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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Dinah on July 17, 2004, at 21:49:07
My son is getting to the age where he'll soon be able to read Babble. I *don't* want him to know about my problems or to see me as "Dinah". But Babble is on my favorites list as is several other things that are none of his business - internet research, etc. In other words, I really don't want him to have easy access to my favorites list or even my history. He's not a bad kid, and he won't deliberately go somewhere he's been told not to go, but I see no reason to make it easier for him to stumble across this place.
So....
I want to set him up with a different browser, and was thinking of downloading Netscape. I use Internet Explorer. Is it possible to use both concurrently? Not at the same time, of course. But so that he could click on Netscape when he uses the internet, and I could use Explorer. Or vice versa.
I use Windows 98.
Posted by ghost on July 17, 2004, at 22:48:06
In reply to Technical question for the computer literate, posted by Dinah on July 17, 2004, at 21:49:07
yup. you could do that. in fact, i suggest using something like firefox (made by the same folks, but a cooler browser in general).
you might also want to try to upgrade to xp where he can have his own "account" and he'd never have access to your bookmarks ever.
Posted by Emme on July 17, 2004, at 22:50:38
In reply to Technical question for the computer literate, posted by Dinah on July 17, 2004, at 21:49:07
You can have as many different web browsers installed as you like. That would be one solution. The current Netscape version is 7.1., which will be compatible with Windows 98. Here's the link. It tells you what the system requirements are and enables you to start the download:
http://channels.netscape.com/ns/browsers/sysreq.jsp
If you have a dial-up connection, it'll take eons to download, so plan accordingly. Broadband only takes a few minutes.
If your computer can support Windows NT, that would be nice. Then each user logs on to the computer itself and each person has all their own settings (including things like wallpapers, etc.). Taht would keep everything private, including browser settings. But if that's not doable or something you're interested in tackling, then loading up a second browser should get the job done.
Emme
> My son is getting to the age where he'll soon be able to read Babble. I *don't* want him to know about my problems or to see me as "Dinah". But Babble is on my favorites list as is several other things that are none of his business - internet research, etc. In other words, I really don't want him to have easy access to my favorites list or even my history. He's not a bad kid, and he won't deliberately go somewhere he's been told not to go, but I see no reason to make it easier for him to stumble across this place.
>
> So....
>
> I want to set him up with a different browser, and was thinking of downloading Netscape. I use Internet Explorer. Is it possible to use both concurrently? Not at the same time, of course. But so that he could click on Netscape when he uses the internet, and I could use Explorer. Or vice versa.
>
> I use Windows 98.
Posted by Emme on July 17, 2004, at 22:54:20
In reply to Technical question for the computer literate, posted by Dinah on July 17, 2004, at 21:49:07
PCs now come loaded with Windows XP. If you get a new computer at some point (or your current one can support it), Windows XP is also set up so that each person has an account, so there's privacy.
> My son is getting to the age where he'll soon be able to read Babble. I *don't* want him to know about my problems or to see me as "Dinah". But Babble is on my favorites list as is several other things that are none of his business - internet research, etc. In other words, I really don't want him to have easy access to my favorites list or even my history. He's not a bad kid, and he won't deliberately go somewhere he's been told not to go, but I see no reason to make it easier for him to stumble across this place.
>
> So....
>
> I want to set him up with a different browser, and was thinking of downloading Netscape. I use Internet Explorer. Is it possible to use both concurrently? Not at the same time, of course. But so that he could click on Netscape when he uses the internet, and I could use Explorer. Or vice versa.
>
> I use Windows 98.
Posted by Elle2021 on July 18, 2004, at 3:25:41
In reply to Technical question for the computer literate, posted by Dinah on July 17, 2004, at 21:49:07
Would it be easier to just remove Babble from your favorites list. What I do, it just type in Bob's web address into my address box at the top of my Internet Explorer browser. Then, when I'm done posting, I erase my internet history.
Just a thought.
Elle
Posted by Dinah on July 18, 2004, at 8:09:59
In reply to Re: Technical question for the computer literate » Dinah, posted by Elle2021 on July 18, 2004, at 3:25:41
I'm hoping it doesn't come to that, Elle. I tend to save articles and posts I like on my favorites list, although I do keep them in a separate folder.
And I realy don't *think* he'd sneak and look in other folders, but I don't want to make him curious either. If I really must, I could change the folders name to something really really dull or really really girly. :) I'd rather he just use his own browser tho.
Posted by Dinah on July 18, 2004, at 8:14:58
In reply to Oh, and... » Dinah, posted by Emme on July 17, 2004, at 22:54:20
I'll work on downloading that, then.
My poor old computer is stretched to its breaking point. I don't use it for anything other than online stuff anymore. My work is on a separate computer. And my son's games crash it regularly. So I don't think I want to chance upgrading.
A new computer is definitely somewhere in my future. My husband's is XP (I think), and has that feature where everyone has their own desktop and if you leave the computer unattended, you have to log in again. I like that. I'm looking forward to it, but I have to save up for it. Since this isn't my work computer, just the living room computer, it'll probably be a while. :( Like maybe when this one dies and can't be brought back.
Posted by 64bowtie on July 18, 2004, at 11:54:31
In reply to Re: Technical question for the computer literate » Elle2021, posted by Dinah on July 18, 2004, at 8:09:59
(((Dinah))),
The most Iron-Clad is to get your son his very-own computer. I put the word out that I wanted to give my 83 yearold Dad a computer to play Freecell on, and I got four machines within days...
Decide what you want your Son using the computer for and set his up for that. Password protect your profile (even in Win98 you can do this), set the screen-saver so that anytime you leave, you turn it on, and password protect cancelling it, show him where his games (or whatever) are, just in case you forget.
He can distract himself on your computer with his games and stuff on your computer. In XP, you can password protect folders and sub-directories. Just make it taboo for him to be at your keyboard, ever.
Oh, yea! You can lock your keyboard in Win98; simple key combination (code, PIN) locks and unlocks it. Always depends on how important all this is to you.
Sorry if this all sounds like jibberish. This is "Starbucks" talk in Silicon Valley. We set up networks on the back of paper napkins while drinking coffee and eating scones.
Rod
Posted by Dinah on July 18, 2004, at 19:29:20
In reply to Re: Technical question » (((Dinah))), posted by 64bowtie on July 18, 2004, at 11:54:31
Thanks Rod. I don't think I can afford that much privacy. :)
If he wants to snoop, I suppose he can find lots of stuff I'd rather him not see around the house as well as on the computer. I have a file cabinet drawer full of printouts and a closet shelf full of books about psych stuff. But if he invades my privacy deliberately, I guess he won't be protected from my problems.
I just don't want it staring him in the face, arousing his curiousity. I think the two browser idea will work until he's a bit older, by which time I should have XP.
I've been really lucky thus far that I trust my husband not to peek, and my therapist not to peek, and my parents are computer illiterate, and I don't much care what anyone else sees.
This is the end of the thread.
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