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Subject: RE: Art Thieme Offline for a while From: katlaughing Date: 24 Mar 13 - 01:43 PM It's been over fives ssince we all pooled our money and bought Art a brand-new tower. it died and he now was using a great laptop w2hich Dan (olddude) refurbished and gave him. It suddenly died. He had a tech fried work on it for over 3 hiours wit no success. He misses us al a GREAT deal...all he has is tv without the internet and woould like to start out with something new. He caqnnot accept any money as he is on public assistance ad would be penalised (great country, eh?) if goes above what is allowed. anyway, my Rog said Art would be a great candidate for a touch sacreen, or at least one which caqn handle Dragon. so, whay say ye, mudcatters? Can/should/will we buy him a new one? Dell has touchsreen for about 700, not sure abou other laptops. Someone else would have to be the one to keep donations log and facilitate the purchase, etc. I just can't this time. I believe Art is a National Treasure and it is very important he be able to continue to share as much as possible, plus it makes communication easier. He has a new wheelchair which is very heavy, hard for him to get t the phone. It is not elefctric and he lost the ability to take a scooter out to the library, park, etc. on his own.he could drive either if he still had them. Anyhow, looking forward to what you al think. And, Art says "Hi!" luvyakat - please excuse the typos! |
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Subject: RE: Art Thieme Offline for a while - 24 March 2013 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 24 Mar 13 - 02:05 PM Sounds like a great idea! What are the possible technologies that Art can comfortably use? There are tablets that are touch screens, there are all-in-one computers, and there are various small laptop types (netbooks, etc.) How is Art's dexterity as far as typing or touching? You've used Dragon, Kat - what all devices can it be installed on? The questions that need answering are: is it now easier for him to sit at a table and type or touch a screen, and/or would it be easier to have a small device on his lap or lower work surface than a desk? SRS |
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Subject: RE: Art Thieme Offline for a while - 24 March 2013 From: maeve Date: 24 Mar 13 - 02:13 PM I will always have something to give on Art's behalf, kat. |
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Subject: RE: Art Thieme Offline for a while - 24 March 2013 From: katlaughing Date: 24 Mar 13 - 02:22 PM thanks, gals...SRS, it would probably be best if you speak with directly. he did tell me he reads by placing a book flat on a table, holding it with his elbow and forearm. if you want to do that, let me know if you need his number. anyone willing to coordinate? |
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Subject: RE: Art Thieme Offline,again-24March2013-help buy new? From: Ebbie Date: 24 Mar 13 - 02:44 PM I can't coordinate but I can contribute. Put me down for $50. |
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Subject: RE: Art Thieme Offline,again-24March2013-help buy new? From: katlaughing Date: 24 Mar 13 - 03:09 PM bless your heart, ebbie |
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Subject: RE: Art Thieme Offline,again-24March2013-help buy new? From: Joe Offer Date: 24 Mar 13 - 06:24 PM I think it's a good idea to give this project its own thread, so I moved today's messages over here. I'm in for a hundred, but who can coordinate it? Kat, mind having your arm twisted in public? -Joe- |
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Subject: RE: Art Thieme Offline,again-24March2013-help buy new? From: Ebbie Date: 24 Mar 13 - 06:36 PM "Someone else would have to be the one to keep donations log and facilitate the purchase, etc. I just can't this time." katlaughing, above Joe, I think that kat is telling us that she's barely treading water on her own at the moment, not able to keep someone else afloat until she is well again. To mix a metaphor or two. |
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Subject: RE: Art Thieme Offline,again-24March2013-help buy new? From: katlaughing Date: 24 Mar 13 - 07:19 PM thanks, ebbie, yes. joe, thanks for the pm and your generosity. typing with only my lefthand is very tiresome and bothering my good shoulder, arm, wrist, etc., plus there's much more serious stuff for which i have to be at rest most of the day. this week with a nine yr old in tow. PLEASE SOMEONE ELSE TAKE ON THE COORDINATING.(if that is too much shouting feel free to edit.) thanks from a very lonesome Art and me, kat |
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Subject: RE: Art Thieme Offline-24March2013-help buy new one? From: katlaughing Date: 24 Mar 13 - 07:23 PM P.S. JOE, thanks for the new thread |
