seeking pc coach - anyone interested

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I have just, finally, received the laptop I had paid dear money for alomst three weeks ago. And not with the agreed upon operating system. The guy sorting me out went against almost anything we had explicitely discussed.

I do however not want to turn this into a rant. I have a new computer. My knowledge of computers is limited, mainly by a lack of appeal. From the point of view of most on this particular forum, I must be considered what in Dutch is called a 'digibeet' - a 'digibethic' - which strange derivation is supposed to intend I am analpabethic in the languages of pc - indeed, I find I am not good at political correctness...

Surprisingly, I do have extensive experience with the normal computer language, having translated all the caption files and all html Help files of the MinorPlanet VMI Suite.

So, very aspiciously, even in my pc abilities do I present with a rather unbalanced intelligence profile. My main problem with pc-ing really is that I do not enjoy it as such, I do not practice for fun, et cetera, et cetera....

I am loooking for someone with an eye for how I would feel somewhat lost, and digitally handicapped.

Present situation:
- HP Compaq Presario CQ70
- Windows Vista

When discussing my wishes, I explicitely raised the points of me prefering XP to Vista, and former problems specifically with Compaq laptops in the good old days.... No problem, he assured me... And duely failed to get XP accepted by the system, with the import company insisting that it will not accept anything but Vista.

Is there anyone out there, who would like to see wether (s)he might succeed in raising my interest&enjoyment in this whole pc experience.. I promise, I will surprise you, both positively & negatively...

Looking forward to your responses - & BTW: I do take teasing well -

Robert

Hi Robert

I'd like to help you on that one, however if you can find someone who is geographically nearby, have them come visit you and sit with you, that would be the optimal learning situation.

I think I know how you feel about PC's. they're not that appealing in themselves. Personally, all my PC knowledge was generated on a need to know basis but that has gotten me quite far (I've worked as a PC tech support).

If I was to help you, first thing I want to know: What exactly do YOU want your pc to do for you....? Having a goal is essential for your interest in learning to handle the tools...

You may PM me if you like. I will watch this thread for a couple of days.....

gosh, this is really upsetting - i was just about to reread my response when the bloody thing apparently starts updating, closes off, very attentively remembers to get me back online at WP with the appropriate response-window, and i have lost it (all puns intended, all ways)

okay then honourable King, thou soundest solemnly sympathetic to mine eyes (i wasn't going this way in the lost stuff - this is annoyance turned creatively vengeful), but likewise i shall wait for a couple of days before PM'ing you (or you must must be desperate to expose your digimasochistic self to my reluctant apathy)

first&foremost i'm a text person (oh, and possibly top of any list would be getting rid of any autocorrective influence); i would go to incredible lengths just to get WordPerfect (for Windows) back;
i have never worked with a DTP program; still, having used my own text books for courses i gave, i have developed a very personal style of dtp'ing within the normal possibilities of any text-processing program - oh, and i despise Word (and MicroSoft generally) for always coming up with unwanted answers for problems usually not presented -
i know i should gain some proper DTP experience

my ideal job would be WYSIWYG-editor:
the usual procedure in publishing is: rawtext > editedtext > DTP;
it always looks to me as if the DTP person has no linguistic capability at all
i am convinced that my "styling" of text should be a standard post-DTP phase - which would involve some insight into DTP per se

i could see myself active within a context of embellishing text - by including photography
and who knows i will not be able to avoid my own website
(this will actually happen, and within the autism context)

MUSIC

real problem, i managed to accrue a certain amount of debt in the past twenty years of working free lance without knowing i am autistic - it's not that much, but it poses quite a practical problem, or two... i must work from the assumption that i will not be allowed to maintain a subscription with an SP --- which i precisely the reason why i had to finally give in and accept the present deal

so, i cannot simply download anything just like that

according to someone's signature i should go Ubuntu (if not emotionally motivated by PC, there's a decent chance my anti-MS sentiment could be deployed in the process)

my lost post was much better - gosh i'm fed up with all this

thanks for responding anyway




i will however go into any questions, also because i cannot be alone in this kind of trouble (again: all meanings intended, all ways)

contemplating..... researching... will get back asap...

take it easy, mate

i'm not ready for discussing whether to install a non-ms firewall...

i'm still not getting used to physically manipulating the arrow without a decent mouse, and those compaq geniuses designed to have that touchhpad orwhatshalmecallit on the left hand side

and the arrow keeps disappearing
and i've been clicking when i haven't - or the stupid machine has already started thinking independently

sorry: cursor, he cursed to himself, please give me strength

o for crying out loud, where did it go now.......

one VERY IMPORTANT thing:
does Vista allow a total language switch
english computer lingo is dreadful enough as is, but you would not believe the quality of the translations

just before the Y2K i got myself a new pc, with NT4, as i knew that NT5 would come with language modules

and Vista has also robbed me of Internet Spades, which is the next disaster (he owned up bashfully)

edit: actually: WAIT
i am growing more annoyed with the system literally by the minute -
and it's not just the mouseless stuff that i need to resolve tomorrow

i am also losing the cursor while typing - it's bloody hopping up and down and i haven't a clue
i can't seem to control even my typing a simple post

i may decide to return the damn thing

Buy a mouse and forget the touchpad. I always find I brush touchpads, accidentally, while typing - hence the wandering cursor?

