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My Dad got his first Mac (mini), Would like advise to set it up

hdsalinas

hdsalinas

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Aug 28, 2006
397
0
San Pedro Sula, Honduras
Hi!

I have been telling my Dad to get a mac mini for two years now and he finally did. He has had very little computer experience, and all has been using windows.

I advised him to get the new base mac mini. He only needs it for email, photos (iphoto will be great for this), internet and google earth so it should be more than enough.

I have been thinking of a strategy to set it up for him. Since he is not very computer saavy i am going to leave only the icons on the dock that he would need and set up his bookmark bar with the websites that he might visit the most. I want to keep it very simple at first and as he gets used to it I will start to introduce more advanced things.

I wanted to set Pages to save all of the documents as ".doc" files since he might want to send it by email or take them back to his office. Explaining him that he has to "share" them as a Word document may be too complicated. Is there a way to set pages to save documents as word files by default? I feel that pages is easier to use than Word -(although I must admit that I have not used the latest version)

I know that eventually he will need my asistance on something. Is there a way (without using .mac) to remotely connect to his mac from my house through my MBP and "browse" though his mini and assist him?

I would love to hear all of your advise or any links on how to set his new mac mini.
 
hdsalinas said:
Hi!

I have been telling my Dad to get a mac mini for two years now and he finally did. He has had very little computer experience, and all has been using windows.

I advised him to get the new base mac mini. He only needs it for email, photos (iphoto will be great for this), internet and google earth so it should be more than enough.

I have been thinking of a strategy to set it up for him. Since he is not very computer saavy i am going to leave only the icons on the dock that he would need and set up his bookmark bar with the websites that he might visit the most. I want to keep it very simple at first and as he gets used to it I will start to introduce more advanced things.

I wanted to set Pages to save all of the documents as ".doc" files since he might want to send it by email or take them back to his office. Explaining him that he has to "share" them as a Word document may be too complicated. Is there a way to set pages to save documents as word files by default? I feel that pages is easier to use than Word -(although I must admit that I have not used the latest version)

I know that eventually he will need my asistance on something. Is there a way (without using .mac) to remotely connect to his mac from my house through my MBP and "browse" though his mini and assist him?

I would love to hear all of your advise or any links on how to set his new mac mini.
Click to expand...

1. No. Get MS Office for that.

2. Unless you're on the same network, no. Otherwise, get Remote Desktop.

Get a nice Dell monitor.
 
hdsalinas said:
I wanted to set Pages to save all of the documents as ".doc" files since he might want to send it by email or take them back to his office. Explaining him that he has to "share" them as a Word document may be too complicated. Is there a way to set pages to save documents as word files by default? I feel that pages is easier to use than Word -(although I must admit that I have not used the latest version)
Click to expand...

If it's possible, I would not advise doing that. It's better to teach him about exporting to .doc. If you are absolutely intent on providing an Office-like environment, then just buy Office and be done with it.

I know that eventually he will need my asistance on something. Is there a way (without using .mac) to remotely connect to his mac from my house through my MBP and "browse" though his mini and assist him?
Click to expand...

You should read up on "Screen Sharing". You may have router configuration to do (both yours and his) to make this work.

I would love to hear all of your advise or any links on how to set his new mac mini.
Click to expand...

Keep it simple -- which means avoid customizing it. You are just delaying the inevitable transition and will make it hard for him to reach out to others for help (or to find out on his own).
 
Actually....

There is a feature in iChat that allows you to take control, navigate, and troubleshoot his computer. What I am not sure about is if you actually need a web cam or an iSight equivalent to make a go of it. I have successfully administered my daughters computer remotely via this method.

WRC
 
Thanks,

Would chicken of the VNC work? (over the internet)

About the monitor, He will use an "old" samsung 17" LCD "square" monitor that I used back in my windows days.

