Will your Mom be using OS X soon?

[TommyWillB]

I have to say that after years of doing Mac-based Web development for Unix and Windows Web servers I am thrilled to have OS X + Apache + PHP + mySQL.

However I'm not at the point where I'm ready to show OS X to my Mom. I really don't think OS X is ready for her any more than she is ready for it. It would just be too much of a change for her.

So that's us. What do you think? Will your Mom be using OS X in 2 months or 2 year?

[acidrain82]

I think it's closer to 2 months...

my g/f's parents recently bought a Dell (despite my pro-Apple advice!) and spent quite some time before they actually could navigate XP on a basic level, and they're still not much farther than that. Since the Dock would have enabled them to get on the internet and checkin their mail in 30 seconds, I really think it would have been a better experience!

[sanderdejong]

I will not recommend OS X to those who are new to computers (yes, those people still exist). If you know a thing or two about them, you can manage with OS X, if you're familiar with Unix (like I am), then it's brilliant.

Biggest problem: having more than one user account on the system and then trying to share/copy/move directories and files between users.
Before long, you'll have files in your private directories or Trash that no-one can access or throw away. Unless you know how Terminal works and chmod etc.

BTW this does not mean that I recommend to use Win. That's much worse. In my opinion, computers and OSs have a long way to go before they can be used by "normal" people, like my mother.

[Phil St. Romain]

My wife is a very average Mac user who had no trouble switching to OS X after I set up her four applications on the Dock for her and showed her a little about the file system. No complaints from her in 3 months.

I think a new user would have as easy a time in OS X as in OS 9 or Windows. In fact, if they don't expect it to work like either one, they could be at an advantage.

[Craig R. Arko]

Julie has also adapted very well. She, like me, has been using Macs since the days of the 400k disk.

Her biggest peeve is that Microsoft changed so many of the default keyboard equivalents in Office v.X.

[xchanyazy]

This isn't easy by any means, but you can change the keyboard commands in (at least) Word v.X - Go to the tools menu, select Customize.., then press the Customize Keyboard button in the bottom-right corner.

[robh]

I switched my mother's iMac 400mhz over to OSX a year ago (from OS9)

I think OSX is more intuitive to newbies than classic MacOS. It's when people have to make a swap from one system to another that they hit problems (real or just perceived).

I do a lot less troubleshooting for her now she's using OSX.

The built-in mail client is just so much easier to use than the MS/Netscape clients that we found on OS9.

The dock does its job well for her; the old control strip (if that's what it was called) was too small for her to read.

[griffman]

I switched my Mom and step-Dad over when I was home at Christmas. I was waiting on 10.1. They've generally found it to be much easier to use, especially the multi-user aspect.

Under OS 9, they tried using the Multiple Users setup, but had problems with various programs not really behaving right (or still sharing prefs despite the presence of the other user).

Under OS X, they've each got their own accounts, and my Mom is now seriously hooked on iPhoto! ;-)

I'm certain neither of them have fired up the Terminal at any time, and I've had about two tech support calls in three months (which is much lower than the prior incident rate!).

-rob.

[TommyWillB]

Originally posted by griffman
...I've had about two tech support calls in three months (which is much lower than the prior incident rate!)That is impressive.

One of the main reasons I asked this question was because I'm am always looking for ways to reduce the number of Mac questions I get from my Mom.

[yoyo52]

My mom couldn't use any computer, so she's not the person I have in mind. I do have my wife in mind, though. She's the kind of person who makes computers crash just by coming near them. She's been using a PB with OS 9 for about a year now, and still has difficulty figuring out how to get IE started. Every now and then, though, she comes to my G4 to do something or other, and has absolutely no problem at all figuring out how to navigate X. And she has still not crashed my machine :D

[rogermerriman]

My mum uses my mac on os x since 10.1, I was waiting for dvd player etc. she plays collibricks and surfs the web, she likes the interface and the stability, no problems here been real easy to switch.

[Cheerios]

HA! I'm STILL fixing the Win2k after my mom got to it! Her solution to EVERYTHING is to reformat and reinstall... 2K was a godsend, because she COULDN'T get into DOS to format the hard disk. :D She calls my new iMac "the pod monster," so I don't think she'll lower herself to trying it any day soon! My sis, though, 14 yrs old, indifferent comp user, within 10 minutes, she had it figured out, minus the idea closing windows doesn't quit apps!

[maxelson]

Switched mom and dad over about two months ago. I have had no tech support calls. And what's more, I did not show them HOW to use it. I just asked them to cough up usernames and passwords (and promptly set the machine for "icon" log in). They figured out navigation pretty quickly. Even got the "Shared" folder on their own. Not college grads, but they ain't doofusae either. Hell, they even found the "Help" guide pretty easily... and they use it. Got the printer set up on their own and onto the internet and everything.
Most of my users at work (typically scientists with more degrees than god) have made the jump...and required far more support than my parents. Although, I will say that my "casual" or unofficial support calls have dropped considerably!

Oh. Hey, yoyo. Good to (virtually) see you! How's life in higher ed?

[TommyWillB]

Originally posted by maxelson
Switched mom and dad over about two months ago. I have had no tech support calls...Did you switch them from WinDoze or OS 9? What hardware do they have? Any incompatible external devices?

[maxelson]

Switched them in from 9.x. iMac 2001 (which they bought when they decided the 9600 I gave them was too slow and not as "pretty").
My folks used to do nothing but cli when they worked. Terminal stuff. Windows 3.1 was a topic of discussion for weeks, I recall. They hated it.
Funny thing is, I do this for a living (Mac stuff) and once I actually had to call my dad to ask how to add a printer in DOS. He thought it was a riot.
My folks are not dolts, but they are definitely not tech mavens. COmputers used to be a necessary evil to them. Now, well, they kind of like it and actually take the time to learn. They say that they did not really know it could be fun.

[Dr. Blau]

My mom will start using OS X the minute she either gets more RAM for her iMac, or a new computer.
I've shown her the system on my machines and she really likes it.

[Timo]

I actually think OS X represents the best shot I have to get my mother, a severe technophobe, to use a computer. Her companion has a windows rig (98) and intermindable problems, which unfortunately colors my mother's assessment of what computers are.

[dcipjr]

My mother once was up in my room while I was at school, and my baby brother bumped the keyboard, causing my Mac to stir from sleep.

She had never seen my iMac running OS X before. Being an artist, she was very impressed with how it looked and felt. (She still uses her Performa, but just for typing).

She wanted to shut it down, but since she runs 7.5 on her Performa, she wasn't sure where the Shut Down command was. So she found the help menu, asked the Help program how to shut down, and shut down my computer.

She's not a big-time computer user, and she was impressed with how it worked. Another convert.

[bahamutX]

my mum HAS to use OS X ...... apple employees has to use os x she said