Upgrade to XP. (At some cost)

Better yet, upgrade to Linux and (for DTP) get hold of Scribus and pals. (For free)

A mouse will be first thing in a couple of hours. I suppose it is that brushing thing. Problem though - when using a mouse, does that disable the touchpad?

The strangest thing was all sorts of post-click actions occured after only touching the pad and staying well away from from the left-right clicking devices.

Lau, if only up to me, actually that is how I went. It is exactly what I agreed upon (in so many words) - I was very worried about this Vista thing. And I have hardly slept. And it's really only getting worse - I feel completely lost. I am actually back at mum's ancient ME device. At 3:00 got up only to find I needed to ugrade my Norton license within thirty days, or else... Well, I have not paid 800 euro (200 for the laser printer) to get me a computer in december that tells me that sort of stuff. Apart from that, circumstances force me away from any online payments.

And I think I have made my decision - I will protest officially as to the whole procedure. I know I will not be able to get my money back - but as a strange one-time-only extra benefit I cannot afford to keep in the bank, I do have some cash. I will not take no for an answer when yes was promised.

How to sell this to myself morally, in my financial position: I'll give it to one of the nieces who will be over at grandma's post christmas. They are the daughters of my brother Peter, who died of cancer some six years ago. I am pretty sure he was an aspie too, and I am highly suspicious of the kids, especially the youngest one, Emma. But it just might be too expensive a machine for that age. And maybe Nina will have more need...

So KingSolemn or anyone else:
situation seems to have changed.

Given the practical limitations and my meagre needs:
how would you go.

My only demands are
- as cordless as possible, laptop is only practical solution
- must be easy to get online, without being able to pay online or maintain any subscription (I am now routed via my mum's system - but that would hopefully become a problem - as it would mean I'd found living accomodation)
- continuous mobile access would be lovely, but I presume impracticable

- XP, plus the possibility to go Linux (Ubuntu, apparently?);
- 17" widescreen (the larger the better, I used to work with a 21" monitor);

almost forgot:
- the option of english digilingo,
if only because it is very difficult to properly enjoy a game of Internet Spades (or Hearts) while using the translated Dutch chatphrases.

And my final goal would be to actually learn to enjoy this stuff - in that respect, once trusted, I will follow my coach's whim and common sense to... oh I don't care, wherever, it can be quite amusing up the creek without a paddle - if only I could regain my patience and true sense of humour.
So, if you get into one of those ohRobertyouvejustgottainstallthis moods -
o, I am going to provide such a gullible target...

Buy a used one since you didn't get what you needed.

And if you PAID for something that is not what you got, dispute the charge with your bank. It might be enough to get the computer company's heads out of their collective arses long enough to help you.

finding a used one ain't that is, and is generally advised against when it comes to laptops

given circumstances, it was not desirable to make anything other than a cash payment

this came as an initiative from my 're-integration' consultant in the course of having to try to get back into the labour market;
this is a legal requirement that comes with my meagre benefits;
he consults aspiring failed&returning 'entrepreneurs' which for some strange reason seems to include freelancers

i had to take some sort of computerized entrepreneurial test, had him there plus my autism specialist;
they decided i was essential i get my own computer, rather obviously
so he had this network for his job, and there was this guy that would be able to solve the entire problem including how to get online without SP subscription, and then...

and i knew i'd made a mistake, the very moment i'd handed over the cash

just bringing it up again, KingSolemn,

also to see if anyone but you, me, and niece Nina are going to be interested

PMed you

any other interested party: it WILL be another new laptop, XPed &c, and ubuntable or otherwise linuxable

even if only as Spider Solitaire is completely screwed in Vista and Internet Spades & Hearts non-existent

- as cordless as possible, laptop is only practical solution
You can get refurb notebooks relatively cheep these days
- must be easy to get online, without being able to pay online or maintain any subscription
See your next demand....
- continuous mobile access would be lovely, but I presume impracticable
I've heard that Alltell offers a pay as you go mobile data service for $30 a month..... they do however filter packets and don't allow intensive bandwidth activty (such as gaming, bt, webcam streaming, etc) on their network unless your emergency services
- XP, plus the possibility to go Linux (Ubuntu, apparently?)
That could be about any computer there
- 17" widescreen (the larger the better, I used to work with a 21" monitor);
You can get a laptop with a VGA connector and a USB keyboard and mouse. Wtih CRTs being found in goodwill and stuff these days you could do that under $50 and have a decent setup at home.

