Easiest Computer to use, ever

Ok, time to challenge you all.... My in-laws are 78 and 81, and in the process of lowering the cost of their bills, it appears that if we bundle cable and phone together, both of our local choices will also deliver internet, and both will supply free wireless equipment.

For those of us visiting, it's a non-issue of hardware.

But IF (and that's a pretty significant if at this point) we get them a computer of some type, any suggestions?

It should be pretty obvious one thing- this is only going to be a web access kind of thing. They already don't use one, and don't need one. But the family can e-mail pictures to them on a regular basis, and they could also switch from phone bill paying to on line paying, assuming we can set up a secure enough system.

The system has to be dead nuts reliable, and the easiest interface, ever- my m-i-l has never used a computer, and the most advanced thing she has used is one of our cell phones (we are getting them one). And it's not pretty- she does not know that cell phone calling is different than land line- so a few times they thought my phone didn't work. Recently, we showed them how to scroll through old calls, but even that turned into an error when the number I had for my S-I-L's was also ganged up with her husbands phone, 2000 miles away. So when trying to call my wife she got my BIL.

It should be clear that these are the anti-tech savvy people.

Is there hope?

One reason I'm asking this is that when working on my BIL's iPad (he flew down later...) it was very easy to use- not have to worry about menus and whatnot. Seems a lot easier than a normal Mac, even. And it got me thinking that they can actually use an old iPad without much teaching.

So, there's the challenge. What do you say?

Apple. I hate to say it, but iMac is gonna be your horse. Reliable as gravity, easiest interface ever to rookies (there's a reason win looks suspiciously like OSX) no viruses, rock solid. Personally I can't stand the things, but if you're looking for a pc for the non pc set, that's what you want.

First thing to my mind was Tablet/iPad.

Ok, here's a different question-

what is easier to use, your finger on a screen or a mouse? (I'll ignore a touch pad for now, but I do think that mouse>pad)

Right now, it appears that the thing will be a tablet form, but I wanted to check with other opinions. Once we get past that, it would reduce the choices considerably, which is good.

Yeah, I'd recommend an iPad for what you're talking about. Especially for someone older who's never used a computer before. Why try to teach them the correlation of movement between a mouse and the pointer on the screen when they can just touch whatever it is they're trying to do?

The on-screen keyboard really isn't that bad, but if they're more comfortable with real keys under their fingers you can also get one of these or these.

Mice are hard for old folks to use. Arthritis combines with general lack of dexterity and no muscle memory for that sort of thing, I think. My Grandmother still takes her hand off of the mouse and winds up for a double click, which inevitably sends the poor mouse flying across the desk.

I'll agree that something like a tablet is the easiest, probably an I-pad, and after that an Apple computer.

BUT... talk with them and learn what they want or dream about. Tablets are cute and such, but if they've got visions of storing a zillion pictures and wanting to work a computer, the tablet's not going to be enough. The next level of conversation would be laptop or desktop.

Ipad. My 2.5 year old nephew has no trouble with our iphones, and an ipad is just bigger.

Joey

In reply to foxtrapper:

They don't need to store the pictures on the device. They can just have that sort of stuff live somewhere like a Flickr or Picasa account, where they have the advantage of being able to share it.

Good point, I didn't even think of that. Reminds me of the scene in Cloudy with a chance of Meatballs where the dad is trying to use the PC in that, the mouse bit was hilarious. Touch-something would be pretty good.

My gut reaction was iPad.

Pointing fingers are much more intuitive than mice and keyboards. Politicians have been doing it for thousands of years.

foxtrapper wrote: I'll agree that something like a tablet is the easiest, probably an I-pad, and after that an Apple computer. BUT... talk with them and learn what they want or dream about. Tablets are cute and such, but if they've got visions of storing a zillion pictures and wanting to work a computer, the tablet's not going to be enough. The next level of conversation would be laptop or desktop.

That's a good point, but they don't have a vision of what the computer would do- we do. Since they've gone this far without a computer, what I would like to get them is something they can see pictures we send them. We are not going to send zillions of them.

i don't see them doing turbo tax or quicken- just don't need it. No word processing or spreadsheets or anything.

