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veryniceguy2002 · Jun 18, 2006, 06:50 AM

I am going to give my Mum my 3.5 year old PowerBook G4 when I replace it with new MacBook Pro. Now, she is absolutely a computer illiterate (her greatest technological archievement is to record a live TV program), so I need to teach her how to use a computer (Mac) so that she can more or less catch up with the internet age.

I would like to know is there any teaching material available to assist me to teach her how to use a computer from absolute beginning?

euphras · Jun 18, 2006, 07:00 AM

I went through the same some weeks ago. You can get some info in this thread: LINK

At the beginning i thought that spending the money for the iBook was useless, but now she can connect using the modem, write emails and surf the web

CharlesS · Jun 18, 2006, 01:03 PM

Just don't set your goals too high. You can teach her how to send e-mails and she'll love it. Teach her a few things about the Web too, and that's great. Maybe load some solitaire games on there. Try to teach her everything she could possibly do with a computer, though, and she'll get lost right away. Keep it simple and focused is my advice.

hayesk · Jun 18, 2006, 02:50 PM

Buy her "The Little Mac Book, Tiger Edition" by Robin Williams.

greenamp · Jun 18, 2006, 03:03 PM

1st start by narrowing down what she will use the computer for. Just ask her, "hey what are you gonna do with this?" Then show her how to do those things. She'll tune out everything else that doesn't interest her anyway.

CharlesS · Jun 18, 2006, 03:24 PM

Originally Posted by hayesk

Buy her "The Little Mac Book, Tiger Edition" by Robin Williams.

That's the sort of thing I would not do. These books explain how to do a wide variety of things on the Mac - she's not going to want to do a wide variety of things. She's going to want specific knowledge on a few things - i.e. e-mail and the web, most likely. Try to teach her too much, and she's going to switch into "it's too hard mode" and you won't get anywhere.

My two cents.

krillbee · Jun 18, 2006, 05:52 PM

give her a mouse and a keyboard

macs are pretty simple, im sure she can figure it out.

Ghoser777 · Jun 18, 2006, 06:08 PM

Do exactly what greenamp said. My mom has slowly advanced her skills to the point where she understands how to search for things online. Don't try to impress her with all the great things she can do. Get her started on one or two simple things and have her practice doing them (especially switching between the two).

Salty · Jun 18, 2006, 06:09 PM

I'd offer help but the only thing my mom knows how to do is type and send e-mails. She can't even figure out how to burn a CD in iTunes... quote from earlier today,

"David I need you to burn me a CD today!"

Sigh...

production_coordinator · Jun 18, 2006, 07:28 PM

Hmmm... Apple really should offer 10-15 little quicktime movies that will get a person started.

Salty · Jun 18, 2006, 09:53 PM

That'd be pretty good to have at the start of the set up of new Macs especially the MacBook iMac and Mac mini. I know if my mom could have a set of movies to show and explain to her how to use iTunes for example she'd probably watch them all.

goMac · Jun 18, 2006, 09:57 PM

Originally Posted by production_coordinator

Hmmm... Apple really should offer 10-15 little quicktime movies that will get a person started.

If you buy a new Mac you get hands on training at the Apple store.

production_coordinator · Jun 18, 2006, 10:15 PM

Originally Posted by goMac

If you buy a new Mac you get hands on training at the Apple store.

I understand that... but how difficult would it be to include a CD of fundamentals.

How to send an email
How to search the web
How to bla bla bla

All with a nice friendly walk through.

SSharon · Jun 18, 2006, 10:28 PM

Originally Posted by production_coordinator

I understand that... but how difficult would it be to include a CD of fundamentals.

How to send an email
How to search the web
How to bla bla bla

All with a nice friendly walk through.

Step 1: Purchase internet access from an ISP.

Now they think apple is trying to sell them something.

If someone else sets that part up they may as well just write down on a scrap of paper the few steps it takes.

veryniceguy2002 · Jun 18, 2006, 11:47 PM

Well, my Mum doesn't even know how to use a mouse or a keyboard (yes, she didn't use a typewriter when she was young). Let alone to use what a desktop or icons on the desktop do.

So I need some guidance as to what/how to teach her first... do I need to teach here how to type in textedit before starting to surf the web? Do I have to teach her how to use finder before using Thunderbird etc...

Aren't there any Mac tutorials to teach people how to use a computer (Mac) for absolute beginers?

Yes, if I buy my Mac from my local Apple dealer, they would have given training for free... but I'm very concerned that she might not even keep up with the pace they would teach (I think they run a 0.5 day course). To make the matter worse, I think she's worknig whenever the course is running. She's only avaialble at night time

euphras · Jun 19, 2006, 10:49 AM

Have you followed up my original link?

I did get a copy of the tutorials that shipped with system 7.5. Therein you´re trained using the mouse, selecting items, open items, move items from one location to another. I think that´s exactly what your mom needs.

When you´re running classic, the tutorials run just fine. If you like i can send it to you (originaly i got it from gamoe but i think, that shouldn´t be a problem since 7.5 is vintage software)

harrisjamieh · Jun 19, 2006, 11:02 AM

You could try http://www.apple.com/support/mac101/