I'm currently on the phone with my mom trying to walk her through setting up her dsl. My mom does not know her way around a computer. It was so hard trying to explain where and how to type the web address that she needed to go to in internet explorer! But she's doing a good job. It's just so frustrating - the things I just take for granted that a person knows how to do on a computer ...
It will be fun trying to set up her email account in Outlook ...
Hopefully she'll be online soon. Then I'll have to walk her through setting up her wireless router ...
The really hard part is that she has Windows Vista and I don't know that OS at all - so I'm very little help with that.
But it will be gratifying to send her photos and then get her going with Skype!
Ame

By Mrsheidi on Tuesday, April 10, 2007 - 07:25 pm:

What fun! I had to talk my dad through the same thing...it was frustrating, especially since he has the memory of a goldfish and he thought my phone number was the IT help line.
It's sort of exciting though to share photos with them that way! Good luck! You might want to invest in a headset...LOL...JK.

By Trina~moderator on Tuesday, April 10, 2007 - 07:35 pm:

LOL! My Dad (74) is computer savvy, but not my Mom (70).

By Cocoabutter on Tuesday, April 10, 2007 - 08:27 pm:

My mom just got a new PC with Windows Vista on it and McAfee Internet Security Suite already installed with a 3-year subscription. I spent hours at her house over 2 days getting her on the Internet and downloading updates to the anti-virus and firewall and Windows Vista. Then I installed SpyBot and AdAware, and Firefox and Thunderbird.

Maybe you could visit your mom and get her all set up.

By Bobbie~moderatr on Tuesday, April 10, 2007 - 08:35 pm:

I suggest they contact the local senior centers... I know everyone around our county offers classes and so doesn't our county library... All free.. Just a suggestion..

I am on Vista and it is generally the same OS. If you can't find something just ask and I will see if I can help but I am sure the waiting on me (or other vista users) to catch the thread could very well drive you nuts.. LOL

Tell her to look into a class.. That is how my grandparents learned. My grandpa now teaches at the senior class... LOL

By Amecmom on Tuesday, April 10, 2007 - 08:42 pm:

Success! She is online and ready to go! Her's also came with McAffee and a subscription.
I'd love to visit and get her set up, but she's in VA and I'm in NY.
LOL I couldn't even tell her how to shut down the computer in Vista. I had to tell her just to hold down the power button.
But, what counts is she's online.
The sad thing is that my sister lives down there, about 10 minutes from her house. Not once did she offer to set up the dsl for my mom. Oh well ...I think classes would be great and I think she'd enjoy them.
That's great, Bobbie! I'll just be happy that she can open an attachment.
I'm not a fan of AOL but I have new respect for it. It's so easy for her to use that I'm thankful. I think I'd go nuts trying to explain Outlook and windows.
Ame

By Tripletmom on Tuesday, April 10, 2007 - 08:47 pm:

Wow,good for your mom She's going to love getting all the pictures.Wait until she gets hooked lol

By Dawnk777 on Tuesday, April 10, 2007 - 09:26 pm:

I'm glad she's online! My parents are both computer-savvy. Dad is 70 this year and my mom is 68.

By Reds9298 on Tuesday, April 10, 2007 - 09:33 pm:

That's great. My parents (both almost 70) bought a computer for the first time about 7-8mths. ago. They are both so completely computer illiterate it's not even funny and I have spent HOURS at their house trying to teach them the BASICS. Like serious basics. It's fun that they can use the internet now (finally!) but it's hard to see things from their point of view. They have been completely computer-less and I've been around computers since junior high.

She will LOVE getting all of the pictures! It's such a wonderful way to keep in touch and watch someone's children "grow up" when you can't see them often.

By Karen~admin on Wednesday, April 11, 2007 - 08:31 am:

LOL Ame. I remember trying to teach my inlaws to use a computer 4 or 5 years ago. They just couldn't get the hang of it. Bobbie's right, senior centers, etc. usually give some sort of very basic classes. Good luck!

By Conni on Wednesday, April 11, 2007 - 06:51 pm:

Tell your Mom that I have been using computers since the 80's and there are many days when I still can't figure something out and think I need a class! LOL Or just feel like throwing it out the window.

Congrats on her new PC and on you successfully getting her *going*...