After all these years it finally happened: My 77-year-old mother decided she wanted to get a computer.

For years, she thought it would complicate her life and waste time (sort of true) so she resisted the idea. But now the time has come for her to enter a life of digital communication. Do you have any holdouts in your family?

Already the complications begin. Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) released its new Leopard operating system October 26, and we were considering setting her up with a laptop and wireless home network. However, I am told that it would be able to help her remotely if we get her a Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) Windows based system. I have to check this out. The family debate is in progress.

I have a mixed marriage, with my wife sporting an iMac while I "make do" with a Toshiba notebook. I am the holdout in our family. My kids have Macs. Who knows, next time I may switch. This trend bodes well for Apple.

It appears that my mom was starting to feel left out. Every time one of her friends asks for her email address, she has to explain she is not online -- but now she can add "yet," because she will be soon. For years, we have been sending her faxes of things we wanted to share, so the time has come for one of the last holdouts to get with the program. I wonder when she'll set up her Facebook page? I just hope the world wide web can handle the additional load!

Second Life: When the family matriarch wants her first computer originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 15 Nov 2007 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.