Best tablet/notebook for elderly person?

ThisIsWeird

Hi all.

Nan looking for an 'iPad' to play Bridge on line, and for iPlayer and suchlike.

She is nicely tech-savvy, and uses her PC every day with no issues. So she's familiar with icons, mouses, keyboards, Google, surfing, GMail, Bookmarks, and all that stuff.

Slightly extended stay in hospital, so she's desperate to get back on to BBO (Bridge Base Online).

A fellow inmate suggested she get an 'iPad', but i'm thinking this could present problems. She will ideally/really need:

A physical keyboard - ideally detachable, or at least foldawayable.

A physical mouse (more important than the keyboard) (Easy to add a wireless jobbie to a USB-C, but more limited with Apple?)

A touch-screen for when she does become used to working sans key/mouse.

A decent sized screen - the iPad is 10.9", but I think 12" or so would be better.

Cost is 'no object' - but let's not go silly. (The iPad is ~£650-ish?, so that ballpark would be good).

And the only other thing is, it doesn't actually have to be 'powerful'. This will not be a games machine, nor will it edit videos. It just needs to run internet-based sites with smoothness; BBO is low-demand, but streaming iPlayer and such will be more.

Where do I start?! Oh yes, I need to have found and bought this by Saturday. I'm dead, amn't I :-(

Ideally also 'new', but personally I'm happy with refurb provided it comes with a solid warranty, and is as near new as makes no physical difference.

Oh, and ideally via Amazon so it can be received next day :-(

What are the options? I guess Apple, Samsung, Amazon Fire?, Google whatsit?

How flexible (literally) are Chromebooks these days?

THANKS!

Brie

For what it's worth I got a Lenovo with a 10" screen about 5 years back for £75 from Lidl.  It's worked fine up to the last year and was bought principally so I could play games and check emails while watching TV.  OH even managed to get BBC iPlayer on it when he stayed in hospital a few months back!!  Unfortunately the battery is now pretty much kaput so I asked the local IT boffin shop what I should get to replace it - they suggested Samsung acknowledging that Lenovo have repair issues that make them unsustainable.  I'm coaxing my current tablet along until there's a decent sale somewhere...

An alternative would be a small laptop which will allow for a mouse to be added (mine's wireless which is handy).  I got this from John Lewis 15 months back and have been well impressed on how easy it is to use. The JL staff were very nice and friendly - didn't talk down to me despite me being significantly older than the 12 year old IT staff they employ (ok he was prob 22 but I don't think he'd started to shave).  

Lenovo IdeaPad 5i Laptop, Intel i5 Core Processor, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD, 15.6" Full HD, Graphite Grey Product code: 82712430
Qty: 1	£429.99

Alternative shop is CEX which does reconditioned second hand ones.  Or check with your own local IT boffin shop - who knows what they might have available or recommend. 

I'd suggest avoiding Curry's and similar as while some staff are knowledgeable others are complete prats.  Any time I've been in to ask about anything techie they direct all the conversation to my husband even if I'm the one asking or, when on my own, they tend to tut as if I shouldn't be worrying about such dreadfully important decisions.  

ThisIsWeird

Chromebooks are looking good. They should do all this, yes?

I'm researching, but just in case anyone already knows...

How big a screen? Touchscreen versions? Detachable or fold-away keyboards?

No 'cons' that I can think of.

Ok, getting silly. Now looking at Galaxy3 360 - at £800 :-(

Good things - dual use. Large screen (15.6"). Light. CONS - unnecessarily powerful. Better options out there?

Brie

inspired to check out what might be available and I saw this....

Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 Tablet, Android, 3GB RAM, 32GB, Wi-Fi, 10.5", Pink Gold (johnlewis.com)

shame about it being pink - my last pick colour in the world but I could probably put up with it long enough to order a protective cover off amazon....  can't see if you can add a keyboard or mouse though.

fatbelly

There's a new Amazon Fire with attached keyboard

Fire max 11 £340 with the keyboard case

ThisIsWeird

Thanks both - really appreciated. (Colour doesn't matter :-)  )

The goalposts are moving - as they always do when I'm left to sort stuff.

Looking at my son's current (but defunct) iPad with the 10" screen - it's tiny. Looking at his dual-purpose laptop with 13" screen - that also looks pitifully small.

Discussions need to be had, but my gut tells me the important stuff for Nan actually will be:

1) Decent sized screen - 14" or more. 15.6" prob ideal.

2) A proper keyboard. That means touchscreen not required - I simply cannot see her using one (she doesn't have a smart phone either).

3) A 'flip' screen could be useful, so she can set it up on a desk at any angle she needs - but since she'll also, almost certainly, require access to a proper keyboard (she likes to message 'loooosurrr' to her BBO opposition. Only kidding), even that seems excessive right now.

So, what is the lightest 14-15" screen laptop/notebook jobbie with flip screen?

I'm not asking for much...

The Acer Chromebook Spin 13 (13.5") is only 0.81kg - looks promising, but rather a larger screen.

For someone used to MS Windows (10), will Chrome OS be a lurch?

Thanks :-)

ThisIsWeird

Ooookkaaaayyyy, it's going to be the Acer Chromebook Spin 514 CP514-2H - (Intel Core i3-1110G4, 8GB, 128GB SSD, 14 Inch Full HD Touchscreen Display, Google Chrome OS, Silver)

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Acer-Chromebook-Spin-514-CP514-2H/dp/B0BL3SZF4G

Unless there's an obviously better alternative.

ThisIsWeird

All bought.

Thanks for input, and sorry to be so vague. And changing.

debitcardmayhem

Too late to join the party, but I (one who hates apple walled garden) am using an iPad Air , you can use a Bluetooth mouse keyboard combo plus bt earphones, or use a usb c hub etc. for your peripherals external disks etc. A basic iPad is circa 500 and the air 699. I just spent almost 4 weeks in hospital and my iPad was invaluable, but good to her with her Chromebook, which I personally wouldn’t entertain, for me laptop/macbook(spits expensive and then…) + iPad . As I said late to the party 😂

ThisIsWeird

Thanks, but the larger screen size clinched it. Also it all being one, strong, unit - with the screen tiltable to whatever angle is required. Oh, and being able to plug in any wireless moose. In fact, pretty much anything. (Thank you, EU   )