removed

Still haven't decided which way to go. As for building it myself, no thanks -- I don't have the time or patience. Plus the local place only charges $20 for the actual assembly.

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wap3

Unless her box is totally smoked, I'll add my $0.0175

1) save all the data to cd, flash, etc
2) download SimplyMEPIS-32 v7
3) burn ISO to a CD
4) install SM

I just set up a machine for a person that is 80+ years old and lives over 400 miles from me, and they are a happy camper.

Now you have saved all the big $$, goto newegg [www.newegg.com] and get the Hanns -G 19" LCD for $169 [and that is not the wide-screen junk] model 5MS JC-199APB R

Nearly forgot the $0 yearly recurring fees for AV/spam/etc.

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Twist3d

Never heard of that. Sounds interesting!

I'm rather enjoying my 22" widescreen :P it's great for gaming!

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Pass81

twirp

Amazon.com: Toshiba Satellite A215-S5802 15.4" Laptop (AMD Athlon 64 X 2 Dual Core TK-57 Processor, 1024 MB RAM, 120 GB Hard Drive, Vista Premium) Onyx Blue: Computers & PC Hardware
I've never liked Toshiba, but some people say they're good...

Amazon.com: Asus Eee 2G Surf 7" Micro Laptop PC (800 MHz Intel Celeron Processor, 512 MB RAM, 2 GB Hard Drive, Linux Preloaded) Sky Blue: Computers & PC Hardware
I'd so get one of these if I had the money to waste. Who needs the macBook air.
And it comes with Linux. No need to crawl through a window on this one. Or it supports XP... My brother and I were joking about getting one for something smaller to carry around (since my mac is smaller than most of the people's laptops on campus already)...

Option one might be good, but I'd upgrade to XP or Home/Business Premium. Linux would be another option if she's willing to learn (my mom likes how we customized linux, but she wants exe's for programs, that one reason she won't switch, she also wants TurboTax...)...

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Twist3d

LOL 2GB Hard Drive.

It's cute but not productive...

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Pass81

twirp

I don't think it's really made for productivity alone.
When we saw it, we thought of it more like a computer that you carry around the house for use on a network.

i.e.
Bob wakes up. He is going to watch T.V, but he also wants to check his e-mail and check our Surmunity. His laptop is currently docked and charging, but luckily he has his Eee to carry around. He picks it up and starts walking towards the livingroom. Shockingly, Fluffy-at the same moment Bob stepped out of the room-decided to run over and tackle Bob. Bob crashes into the wall, but luckily his Eee has a solid state hard drive and is built well. He pets Fluffy and continues on his journey. Bob finally makes it to the livingroom. Crashing down upon the couch, he opens his Eee and uses the built in Wireless to check his e-mail and browse Surmunity. Sensing that there is nothing on T.V, Bob uses his Linux know-how to share files between his Eee and Desktop over the wireless network. He hooks up his Eee to the T.V using the VGA Port and a Y splitter for audio. He then proceeds to watch some of the movies on his Desktop on his T.V through his Eee and Wireless network.

Okay... So it might not be able to handle video that well, but I thought it'd be neat to have. We thought of it as something you use in a network, not something you'd use by itself. Like I open a file on a network drive, edit it and send it to the printer. We also have some scripts that print files sent to a certain e-mail, send files via e-mail or ftp when an e-mail is sent to a certain e-mail, and some other ones which seem useless at first, but in a home network they're pretty fun to play around with. I think the weirdest thing I ever got was my printer printing out a page that said:We don't use it as often due to the cost of ink >.<

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removed

UPDATE. I think I'm probably going with Option 1, if I manage to work out some software quirks...

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Twist3d

Well you did say she likes laptops. That's probably the best choice to make your mom super happy even though it isn't the cheapest option. Where did you find a laptop though for $550. I was suppose to price a laptop for work for under 600 bucks and haven't been successful.

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Pass81

Bigjohn

If your mom is just a "browser"..
go here!

build her one!

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