iPad for elderly parent

littleboo

The 5% of people who have TV and no broadband are most likely to be the elderly. The OP's mother is 85. So it was a bold statement.
However, post #1 "She doesn't have home broadband"

debitcardmayhem

RealGem said:

OK you two...!
More than 95% of people with TVs also have broadband.
OP, does your mother have broadband? If not, I stand corrected! 

Read the first post perhaps"She doesn't have home broadband and I don't want her to be worrying about having a flashing box in the corner so I thought that a 4G model would be the simplest solution." Stand corrected

Doshwaster

RealGem said:

OK you two...!
More than 95% of people with TVs also have broadband.
OP, does your mother have broadband? If not, I stand corrected! 

No she doesn't have broadband just Freeview TV. I'm sure she would be happier with a TV with just 4 channels.

I think what I'm going to do is get a refurbished previous generation iPad with a PAYG SIM and set it up so she can do video calls to me (probably on Skype), my sister-in-law and her kids (they use Facetime). If she finds that she can't get on with it then I'll keep it myself as a new gadget to play with. It's about time I learned something about Apple products as I've never owed a Mac or iPhone. I'm just a Windows and Android guy (and used to do a lot of Linux but I've forgotten most of it)

Mickey666

Firstly, I really dislike the characterisation of ‘old people’ as having problems with technology.  Some do, some don’t.  In my experience of those who do, it is mostly down to a complete disinterest rather than any innate lack of ability.  I know quite a few 40 year olds who are also useless with anything technological.

Secondly, the whole Apple/Android/Windows which-is-best debate is pointless.  I have all three types of tablets in my household and as far as I can tell none of them stand out as being ‘the best’.  They certainly have their differences and, more importantly, they also have their own fan-base, so ‘best’ is simply a matter of preference and someone using a tablet device for the first time will almost certainly not care what OS drives it.

bob_a_builder

I agree, to the end user and  even more so a new user is not going to bother which OS the device has
But being able to remotely control the device to provide support to the less technical users ( elderly or otherwise) is not something which is easily done done on a iPad ( Apple seem to actively take steps to prevent it happening) but can be a boon and save a lot of hair pulling at the remote end - which I can assure is a positive benefit of Android (or Windows)

Doshwaster

Quick update: decided to go for a refurbished 2017 9.7" (5th generation) iPad. Haven't yet decided which data SIM to go for as I'm uncertain how much it will be used.

Farway

Doshwaster said:

Quick update: decided to go for a refurbished 2017 9.7" (5th generation) iPad. Haven't yet decided which data SIM to go for as I'm uncertain how much it will be used.

Whatever one you decide on I suggest it does not have some Auto Top Up facility, or at least a means of setting a cash limit

Being a complete newcomer to it your mother may not realise you have to "hang up" so to speak, and just leave it gobbling data, thinking it's like the TV, OK to leave it on

d63

Farway said:

Doshwaster said:

Quick update: decided to go for a refurbished 2017 9.7" (5th generation) iPad. Haven't yet decided which data SIM to go for as I'm uncertain how much it will be used.

Whatever one you decide on I suggest it does not have some Auto Top Up facility, or at least a means of setting a cash limit

Being a complete newcomer to it your mother may not realise you have to "hang up" so to speak, and just leave it gobbling data, thinking it's like the TV, OK to leave it on

is that just a general warning about gobbling data, or are ipads in particular reckoned more of a turkey than others?

Farway

d63 said:

Farway said:

Doshwaster said:

Quick update: decided to go for a refurbished 2017 9.7" (5th generation) iPad. Haven't yet decided which data SIM to go for as I'm uncertain how much it will be used.

Whatever one you decide on I suggest it does not have some Auto Top Up facility, or at least a means of setting a cash limit

Being a complete newcomer to it your mother may not realise you have to "hang up" so to speak, and just leave it gobbling data, thinking it's like the TV, OK to leave it on

is that just a general warning about gobbling data, or are ipads in particular reckoned more of a turkey than others?

Just a general warning

bob_a_builder

Are data only SIMs any cheaper than normal SIMs ?

Here are the MSE SIM recommendations 
https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/mobiles/cheap-sim-only-contracts/