Speaking of displays, this old samsung LCD uses a VGA connector. The new Mac Mini comes with the mini-DVI to DVI Adapter and I already have a DVi to VGA adaptor. IF I attach the DVI-to-VGA adapter at the end of the mini-DVI to DVI Adapter, would it work with my mini? Or do I still have to get a mini-DVD to VGA adapter?
 
I use www.logmein.com to help my parents and i love it the free version is great, try it..



hdsalinas said:
Hi!

I have been telling my Dad to get a mac mini for two years now and he finally did. He has had very little computer experience, and all has been using windows.

I advised him to get the new base mac mini. He only needs it for email, photos (iphoto will be great for this), internet and google earth so it should be more than enough.

I have been thinking of a strategy to set it up for him. Since he is not very computer saavy i am going to leave only the icons on the dock that he would need and set up his bookmark bar with the websites that he might visit the most. I want to keep it very simple at first and as he gets used to it I will start to introduce more advanced things.

I wanted to set Pages to save all of the documents as ".doc" files since he might want to send it by email or take them back to his office. Explaining him that he has to "share" them as a Word document may be too complicated. Is there a way to set pages to save documents as word files by default? I feel that pages is easier to use than Word -(although I must admit that I have not used the latest version)

I know that eventually he will need my asistance on something. Is there a way (without using .mac) to remotely connect to his mac from my house through my MBP and "browse" though his mini and assist him?

I would love to hear all of your advise or any links on how to set his new mac mini.
Click to expand...
 
Teamviewer does a superb job of remotely accessing computers too. My dad is nearly the same as yours, computer illiterate and all and he owns a MacBook. I use teamviewer whenever he needs help with itunes, iphoto etc.
 
Microsoft Office is a waste of money for most folks. Get NeoOffice instead... it's free and handles word/excel/powerpoint just fine.
 
I just set up a Mac Mini for my dad and put his old AOL screenname into iChat so that when he is having an issue he can log into iChat and I can take control of his computer through iChat + Screen Sharing. No 3rd party software needed.

I set him up with Microsoft Office too because I have younger siblings still in school... haha.

Speaking of which, do anyone know a program for Mac that will open .wpd files? They are from some wonky word-like program my father had on his old computer. ><

EDIT: NeoOffice supports it... I should have thought of that while I was setting it up. haha. ><
 
Thanks

Logmein.com sounds like what I need.

I am very exited about the mini that my Dad got. I will set it up next week for him and I can hardly wait to open the box!

Thanks for all your help
 
Woo! Another Mac user has joined the family.

Hope you have fun un boxing it :)

hdsalinas said:
Thanks

Logmein.com sounds like what I need.

I am very exited about the mini that my Dad got. I will set it up next week for him and I can hardly wait to open the box!

Thanks for all your help
Click to expand...
 
Keep us posted...

Why not keep us posted on his progress, it would be great to hear how he is doing.

Good luck, and enjoy.
 
hdsalinas said:
Thanks

Logmein.com sounds like what I need.

I am very exited about the mini that my Dad got. I will set it up next week for him and I can hardly wait to open the box!

Thanks for all your help
Click to expand...

I use logmein free version to support my mum back in the UK. She went from a Sony Vaio laptop to a MBP and I think is enjoying it. Certainly is a treat to be able to video skyp w/her and my kids on a regular basis and Logmein gives me gthe ability to troubleshoot her problems pretty easily!
 
For word processing, you can also download open office, it saves in like 15 different formats, and includes everything that comes with ms office, just branded differently
 
Personally I like the interface of Lotus Symphony better than either NeoOffice or Open Office. IBM has done a good job with it.
 
wcalderini said:
There is a feature in iChat that allows you to take control, navigate, and troubleshoot his computer. What I am not sure about is if you actually need a web cam or an iSight equivalent to make a go of it. I have successfully administered my daughters computer remotely via this method.

WRC
Click to expand...

The ichat screen sharing option works great. No need to install or buy any other software. It is great because not only can you control the computer, but the parent can watch what you are doing and learn. I use it all the time with my parents.
 
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