SWMBO wants her own computer

Posted by: Dungassin on 14 August 2010

My technophobic, technologically illiterate wife suddenly announced today that "I want my own computer so I can email and order things on line myself.

This has several potential drawbacks, then main one of which is that I shall have to make sure she can't get at my contributions to this forum Eek

Don't know how it's going to work out, as she can't open directories, and has never got her head round the concept of right/left click, double-click etc.

I tried to suggest that a netbook would be ideal for her, but she "wants a screen at least as big as my laptop". Perhaps I ought to get her something like an iPad, but that really seems like a big expense for something that will almost certainly be a 5 minute wonder .... sigh ....

I've already decided that other than installing antivirus software, she's going to have to figure out whatever she gets for herself. It's the only way she'll ever learn. Just have to get her a book for total computer novices. Wonder if she'd actually read it? Roll Eyes
Posted on: 14 August 2010 by fixedwheel
Just get something you'll be happy to upgrade to yourself. Smile

Does it need to be a laptop?

John
Posted on: 14 August 2010 by Dungassin
Knowing her, that wouldn't work. Has to be a laptop or something like an iPad, because she'll want to use it while sitting in her armchair. No point in getting her one better than mine, because she'd never let me "nick" it anyway. Smile

I'll have a run in to Waterstones tomorrow and look at the books for computer beginners. Whichever book I get her, will have to assume that she doesn't even know what a keyboard, USB port, filing system etc is. Told you she was a total technophobe.
Posted on: 14 August 2010 by fixedwheel
Get a better one, when she doesn't use it you can acquire her cast off...

John
Posted on: 14 August 2010 by MilesSmiles
Wife's birthday is coming up, am getting a second iPad to get her off my back. Smile
Posted on: 14 August 2010 by winkyincanada
quote:
Originally posted by MilesSmiles:
Wife's birthday is coming up, am getting a second iPad to get her off my back. Smile


I bought my wife an iPad for her birthday. Also thinking of a second one to get me off her back!
Posted on: 14 August 2010 by count.d
Dungassin, the new Mac Pro went on sale this week. Suggest to her that the 6 core 3.33ghz processor is the way to go (nice sweet spot in the range), opt for 6gb of 1333Mhz ram and the HD 5870 graphic card.

This will speed up all her computer work, so she can spend more time cleaning and cooking.

P.S. It's not portable though.
Posted on: 14 August 2010 by Dungassin
Laptop, iPad or equivalent is what I said. Winker

While on the topic of the iPad, why have Apple crippled it (IMO) by not letting you use the USB socket to read/write external media? But then I suppose nobody would buy any model with more than 16GB memory. Still, I suppose I could configure one to access the photos on the LAN drive ... (at least I would hope that to be possible)
Posted on: 14 August 2010 by Guido Fawkes
Get an Amiga and plug it in to the TV.
Posted on: 14 August 2010 by Skip
Take her to an Apple Store and let her pick something out. Or get her a MacBook or MacBook Pro. We got my mother in law a MacBook recently with an Airport and she could not be happier. We also got her "One on One" so she can get training at the Apple Store. I don't know if there is an Apple Store near you, but you should get her a Mac regardless.
Posted on: 14 August 2010 by Tony Lockhart
I bought my wife a 3G iPad recently. She loves the thing, and uses it frequently. She's not computer illiterate by a long way, but wanted something simple to use, and something to give her access to sites that her company have blocked (Hotmail, YouTube, etc). I've already told her that when the iPad2 comes out I'll have the old beater off her. There's even an adapter that'll allow me to connect my DSLR to it.
And jailbroken ipads can be easily modded to play flash media.

Tony
Posted on: 14 August 2010 by Consciousmess
quote:
My technophobic, technologically illiterate wife suddenly announced today that "I want my own computer so I can email and order things on line myself.

This has several potential drawbacks, then main one of which is that I shall have to make sure she can't get at my contributions to this forum

Don't know how it's going to work out, as she can't open directories, and has never got her head round the concept of right/left click, double-click etc.

I tried to suggest that a netbook would be ideal for her, but she "wants a screen at least as big as my laptop". Perhaps I ought to get her something like an iPad, but that really seems like a big expense for something that will almost certainly be a 5 minute wonder .... sigh ....

I've already decided that other than installing antivirus software, she's going to have to figure out whatever she gets for herself. It's the only way she'll ever learn. Just have to get her a book for total computer novices. Wonder if she'd actually read it?


Hi Dungassin,

If you want my opinion, I'd say it is dangerous when you let the other half have their own means to access the internet. It is kind of like your partner having two mobile phones - one is the one 'you' know about.... the other, well the imagination is where the answer lies!!!

Of course if you are highly computer literate yourself, you can keep an eye on her...........!!

Jon
Posted on: 14 August 2010 by Tony Lockhart
If a woman says something, and nobody is around to hear, is she still wrong?

Tony
Posted on: 15 August 2010 by Jono 13
quote:
Originally posted by Tony Lockhart:
If a woman says something, and nobody is around to hear, is she still wrong?

Tony


No but you will be.

Jono
Posted on: 15 August 2010 by Mick P
Dungassing

I bought my wife a 13" MacBook Pro as a pressie a couple of months ago and she loves it. She uses it more each day.

