You love your mom, right? Remember all those times she took you to soccer practice? And that time when she was the only one clapping in the audience during your 'recital'? She's always been there for you, and this Thanksgiving weekend it is time to give a little love back. Since we are not the sentimental type here at Download Squad (flowers and puppies just don't do it for us), we thought we'd offer up 10 tips to make mom's computing experience more enjoyable. So, take a break from the annual long weekend of awkward conversations, bad football games, and watching TV reruns in anticipation of the big feast. It's time to fix mom's PC!
- When was the last time your mom did a full backup of her computer files? When was the last time you backed up your computer (sorry, had to ask)? Do your mom a favor and make at least two backup copies of her most precious files. Keep one
backup for your records, and have your mom store another copy in a safe place. You might want to take a look at NTI Shadow 2 (on sale for 99 cents until the end of the year) as a backup utility, if mom's computer lacks one. - Like all moms, we bet yours has collected a bunch of photo files over the years. We
are also confident that they are not as well organized as she thinks they are. Clean up her photographs by putting them in the My Pictures folder on her computer. Then download Picasa from Google and show her how to use
it. Picasa, along with its online companion Hello, are your friends. They will make sending pictures to your mom much easier, and will make viewing pictures more pleasurable too. - Now that her pictures are all sorted out neatly, it's time to buy her a nice LCD
screen to get rid of that boat-anchor CRT monitor on her desk. - While we're thinking of hardware upgrades, why not get your mom some real speakers to replace those tiny, screeching ones that came with the computer? Your mom deserves better sound quality when she listens to music, right?
- Install Firefox. Your mom will love it. Trust us on this one.
- If your mom would like to keep one place to store notes, copies of web pages, and other clippings, setup Evernote for her. Given that Evernote lets you copy and categorize notes, web pages and clippings, this program will help her keep track of all kinds of stuff in one place.
- Update the anti-virus software on her machine, as well as the spyware detection software. It has probably been a while since she had the latest, and greatest, virus definintions on her PC. We know you keep your virus definitions up to date, right? To keep spyware at bay, we prefer Adaware by Lavasoft.
- Introduce your mom to the world of VoIP by setting up Skype. We're pretty confident that all moms would love to be able to chat with their children at any time.
Even more inviting to most moms is when they can chat for free. Of course you will thank us for this tip once your mom buzzes you while you are in some important meeting at work. - Run a system check utility on her machine to clean out the cobwebs that slow down system performance. Systweak does a good job in cleaning up PCs.
- Get her a real email account. Many moms (and dads for that matter) fall into the trap of using some default, arcane email address that was provided by their internet provider. Make her email address a memorable one. Be a sport, move your mom onto a vanity domain name and have it forwarded to her favorite email address. Domain names can be bought for less than $9/year and will give your mom a special email address that is easy to remember (okay, this is sort of senitmental).
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
11-23-2005 @ 8:49AM
Alexander said...
Let's add Quintura Search to this package
http://www.quintura.com/quinturasearch/
It's fresh view to search via the internet.
Reply
11-23-2005 @ 8:57AM
geek2us said...
Some good advice given here, but what if it your dads pc? Heh
http://www.geek2us.net
Coffee
Reply
11-23-2005 @ 9:35AM
HotMeatPants said...
Show her http://www.neodux.com - she'll regret ever giving you control of her computer.
Reply
11-23-2005 @ 10:25AM
AceHenry said...
Haha I love the article title.
Reply
11-23-2005 @ 11:41AM
MrRockabilly said...
This is a good list . . . I especially like number 5. Everyone here in the office gave me a blank stare when I laughed out loud. It will be a nice change from my anual box of See's candies.
Reply
11-23-2005 @ 11:50AM
Scott said...
"Friday 5 a.m. Wal-Mart run"...?
Best Buy all the way, baby!
Reply
11-23-2005 @ 11:58AM
J said...
i'm gonna do all these on my dad's computer instead since my mom doesn't use one
Reply
11-23-2005 @ 12:44PM
suezz said...
The one thing to do for mom's pc over thanksgiving.
Install LINUX.
Reply
11-23-2005 @ 1:18PM
Faraz Rabbani said...
I'd recommend getting Copernic Desktop Search installed and running on her computer. People always "lose" stuff--documents, pictures, files, songs--on their machines, and an efficient desktop search program really helps them out...
Reply
11-23-2005 @ 1:20PM
krd said...
I suggest changing number 5 to "Install opera"
I don't think mom has time to look for extensions, or know what to do when they stop working when a new version of it comes out every... um.... 2 weeks.
trust me on this one.
Reply
11-23-2005 @ 2:08PM
Kevin said...
Agree with #9. If Mom needs the kind of help that is on the list, Opera is a better way to go than Firefox. Mom would never know how to install a Firefox extension. Also suggest installing LogMeIn, so that you can give Mom a remote checkup once in a while.
Reply
11-23-2005 @ 2:37PM
paolo said...
Install Linux.
Reply
11-23-2005 @ 2:39PM
paolo said...
Sorry I wanted to say: install Ubuntu Linux. http://www.ubuntulinux.org/
Reply
11-23-2005 @ 4:03PM
F. Cisco said...
I would prefer to install Opera instead.
Its also free and much more secure.
Reply
11-23-2005 @ 4:19PM
Andy Atkinson said...
Putting UltraVNC on mom's computer will let you quickly administer it when she needs help with something, and lets her stay logged-in. She'll watch in amazement as you move her mouse around and remove that spyware. Remember to open up the required ports on her router before taking off.
http://paininthetech.com/fix_your_moms_computer_with_ultravnc
Reply
11-23-2005 @ 6:09PM
Joid said...
Instead of giving tip no. 7 i would install HitmanPro http://www.hitmanpro.com. Every two weeks she has to start this program and:
Ad-Aware SE 1.06, Spybot Search & Destroy 1.4, Spy Sweeper 3 & 4, Spyware Doctor 3.2, CWShredder 2.15
SpywareBlaster 3.4, Spyware Block List, NOD32 AntiThreat 2.5, Sysclean Package, SuperDAT VirusScan will run behind eachother. Your mom's PC will be easily cleaned and shutdown automatically. What a relief!
Reply
11-23-2005 @ 6:14PM
AFD said...
I recommend a good defragmentation before sitting down for Thanksgiving dinner.
Reply
11-23-2005 @ 7:47PM
jeremy said...
I also agree with the Opera sentiment. It's much less hassle than firefox and looks slightly "newer" and "cooler," although that depends on preference...
Reply
11-23-2005 @ 10:48PM
Vikram said...
I'd just like to comment on suezz's remark.
"Install LINUX"
1) This guy probably doesn't even use Linux, and wants to sound like all the 'nix drones out there.
2) Unless suezz's mother is a geek and a hardcore computer user, Linux is going to be hell for her.
Reply
11-24-2005 @ 1:00AM
Joe said...
I got my mum a mac mini. In addition to the alliteration, it's attractive, tiny and it just works. Six months later and no problems.
Reply