PC for 80 year old uncle!

onzey

An ipad is not a waste of money if the user finds it convenient and enjoyable to use and is what they decide they want, as did my ex inlaws.

A refurbished one from the Apple store might reduce cost a bit and a stylus might be useful depending on finger dexterity.

Best if the uncle could visit a store too and then might make some basic decisions on screen size and touchscreen or not.

shop-to-drop

NiftyDigits wrote: »

What nonsense... Utter waste of money when you can do the same with something at a third of the price.
My mum does all that plus watches a lot of old programs on YouTube, plays Flash games, uses Office(writing with a proper keyboard).... on a normal laptop with obviously a much bigger screen.
iPad is fine if portability is needed, but an utter waste of time and money in this case.

A normal laptop would be far to heavy and awkward for her to handle and the fact you can pick up an ipad and start using immediately is another advantage over a laptop. Ipad definitely better choice than a laptop for my elderly mum, not nonsense at all!

bluesnake

NiftyDigits wrote: »

What nonsense... Utter waste of money when you can do the same with something at a third of the price.
My mum does all that plus watches a lot of old programs on YouTube, plays Flash games, uses Office(writing with a proper keyboard).... on a normal laptop with obviously a much bigger screen.
iPad is fine if portability is needed, but an utter waste of time and money in this case.

It is not always about cash, just they are of limited use and more reliable because of it. Tablets get less infected, few updates, or strange messages appearing, no viruses, harder to delete icons, overwrite stuff, less complicated menu-often just an icon. This person is not going to do half the stuff your mum does - apparently.

NiftyDigits

Seems my mum is super intelligent then.

spannerzone

If I were the one likely to have to constantyly go and re set the PC for an 80year old that has never used a PC then I'd also go the Ipad route.

So much less chance of screwing it up, unlikely to get infections, and far quicker to reset if required.

It's a no brainer as far as I'm concerned!

NiftyDigits

spannerzone wrote: »

If I were the one likely to have to constantyly go and re set the PC for an 80year old that has never used a PC then I'd also go the Ipad route.

So much less chance of screwing it up, unlikely to get infections, and far quicker to reset if required.

It's a no brainer as far as I'm concerned!

It certainly is a no brainer. I haven't had to 'reset' my mother's laptop in all the time she's had it.
Not even had the opportunity to use the installed TeamViewer.

I'm quite confident that the OP won't be forking out £400 for a WiFi only iPad...or some old outdated version.

It's a shame that you seem to assume that our elders have 'no brain'.
My mum gets irritated if I try to help her with anything. She likes to suss it out herself.

So perhaps we just have differing experiences. Can't imagine my mum would want to write emails to her friends using a touch screen or some tiny separate keyboard. Tapping away with one finger.

In case you don't think I know of what I speak, my girlfriend is sitting next to me with the latest iPad with 4G capability.
So I know what it can do...I also know that she gets perplexed when the Apps don't work as they should. Her magazine App simply isn't working out here. So you would have the same problem of having to sort it out, but you would have paid out considerably more in the first place.

Laptop or PC every time. Bigger screens for poorer eyesight. Full size keyboard so that they can see what they are hitting.

iPads are great for travel, but no way would it replace my PC. It's just a toy.

NiftyDigits

bluesnake wrote: »

It is not always about cash, just they are of limited use and more reliable because of it. Tablets get less infected, few updates, or strange messages appearing, no viruses, harder to delete icons, overwrite stuff, less complicated menu-often just an icon. This person is not going to do half the stuff your mum does - apparently.

Of course it's about money. Check the name of this forum for your information. So why an iPad? Why not set up an equally useless but less expensive Android Tablet for them?
They'll have the same small screen and onscreen keyboard for the basics. No need to pander to the Apple obsessives or the 'no brainers'.

grumpycrab

I had a reasonable success (using a PC) with my elderly mother who was familiar with a keyboard (from using a typewriter). Not brilliant sight meant a tablet was not an option. So suggestions:-
- locate PC at a comfortable location with easy access to power button and ensure monitor is not reflecting light, is a good height etc.
- enable hibernate and map the power button to hibernate (keeps turning on/off as simple as possible)
- install TeamViewer to aid online help from a remote location
- automate antivirus and windows updates and keep as much out of the notification tray as possible
- keep cable runs tidy (trip hazards) and (older people I find are paranoid about leaving equipment always on) connect everything to an (easy access) power block.

chippy2u

Please don't keep writing us 'coffin' dodgers off! I am 70+ and I have a smart phone ( gets used a lot in the pub when people want lotto results, settle arguments etc.) also a Kindle fire HD which I connect to my 42 inch TV to watch the likes of Lovefilm and even read a book when I am not ordering stuff online for younger people who either don't know how or can't be bothered, and also a laptop with Windows 8. ( preferred XP/Vista ) So we are not as stupid as we look. We just like to appear stupid to make our kids think they are clever!!! ( It's a parent thing kids, you'll understand when you're our age!!)

onzey

Good luck Helen! I hope whatever you and your uncle buy he is happy with it.