Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Computing/2013 March 31

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March 31

Basic word processor

Is there a modern word processor available? I know the obvious answer is a Mac or PC. But I am looking for something for my elderly parents, and they are intimidated by all the "bells & whistles" of a modern PC. I need something bare-bones where they can create, edit and save simple files (home budget, recipes, write letters, etc.). Also needs to be print capable. They do not need to get on-line. Just as an aside, my Dad has had a couple of mild strokes, and he gets confused with the system updates and pop-ups pre-loaded on off-the-shelf PCs...for instance, they bought a basic PC but it came pre-loaded with antivirus software, and even though they're not on the Internet, it kept prompting him to update the antivirus, and then of course the update failed, and it kept happening. He ultimately got frustrated and returned it...so you maybe can see what I am dealing with. I want them to be happy, but I running into an insurmountable learning curve with them over how the old word processors worked vs. a modern PC. Any ideas? Ditch ∝ 00:11, 31 March 2013 (UTC)

Perhaps an electronic typewriter would be sufficient.

—Wavelength (talk) 00:18, 31 March 2013 (UTC)

Well, on a Windows PC, Notepad is a rather basic editor without anything fancy.

Basically you just need to set the PC up for them. I suggest the following:

1) The oldest version of Windows you can find. Windows 7 and 8 are both easy to find in stores now. Windows 7 is a lot easier to use than 8.

2) No internet connection (no cable).

3) Remove any anti-virus programs from it.

4) Disable any automatic update settings.

5) Get a laser mouse and keyboard with wires. (Wireless devices can be lost, need batteries, and can go out of range.)

6) Set up folders on the Desktop for each of the things they do, like Recipes, Budget, Letters, etc. You can put sub-folders in each, like "Chicken recipes". Take all the crap on the Desktop they don't use, and put it in a new folder called "Crap we don't use", or something like that. (You could also delete it, but I feel safer keeping it.)

7) Also put a shortcut to every program they need, like Notepad, on the Desktop. (For the budget, a spreadsheet program would be ideal, but it might be too steep of a learning curve for your dad, so just have him use the Calculator and Notepad.)

8) If they don't need color, a black-and-white laser printer is the way to go. Color laser printers cost a lot more, and cheaper color ink-jet printers need constant replacement of ink cartridges. Set the printer up for them so it's all set to print.

9) If their vision isn't so good, pick a lower screen resolution and get a larger screen. StuRat (talk) 00:31, 31 March 2013 (UTC)

• Just a thought. If all they want to do is word processing and a little bit of surfing, plus emails etc. Then you could over-write their Windows Operating system with the Ubuntu OS [1]. You can easily set this up, so that if they have problems, you can use your home computer to get into their system and remotely sort it out for them – with out leaving your home. [2]. It makes life simple.--Aspro (talk) 00:34, 31 March 2013 (UTC)

P.S. Nor do you need anti-virus apps – that's mainly a microsoft problem--Aspro (talk) 00:38, 31 March 2013 (UTC)

I like all of the suggestions, but especially the ability to be able to access their computer remotely and "resolve" annoying issues is a GREAT idea. That way they could have Internet even thought they don't think they'd use it, but I think they would like email if they gave it a chance. I think that might be the way to go. Thanks! Ditch ∝ 00:46, 31 March 2013 (UTC)

Very wise. They might be old folk but they brought you up. They will be able to grasp email if email's are explained to them bit by bit and then ….-'Wow “we can now exchange emails with old aunt Maude who ran off with a GI to outer Mongolia at the end of WW2 etc.. Emails can open up their world again when they find they are just a @ from all their friends and relatives. Just need to find one or two of their old friends (or grand children) that are contactable on email, lead them by rote and they will be away. They will soon be saying “Ditch ∝ why don't you email us more often?”.--Aspro (talk) 01:17, 31 March 2013 (UTC)

My elderly father learned to use email and got in contact with all his old cronies that way. He even found an old high school girlfriend and took her to his 50th reunion. One thing he never quite got the hang of, though, was that you can send a one sentence e-mail. He kept thinking "Only one sentence, that's a waste of postage !". Unfortunately, this meant he would write a novel in each e-mail (with a 50/50 chance the computer would freeze up over the week it took him to write it), and he often lost the whole thing.

