alex is a new simple-to-use personal computer that’s aimed at the “digitally-excluded”. Broadband Computer Co, the inventors of alex, are based in Newcastle.
As the Digital Unite tutor in the region Anne Donnelly was invited along to see a demo of the system and borrow a copy to trial for a week or so.
Setting up alex
When you buy any new toy – computer, phone, breadmaker, etc. – you’re naturally excited and keen to get started. How may times have you been disappointed when you find you need to buy extra batteries, don’t know how to fit the pieces together or can’t find the on switch?
The team at Broadband Computer Co (BCC) have clearly put a lot of thought into your first experience with alex. Each system comes with a slim instruction manual which includes clear instructions explaining how to plug in the power and mouse, how to plug in the router and how to switch on the laptop. All of the instructions are illustrated with photographs of actual equipment.
Once the system has booted up you’re instructed to “follow the on-screen instructions”. However, these are minimal – none of the choosing time zones and locations that Microsoft asks you to do. Finally you’re asked to plug in your “latchkey” – again a photograph shows you how – and type in a four-digit activation number and choose a password. And that’s it – you’re done!
There are bound to be a few people who are too cautious or ham-fisted to set-up alex but with care to follow the instructions even the most novice computer user should be able to manage.
What’s the latchkey about?
The latchkey is a USB memory stick which contains the user’s credentials for alex. The system won’t work unless the latchkey is plugged in and the correct password entered.
The latchkey holds the user’s personal configuration for alex and means that the same laptop can be shared by a number of people all with their own individual latchkey. The latchkey can also be used with another alex laptop meaning that you can use a computer when away from home.
Finally, the latchkey can also be used as a simple memory stick to transfer files between computers.
First impressions
BCC have completely redesigned the user interface. You still need to use a keyboard and mouse, of course, but there’s no double-clicking on icons or navigating a “start” menu. Buttons providing access to the main functions of alex remain on the screen at all times so it’s always obvious how to access the web or check your e-mails.
They’ve also tried hard to replace jargon and cryptic icons with plain English text. So the button to open the web browser is simply labelled “web”. Many buttons also have “tool tips” explaining their function in proper sentences.
Using alex
On signing in to alex you’re presented with your “home” screen – much like Windows this allows you to choose a background picture. “Home” has three small applications available in tabs at the bottom of the screen – “My news”, “My calendar”, “Add a note”. “My news is probably the most useful of these. It allows access to a number of pre-configured news feeds or lets you add your own as you discover them when surfing the web.
“Home” is not terribly exciting and it’s likely that users will quickly head for the buttons on the right hand side of the screen. Here you can access the following functions:
Web
- E-mail
- Office – include word processing and a basic spreadsheet
- Photo – organising and editing photos
- People – managing contacts
- Play – playing music and movies
Whichever you choose will open up over most of the screen – leaving only the buttons to access the other functions visible. There are no floating windows to drag around here and no notion of minimising and maximising.
’ve been using alex for a few days and it certainly seems to have the functionality needed by most novice users. I’ve browsed many of the most popular websites including YouTube, the BBC iPlayer and eBay with no problems. The e-mail application has all the features you’d expect while hiding the more confusing options such as cc unless you ask to see them.
Within the Office area is a word-processing tool compatible with Microsoft Office and an Excel-like spreadsheet. Again the more complicated options are hidden unless you ask to see them. There are a number of templates available to help you quickly create a document.
BCC have adopted a novel approach to saving files. When you create a new document you’re asked to name it. After that everything is stored automatically – you never need to remember to save anything – probably a much more intuitive method for novice users.
The photo-editing, contact management and play applications provide all the basic functions that you’d expect.
A rather neat feature is that whatever you’re doing – browsing a website, writing a document, viewing a photo – you can click on the “Send” button which is always on the screen. This will add the site URL, document or image to a new e-mail message ready to send to a friend or colleague.
The human touch
As well as aiming for a friendly, intuitive user interface BCC have provided some information for beginners in the instruction manual supplied. As well as details of the alex functions there are guides to using the mouse and keyboard – both hurdles to novice users.
They also hope to set-up a community of alex users who can support and encourage each other. And rather than the anonymous “welcome to e-mail” message you receive when you sign up to most e-mail accounts they plan to ask a friend or family member to send a new user a message to give them a friendly welcome.
What do you get?
The alex package consists of a laptop and the alex software. alex is a subscription-based service. The monthly fee of approximately £10 pays for support from a dedicated team and regular updates to the software. New features will be added automatically when they are available.
If you don’t already have a broadband connection you can purchase this as part of the package.
It’s not for you, if…
alex provides a limited set of functions – functions selected through substantial research and testing. If you’re likely to want more functions than that then you’ll be frustrated by alex as you can’t install additional software.
So if you’re a keen photographer moving to digital images and wanting to use a package such as Photoshop, alex isn’t for you. And if you want to use specialist software for card-making or scrap-booking, alex won’t be good enough.
alex may not be for you if you’ve poor vision. The web browser application does provide a simple way to zoom the page in and out, but there’s no mechanism to change the screen resolution in general.
alex is not for you if you want to share a computer with a non-alex user. At present alex must run on a dedicated laptop. However, there are plans for a version that will run from a CD or can be set-up on a dual boot machine.
And my personal preference would be for a system that allowed more keyboard use rather than relying so much on the mouse.
Would I recommend it?
I didn’t expect to like alex. I was expecting a “noddy” system with very limited functionality. I was pleasantly surprised.
I liked how easy it was to set-up and I liked the user interface. I like the fact that BCC seem to have done substantial user testing of the product and listened to those users. I like the attempts to use simple, jargon-free language.
alex does have limited functionality. That’s because it’s intended for users who require only that functionality. And I think the functions will be sufficient for most home users – not just beginners.
If I were asked about a computer for a beginner who wanted to surf the Net, send and receive e-mails and look at their digital holiday snaps I’d certainly suggest they consider alex as one of the options. Although I’m not convinced of the benefits of the ongoing monthly subscription.
You can find out more about alex here
December 13th, 2009 annedonnelly |
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