Actually, #1 is not necessarily a requirement but it does make it more worthwhile. I know people who are plenty happy with simple dialup yet use wireless networking in their house so they can for instance print to their printer from a laptop in another room.

Right you are. Just seems like a matter of course these days, but I'm sure there are those with dial up doing just what you suggest.

I would recommend against an older person (or anyone else for that matter) getting a computer unless they are willing to spend the time to learn how to use it safely and avoid being scammed. I have a friend that recently got hit with a $1,400 phone bill as a result of an internet scam. He downloaded some trojan horse software that changed his ISP phone number to a number in Sao Tomei. The phone company cut off his long distance after three days, but the damage was already done. When I asked him if he was using a virus checker his reply was "I am now".

Has anyone received email that looks like it is from a bank or other financial institution recently? I have gotten several. This scam is called phishing. They usually say something like "We have had some computer problems and need all of our customers to follow this link then enter their account number and password." Of course the link takes you to a web site run by the crooks, who capture all of your information and use it to crack into your account, make counterfeit bank cards, or steal your identity.

Too many people think a computer is just like a television or microwave. It isn't. Used incorrectly it can be a door into your bank account, credit card, identity, or anything else of value you have. Unless a person is willing to spend the time and effort to keep himself educated about this stuff, I think it is safer and wiser to just avoid computers altogether.

This may be a sad commentary on human nature, but it's true.