One thing to beware of, though, access to the internet means scammers have access to him. My dad fell for the one where you supposedly get a free laptop by completing several "offers". He ended up paying hundreds of dollars for nutritional supplements he didn't want, from a company who refused to cancel his subscription, and he never got a free laptop, of course. To prevent this, you might want to use the whitelist system, where he can only receive emails from those on the list. StuRat (talk) 02:02, 31 March 2013 (UTC)

A one-sentence e-mail message reminds me of "End of message".

—Wavelength (talk) 02:40, 31 March 2013 (UTC)

On the opposite end of the spectrum is my father, who had his first computer bought for him by my brother when my father was in his 70s, who writes rather short emails. He doesn't like typing and keeps things brief. Sometimes too brief though because they leave me wondering how he got from point A of the story to point B. Dismas|^(talk) 02:49, 31 March 2013 (UTC)

Think this is very much on topic when it comes to keyboards and male preferences. One friend has an elderly relative (male yet again) who not only has a wonderful and neat hand written script but through years of writing with a fountain pen, finds his mind/hand coordination is more fluent when writing with a pen. In other words, he does not get on well with a keyboard as it brakes his concentration when hunting the keyboard for the right letters and punctuation marks. The problem was solved: He now writes his letter out in long hand and scans them. The only hiccup, is the he sometimes uses full colour and too high a resolution, resulting in ignominious file sizes. Having said that, he likes sending scans from the local news paper, family photos and other stuff. It has had other bonuses, in that he has been able to send over scans of letters from officialdom, spammers, etc., that has left him baffled. That saves this friend from round trip of 120 miles just to look at these letters. Simply thinking, that if they can't get the hang of cutting and pasting then there is no point in trying to get them doing something more advanced -is down to our own misconceived ideas. When you show them something that suits them, they pick it up like lightning.Aspro (talk) 18:33, 31 March 2013 (UTC)

That, I think, is very wise advice as well. Rule of untended consequences, right? In the same way my Dad can't get over the pop-ups that tell him to "update" or whatever (even though I tell him over and over just to ignore them and hit "cancel"), he might also be gullible to all the "advances" in spamming that have evolved in the last 10-15 years since he retired and "left" the technological world (back when we all had bulky black Nokia cell phones, and text messaging was just really starting). I imagine when our parents get older, that it is like when we were 16 and got our driver's licenses. At some point you have to let go and trust the individual to make their own judgments, hoping that our own example will provide guidance, while always still dreading the late-night phone call that there has been a wreck. My Dad used to be able to do everything...he was. well, my Dad. Now it's different. God, I feel old. It's an amazing and scary world we live in. But that's life right? I feel much better now :) Ditch ∝ 02:46, 31 March 2013 (UTC)

BTW, there are computer services specifically set up for the elderly, like these: [3], [4], but I can't vouch for either, never having tried them. For example, I don't know if they can prevent other software from popping up windows telling you to upgrade (heck, they might even do so themselves). StuRat (talk) 03:10, 31 March 2013 (UTC)

I think you might be surprised at how well they get on with computers if they find they can use something like skype to talk to their children and grandchildren. Dmcq (talk) 11:55, 31 March 2013 (UTC)

• Older PCs can still be obtained from eBay and thrift shops. If you know what you're doing, you should be able to take any PC from the late 80s or newer and install Windows 3.1 (legal copies of Windows 3.1 appear to go for about $30 on eBay and Amazon), which would probably achieve what you're wanting to achieve. Do beware that Windows 3.1 came on floppy disks (some copies were on 5.25s, some copies came on 3.5s), so if you choose to install it on a modern computer you're going to have to either install a floppy drive or you're going to have to find some way to get it onto some sort of media compatible with the newer machine, but for what they want to use it for, any inexpensive piece of crap from the late 90s/early 2000s (which would likely have a 3.5 FDD already installed) should suffice. PCHS-NJROTC ^(Messages) 22:13, 31 March 2013 (UTC)

