Simplicity computers for pensioners - are they worth it?

Minerva69

My 85 year old father has been using a Windows PC and continually has problems with it, he doesn't know what he's doing and keeps changing settings so he can't connect to the internet or send emails. He is now thinking of getting one of these after he saw it on the BBC news - the Simplicity computer which is specifically designed for older people. They seem pretty expensive to me, could someone tell me if they are any good or not?

Browntoa

seem to be fairly old pc's with a custom version of Linux

and expensive as you say

this on an XP pc will allow you or him to reset everything if need be

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/sharedaccess/default.mspx

bingo_bango

Can't believe those prices!!

I'm with Browntoa on this one. Much easier to look after the settings yourself. Might also be worth setting up a new clean restore point so that you can default to it. It's unlikely that an 85 yo will be installing much software himself though.

I suppose this rip off merchant has government backing as well?

Snakeeyes21

just tell him to stop bloody tinkering with the settings

If its all setup correctly to start with theres very little you have to do to keep it working. I dont think ive touched the settings on my laptop since i got it a couple ofyears ago.

I dont believe in this day and age a computer manufacturer who is clearly trying to ripoff the old would be able to con their way on to the BBC news.

No doubt within 6 months these con merchants will be appearing on watchdog.

I love this bit on thir website,

Everyone who buys the simplicity will benefit from one year's free membership of discount-age.co.uk, the website dedicated to getting the best deals for 50-pluses.

I bet this computer isnt one of the best deals in their list.

BillScarab

It's hardly a rip off is it? They may no be the cheapest computers around but they're not that expensive.

I'm not sure how popular they'll prove though.

kwikbreaks

If you can do it without causing a row set up his pc correctly then set him up with a standard user account and don't tell him the admin password. Install https://secure.logmein.com/US/home.aspx so you can remotely tweak anything he can't do which does need doing.

Snakeeyes21

BillScarab wrote: »

It's hardly a rip off is it?

You think? would you pay £500 for an atom powered desktop with very limited functions?

Would you be happy to let your elderly relatives buy this?

Minerva69

Snakeeyes21 wrote: »

just tell him to stop bloody tinkering with the settings

Tried that, it didn't work! Thanks for all the helpful replies everyone. I didn't know about Windows SteadyState, that sounds just what we need. I will set it up so he has a user account and not admin. Log Me In sounds interesting too!

BillScarab

My elderyl relatives have no interest in any comptuer and no i wouldn't let them by it if they did. However, I can see it would suit some people. The basic model is £299 without a screen, keyboard etc. which compres to the cheapest Dell desktop at £279.

The worst thing about that machine is that it doesn't seem to give you the full spec of the machien anywhere which makes it hard to compare.

flowrypot

Or buy him a mac mini for just browsing and emails they are fine

pendulum

BillScarab wrote: »

It's hardly a rip off is it? They may no be the cheapest computers around but they're not that expensive..

I just bought a new build (all components < 1 month old) quad core with 2 GTX260's, 2TB storage, a computer desk and chair, 19" tft, wireless keyboard and mouse and 12 games & genuine Windows for £575?

That's just a dual core with onboard graphics and sound and going for £550?

Its worse than a rip off its almost like they've battered him over the head at the post office and stole his pension.

All it is, is a crappy comp with an (alledgedly) easy to use operating system installed on it. But we'll see how easy to use it is when he wants to install a Windows program on it and can't because it's not Windows... I'm sure the guy will be able to configure and install Wine or whatever they use these days to try and emulate Windows programs on Linux... everyone knows how easy that is!! :rolleyes: