Second Life: When the family matriarch wants her first computer

Definitely buy Apple and then pay $99 for one year of their One-on-One in-store tutoring program. We did this last Christmas for my parents (80 and 79) and it was perfect for them. They took their computer into the Apple store and sat for 1 hour a week and were taught all the basics. We helped them from time to time, but the "Geniuses" at the Apple store were really
good to my parents and you'll see that the store is filled with older people learning the computer for the first time, especially during the week in the mornings. Go to the Apple website to read up on the One-To-One sessions.

The remote access assistance comes in handy - I have a friend in Ohio who helps me out ALL the time... I've never used a Mac, but I know people who swear by them... maybe my next purchase... for now I'm happy with my hp pavilion (used) laptop!

Apple are "marketing" geniuses. Their products are inferior, across the board; the people who buy them are just susceptible to blather; anybody with brains would go microsoft to infinity. How many software products work with apple vs Microsoft and why pay 25% more to get what MS people already have? You got to be stupid and stubborn; why even get their music players when others' products are better? Because you're a lemming, that's why!

Charles, you have no idea what you're talking about.

I'm actually going to get my parents to switch to mac's now that leopard is out, and my in-laws are also about to make the switch. You can control your mother's computer right throw iChat when she needs help, WHILE you're having a video chat w/her.

Sheldon,

My wife and I helped two sets of parents switch to the Mac. It is definitely the way to go, especially with Leopard. I would suggest signing up for the .mac family pack. With that you can set up your parents with ichat and screen sharing so that you can help them out over the net. You can also set up a family shared storage area with the included iDisk feature of .mac. My wife's parents signed up for the Apple one-on-one tutoring at the Apple store. For $99 it is a real bargain. The entire experience is well thought out by Apple and it shows in the ease with which people can adapt to and start using the technology. There is no doubt that this is the safest way to go.

Good Luck!