Laptops for older inexpirienced users

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Larry57

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#140648 16-Feb-2014 15:04

My 82 year old mother has shown a interest of a laptop of her own. She has no real expirience with computers other then doing a few searches on my desktop.
I saw elsewhere that someone though a iPad might be a good idea.
Would she find a touchscreen easier to use. Been cruising today looking for ideas and one site recommended a Inspiron Ultrapad. I've been using a old Inspiron N7010 with good success.
No need for her to writes documents or store pictures as I can do that on my desk or laptop.
Just throwing it out there. Actually sort of excited about her interest, she is very curious and would love searches.
Thanks

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#988270 16-Feb-2014 15:12

if all she does is search the internet and read emails then have a look at a Chromebook, its probably all she needs and its cheap. My 80 year old father bought one and he wouldnt trade it for anything.

Common sense is not as common as you think.

jeffnz

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#988272 16-Feb-2014 15:14

I would think anything touch screen would be easier to learn, Ipad because its easy but maybe android as a cheaper option.

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alasta

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#988274 16-Feb-2014 15:19

It does sound like an iPad would be the ideal solution here. If you don't want to spend too much time helping her on an ongoing basis then it would be well worth investing in Applecare so that she can call up and ask questions whenever she gets stuck.

My father has a Windows PC and he frequently has to get a 'mobile geek' over to deal with software issues as they crop up. At ~$150 per callout this is starting to get very, very expensive.

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#988278 16-Feb-2014 15:30

ipad hands down, preferably with a keyboard if she needs to type

will cost $$$ but after that investment there is nothing else to spend or troubles to shoot

JayADee

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#988311 16-Feb-2014 16:10

iPad for sure! now that I'm 'retired' and don't need to type much I use it most of the time even though I have a good laptop! and if she has any trouble with sore fingers or bent fingers, the iPad keyboard works well with a single digit.

I have a very tech unsavy pal and she loves it- leaves the computer to her husband.

And they're so portable. I use mine everywhere including in bed with a coffee and news in the morning and listening to radio or streaming video at night. Hubby uses his while having a bath- it sits on a chair-or working on his model air planes.

I have my laptop hooked up to the tv and use my ipad as a wireless mouse/keyboard.

I highly recommend a case that doubles as a stand. I never hold mine. Something with a wide base so it works good on laps and pillows, not just tables.

MikeB4

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#988346 16-Feb-2014 17:15

Be careful at 82 she may find the iPad too heavy to hold and may cause her a lot of pain. A light weight notebook or chrome book would be better. If she will be using say a lounge chair to use it get her a small wheeled table so sit the laptop on.

Here is a crazy notion, lets give peace a chance.

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#988347 16-Feb-2014 17:17

KiwiNZ: Be careful at 82 she may find the iPad too heavy to hold and may cause her a lot of pain. A light weight notebook or chrome book would be better. If she will be using say a lounge chair to use it get her a small wheeled table so sit the laptop on.

ipad mini

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#988348 16-Feb-2014 17:19

dude the ipad air is ONE pound

MikeB4

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#988349 16-Feb-2014 17:22

joker97: dude the ipad air is ONE pound

at 82 she may well have Arthritis and trust me after a few minutes the iPap gets heavy and painful

Here is a crazy notion, lets give peace a chance.

JayADee

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#988433 16-Feb-2014 19:19

Which is why I said case with stand and wide base. I have big problems with my wrists and hands. I never hold it except to move it from place to place. it's too heavy to hold in use. i considered a mini but like the bigger screen because my eyes are not great close up either! I cant touch type either any more so it's one thumb. iPad screen works well for it.

The case my hubby bought me for my birthday is a leather one where the front cover forms the base of a triangular shaped stand. You can move the bottom of the iPad back and forth to get a flatter or steeper angle.
It works well on the bed, my knee or a bedside or coffee or kitchen table.

Can you take her out and show her the devices and get her input?

raytaylor

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#991458 20-Feb-2014 22:27

I saw elsewhere that someone though a iPad might be a good idea.
Would she find a touchscreen easier to use.

My mother hates computers. However when she turned 50 a year ago, we decided that since she broke her brick game, we would get her a samsung galaxy tablet with angry birds and a few other games that she might like.

A month later, she txts me and says "my googles not working"
Now she has only been txting for 2 years. So to see her say google within a txt message was rather odd.

Turns out she had figured out how to open chrome and look for cake recipes but the DSL had gone down. I was astounded.

Its been 6 months now, and her sister told her to download the facebook app and sign up for it which she has done.

The down side is that she now checks up on me..."whos that boy/girl i saw you dancing with on the bar at the thirsty whale" etc

So yes. If someone is worried about getting a laptop, go for a tablet instead. Often an ipad can be simpler, but the icloud and itunes / appstore syncing can be problematic if the person using it cant understand the concept of an icloud account etc.

We went with the samsung (she is got a samsung galaxy phone this year) and could use it straight away after using the tablet. But if you can support an ipad then go that way.

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Larry57

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#995492 27-Feb-2014 13:56

JayADee: Which is why I said case with stand and wide base. I have big problems with my wrists and hands. I never hold it except to move it from place to place. it's too heavy to hold in use. i considered a mini but like the bigger screen because my eyes are not great close up either! I cant touch type either any more so it's one thumb. iPad screen works well for it.

The case my hubby bought me for my birthday is a leather one where the front cover forms the base of a triangular shaped stand. You can move the bottom of the iPad back and forth to get a flatter or steeper angle.
It works well on the bed, my knee or a bedside or coffee or kitchen table.

Can you take her out and show her the devices and get her input?

Thanks. I'm going to take her out and look at different types, Thank everyone for their input

mattwnz

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#995498 27-Feb-2014 14:03

ipad air then for anyone elderly. But you may need to help them set it all up, as I know people who found it difficult, and had to hire a need a geek company to do it.

Larry57

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#995501 27-Feb-2014 14:09

mattwnz: ipad air then for anyone elderly. But you may need to help them set it all up, as I know people who found it difficult, and had to hire a need a geek company to do it.

I'm no computer expert but I see her on a daily basis and should be able to help her out. Thanks

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#995511 27-Feb-2014 14:17

Larry57:
I'm no computer expert

definitely ipad air then.

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