also did this walk with a neighbor I personally had taught in her early 70's even went to store with her to help her pick out one that would serve her in dialup days, and also allow card and board games to be loaded for her husband to play. As she reached 80, she just quit due to frustration. Before that she "traveled the world" on her computer, very happy to visit places and travel sites online and pretend she was there. Massive stroke took her within a day a couple years later.

It will NOT get easier for you.

Some have set up ageing parents with Remote Access where they can adjust and correct things from a distance on their parent's computers. Getting into their webmail accounts and training the SPAM filters is advised also. The best is AOL mail where you can use a positive only filter, which means no email other than those from an pre-approved email address can come through to them. Failing that, Setting up local mail client to download by IMAP or POP, and set all approved emails to enter the Inbox and all others to end up in a Bulk or Spam folder, will help them to avoid looking at the spam and maybe doing something foolish. There's a lot of stuff out there trying to prey on ageing adults, to get their savings, credit card numbers, etc.

Assess what they actually use a computer to do. Most end up using only email and browser most of the time, maybe a text editor and a photo album and program, some music downloads. If it's something they don't use or won't use, uninstall it from windows.

Make sure to set them on a Limited account, so they can't add any programs unless done by an Admin account. I've used this for my teen and saved myself many extra hours of grief I'd have had in cleaning her computer every half year or so. During those years nothing was able to completely crash or destroy her system where I couldn't recover it with minimal effort later.

If XP is all they know and going to W7 doesn't work for them, then by all means return to XP and put Avast on it, which should give most the protection they need still.

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Answer
So did you try 8 with say that Classic Shell?
Sep 7, 2015 3:21PM PDT

Even on Windows 10 I installed Classic Shell to get me back and running fast. Since you are talking email and the web, the OS doesn't really matter as Firefox, Chrome, Thunderbird and the web look the same to me after this small free app.

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7,8 and 10
Sep 7, 2015 5:39PM PDT

I personally use 8 where I've got the classic desktop and then if I need to get to the other desktop (which I only in order to search for a program or file) I hit the start button. That may be what you mean by Shell.

Which would be fine for my Dad but with my moms condition she will accidentally hit the start button, go to the 8 screen, and get confused and not be able to figure out how to get back to the desktop. I know it is crazy easy to do so but when you're dealing with someone who has early stage dementia they just get totally lost. And then I get a phone call in the middle of work.

I haven't looked into 10 at all. 7 would really be ideal. Or go to a Mac.

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Not quite. Here's a link to Classic Shell.
Sep 7, 2015 6:12PM PDT
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Have you looked at the options in Classic Shell?
Sep 7, 2015 6:18PM PDT

I believe there's an option in Classic Shell to disable the charms for Windows 8. That way I don't think your mom would be able to accidentally get into them. However they're still selling desktops and laptops with 7 if you're sure that's what you really want. I believe that's due to end come 2016 though, so if you want a new PC with 7, that leaves you with just under 4 months to buy it.
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Good luck.

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Classic Shell?
Sep 7, 2015 7:06PM PDT

What is Classic Shell exactly? On my comp with 8 I can't remember if I changed a setting or if it came out of the box to get the regular desktop. Is Shell a different version of 8 or is it just an option in 8? Or is it an additional download you can get from Microsoft?

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Classic Shell is a 3rd party pgm, makes 8 like 7.
Sep 7, 2015 7:18PM PDT

You can read all about it here:
http://classicshell.net/ . I've seen countless folks who hated 8 love it after installing it. It gives you back the look and feel of 7. And the best part - it's completely free.
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Good luck.

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just for yourself then
Sep 8, 2015 12:58AM PDT

download a copy of Linux Mint MATE, which is very simple, run off DVD or make a LIVE or FULL install to a USB3 flashdrive (you can get them for under $10 direct from factory) and play around in it a bit. Doesn't bother what you have on the computer at all, but if using w8 on UEFI motherboard would need to turn off Secure Boot first.

There's also a Luna theme that makes it look almost exactly like XP if you wanted.

Here's my current system of it.
http://glenburniemd.net/CNET/Linux17/index.html

Here's a couple shots of the Guest setup on my computer using the XP Luna Theme on Linux.

http://glenburniemd.net/CNET/Linux_XPwindowsLunaTheme.png

Although this shows all folders, the guest can only access his folders, and I could set the preferences to show only his folders in the file manager.

http://glenburniemd.net/CNET/FileManagerLunaXP-Linux.png

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Answer
I don't know about all over the house stuff.
Sep 7, 2015 11:09PM PDT

I know young people love that but I don't think old people love it as much. As for OS, I notice most of them are 8.1 or 10 now. However, most refurbished one are win7. I believe most refurbish one are about 10 years though. In fact, I just put in an order for a Lenovo for $77.

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Answer
I made another post but it didn't come through
Sep 8, 2015 1:16AM PDT

Maybe it will show up later. I did want you to see the Linux MATE system I use as it's on my computer. If the other comes through, it also has some screen captures of an XP look-a-like I use for my Guest account on the computer.