My grandma is online. It’s really cool. But the ISP she’s been using is through her local library, and they will no longer be offering it for free. So she’s looking around for services, and says that she may go with AOL for $9.95 a month.
There’s got to be something better than AOL. She lives near Islip, on Long Island. Her computer is a really old PC so I am not sure if it could even handle broadband. Does anyone know of ISP providers in that area that go for about $10-$15 per month? I am planning on sending her enough money for a year of internet, as her budget can’t easily absorb this new cost. (But she doesn’t know that yet.)
Also, if there is anyone here (preferably someone whom I already know) who lives in that area and might be willing to help her set it up (or set up a new computer when the time comes) please let me know, as I would be very grateful and would be willing to compensate you for your time. With me in the UK and my brother in Texas, she’s been having to cope with all her computer stuff solo. She’s doing really well so far! But it was a bit of a struggle to get set up with the library in the first place.
Her computer will handle broadband (it is after all just a bigger pipe to push data through, not an application running on the machine) but it may not handle AOL’s awful client software.
There must be ADSL providers in the US that will just give her an ADSL modem and connection details so the computer can simply login every time she fires up IE or Firefox (which any old computer should be able to run) for a fairly small fee. What about the phone companies, AT&T or whatever?
I don’t think ADSL is used in the states…at least not the same way it is in the UK. The first time I ever encountered it was when I moved here and tried to help someone set up their access.
I would like to get her onto broadband but I don’t know if her pc can handle it. I’ve asked my brother exactly what he gave her. Ideally he and I would pay for her to have a new computer but I think she’d need someone to help her set it up, transfer files and get it online.
Actually, ADSL is ubiquitous in the States, from your local phone company. Just called DSL here (it doesn’t have to be asymmetrical). But you must be within a reasonable distance (4 miles or so) from your local switch.
Islip is served by Optimum Online (Optonline) cable broadband via Cablevision Cable TV. My friend in Coram is very satisfied with it. More expensive than AOL, but it’s always-on, full-pipe broadband.
As I said, any PC should be able to handle broadband. It doesn’t require a faster processor just for faster internet. It’s only if you’re doing certain things which broadband might be required for (online gaming for example) that your computer spec will come into play.
Any PC with an ethernet port or USB slot should have no problem using a broadband connection to check email and look at the majority of websites.
Yes, I agree with everyone else, here. Internet stuff has been running on PCs for nearly twenty years, and I doubt your granny’s PC is that old, so there should be no worries about her system being able to handle the load. And it is also true that highspeed internet access is available from phone companies, satellite tv companies and cable tv companies.
I think the only question would be what is the least expensive option in her area. If you know the names of the serving companies in her area, I believe you will be able to find out what their rates are on-line. Also note that these companies will often give better prices to customers who bundle their other service options, so depending on what services she already has, you might be able to find some good deals.
I have a Senior (more senior than me) friend who bought a “Millenium edition” PC when they came out. That’s about 1997, I think. It’s too frail to handle broadband these days. She can connect, but she can’t open her email. We’ve tried various email hosts, but the PC can’t handle them. She just needs a bigger machine. She’s been offline for a while now, and that was mainly what she used her computer for. I hope your granny doesn’t have one of those.
What about a web-based pop3 client (googlemail works really well)?
There must be something that works on a machine that old.
I found a version linux (can’t remember what it was called) that is really small and designed to run specifically on old machines, it’ll have a mail client on it. You could always try that.
It’s a kind thought, Chris, but we are talking of technophobes here, and somewhere comparatively inaccessible to me. She would turn white with fear at the mention of linux. Practically speaking, she needs a new machine anyway.