Get a mouse, get XP sometime in the future.

While at it get a copy of Msft Office 2007 or download OpenOffice which is the free alternative to M$ Office.

Get either AVG for free or Norton AV.[ It cost $40 but is suggest Norton over AVG.]put Spybot and Adaware on computer as well as Zonealarm Firewall. All of those a free download off download.com

Have fun & PM me if you have any questions.

good stuff, thanks,

directions to go &c

excellent

haven't heard from KingSolemn yet after PM with more details
including about my experience & history with allthingsMS
(with all disasters incl 95 unavoidably) until NT4 (language modules! bloody Vista)

me not too happy with AVG
but haven't been happy for years, with more than anything IT
lost everything with eviction three years ago, only 82 yo mum's laptop available,
aged as the ME (!) it runs
so it wasn't the fun of the computering that has kept me breathlessly on WP
during the last year of finally selfdiscovery, diagnosis and only in debt really

gamefreak; i shall not be shy if need be -
that's the one thing ive learned being an aspie - just ask straightforwardly
and there WILL be some who'll enjoy assisting, because they like explaining,
if it is about their stuff
i don't need to be interested for them to enjoy it -
and there is the challenge i might be interestabalized

but KingSolemn gets the first bite of this ignorant cherrie (but do butt in)

meanwhile: got the mouse next day (how do you disable the bloody mousepad)
and there will be another, proper laptop;
the present one gratefully to be accepted by my eldest niece Nina (16) -
so she can pass on her oldish one to little sister Emma (10)

hadn't been in contact with them since my brother (their father) died -
all this through unavoidable trouble in family & extended
(the widow, their mother, is very eufemistically referred to by me as 'that woman')
but the kids after a couple of years did get leave to stay with grandma &Cc

now that i know i'm an aspie, i also need to look out for signs in them (there are...)
in the circumstances, this could be a very messy subject....

Nina may be involved in the Robert-laptop-project

messygeek; i know one can (fairly easily[?]) connect third party peripherals
- if that were correct application of the lingo -
but highly impracticable given lack of space in tiny teenage bedroom (at 52)

so basically, i have to make do with what is afforded me, and find unexpected
creativity >> to which end: keep talking to me

OH and if anyone needs any assistence in matters linguistic (dutch&english) -
i would love to be able to reciprocate

i hate 'having to be grateful'ly endebted, with no chance of payback

Robert

Are you still looking for computer help? By the sounds of it Ubuntu will probably be rather ideal for your computer usage.

I helped someone become a very comfortable Ubuntu user last year, after a computer shop had put Xubuntu on her old lap top. She only does basic stuff, so Ubuntu is rather ideal for most of her computer usage. I spent a lot of time helping her a lot by remote connecting to her computer from mine over the Internet. Had to do certain basic things a few or more times with her, before she would be able to do it on her own, because she has certain learning difficulties. There is a Windows program that she wants to use sometimes that I haven't been able to get working, but she has a Windows 2000 computer for that anyway.

It really depends on what you want to do on a computer, if you can go Ubuntu all the way or if it's a good idea to have Windows on your computer as well. Being exact what computer tasks would you like to accomplish?

So what version of Ubuntu are you useing. Also what fdesktop manager are you using. Some are better than others.

I have been with Ubuntu since the second release and so currently using Intrepid Ibex, but Fedora Core 2 was my first Linux distro. No Ubuntu back then, so for me it was a choice between Debian or Fedora Core. I just installed Fedora Core 2 soon after an old family computer became mine, and I had never tried a Linux distro on a Live CD or something before installing FC2.

Ubuntu's default Gnome setup is nice and simple for general usage, where as KDE3 and 4 can be rather geekey to customize. KDE4 as my graphical user interface is a big no, I have used KDE3 as my GUI here and there in the past, but I always return to Gnome.

I like some of the apps in KDE 3 and 4. Kubuntu's KDE3 graphical user interface is alright, but to Windows like in my opinion, and I don't like Kubuntu's KDE4 GUI. I use KDE apps in Ubuntu/Gnome.

In my opinion the XFCE using Xubuntu is a cut down version of Gnome/Ubuntu, that is more light weight.