Friend's getting 1st computer & has 13/15-year-olds

She needs to get them their own computers, hopefully a mac of some type. Used is good.

Face it, kiddos will only use it for social networking and word processing

 

If she's really paranoid:
Key tracer.
http://www.webwatchernow.com/Monitoring-Software/Specials3/?plc=Key+Logger+2&gclid=CJfFrqz10JgCFRFMagodJG9E0g&keyword=key%20trackers&loc=google&src=11056&type=Search&adc=2800651266

 

Is Netnanny still around? Would be worth a look.

 

lock them out so they can't go on...

 

What OS is built into the computer? Make a guest account for the kids so they can't install useless shiet. If it's a mac there's parental control built into it. If the kids are any good with computers they will get past these things but personally I don't think that's a huge deal. If they can get past all that (crack admin account etc...) they're probably smart enough not to download viruses etc... By the time I was 12 I spent my saturdays at a family friend's computer repair shop and learned everything to know about computers. I don't think I've downloaded a virus since..

I don't have kids of my own but I have an 11 y.o. brother and 9y.o twin brothers. They live with my mother but I bought them a computer when the oldest one was 9ish. I'm slowly teaching him to troubleshoot and fix everything on his own because right now I get a long distance call every time my parents screw up the computer! He is now able to fix a lot of basic things, I think I will sit down and teach him the hardware soon.

Sorry for the off topic comment but I guess what I want to say is to keep decent safety to keep them safe, while at the same time, not discouraging them from getting to know computers. (As a side note, as a teen you can get a VERY good paying job if you know how to fix them)

Best!

 

+1,000 on the "get a Mac!" comments....

*Very*, very easy to set up with separate accounts and the built-in firewall and parental controls are just as easy.

Someone will scream at me (!) but if you go that route virus's / spyware blah-blah are a non issue. [I've been running Macs for many years and have *never* had an issue with this stuff and have never installed any anti-whatever S/W]

I have an old G4 Mac that lives in my family room with a "guest" account - Anyone can use it, and do their stuff, BUT, when they logout everything "goes away". I would still suggest setting up the kids own (non-admin) non-shared accounts so they can, eg, populate their own iTunes library etc.

Yep, they're more expensive, but as has been said here before, it's like comparing a Chevy with a Ferrari. And, FWIW, the machine will last a lot longer than a Windows PC.

Given the crazily low cost of external hard drives I'd also recommend getting one of 'em for backups - Apples "Timemachine" (included) does a fantastic job of "protecting" stuff for the not-so-savvy user.

As always, my 02c,
Cheers,
Ian

 

If she is using this as a home based work computer, her kids should not be on it. Have her setup a password based boot manager so they can't get on it period. I have been doing that all on my PC's for several years and it has made my computing life so much better.

If it's a pc for the family, as has been stated, have her setup individual profiles for the computer. With kids 13 & 15, if she can afford it, she should get a home computer for them to use. I couldn't have made it through jr high, let alone high school without one, that was in the late 1990's.

 

+1,000....

The above comment prompted my re-reading the OP - There is no way "she" should allow the kids onto the machine - PC or Mac, it's not a "toy". Buy 'em another box.

Cheers,
Ian

 

While I didn't suggest a Mac, they are VERY good machines. Not sure what you use to make everything "go away" but there's a great software called deep freeze that we use on all macs for that exact purpose.

 

***Hijack alert*** [Given we now know the poor unfortunate woman and her kids are lumbered with Vista. ]

I've come across it, but it "restores" the entire system - Really useful for "baselining" systems, mainly in the corporate world. (ie, you've got lots of systems whose state you can re-establish at any time.)

The guest account is just that - Allows the use of (most) applications but will not allow anything to be "installed". Anything downloaded (pix, videos, cookies, bookmarks etc (basically, anything under the /home/guest directory) is deleted at logout. Obviously wouldn't work in this scenario (the kids will want their own "stuff") but is an easy way to allow anyone to use your computer without fear of what they're doing..... [Obviously requires all other accounts, especially any administrators, to be password protected.]

Cheers,
Ian
EDIT: I don't know, but assume, Vista allows a similar "guest" style account to be setup?

 

With Vista, the Windows Live Family Safety is an excellent add-on.

https://fss.live.com/safety/default.aspx

(need Windows Live ID to view)

 

Sounds simple to me:

1) Work computer; no one uses it at all except for work, period.

2) Want to keep the kids off the internet? Give them PC without access to use for school, fun, etc. If they need a computer to do research for school, a different one under lock and key, or go to the library.

Sheesh, not rocket science. Just requires some responsibility and the willingness to police your own children.

 

Yes, that's what we use it for.

I believe Vista has a similar concept, although I think you are able to save content onto the computer, probably not install anything though.

 

Put a password on it and only let the kids use it when they are allowed to.