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Subject: RE: Art Thieme Offline-24March2013-help buy new one? From: ChanteyLass Date: 24 Mar 13 - 09:20 PM I can chip in some money, but I can't coordinate. I'm not tech savvy, and I have always avoided responsibility for other peoples' money! (On a few rare occasions I had to coordinate retirement parties for coworkers, but only if nobody else volunteered. As checks came in, I held them until after the party, using my own money to pay for it just in case the venue went bankrupt or something. Then after the party I would cash the checks a few at a time each week rather than having to use a big chunk of time doing them all at once. I had complaints from people saying they were having trouble balancing their statements. I would just smile and say, "I told you that it would be better if someone else planned the party.") |
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Subject: RE: Art Thieme Offline-24March2013-help buy new one? From: katlaughing Date: 24 Mar 13 - 09:35 PM i think we used paypal can't remember 8if we had a special acct or not |
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Subject: RE: Art Thieme Offline-24March2013-help buy new one? From: Stilly River Sage Date: 24 Mar 13 - 09:41 PM I can coordinate it if people are using PayPay, checks, etc. I'm in the US, if that makes a difference for some donors. Before people send, we need to know what we're aiming at. I have Art's old phone # in my cell phone, but I'm not sure if it is the number he has now. I'll PM Kat. I'm a bit under the weather myself and coughing a lot - if we can give this a day or so I'll call Art and see what he is physically able to handle, and what all he might be doing with it. If we're just talking about Internet browsing and email then WiFi is what he needs for the minimum device. If he's burning discs, using it to play music, etc. then he needs something more robust. If he's playing World of Warcraft, we need something even more. :) SRS |
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Subject: RE: Art Thieme Offline-24March2013-help buy new one? From: Joe Offer Date: 24 Mar 13 - 09:44 PM I posted a message to volunteer, but SRS beat me to it. Thanks, SRS. Tell me where to send my check. Many of you may scoff, but a Windows 8 computer with a touch screen may be just the thing for Art. -Joe- |
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Subject: RE: Art Thieme Offline-24March2013-help buy new one? From: Janie Date: 24 Mar 13 - 09:46 PM I'm in for $50. Tell me when to send it. |
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Subject: RE: Art Thieme Offline-24March2013-help buy new one? From: Rapparee Date: 24 Mar 13 - 09:48 PM I just PMed Kat that I'd coordinate! Humph! I'm in for an indeterminate amount. |
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Subject: RE: Art Thieme Offline-24March2013-help buy new one? From: katlaughing Date: 24 Mar 13 - 09:57 PM you all sort it out, ok? and, thanks! whatever, it needs to be a laptop size-wise. i'll text you his number, SRS. you can pass it on if need be. i think a day or two wld be fine. i'll let him know you'll be calling |
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Subject: RE: Art Thieme Offline-24March2013-help buy new one? From: katlaughing Date: 24 Mar 13 - 10:11 PM folks, tks so much. PLEASE, everyone, do not PM me. i am wearing out my good hand, arm, and shouler. have to do ittle typing as possible. tks. |
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Subject: RE: Art Thieme Offline-24March2013-help buy new one? From: Ebbie Date: 24 Mar 13 - 10:40 PM We're on the way! Let us know where to send a check. Thanks, kat, for getting this started. |
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Subject: RE: Art Thieme Offline-24March2013-help buy new one? From: Stilly River Sage Date: 24 Mar 13 - 11:06 PM Joe, you're using Win8. I have Win7 and will probably stick with it till Win9, so you'll have to be the go-to person for setup questions if Win8 is the OS in the selected device. Is that okay with you? I'm not posting my mailing address here, send me a PM and include your real name so I know who it is actually from when it arrives. :) SRS |
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Subject: RE: Art Thieme Offline-24March2013-help buy new one? From: katlaughing Date: 24 Mar 13 - 11:19 PM i forgot to say to olddude/Dan: no offence intended re your previuos well-known generosity when you gave Art a laptop. |