Never buy your wife cheap tat, always buy her the best and you will be happier in the long run.

Regards

Mick
Posted on: 15 August 2010 by count.d
quote:
one is the one 'you' know about.... the other, well the imagination is where the answer lies


Yes, she could buy something expensive and not tell her partner. Imagine how devious that is?
Posted on: 15 August 2010 by Mike-B
Dungassin, I know its hard, but it is 21st century, women are now eq to blokes, they drive cars & trucks, they drink & do bloke stuff, they vote, they have opinions & oh !!! they too think about sex & have orgasms - with & without your help.

Seriously - Buy her a good laptop, one you would like to have, teach her (very briefly) how to use it, then get some lessons from someone outside the family/friends circle (avoiding shy & swearing embarrassment), also buy her (and you) a book called Laptops for Dummies.

In my experience, Naim forums are boring to most females unless they have their own system.
In the music/hifi world mine is only interested in the best seats at the next concert/prom/recital
Plus forums on stuff outside the understanding of the average male.

------------

Related joke
Fred the bloke died & went to heaven, he was shocked to find that god was a beer swilling rugby mad computer geek gay black women.
Posted on: 15 August 2010 by fixedwheel
quote:
Originally posted by count.d:
Yes, she could buy something expensive and not tell her partner. Imagine how devious that is?


Ouch. Eek

John
Posted on: 15 August 2010 by Dungassin
quote:
Take her to an Apple Store and let her pick something out. Or get her a MacBook or MacBook Pro. We got my mother in law a MacBook recently with an Airport and she could not be happier. We also got her "One on One" so she can get training at the Apple Store. I don't know if there is an Apple Store near you, but you should get her a Mac regardless.

Alas, I am not a great fan of the Mac. The operating system I found easiest and most intuitve was the Acorn RISCOS system, and the only reason I moved across to PCs was lack of software for my RiscPC. I've used Macs, PCs, Acorns, Amigas, Sinclairs, etc for many years, and still think Macs are overpriced. All my own personal opinion, of course.

I suspect her computer will be a 5 minute wonder - especially as I have already told her that other than installing antivirus on it for her, she's going to have to figure out how to use it herself. I've tried teaching her in the past, and it usually ends in verbal fisticuffs. So I don't want to spend to much on it, and my own PC laptop is only a year or so old, so feel no need to change it just yet, so no point in getting her a high end machine just because I might inherit it.
Posted on: 15 August 2010 by Dungassin
quote:
Originally posted by Tony Lockhart:
I bought my wife a 3G iPad recently. She loves the thing, and uses it frequently. She's not computer illiterate by a long way, but wanted something simple to use, and something to give her access to sites that her company have blocked (Hotmail, YouTube, etc). I've already told her that when the iPad2 comes out I'll have the old beater off her. There's even an adapter that'll allow me to connect my DSLR to it.
And jailbroken ipads can be easily modded to play flash media.

Tony

Sounds like a jailbroken one might do for her. The ipad/iphone interface I find almost idiot proof, and hopefully something like that would spare me lots of "it's not working" calls from her. Also seems to have quite a long battery life, which would be helpful. On the other hand, she completely failed to successfully telephone our youngest from the car using my iPhone, and I had to stop and do it for her - doesn't bode well, does it?
Posted on: 15 August 2010 by Dungassin
quote:
Originally posted by Jono 13:
quote:
Originally posted by Tony Lockhart:
If a woman says something, and nobody is around to hear, is she still wrong?

Tony


No but you will be.

Jono

Sounds about right. She's 2 weeks post knee replacement ATM, so I'm still running the house. I received a long lecture today about how to mop the kitchen and utility room floors after I'd asked her which of her many cleaning agents she likes to use (she didn't like the one I'd got out, although I'd used it while she was in hospital). Trying to micromanage me as usual. She forgets that she had a nephrectomy when our youngest was 3 months old, and I successfully ran our house, including looking after a 2 year old, transferring the baby from breast to bottle, and the place was immaculate when she came home, and children completely happy ... women, they think they're the only one's who can run a home ... Smile
Posted on: 15 August 2010 by Dungassin
quote:
Originally posted by count.d:
quote:
one is the one 'you' know about.... the other, well the imagination is where the answer lies


Yes, she could buy something expensive and not tell her partner. Imagine how devious that is?

I couldn't criticise her on those grounds, especially when I buy expensive things and don't tell her. e.g. I added a pair of Stax earphones to my recent Naim recapping exercise, on the grounds she wouldn't notice. Winker
Posted on: 15 August 2010 by Mick P
Dungassing.

If you love your wife, you will want to buy her the best and if you buy her an Apple as I suggested, she can have as many lessons as she wants at the Apple shop. Each lessons lasts for about an hour and there is no limit to the number she can have.

There is no need for you to teach her anything and hence you won't have any verbal fisticuffs.

Regards

Mick
Posted on: 15 August 2010 by Onthlam
Does anything Mac, do flash?
MN
Posted on: 15 August 2010 by Lontano
quote:
Originally posted by Marc Newman:
Does anything Mac, do flash?
MN


yes, their computers
Posted on: 15 August 2010 by Tony Lockhart
And, as I hope to find out tonight, a jailbroken iPad. I'm not sure whether the same hacks will work on my iPhone 4 though.

Wish me luck, gulp.

Tony