I love the idea.  But I question the implementation.  But actually, this is not really about that, but about my one experience.

Yes, with My aunt!  I used up all the minutes on my cell phone (free long distance) but she is up and running and again on the net, and now protected not only by Zone Alarm but by a hardware Gateway/Router!  But what a chore!  I know Florida has easier winters, but I sure could have used a pair of (knowledgeable) hands down there!  As it was, I had to suffice with a cousin that knew less than her (but is ambulatory) and my very sharp, if not very knowledgeable Aunt/Godmother!

The scene was set!  She called me (she loves to talk, and I do love to talk to her), and crowed about dropping earth-link (just this side of hell from AoHell) and getting DSL. So how was she connected?

USB!  Arrrrgggggg! (no Pirate talk there Jen, just a scream).  So I checked her PC on line (Dell, got the serial number?  You can get the config).  No Ethernet.  DAMN!  So I told her what she needed to get and was going to talk her through the install!  Nope!  Scared Nelly!

BUT!  One of her sons (my cousin) was down there and could be her legs! (she is a paraplegic since 15 and still managed to raise 4 children!  By herself!).  So I talk him through the installation and connection.  And then found out he had gotten a lemon of an Ethernet card (Hey!  At 10 bucks, some are going to be bad!).  but we get past that, and then hit........

Bell South PPPoE!  A protocol designed by Satan himself!  I get her to the point of connecting the PPPoE (did I say I hate that abomination?), and then pass her off to Bell South (about as helpful as a rubber crutch or a pay toilet in a Diarrhea ward).  But she, being the sharp person she is, manages to gleam the correct info and calls me back.  And in a short time, she is now in line with Zone Alarm and a hardware Gateway/Router.

All over the phone over a couple of days!  She is back in Business, and not sending me stale jokes (that is my other Aunt), or umpteen gazillion forwarded hoaxes (did I say she was sharp?).

All done by phone with a Cousin that has not touched a computer in his life, and a very sharp aunt that says "I don't know nothing about birthing an Internet connection Miz Scarlet!" but really is super sharp!

So, yea!  I am all for telecommuting!  beats a plane trip to Florida hands down!

BTW: For those that read my blog, yes, she is the mother of the cousin whose computer I am now working on, and is still polluted!  No question now, this is a wipe an re-install.  Just have to check to see if they have any files they want to keep. But the cousin here, is not the cousin of the computer.  She had a Girl, and then 3 boys!  Family!  We will always be!