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Subject: RE: Art Thieme Offline-24March2013-help buy new one? From: Stilly River Sage Date: 25 Mar 13 - 12:19 AM Dan has been a lifesaver for mudcatters again and again when it comes to computing! What I hope we'll get here for a little bit are people's observations about the devices they use with regularity - those things with touch capability. I looked up touchscreen monitors before, and I see the same thing now - they are very expensive. The all-in-one computers with a touch screen and the CPU tucked in under or behind really make them much more affordable than simply adding a touch monitor to a regular separate CPU. Tablets come in various sizes, the big ones are as or more expensive than the touch monitors, but what about a tablet and a handful of styluses for touching the screen to type? Whatever we select, we need to sort out the size, CPU type and speed, RAM memory and hard drive size, the operating system, and if it is portable, the weight. What features of these will Art need, what would be overkill? So what new devices have people been using that they can offer recommendations for? With touch screens, keeping in mind the flexibility of the device and the digital dexterity of the user. Or have you read any good reviews lately? SRS |
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Subject: RE: Art Thieme Offline-24March2013-help buy new one? From: Joe Offer Date: 25 Mar 13 - 01:34 AM I'll be glad to be reference point for Win 8, SRS. I have two of them to maintain now, so I know them well. Even without a touch screen, I think it's the way to go. OK. so we've had three volunteers to coordinate this, and I trust SRS more than I trust myself. Rap/Mike, are you OK with SRS taking the lead on this? -Joe- |
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Subject: RE: Art Thieme Offline-24March2013-help buy new one? From: Joe Offer Date: 25 Mar 13 - 02:10 AM Click here to see a 22-inch touchscreen monitor from Viewsonic. What more do you need besides a touchscreen monitor and a Win 8 desktop computer? I've been having very good luck lately with Lenovo computers. They don't have all the extra "bloatware" that HP and some of the other computers have. -Joe- |
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Subject: RE: Art Thieme Offline-24March2013-help buy new one? From: katlaughing Date: 25 Mar 13 - 05:06 AM keep in mind Art has very little dexterity; not sure he'd be able to 7use a stylus. also,i don't know anything about touch screen monitors, but i knw he loves snd NEEDS the potability of his lapyop. fwiw |
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Subject: RE: Art Thieme Offline-24March2013-help buy new one? From: GUEST Date: 25 Mar 13 - 09:06 AM Am in for $50 as soon as I'm told where to send it. Mary Katherine |
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Subject: RE: Art Thieme Offline-24March2013-help buy new one? From: RoyH (Burl) Date: 25 Mar 13 - 09:16 AM Elaine and I would like to donate something to help our friend Art but we live in the UK. Would it be okay to send a cheque in £sterling? Or what? |
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Subject: RE: Art Thieme Offline-24March2013-help buy new one? From: maeve Date: 25 Mar 13 - 09:47 AM RoyH- In similar situations we've had one or more Mudcatters who accepted donations for the cause via Paypal, then passed the money along to the coordinators. One issue of concern to address clearly are Paypal fees. Otherwise, there have been 'Catters who were able to accept UK donations by way of UK banking accounts, because they also have US bank accounts. |
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Subject: RE: Art Thieme Offline-24March2013-help buy new one? From: Rapparee Date: 25 Mar 13 - 09:56 AM Heck, Joe, I don't care. Someone has to do it and Stilly volunteered first so the job's all hers. I know for a fact that Art has Dragon Naturally Speaking 12 (I think it is), the home edition, as well as a headset with microphone. |
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Subject: RE: Art Thieme Offline-24March2013-help buy new one? From: Stilly River Sage Date: 25 Mar 13 - 11:53 AM Thanks, Mike - if he has Dragon Naturally speaking he's way ahead, and we can make sure the device plays well with it. And Joe, that's a good price for a touch screen. I was looking for reviews and they seemed to be starting in the $5-600 range and upward. What do we know about the computer peripherals that Art still has? What equipment will he want to run? Will Chris be setting up for him? I know, I need to call Art. I don't want to wear him out with questions we already know the answers to. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Art Thieme Offline-24March2013-help buy new one? From: GUEST,SINS Date: 25 Mar 13 - 11:59 AM Let me know where to send some money. Mary |
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Subject: RE: Art Thieme Offline-24March2013-help buy new one? From: ranger1 Date: 25 Mar 13 - 12:18 PM I'm in, won't be much, but I'll do what I can. |
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Subject: RE: Art Thieme Offline-24March2013-help buy new one? From: gnu Date: 25 Mar 13 - 05:15 PM WIN 8 touch laptop AND keyboard and moose. Yes, a laptop comes with keyboard and touch pad but they SUCK, especially for anyone with limited dexterity. I gots ta have me reular keyboard when not mobile and I definitely gots ta get me moose b'y! |
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Subject: RE: Art Thieme Offline-24March2013-help buy new one? From: wordfella Date: 25 Mar 13 - 06:28 PM I'm in. Let me know where and how. |
