1) What the internet is, how to use it, how to protect themselves, how to find what they want. 2) Email, crafty/informational websites, getting pictures onto/o

1) What the internet is, how to use it, how to protect themselves, how to find what they want. 2) Email, crafty/informational websites, getting pictures onto/off of cameras and adding annotations to pictures. 3) Screen size, resolution and DPI is absolutely important. Nothing smaller than 17" 4:3. The other important thing is input devices. Trackballs are difficult to use, and the biggest thing I had to help with was "accidental clicks." They would be able to move the mouse around fine, but resting their hand on it, they would accidentally rest too hard on the mouse and click when they really didn't want/mean to be. Apple mice seemed to be much worse for them since there was no clear button. Ideally, a button on the side that could be hit with the thumb would probably be the best fix, but I'm not sure how comfortable it would be for extended use. My entire family, and extended family, are very much not on the techy side of things. I've slowly been getting everyone who cares to set up and running, and for most of them it's been a matter of showing them how to get what they want to get. My grandma actually ended up starting her own mailing list sending out daily information she found about knitting/quilting/oil painting. I'm in the process of helping her get familiar with running a blog, and she's actually really excited about it. The absolute biggest thing that is needed is just education. Not how to use the computer, that can be picked up, but how to try to do things they don't know (ie, what's not safe, what is probably safe and how to restore to a reasonable state if it all breaks). And the most important educational piece...how to get help with a problem. From what they did intentionally, what they saw, the current status, etc.