Help an old lady!

Hello everyone

My grandmother is in her eighties, and has an old computer. She uses it for a bit of letter-writing, email and Internet browsing - most usefully to do her shopping on the Internet so she doesn't have to struggle round the shops. I want to get her on to broadband (512K ADSL) to make the whole process less time-consuming, but I don't know if her computer is up to it. The spec is as follows (I used Everest to get all this - let me know if you need any more info):

CPU Type AMD Duron, 700 MHz (7 x 100)
Motherboard Name PCChips M810LR (2 PCI, 1 AGP, 1 AMR, 2 DIMM, Audio, Video, LAN)
Motherboard Chipset SiS 730S
System Memory 183 MB (SDRAM)
BIOS Type AMI (12/28/00)
Communication Port Communications Port (COM1)
Communication Port EPSON Printer Port (LPT1)


If the computer is going to struggle, or if it's just going to be so slow that it makes no odds, is there any way I can upgrade if for not too much money? She's running Windows 98, but I could stick 2000 on it...

Thanks for your help!

 

I can't see you having any problems with it. I had a simular board, but mine was branded as a Asrock (probably made by pc chips) I built it for my mother but just sold it, I had it hooked up to high speed internet and worked fine for her. She did some music downloading just basic stuff and she was happy with it. I built a new one so gave her my old one.

 

Howdy,
I believe her computer should be up to the task. I once ran a 768k DSL service on a 400Mhz AMD K6-2, Voodoo 3 3000, 128MB RAM, Win 98SE, and it work wonderfully . Though you might need to purchase a network card for the system, but that is something the service provider should take care of.

 

He did say it has onboard ethernet so he should'nt have too buy anything. I got an old p 100mgz running behind my router, mind you it is pretty damn slow so your grandmothers will be smokin compared to it.

 

I think you will be very pleased if you get the DSL!!!! I had a compaq 500mhz, and 128 mb ram and it was great!!! I'm 99.99% percent sure you will see a BIG difference!!! If it doesn't make a BIG difference, that means there is something wrong with something...it won't be because the computer isn't able to handle it!!

Roger

 

While the computer may have integrated LAN it may not be compatible to use with the DSL. I don't know why this is, but I have had to install NICs in computers before because the integrated ones weren't compatible.

Having DSL will be a big improvement from dialup. I wish DSL was available in my area. I live in an area where cable is even available. The fastest connection the phone lines support in my area is 26.6k. It stinks when the only way to get a faster connection is a $60 a month satellite service.

 

Dudes

Thanks for all your help. Re the ethernet connection, the ISP I'm thinking of going with provide a modem that connects using USB. Does that make sense. (Sorry - I'm a bit of a duffer...)

 

The modem will most likely also have a connection for the Cat5 cable, but if not the USB will be fine.