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Subject: RE: Art Thieme Offline-24March2013-help buy new one? From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 25 Mar 13 - 08:16 PM I'm also in - I miss Art. sandra |
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Subject: RE: Art Thieme Offline-24March2013-help buy new one? From: Stilly River Sage Date: 25 Mar 13 - 09:59 PM I called Art this evening and asked him some questions about the equipment he has been using and what work for him. He has Dragon speaking software but it hadn't been installed, so he hasn't actually used it. The last computer was using was a laptop, prior to that, a desktop. His son took the laptop to work on it, but it sounds like there was an ominous message coming through from the non-operating system. He has a mouse, that's the extent of his extant computer equipment. He uses a keyboard, types with one finger, but he has ALWAYS typed with one finger. ;) He works with the laptop on a table, he doesn't use it in his lap. He hasn't heard of tablets (and they aren't set up for how he uses his computer.) He has started using Skype and was planning to use a web cam with the laptop right before the laptop died. So a computer with the usual components that include a built in web cam or one that can be set up, would be useful. He's working with someone in Idaho who is doing a book of his songs, and they apparently send material back and forth and talk. The computer will be used for some scholarly applications, not just email and mudcat browsing. I left a message for Chris so I can discuss the pros and cons of the various pieces of equipment and to determine how much space they have. An all-in-one would be be economical space-wise, even moreso a laptop, but there are also reasons why a small desktop with a touch monitor would work. I'll see what Chris says, I won't try to read the tea leaves without his input. I'll take a little time this evening and write back to each of you who expressed an interest and give you my contact information. Ballpark I'd guess we're looking at equipment costing somewhere from $700 up to possibly $1000. Here are a few low cost starting points: The traditional box and monitor Dell Inspiron starts at $300 for the basics and for as little as $80 more you can get a good amount of memory and hard drive space. And to any of these you can add a monitor for $109. Hewlett Packard has Dell beat by a few dollars on the box and the monitor. Dell had free shipping, so does HP. All in one, touch screen Dell has various touch computers and the all-in-one starts at about $800. HP's basic All-in-one starts at $800 but there is a $250 sale going on. And then there are places like Amazon that sell lots of stuff. Here are a few Lenovos to look at. They have laptops and ultrabooks that are comparable to each other and to the other computers. Just basic research. I don't know if any of these links are durable, they're probably cookie-driven so they may simply take you to the home page and you can poke around from there. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Art Thieme Offline-24March2013-help buy new one? From: Janie Date: 25 Mar 13 - 10:10 PM I am as far from a computer geek as someone with a 'puter gets (except perhaps for Bobert. *grin*. Just let me know when and where to send a check or where to send through paypal. I'll keep an eye on this thread in case instructions appear here about when and where in order to cut down on the amount of "coordinating" you need to do, Maggie. I know what a big job that is. |
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Subject: RE: Art Thieme Offline-24March2013-help buy new one? From: Stilly River Sage Date: 25 Mar 13 - 10:26 PM I sent messages to everyone who has expressed an interest so far in the thread. That is 11 of us so far. We can decide, with Chris, what the best configuration is and then shop around. Product reviews from ZDnet and Cnet and other tech saavy sites are always useful for comparison. Art thinks that shipping to Chris will invite the least speculation as far as how the computer arrives or how it was paid for. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Art Thieme Offline-24March2013-help buy new one? From: ChanteyLass Date: 25 Mar 13 - 11:26 PM Shipping to Chris is a good idea. Perhaps to avoid a problem with public assistance, it should be Chris's computer which he loans to Art. |
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Subject: RE: Art Thieme Offline-24March2013-help buy new one? From: Ebbie Date: 26 Mar 13 - 01:17 AM I got the email, SRS. I'll get the check into the mail tomorrow. |
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Subject: RE: Art Thieme Offline-24March2013-help buy new one? From: Rapparee Date: 26 Mar 13 - 09:39 AM Get him a trackball so he doesn't have to move his arm so much. |
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Subject: RE: Art Thieme Offline-24March2013-help buy new one? From: katlaughing Date: 26 Mar 13 - 10:54 AM i agree, a track ball has helped me |
