(no subject)

[lolotehe]

Before you buy your elderly relative a computer, make sure they can use it.
Do this, or make sure you are on hand at all times to handle all computer-related problems.
Better yet, talk them out of it.

No words chill me quicker than, "My grandson get me this...."

(Side note: if you have a trust fund, hire someone to handle this sort of thing for you. Don't call us and get pissy because you don't know how to use a computer. You have a flipping trust fund. Take a class or hire someone.)

Comments

[lihan161051.livejournal.com]

Which is worse, "My grandson got me this..", or "My grandson set this up for me.."

For me, it's the latter, because then I realize the "helpful" grandchild got them past the first-run script that was designed specifically to introduce them to the machine and guide them through setting up their user accounts, passwords, etc. Which typically means they're even more completely clueless than they would be if they had done it on their own, and I get to answer the dreaded question, "Password, what password?" ("It's my machine, why do I need a password to get into it, I never heard of such a thing..") ::headdesk::

[wuglet.livejournal.com]

I fear my elder relatives because they buy computers/mobiles/blackberries/wicked D-VBT or satellite systems themselves, and rely on me for explaining everything to them. -.-

[azzy23.livejournal.com]

I used to love supporting the elderly. Be sweet to them, and informal, then when they say, "I just don't know how to use this thing!" throw out with, "Oh just let me take care of this for you" and remote in. ;)

[djcal97.livejournal.com]

God.. i think that drives me nuts the most..
Purchasing expensive electronics without consulting the electronics person.

My mother in law got bent over when she purchased her new plasma 2 weekends ago.
Sales guy sold her a $400 line conditioner, on top of the $300 surge protector..

Also convinced her to buy a blu ray player.. Said that dvd was going to be obsolete by Christmas.. of course she believed everything he said becasue he was wearing a shiny badge that said "geek squad"
I went nuts on the guy and his manager for allowing her to be so easily ripped off. Send a complaint to the BBB as well.. asshats..

She watches the news.. thats it..

[gotica.livejournal.com]

My dad is awesome.. part of the older generation, got himself a puter to teach himself with, doesn't have the internet but has mentioned he would like to get on there some day.

I gave him my tablet cause he's artistic and has been trying to use the mouse to draw on the pc.

I don't hear from him much on topic of the pc, though mum is more computer savy cause I was always a bitch and told her to RTFM.

[excludingpauli.livejournal.com]

My mother referred her friend to me yesterday. He owns a construction firm that does about $1mil a year in business.

HE IS STILL USING A TYPEWRITER AND AN ADDING MACHINE!

He wants me to get him a computer, Internet, website and QuickBooks. I stupidly agreed and now I add this task to my overloaded schedule.

I'll report back on what type of train wreck it turns into.

~Coffee; you can sleep when you're dead~

[lolotehe]

If you have that option, it's great.

[lolotehe]

An adding machine? That's fantastic; he'll love Excel!

[azzy23.livejournal.com]

Yeah... but when you don't, it can be very time consuming. I think that's why many call centers don't drug test. =)

[the-s-guy.livejournal.com]

This is why, when my folks wanted a mobile phone, I spent a month tracking down the one which would do what they needed (bloody obscure backwoods network) but which otherwise had absolutely minimal features.

The instruction manual was 'only' twenty pages long. Groan.

And don't get me started on when I'm going to have to buy them something to replace their about-to-kick-the-bucket Win98/64MB clunker. I shudder just thinking about it.

[wuglet.livejournal.com]

Funnily enough my relatives manage to get bargains on their electronic purchases (they are real bargain hunters, I'm always amazed at their haggling-skill), and they know somehow when someone tries to rip them off.
Still, they buy stuff with this idea "hey, this is cool, only a fuzzy idea what to do with it, but wuglet can show me!". Argh.

[wuglet.livejournal.com]

Oooh, if they would only tell me when they are planning to get something new! They just spring everything on me. *sigh