Selling "Children's PCs"

[PCmechanic]

A lot of my repeat malware removal jobs come from children constantly infecting their parents' computers

One idea I have been considering is selling an old used/refurbed box with a child-friendly Linux distro installed and advertising it as being locked down, which would make its lack of Windows a feature instead of a negative.

Has anyone attempted selling a computer running Linux to an average user?

[Cadishead Computers]

Why not simply lock down the windows OS?

There are numerous programs which would also aid, ie netnanny, k9 etc.

[PBComputer]

What about Microsoft system state, I installed it on a pc a few years ago and they have not had any problem since, but they don't need to keep any documents so it works well

[PCmechanic]

I'm thinking selling another piece of older hardware that may have no/an outdated operating system.

[GoHighVoltage]

K9 is the best I have used yet.

[PCmechanic]

Thanks guys, these are alternatives I didn't know about!

[TimJacobs]

Originally Posted by PBComputer

What about Microsoft system state, I installed it on a pc a few years ago and they have not had any problem since, but they don't need to keep any documents so it works well

System state doesn't work for Win7

[Platte Computer Repair]

Steady State is supported until June 30 2011 but is no longer available for download.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2390706/en-us

[PCS]

This is on my mind at the mo. I have a cust that see often and it's due to her kid infecting the pc constantly. If i setup a sandboxed browser, i would see her less, but get paid less!

My thought is now to maybe sell her a small support contract, i'm then guaranteeing she will have less problems but i will still make something from not seeing her every 3 months.

[Methical]

Originally Posted by PCS

This is on my mind at the mo. I have a cust that see often and it's due to her kid infecting the pc constantly. If i setup a sandboxed browser, i would see her less, but get paid less!

My thought is now to maybe sell her a small support contract, i'm then guaranteeing she will have less problems but i will still make something from not seeing her every 3 months.

You should at least provide her with the option; it sounds like a used-car salesman technique, and that your trying to squeeze blood out of a stone.