Wife wants a PC laptop

[csubear]

You sure she is looking at a computer to homeschool your kid? Or does she just have something against macs.

Well anyways g/l. Load up on the AV software, Don't connect that thing to the internet until you have install all the updates for XP, and get a router with a good firewall.

 

[zelmo]

You sure she is looking at a computer to homeschool your kid? Or does she just have something against macs.

Well anyways g/l. Load up on the AV software, Don't connect that thing to the internet until you have install all the updates for XP, and get a router with a good firewall.

Pretty sure. We have only ever had Macs in our house, starting with a Performa 575. Whenever it has been time to upgrade, she has never even hinted that she'd rather we get a PC. I think the only thing she has against Macs is a dearth of software titles available to her for homeschooling.

Right now we have our two Macs connected to the internet via Comcast broadband cable, which is plugged into an Airport Extreme base station - iMac via ethernet, PB via Airport card. We also have an Airport Express upstairs to improve reception and add wireless printing by her desk area.
What specifically do I need to do to protect our network and the new PC? I don't know jack about firewalls.

 

[Palad1]

Here's an easy solution in order to keep your notebook from getting nasty viruses, as long as you have other computers around:

Don't hook it up to the internet.

You seem to run a natted network, so that should be pretty easy 🙂

Just make sure you disable internet explorer, outlook express and outlook, and 99% of your security problems will be gone.

I really do mean it.

 

[cluthz]

Pretty sure. We have only ever had Macs in our house, starting with a Performa 575. Whenever it has been time to upgrade, she has never even hinted that she'd rather we get a PC. I think the only thing she has against Macs is a dearth of software titles available to her for homeschooling.

Right now we have our two Macs connected to the internet via Comcast broadband cable, which is plugged into an Airport Extreme base station - iMac via ethernet, PB via Airport card. We also have an Airport Express upstairs to improve reception and add wireless printing by her desk area.
What specifically do I need to do to protect our network and the new PC? I don't know jack about firewalls.

Using the built-in fw in XP will give you decent protection. Also get a anti-virus app. I use eThrust and have been satisfied with it.
Remeber to tell your wife that she have to be more careful when she's opening mails and downloads things, 'cause she isn't using a old ol' mac anymore.

A Vaio is a good choice when you're buying a pc and I think your wife will be happy with it.

 

[Westside guy]

Since you've got a wireless router (the Airport base stations) between your computers and the internet, you're protected from the worms that go looking for Windows boxes. But as someone already said - upgrade to XP service pack 2 right away.

 

[Mord]

firefox firefox firefox thats all i have to say about security.

 

[zelmo]

firefox firefox firefox thats all i have to say about security.

I'm having the computer shipped to me at work, and I will have SP2, some flavor of virus s/w, and Firefox loaded and ready before my wife even knows we got the computer.