marf would know...

maybe the thread below will help you out.

Here is a link that might be useful: Geek Girl's Tutorials...We're Coming Out!

Thanks, Randy! That's exactly the site I was looking for.

Gene

If your mom is starting out, you might as well start out on Geek Girl's Home Page...of which the Windows' Guides are listed among the site contents.

Glad you remembered it.

Here is a link that might be useful: Geek Girl's Guide to Basic Computing

Gene, you might look into community education programs too - a college or jr college if nearby should have beginning classes for seniors for very little cost to the student. She could get some hands on experience and may even broaden her circle of friends there.

My own mother, 80 this Spring, registers for the senior morning classes at the jr college in her town and greatly enjoys them. Her YMCA offers computer classes free to members from time to time too and they are fun for her. I'm not sure she retains anything she is shown, but she does like participating :)

Senior Net is also around. I believe they are all across the country. They usually hold small classes and are held in the Town Hall. They are great courses starting from the very beginning (teach how to use the mouse) and onward. Very small classes 6-8 with a coach for each person. Everyone has their own computer to work on. Really good for beginners. You could Google - SeniorNet.com

Jane

Thanks for the suggestions, morz8. I will try to get her to just that and I hope she will. She has a sharp mind, but doesn't realize just how intelligent she is. I owe all of my good traits to her.

I bought the computer before Christmas, but I don't get to visit her often. I'll be taking it to her this Wednesday. I've cleaned it up and added all the safeguards; Zone Alarm, Spyware Blaster, Spybot, etc., and got rid of all the AOL and other unnecessary programs.

Thanks, Martha. I've downloaded all of those files and put them on her computer so she will not have to go online to use them. I'll get her online as soon as she gets comfortable with the basic computer skills. Since I live so far away and can't visit often it will be great to be able to be able to email her.

Don't forget the neighborhood public libraries for computer classes too. Many specifically for senior newbies. Sandy

Since its been mentioned, I've been going over that site again. It is just amazing. Its amazing that its free. There are so many "learn to use Windows programs" that are hard to understand and expensive.

I started reading "Basic Computing" and I understood it!

I wish I had known about this instead flopping around at the mercy of salesman from being unable to comprehend what
was going on with my computer and Windows.

I hope it remains available.

marf

Here is a link that might be useful: Geek Girl's Basic Computing

I was listening to a computer program on Science Friday on NPR. There were several callers who talked about using Remote Desktop to access their elderly parents computers to keep them updated and running smooth - how great it that! (Of course the parents were aware of the access)

Iowagirl has a great idea. I have found a link to a pictorial tutorial (poetic too, hee hee).

It would be nice to know if anyone has gone this route and how successful it is. My sister in Scotland has computer problems at times and I get terrified trying to lead her along as she can have a mind of her own at times and can start to click away at an alarming rate while i am left wondering where we will end up. I considered trying the remote desktop but got nervous in case she clicked the wrong stuff.

Here is a link that might be useful: Remote desktop XP tutorial

Geek Girl writes for PC USER matgazine. She does have additional tutorials listed on her recommended sites.

We all are just terrified when we start out. While its funny, its all so reasurring to know that we can't blow it(computer) up by turning it on and doing something wrong.

This going to sound self centered...which it is, but I didn't want to take a turorial or learn anything about my computer until I found out it could lead to some fun. God only knows how many turorials and sets of intructions that I forced myself to endure, and all of that never meant anything to me and never penetrated my brain until I wanted to install Morrowind Mods.

I could recommend many ways of using the computer to having fun, as we all could, The Garden Web being one.
Morrowind really took me by surprise. It such a slow tedious complicated game to get going. The free Morrowind game guide at CNET's GameSpot is 328 pages long! Talk about being overwhelmed. The age range of the players are 13 to 65, and I think a few in there 70's. It becomes passionate. You want to belong.

When the computer becomes a means to an end instead of a necessary chore, learning about it becomes worthwhile.

Photography and Photo.Net might be a source of a passion inspired goal. Epicurious (if its still up) for cooking. Researching your Heritage or playing the Sims and yes even Morrowind are the rewards for being able to use your computer.

The trick to teaching someone about their computer is finding their passion. Otherwise not much will help.

marf

Here is a link that might be useful: Geek Girls Picks and Tips.