The answer might be a Chromebook. I haven't used one, but my understanding is that they're cheap, and they boot right into a web-browser. APL (talk) 05:14, 3 April 2013 (UTC)

I think, that’s a very good suggestion. Whilst one can not directly connect a printer to a Chromebook (which is a condition the OP requires) one can connect it to a cloud-print enabled printer. [5] That is a good excuse to provide the folks with an internet connection. Then, as you intimate, they can use Chromebook, which only needs to be set up for them and very little in the way of ongoing IT support from the OP. After that, a mere ten minutes of demonstrating how you can type key word into google like: Harley Davidson, Squirrel pie recipes, etc., and they will wonder why they did not get online sooner. These basic, no bells and whistles, low maintenance apps, is what I think Chromebook was designed for. Do any editors here, use a Chomebook daily? It sound like it would be worth getting one just to experiment.Aspro (talk) 12:40, 3 April 2013 (UTC)

Router

Why would my router keep switching itself off? Any ideas please?85.211.138.47 (talk) 06:33, 31 March 2013 (UTC)

My first guess would be some sort of power saving feature. Could you tell us what the model of the router is? That might help. Dismas|^(talk) 07:47, 31 March 2013 (UTC)

It is a Belkin Model No:F5D8635-4 v185.211.138.47 (talk) 10:37, 31 March 2013 (UTC)

Power-saving would not make sense in a wireless router. The user manual does not discuss this in the Troubleshooting section, or mention anything related as far as I can see, so I think you are reduced to calling Tech Support. You might try resetting to factory defaults first (p. 56 of the manual), but there is no special reason to think that will work. Looie496 (talk) 15:22, 31 March 2013 (UTC)

• If your router came with your internet service you might want to contact your provider and ask for a new one. I have had Belkin routers replaced twice at no expense to me over the last half-a-dozen years. μηδείς (talk) 19:46, 31 March 2013 (UTC)

• • I had a 2wire routers replaced twice by what was then called Embarq, the process was damn near painless. Make sure it's not a problem with the electrical outlet. If it's not an ISP issued router, you may still be able to get it replaced through the manufacturer's warranty, or if it's out of warranty but you happened to pay for it with an American Express card, through Extended Warranty offered by AMEX (same applies to any card company that offers a similar benefit). PCHS-NJROTC ^(Messages) 21:39, 31 March 2013 (UTC)

• I concur on the need to check the electrical outlet. Perhaps voltage periodically drops too low, causing the device to shut down. If so, the cure is a small uninterruptible power supply, not a new router. StuRat (talk) 16:47, 1 April 2013 (UTC)

Is the router plugged into a swtiched outlet? That is, when you flip the light switch off maybe you are also turning off the router? RudolfRed (talk) 00:38, 2 April 2013 (UTC)

What does the OP mean exactly by switching off. Sometimes, my telephone exchange is doing maintenance and my connection goes down. The 'power' light on my router however, does 'not' extinguish. Once maintenance is over, the other little light flicker off and on until I am back online. Does the 'power' light go off?Aspro (talk) 12:49, 3 April 2013 (UTC)

• It can be : 1) Your router keeps on delinking - It can happen due to regular periodical refresh of the link i.e the signal from your ISP is updated periodically. It is a common occurence and can happen with any router or modem. OR 2) It keeps turning OFF: The power supply to your router could be experiencing issues. Ensure that you have a clean connection (with no wires being intertwined with your router power cord) and check that your router power plug is plugged in firmly to a suitable power outlet. If the problem persists , try contacting your router manufacturer or ISP. Prantik911 (talk) 15:31, 3 April 2013 (UTC)

TurboTax Tune

I remember TurboTax had a MIDI-sounding tune that played on startup back in the late 90s or early 2000s, but I can't find it anywhere on the internet. Does anyone know anything about it or where on the internet it can be found? 184.7.157.90 (talk) 20:51, 31 March 2013 (UTC)