Ipad 2 - for a 70 year old for internet access and games. Has no wi-fi at home.

kabayiri

My dad is well over 70 and uses an iPad 1 with a MiFi from "Three" for 3G internet access.

He's pretty happy with it.

bluenose1

Have explored getting wifi in her house and although she will be extremely light user the cheapest is £15 per month. She hasn't got an internet phone so can't do mifi (never even heard of that before)

Really can't decide what to do. The cheapest deal seems to be the 3 - monthly sim only at £7.50 per month. However from what you have said not sure if that is worth doing if coverage not great.

She may have to bite the bullet and pay for the wi-fi with Virgin. Just a pity they don't have cheaper rate for low use.

robt_2

If she already has Virgin Broadband, why would it cost an extra £15 per month for wifi?

buglawton

I find the iPad 2, while delightfully simple to use for browsing & entertainment, is too heavy to hold on the hands for more that a little while. So you need to place it on a decent stand... the clever folding magnetic cover is ok but not highly stable. And for text input, its ok for searching Google but not really for composing emails.

I can understand why these gadgets could be great for older/non computer savvy folks.. can even all mount iPads on a wall (where safe from accidental damage) to have Facetimes with a relative.

One of the fun things is to use an iPad for some video streaming and TV/radio catch-up. But for this you need a bottom range internet connection at least (consider Plusnet that works out at a fiver or so more then just a phone line).

If you have an old, rare no longer available non-expiring dongle like I have (which is perfect for sporadic usage), one way to leverage it is to buy a £60 Zoom travel router and plug the 3g stick into it. Works lovely with iPad. Or remove the sim card and place in a 3g iPad - both methods need some fiddly setup but should work fine.

barbiedoll

If she already had Virgin broadband, but she uses a cable connection, all she will need is a wireless router and adaptor. You/she can buy these at any computer shop and you won't need any further subscriptions, her Virgin broadband connection fee already covers it!

It's fairly easy to set wireless up, I have done it, there's lots of help on the net (including here!) and it will be fine for her needs.

buglawton

oops missed the fact she is ALREADY paying for Virgin BB - so a no-brainer, why pay extra for any 3g subscription (or even the extra price of the 3g version of the iPad) at all unless travelling?

bluenose1

buglawton wrote: »

oops missed the fact she is ALREADY paying for Virgin BB - so a no-brainer, why pay extra for any 3g subscription (or even the extra price of the 3g version of the iPad) at all unless travelling?

Sorry, I haven't explained myself very well. She has Virgin TV and telephone but no Broadband.

Telephoned Virgin today and it will £8 for the first 6 months and then £15 per month.

bluenose1

buglawton wrote: »

I find the iPad 2, while delightfully simple to use for browsing & entertainment, is too heavy to hold on the hands for more that a little while. So you need to place it on a decent stand... the clever folding magnetic cover is ok but not highly stable. And for text input, its ok for searching Google but not really for composing emails.

I can understand why these gadgets could be great for older/non computer savvy folks.. can even all mount iPads on a wall (where safe from accidental damage) to have Facetimes with a relative.

One of the fun things is to use an iPad for some video streaming and TV/radio catch-up. But for this you need a bottom range internet connection at least (consider Plusnet that works out at a fiver or so more then just a phone line).

If you have an old, rare no longer available non-expiring dongle like I have (which is perfect for sporadic usage), one way to leverage it is to buy a £60 Zoom travel router and plug the 3g stick into it. Works lovely with iPad. Or remove the sim card and place in a 3g iPad - both methods need some fiddly setup but should work fine.

Thanks will look into getting her a stand. I actually have a non expiring dongle but we are rubbish at all computers and can imagine the hassle we would have trying to install a travel router.:o

I am good at using internet but rubbish at the fiddly bits. Think it may be worth paying extra and getting Virgin Broadband.

buglawton

bluenose1 wrote: »

Sorry, I haven't explained myself very well. She has Virgin TV and telephone but no Broadband.

Telephoned Virgin today and it will £8 for the first 6 months and then £15 per month.

£15 per month EXRA sounds steep: Virgin are falling over themselves to sell up bundles & the competition is fierce. Try to drive a harder bargain, threatening them with the alternative of MSE's 'best buys' by mentioning their product names eg PLUSNET and/or Sky/Freesat.

Humphrey10

buglawton wrote: »

the clever folding magnetic cover is ok but not highly stable. And for text input, its ok for searching Google but not really for composing emails.

The cover/stand thing is stable - if you press down hard on the iPad you can get it de-attach from the magnetic part, but there is no reason to use that much force.

OP, the cover/stand only works with the iPad in its horizontal orientation, you'll need a stand if you/your MIL want to use it vertically.

Re: the on screen keyboard - it's personal preference really, but I find it easy and comfortable to use for e-mails and forums etc. I wouldn't want to write thousand word essays on it though. OP maybe see how your MIL gets on with it before going to the expense of an extra hardware keyboard.