My grandma called me today asking about what laptop that her and my grandpa could get so they could keep in touch with everyone.

They aren't too tech savvy, I think they got rid of their AT&T U-Verse since it had way too many features that they never used.

But when she mentioned facebook, games, casual internet browsing, emails every now and then, and minimal word processing and probably no printing I did think about an iPad for them.

The only thing is the iPad needs a regular computer as a host for updates and what not. Plus they do not have a wifi connection so they will either have to get a router or spend a little more for the 3G ipad and $20 a month ( compared against a router and monthly internet plan)

The iPad is not a PC substitute.....a Nettop desktop PC would work....they can be had (minus monitor) in the $250-350 range. + a nice big screen = happy old people. They'd have to get an internet connection of some sort....lowest level u-verse or normal DSL would probably be fine.

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-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

An iPad will only really work if you are willing to provide the "host" computer and set them up with a wireless network. The one time cost of a wi-fi router will be less that the 3G plan and it will be faster. You would also have to determine if they could live with the relatively small screen size and if they are comfortable with a touch interface. I would probably just buy them a low end MacBook (my daughter has one that cost about $1000) if they really need a portable, otherwise I would just buy a 21" iMac for about the same price. If cost is a consideration, PC notebooks are dirt cheap these days.

A 17" screen model provides plenty of desktop space, but the laptop makes sense when you don't what equipment clutter.

Whatever laptop, it's likely that older users appreciate a full sized keyboard and mouse rather than the laptop keyboards and trackpads.

An ipad is only an idea. I figured they would be able to use it without an issue since its rather intuitive. My aunt/uncle live close so they could be the host computer. But its an idea. I told my grandma to go to bestbuy and check out the laptops and then stop by the apple store and check out the ipad. I'm reading aarp stuff and articles that focus on seniors and computers as well as seniors and ipads.

It's worth a try, do you have one they could try for a week or so? I primarily use mine for e-mail and playing on the web when I'm traveling, but it's also a decent book reader, video (netflix) player, and photo album. It wouldn't replace a computer for me, but I assume they don't really need to produce any documents that need to be printed. If it works for them, it's a decent deal for $500.

I would just buy a laptop with the best customer support - so that someone else is busy with their problems and not you!

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1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!

Not only old people pawo !! We run our desktop to our 42" LCD TV. Its great.
Get them a cordless key board & mouse, They can sit back in their recliners & play on the tv.

__________________
Grumpy Old Diesel Owners Club group

I no longer question authority, I annoy authority. More effect, less effort....

1967 230-6 auto parts car. rust bucket.
1980 300D now parts car 800k miles
1984 300D 500k miles
1987 250td 160k miles English import
2001 jeep turbo diesel 130k miles
1998 jeep tdi ~ followed me home. Needs a turbo.
1968 Ford F750 truck. 6-354 diesel conversion.
Other toys ~J.D.,Cat & GM ~ mainly earth moving

You would think they want want a regular desktop with a big 24+ inch monitor. But yeah, any cheapo laptop should be fine for their needs. Get something with at least 4gb of ram.

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1985 CA 300D Turbo , 213K mi

Mac Mini?

Those are fine, I've had a couple, but it will end up costing almost as much as an iMac by the time you buy the keyboard and a decent monitor. I think they cost about $700 now. Of course, you can plug it into a HDTV and use a wireless keyboard.

I do the same for my entertainment PC, but I'd not want that setup as my only way of using a computer....

__________________
-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

Buy a refurb Mac from Apple. I've bought several over the years and have never, ever had a problem. Safari will do everything they want. get them a gmail account.

My mom will be 93 next month. She emails all of us (her six kids and all of her grandchildren and the great-grandchild. All the cousins. And her far-flung friends.)

If a nonagenarian can do it, anybody can.

There are printer apps available for the iPad, and the touch interface is way more intuitive and user friendly than a mouse. A cheap bluetooth keyboard can supplement the virtual one, but probably wouldn't be necessary. The only thing really missing is the camera but that may be remedied with the next version coming soon.

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1985 380SE Blue/Blue - 230,000 miles
2012 Subaru Forester 5-speed
2005 Toyota Sienna
2004 Chrysler Sebring convertible
1999 Toyota Tacoma

http://www.thegocomputer.com/

Sorry, not a laptop, but the green button is nice...

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1998 C230 330,000 miles (currently dead of second failed EIS, yours will fail too, turning you into the dealer's personal human cash machine)
1988 F150 144,000 miles (leaks all the colors of the rainbow)
Previous stars: 1981 Brava 210,000 miles, 1978 128 150,000 miles, 1977 B200 Van 175,000 miles, 1972 Vega (great, if rusty, car), 1972 Celica, 1986.5 Supra