Advice for first time internet user?

[Hobie]

My pops is now on the internets.

This has been PAINFUL. He's never really used a computer in his life. He's always been a blue-collar guy, is in his 60's, and this is his first one to own.

Trying to get the software installed for his air card and get him online took 3 different attempts and almost three hours of my time.

PUT THE DISC IN THE COMPUTER, CLICK YES/AGREE TO EVERYTHING THAT POPS UP RELATED TO THE DISC, DOUBLE CLICK INTERNET EXPLORER - three hours!!!

"hallelujah! holy shit, where is the tylenol!" - C. Griswald

He's never really used the internet, windows, or anything I've ever heard of. I had no idea how hard it was going to be. When he told me "I've flipped this god damn lap top over and over every which way - THERE IS NO START MENU ANY GOD DAMN PLACE!" - I knew I was in trouble. Couldn't help but think of Zoolander - "The files are IN the computer!"


I've told him no girl wants to meet for sex, no prince wants to give him any money, stay away from porn, don't click on unfamiliar links, and under no circumstances open up your wallet for anything.

Any other advice/tips ??? - pretend you're speaking with someone from an uncontacted tribe that's never seen the modern world, seriously.

[Unicorn Jeff]

Register on dfwmustangs.net

[red95gts]

Tell him to search for goatse, tubgirl, and BME video. Break him in right!

[CexMashean]

I would normally never, ever, ever recommend this to anyone. . . . . . Get him a Mac. If he dares spend time on the intent, you're going to very soon become his virus/spyware removal guy. Very soon.
Also, now that he has the Internet working, I'd struggle very hard to get him familiar with showmypc.com.

[Hobie]

Tell him to search for goatse, tubgirl, and BME video. Break him in right!

Yeah, I was thinking of sending him some safe, but fucked up pics/vids.

He's got a buddy his age that's fairly web savvy that sends him stuff via text, which gets sent to me, they've found lemonparty recently, lulz.

I would normally never, ever, ever recommend this to anyone. . . . . . Get him a Mac. If he dares spend time on the intent, you're going to very soon become his virus/spyware removal guy. Very soon.
Also, now that he has the Internet working, I'd struggle very hard to get him familiar with showmypc.com.

Holy shit dude, you're being helpful! Upvote for you!

Yeah, I was trying to get my uncle to help him go get some pile off craigslist for a few hundred bucks, but he got impatient and went out and bought way too much lap top.

It'll be trash soon, he's been using email since last fall from a local library per my advice. He hasn't logged in since May, today I logged into his acount, over 2000 spam emails, since MAY. This is going to get bad.

[ram57ta]

You shoulda told him to find a used Macbook on Craigslist....I can pick up good working ones in pretty good shape for under 300 usually.

Welcome to the world of OS re-installs, spyware and virus removal...not to mention the daily...and sometimes hourly Windows updates that take forever and require multiple reboots...plus Java and Adobe daily updates....I finally removed Windows 7 from my Macbook Pro and haven't looked back.

[joes01bullitt]

he's got a buddy his age that's fairly web savvy that sends him stuff via text, which gets sent to me, they've found lemonparty recently, lulz.

just googled that...........

[red95gts]

If he's found lemonparty, he's already well on his way. Just stand back and watch!

[mschmoyer]

Hell an iPad might even work in this day and age. Mobile sites make big clicky buttons and work hard to require less input from the keyboard. No start menu, no left/right mouse button, no activex, not *much* an email can harm. All my gramps will use is ebay, craigslist, and the weather...price range of a macbook or laptop too.

I taught my dad how to upload pictures of his band to facebook on the iphone. I couldn't get nearly that far on any pc or mac...

[Hobie]

Any other ideas?

[forbes]

my uncle never been a computer either, i had my 9 year old daughter sit down with him and teach him. she had a way of explaining things, well like a kid. very simple and easy to understand

[BP]

One of my cousins had a virus 10+ years ago and hasn't gotten back on the internet since. Yep, he's a tard.

[Geor!]

You know your old man still beats that meat from time to time. Send him links to porn sites.

[Nash B.]

One of my cousins had a virus 10+ years ago and hasn't gotten back on the internet since. Yep, he's a tard.

LOL, one of my uncles got one and about 8 years ago. He went for about 5 years with no Internet. Smart guy, just never had to or wanted to become familiar with computers.

[347Mike]

I work in IT and think I have more patience than most. But training someone who has never used a computer though is not my cup of tea. Very frusterating.

I have helped 2 people, one my grandmother, and one my mother. For some reason just holding a mouse for someone who has never used a computer is impossible. They hold it like it has aids and is 150 degrees. Then having them move and hold the mouse in a fashion to actually click an icon is just as difficult. Even more mind boggling, dont you dare try to doubleclick cause their monitor will turn into a damn etch-sketch of icons.

I lost it after turning the computer on and trying to click. I wouldn't even attempt the internet... I say with todays technology, give them an iPhone or a Smartphone and let them learn using that on their time and explore the internet.