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sleemanj

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#21308 22-Apr-2008 17:17
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Hi all, my 80 something gran wants a pc so she can "use the internet".

I however don't want to spend every waking hour teaching and reteaching how to use said computer.

What I'm looking for is an insanely (INSANELY) simple environment tailored specifically for internet use, essentially something which does email, web, instant message, and actually that's about it.

BIG BUTTONS.  No good having an icon, it's got to be big buttons with the word "Mail" "Chat" "Internet" and "Off" or something.  The mail client has to be completely simple, lead the user through the process asking questions like "What do you want to do: [ READ MAIL ] [ SEND MAIL ]"  "Who do you want to send mail to: [Jim  v]"

I'd rather not roll my own, and I don't know any extraordinarily simple mail or instant message clients anyway.

Anybody seen anything like this around.  The only thing I found was a system called "Eldy" but it all seems to be in Spanish or Italian or something, not English anyway.




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Kommisar
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  #125620 22-Apr-2008 17:52
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Hi there.
To my knoweldge the eldy gui has been ported to ENG ever since half way though 2006, You can find the english port in source forge its version 1.3 (April 6, 2007) Download Here
Also the most current version is 1.6 (April 14, 2008) Download Here. But i have no idea wether it supports English since the readme for 1.6 is in spanish or something, But what i do know is that 1.3 is English and Italian, So it shouldn't be too much hassle if you stick with 1.3.

Anyway hopefully this helps you in your quest for a easier & simpler GUI im going to eat dinner now, Macaroni and chessee mmm :D



Mark
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  #125652 22-Apr-2008 19:34
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Get an Apple ... nice simple machine that you won't have to worry about her accidently breaking, plus it is nice and easy to use.

Just my $0.02 :-)

Mark


chiefie
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  #125657 22-Apr-2008 19:44
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I second a Mac. Mac Mini plus a 19" LCD and suitable keyboard and mouse should be sufficient.




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sleemanj

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  #125660 22-Apr-2008 19:47
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chiefie: I second a Mac. Mac Mini plus a 19" LCD and suitable keyboard and mouse should be sufficient.


No I have a mac here, and it is too complicated.  Needs to be simpler.  No need to confuse matters with drives or folders or applications or menus or anything like that.  Think kiosk.




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  #125731 23-Apr-2008 00:21
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Umm which is why Mac is suitable for her. Think of her point of view, not yours.

All those are going to be icon (or wee picture) or object.




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#125747 23-Apr-2008 07:35
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Excuse me, but I don't see how either a Mac or Windows machine would do what th OP is asking. He wants a kiosk - something that's easy to use, with not many visible functions. Both Mac and Windows have programs with lots of options, icons in the dock or desktop or start menu, with lots of menu options.




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