Show HN: Fun tool that cut my family and friends tech support time in half

Post by webmaven » Wed, Dec 07, 2016, 12:21 PM UTC

BozeWolf wrote: post #78

kriro wrote: post #65

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My dad (>60, not exactly tech saavy) has been using Lubuntu for 2 years now (actually I don't even remember when we installed it might be 4 years :P). For many parents who only surf the web and do some non power user office (he uses Libre Office now) and check their mail it's the perfect solution. For his use case it's more user friendly than the Windows install because of the lack of constant update requests and ant…

This! Well... not this! Every time the (linux) desktop discussion comes up, at least a few geeks have this "linux+my mother" argument which should prove linux desktop is totally usable for everyone. Just wait until they discover "alternative program X" for "windows program X" is not the same as the program they saw at the computer of the neughbours mom. Or libre office fucks up the layout again. Come on guys, why alw…

Post by webmaven » Wed, Dec 07, 2016, 12:24 PM UTC

keithpeter wrote: post #96

morganvachon wrote: post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It depends on the user, you can't make such a blanket statement and expect to be taken seriously. My non-techie wife wandered onto my Elementary OS installation one day while I was at work, and despite having never used anything but Windows on the desktop (not even a Mac) she navigated just fine without me there to guide her. She was able to use it to go online, find something she wanted to print, print it, and then…

Users below the upper quartile (if we can model computer competence along a single axis) are coping just fine with a range of OSes on mobile devices including tablets - Android, iOS. People are getting used to working out slightly unfamiliar interfaces.

Post by headmelted » Wed, Dec 07, 2016, 12:51 PM UTC

webmaven wrote: post #158

jessriedel wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If your solution to malware problems with an unsophisticated user is to just cripple their ability to install anything, why not let instead let them keep Windows/Mac and give them an account with minimal privileges?

Because then the unsophisticated user will constantly ask to have $RANDOM_SOFTWARE installed. Admittedly, having to say "no" to those requests up front is preferable to having to remove malware infestations later, but it is still annoying and can cause unnecessary friction in personal relationships. There are several ways switching an unsophisticated user reduces this problem: - Ads for malware-laden $RANDOM_SOFTWARE…

Post by novaleaf » Wed, Dec 07, 2016, 1:13 PM UTC

rangibaby wrote: post #148

seanp2k2 wrote: post #143

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"How does dust get into the outlet if it's more or less sealed" yeah it's a good tip

Anyone who is smart enough to come up with that should be smart enough to replug the power without getting mad

Post by sspiff » Wed, Dec 07, 2016, 1:20 PM UTC

Ziomislaw wrote: post #156

Zelmor wrote: post #120

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Maybe you should start with the basic concepts next time you are around. Explain things like computer, internet, operating system, programs. Just in a Feynman style of explanation, very brief and easy to understand. Once my mother called that the tablet said it had a virus and should scan immediately. I asked what she saw on the screen, what she was doing when it occurred. It was an aggressive pop-up in an app she wa…

If only it was that easy. Most of the ppl having simmilar problems will only pretend to listen and remember your explanations, only to run to you with the exact same problem in a couple of hours.