Limit amount of time on PC?

Is there a way to limit how much time a user can be using the computer each
day? I've got the parental controls set up to limit when, but I'd also like
to limit how much of that time they can use.

If not, are there any free, simple programs out there? Everything I find is
much more than I need - controlling what the user does, managing the time
the users can use the PC, etc.

Thx!

Try PC TimeWatch: http://www.mainsoft.fr/en/pctwoverview.htm



Calab wrote:
> Is there a way to limit how much time a user can be using the computer
> each day? I've got the parental controls set up to limit when, but I'd
> also like to limit how much of that time they can use.
>
> If not, are there any free, simple programs out there? Everything I
> find is much more than I need - controlling what the user does, managing
> the time the users can use the PC, etc.
>
> Thx!

On Sun, 31 May 2009 13:10:40 -0600, "Calab" <> wrote:

>Is there a way to limit how much time a user can be using the computer each
>day? I've got the parental controls set up to limit when, but I'd also like
>to limit how much of that time they can use.
>
>If not, are there any free, simple programs out there? Everything I find is
>much more than I need - controlling what the user does, managing the time
>the users can use the PC, etc.
>
>Thx!

Not to appear a smarta$$, but the solution is simply to tell them how
much time they have and then lightly supervise and highlight when
needed.

Teaching them to commit and be responsible will do far more to enhance
their ability to succeed in life than shutting them off automatically.

Very good point Bob and has a lot of merit to promote responsibility.

H Brown
"+Bob+" <> wrote in message
news:...
> On Sun, 31 May 2009 13:10:40 -0600, "Calab" <> wrote:
>
>>Is there a way to limit how much time a user can be using the computer
>>each
>>day? I've got the parental controls set up to limit when, but I'd also
>>like
>>to limit how much of that time they can use.
>>
>>If not, are there any free, simple programs out there? Everything I find
>>is
>>much more than I need - controlling what the user does, managing the time
>>the users can use the PC, etc.
>>
>>Thx!
>
> Not to appear a smarta$$, but the solution is simply to tell them how
> much time they have and then lightly supervise and highlight when
> needed.
>
> Teaching them to commit and be responsible will do far more to enhance
> their ability to succeed in life than shutting them off automatically.

On Sun, 31 May 2009 16:42:52 -0400, +Bob+ wrote:

> On Sun, 31 May 2009 13:10:40 -0600, "Calab" <> wrote:
>
>>Is there a way to limit how much time a user can be using the computer
>>each day? I've got the parental controls set up to limit when, but I'd
>>also like to limit how much of that time they can use.
>>
>>If not, are there any free, simple programs out there? Everything I
>>find is much more than I need - controlling what the user does, managing
>>the time the users can use the PC, etc.
>>
>>Thx!
>
> Not to appear a smarta$$, but the solution is simply to tell them how
> much time they have and then lightly supervise and highlight when
> needed.
>
> Teaching them to commit and be responsible will do far more to enhance
> their ability to succeed in life than shutting them off automatically.

That should be adequate for home use. For the 12 machines I admin at the
public library, that would involve a lot of supervisory time. I simply add
'timeoutd' to the Linux machines and it's done.

On 1 Jun 2009 01:31:41 GMT, ray <> wrote:

>On Sun, 31 May 2009 16:42:52 -0400, +Bob+ wrote:
>
>> On Sun, 31 May 2009 13:10:40 -0600, "Calab" <> wrote:
>>
>>>Is there a way to limit how much time a user can be using the computer
>>>each day? I've got the parental controls set up to limit when, but I'd
>>>also like to limit how much of that time they can use.
>>>
>>>If not, are there any free, simple programs out there? Everything I
>>>find is much more than I need - controlling what the user does, managing
>>>the time the users can use the PC, etc.
>>>
>>>Thx!
>>
>> Not to appear a smarta$$, but the solution is simply to tell them how
>> much time they have and then lightly supervise and highlight when
>> needed.
>>
>> Teaching them to commit and be responsible will do far more to enhance
>> their ability to succeed in life than shutting them off automatically.
>
>That should be adequate for home use. For the 12 machines I admin at the
>public library, that would involve a lot of supervisory time. I simply add
>'timeoutd' to the Linux machines and it's done.

