Quote:
Originally Posted by Rizla
Okay, this was my main concern. Thanks.
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It is possible to reduce the risks quite a lot by activating parental controls and by hiding the main account so that the user can only use a restricted account. Windows 7 is actually quite good for this - there are very few things that it will allow to download via a restricted account. Add in some good antivirus and antimalware software set up to run automatically, and you've gone a good way towards protecting the user. A Gmail account will head off most of the spam. The main thing really would be to warn the user never, ever to use their credit card, and to have someone available that they can ring up if they're worried about anything.
As you're in the UK, you should also enquire with your local adult education network and possibly local schools, as many of them run 'silver surfers' courses, and if you're not able to provide support yourself, these groups can put the elderly user in touch with volunteers who can help them:
http://www.ageuk.org.uk/work-and-lea...-and-internet/
Re price, there are also a number of charities that offer free or low-priced computer equipment to the elderly - Age UK should be able to help with that as well. Or try Freecycle - many people are happy to give away their old computers to help someone.
You may well find, actually, that a desktop PC would be better. Many elderly people (especially of the age you're talking about) find even the weight of a netbook quite painful on their wrists, and if they're anything like my MIL, are terrified of dropping it. Having a 'proper' place for the computer seems to make it a bit more manageable - more like a TV, I suppose.
Re internet costs - take a look at
www.moneysavingexpert.com to find the cheapest deals. One of the problems you might have is that a lot of elderly people are on BT - they've never used anything else, and are reluctant to move away from it. Plus a lot of the aids available (for calling for help, for instance) will only work with a BT phone. If this person is already on BT, though, it might be worth ringing up BT and seeing what they can do. However, assuming that isn't the case, you'll probably find that the easiest way (might not be absolutely the cheapest, but won't be far off, and it'll mean dealing with only one provider) of getting the internet is to buy the cheapest TalkTalk bundle - they're doing a half-price deal ATM and it includes parental controls.