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Subject: RE: Art Thieme Offline-24March2013-help buy new one? From: catspaw49 Date: 26 Mar 13 - 01:07 PM So do I need to send you a PM Maggie or what? I'm in for something but I don't know how much. Spaw |
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Subject: RE: Art Thieme Offline-24March2013-help buy new one? From: kendall Date: 26 Mar 13 - 01:17 PM I couldn't organize a piss up in a brewery*, but I can send a donation; just tell me where. * borrowed from Morticia. |
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Subject: RE: Art Thieme Offline-24March2013-help buy new one? From: GUEST,Mary Katherine Date: 26 Mar 13 - 01:21 PM SRS, I didn't get the email from you but am in for $50 as mentioned previously, just let me know where and when to send, OK? |
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Subject: RE: Art Thieme Offline-24March2013-help buy new one? From: maeve Date: 26 Mar 13 - 01:44 PM I'm sure she'll send along another batch of PMs to new gift-givers when she's free to do so. |
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Subject: RE: Art Thieme Offline-24March2013-help buy new one? From: catspaw49 Date: 26 Mar 13 - 03:34 PM You bprrowed spme piss from Mort? Geeziz Kendall.....You really are some sort of pervert aren't you? Spaw |
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Subject: RE: Art Thieme Offline-24March2013-help buy new one? From: Stilly River Sage Date: 26 Mar 13 - 06:08 PM Mary Katherine, do you have a Mudcat account so you can receive a PM, or are you a follower of the Mudcat Facebook page? |
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Subject: RE: Art Thieme Offline-24March2013-help buy new one? From: Stilly River Sage Date: 26 Mar 13 - 06:38 PM Last night I called Art and we spoke about this project (he says "thank you!") and I asked him some questions about his ability to handle and use various devices and components. He isn't familiar with tablets, so I'd already crossed that off my list when Chris, who I spoke with today, said they would probably confuse him. There are issues with the operating system and stuff in the previous computer; several people have not been able to correct the problems so a new computing device is called for. A keyboard is manageable, and he has a mouse he likes that Chris has adjusted for proximity to links. Chris thinks the touch feature of the screen would be helpful as motor skills decline. And I think after discussing the size of the room and the furnishings, as well as the security measures that Chris has put into place, that a laptop with a touch screen is going to work best. They don't have a dedicated spot to use the computer, it gets moved around, so asking Art to move an all-in-one or a CPU and monitor isn't practical. They use a movable hospital table that fits over the top of the bed or a chair. Chris agrees that the built in web cam would be very helpful, and Art will be using the computer and it's mic and speakers for Skype, so this would give a total video experience. When he streams movies he uses headphones, and he and his wife have different tastes in movies and viewing, so this would probably continue. Because he is doing scholarly work in reference to his music, he does need a burner so he can load disks that he made from all of his cassettes back when he was working on that Smithsonian project. (And Chris tells me that this project has been great to energize Art, keeping him involved and feeling useful.) I think our goal is to find the largest touch screen laptop we can afford with the features discussed. Chris can manage most of the software, Art uses a lot of open source stuff, but we should upgrade to Win8 Pro or whatever the high-end is called; the least expensive way to do that upgrade is to get it OEM (original equipment manufacturer - Dell, HP, whoever). Chris will check in and trace this thread so he can keep up with what we're doing. I have asked each person in my boilerplate blurb (sent by PM) that if there is any extra, do they agree that we should donate it to Max and Mudcat? So far I've heard all approval on that. If any of you are wanting to donate who don't have a regular mudcat account, contact me via my work email. dwyer at uta dot edu. The troll has already figured out that one, it isn't secret. Put "Mudcat computer" or something like that in the subject line and let me know who you are and what you want to donate and I can give you my address or paypal information. No foreign currency or checks, please, they're too hard to cash. Find one of our members who has accounts on both sides of the pond who can make the conversion easily. Thanks! SRS |
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Subject: RE: Art Thieme Offline-24March2013-help buy new one? From: gnu Date: 27 Mar 13 - 06:23 AM Money orders okay? That's what I used to donate to Mudcat in December. |
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