Agreed. It's not your job to teach responsibility at the PL. The OP
sounded like a home user.

"+Bob+" <> wrote in message
news:...
> On 1 Jun 2009 01:31:41 GMT, ray <> wrote:
>
>>On Sun, 31 May 2009 16:42:52 -0400, +Bob+ wrote:
>>
>>> On Sun, 31 May 2009 13:10:40 -0600, "Calab" <> wrote:
>>>
>>>>Is there a way to limit how much time a user can be using the computer
>>>>each day? I've got the parental controls set up to limit when, but I'd
>>>>also like to limit how much of that time they can use.
>>>>
>>>>If not, are there any free, simple programs out there? Everything I
>>>>find is much more than I need - controlling what the user does, managing
>>>>the time the users can use the PC, etc.
>>>>
>>>>Thx!
>>>
>>> Not to appear a smarta$$, but the solution is simply to tell them how
>>> much time they have and then lightly supervise and highlight when
>>> needed.
>>>
>>> Teaching them to commit and be responsible will do far more to enhance
>>> their ability to succeed in life than shutting them off automatically.
>>
>>That should be adequate for home use. For the 12 machines I admin at the
>>public library, that would involve a lot of supervisory time. I simply add
>>'timeoutd' to the Linux machines and it's done.
>
> Agreed. It's not your job to teach responsibility at the PL. The OP
> sounded like a home user.

I would have thought that if the Op was looking at parenting advise he might
have gone to a more appropriate newsgroup!

Cheers

Sometime the obvious has to hit them in the face. By reading the various
news channels it is all too apparent that many people lack basic parenting
skills and have to be told what to do. Others are lazy and need a boot in
the backside to make them see the light.

Now, if the person had written that they have tried everything but the child
is out of control - that is another matter.

I don't condemn someone for pointing out the obvious as a first step.



"Camper" <> wrote in message
news:...
>
> "+Bob+" <> wrote in message
> news:...
>> On 1 Jun 2009 01:31:41 GMT, ray <> wrote:
>>
>>>On Sun, 31 May 2009 16:42:52 -0400, +Bob+ wrote:
>>>
>>>> On Sun, 31 May 2009 13:10:40 -0600, "Calab" <> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>>Is there a way to limit how much time a user can be using the computer
>>>>>each day? I've got the parental controls set up to limit when, but I'd
>>>>>also like to limit how much of that time they can use.
>>>>>
>>>>>If not, are there any free, simple programs out there? Everything I
>>>>>find is much more than I need - controlling what the user does,
>>>>>managing
>>>>>the time the users can use the PC, etc.
>>>>>
>>>>>Thx!
>>>>
>>>> Not to appear a smarta$$, but the solution is simply to tell them how
>>>> much time they have and then lightly supervise and highlight when
>>>> needed.
>>>>
>>>> Teaching them to commit and be responsible will do far more to enhance
>>>> their ability to succeed in life than shutting them off automatically.
>>>
>>>That should be adequate for home use. For the 12 machines I admin at the
>>>public library, that would involve a lot of supervisory time. I simply
>>>add
>>>'timeoutd' to the Linux machines and it's done.
>>
>> Agreed. It's not your job to teach responsibility at the PL. The OP
>> sounded like a home user.
>
> I would have thought that if the Op was looking at parenting advise he
> might have gone to a more appropriate newsgroup!
>
> Cheers
>
>

Calab,

Place the computer in a very public area in your home such as the living
room or the kitchen.

--

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP
Windows Desktop Experience


"Calab" <> wrote in message
news:...
> Is there a way to limit how much time a user can be using the computer
> each day? I've got the parental controls set up to limit when, but I'd
> also like to limit how much of that time they can use.
>
> If not, are there any free, simple programs out there? Everything I find
> is much more than I need - controlling what the user does, managing the
> time the users can use the PC, etc.
>
> Thx!

"Richard Urban" <> wrote:

>Calab,
>
>Place the computer in a very public area in your home such as the living
>room or the kitchen.

That wasn't very well thought out.

Your solution would either require that the parent always be at home
to monitor the situation - or that the computer be password protected
so it could only be used when the parent enabled it.

Stick to giving computing advice, and leave the dispensing of
parenting advice to people with more expertise.