Yes, Radio sHack has become a joke. Used to be, they were the go-to source not just for electronics stuff, but reasonably knowledgeable sales staff. Not so much anymore. I'd also avoid asking the sales staff at Best Buy for help as well.

One good place for electronics, but it looks like the nearest to you would be Columbusor just outside Cleveland, Ohio; or just about in New Jersey (Philadelphia, actually,) is Microcenter. The one we've got in Michigan is nice, and about the only computer store I'll go into anymore.

As for your Dad and the movie, we occasionally take a friend of ours, and her Dad to the movies, while he doesn't have the "got to go" issue, I'd say 3/4 the time, he falls asleep during the movie. This includes loud action movies.

Last note. On the topic of a PC / netbook for your Mom, I'd suggest consider a plain old laptop, instead. Netbooks, while nice and portable, have tiny keyboards, which might be tough for her to use. As for the wireless, just explain to your folks that you're going to set it up so that it will be encrypted and passcode protected. Let them know that (presuming you use WPA-2 PSK) it would take someone trying to "hack" into it something on the order of decades for someone to crack the code. Then whip up a nice, long password. You can even take it further, and if the wireless router supports it, do MAC address filtering, as well.

Jason

(do I get geek cred for this post? )

Thanx, Jason. This is not about Radio Shack as such. I'm confident that an idiotic sales clerk could just as easily have been found at Best Buy, Columbusor, Microcenter or any electronics store. And I am completely aware of the security tools for a wireless router. This story is about the old folks acting like kids and the frustrations thus encountered.

Oh dear god, the Chipmunks?

You earned karma points for that.

Once more, the master of "missing the point" strikes again...

At least dinner went well.

Jason

Speaking of fear of stealing information..my wife's mom always says I never would use my charge card online...it will get stolen! I look at her and say..how many times have you given your card to a waiter/waitress and they disappear with it? That is WAY less secure. Something about technology that just scares people.

And I don't know if it's acting like kids or just resistant to ANY type of change.

Actually, Jason, there is a little more of the story I can add. Judging from the look on the Radio Shack salesperson's face as we were going out of the store without buying a computer or even a pack of flashlight cells, she was probably going to take the assistant to the back room and punch him in the nose. Radio Shack was the choice owing to the fact that it was the only place within driving distance of their home. My parents are at that stage in their lives where they plan for a week to drive to church.

Michael, this sounds like an episode of Seinfeld, with Jerry taking his folks out.

Chicup is definitely correct on the Karma points for the Chipmunk experience.

You must laugh, so you don't cry.

Michael

Bless you and the wonderful efforts you put forth! I am certain that they will not soon forget the evening!

As for the sales assistant, sigh! Setting up a wireless router has become point and click these days! Geeze! This sales rep was a moron! I guess that is what you get when Wal-mart cycles through another batch of employees!

Chipmunks? GOODNESS! I'd rather chew broken glass!

Jason, you get geek points from me for the attempt!