Just something to view pictures we send, and maybe something they can do on-line banking and bill paying, if the object is secure enough.

I'm even thinking a 16G iPad would work, even if they save hundreds of pictures, it still wouldn't be full. No music needed, no reading, nothing really special.

This is just something they may play with IF we get them iternet connection as part of a cable-phone package. And that has to be only if the internet is thrown in for free.

iPad, hands down. At 16gb, just dump everything to a external hard drive occasionally.

If pictures are all you want to share, they do sell web-enabled digital photo frames that you can upload to remotely. New pics just appear on the their mantle!

Another vote for the iPad - my friend's 3-year old has figured it out, so that speaks for its user-friendliness.

pinchvalve wrote: iPad, hands down. At 16gb, just dump everything to a external hard drive occasionally. If pictures are all you want to share, they do sell web-enabled digital photo frames that you can upload to remotely. New pics just appear on the their mantle!

They have one of those- we got one to share our pictures and change them when we visit. they don't leave it on long, but that's ok.

the more I read about it, the more I like getting the iPad. Now we just have to see if they get interenet as a tv-phone bundle.

I'm interested in hearing other opinions, but it sure seems as if it's done....

In reply to pinchvalve: How do people resist the urge to push goatse up to something like that?

It used to take my mom (71 years young) about a week to reply to email because that's about how often she'd check it on the laptop (Apple, BTW). With her iPad, I sometimes get multiple emails a day from her: she uses it every day.

I hate to sound like an ad for Apple, but the iPad is perfect for older people who want to send/receive email, look at pictures of the grandkids (Mom's got a folder just for such images), have a calendar (my mom digs hers), pay some bills online, read web-based newspapers, etc.

Similar deal with my grandparents. My dad bought them an iPad. I think it was the right choice.

I just wish that, instead of "Safari" the icon would say "Internet" or something really stupid obvious like that.

Another vote for iPad, they seem to be working very well as an "Internet consumption device" and unless your in-laws can touch type, the on-screen keyboard should be fine for the occasional email etc.

Salanis wrote: Similar deal with my grandparents. My dad bought them an iPad. I think it was the right choice. I just wish that, instead of "Safari" the icon would say "Internet" or something really stupid obvious like that.

I feel pretty stupid. I've had an iPhone for probably six months now. I've always ignored the Safari icon. I didn't realize it was the internet button. I've always just got where I was going with an ap or google.

I personally do not like the iPad. I'm too much of a hands-on geek to really dig it. I do think that it is the ABSOLUTE BEST option here. There are Linux and Android tabs out there, but they lack the polish of the iPad. Non-iPads perfect for the guy that wants to fiddle with every little detail to get the best customized experience possible, while a real iPad has a great out of the box usability that no one can match right now. With the iPad2 out right now, you might be able to grab someone's cast-off iPad1 for a big discount.

For the most part, I too endorse the ipad. However, I truly feel that the lack of a proper keyboard is going to be a huge impediment for someone not accustomed to poking their fingers at a little picture of a key as they attempt to type out an email.

Can a USB bluetooth dongle be added to an iPad to add a bluetooth keyboard?

John Brown wrote: Can a USB bluetooth dongle be added to an iPad to add a bluetooth keyboard?

From looking into it, there are a couple of options for keyboards, if we really need some.

Some of you may remember that I'm not iAnything, and am searching for the need to have a smart someting. So I'm no fan of Apple in particular.

But seeing that in this application that it appears to be the best solution, so be it.

1988RedT2- I have considered that at some length. But keep coming to the conclusion that 1) My MIL hasn't needed to type for, well, I don't know how long, and 2) my FIL hasn't typed anything for at least 12 years- he "barely" got on the cusp of computers as his carreer finished up. So in this case, the advantage of a finger pointer over a mouse seems to outwiegh the lack of a proper keyboard by quite a margin.

As for choices- my BIL and I talked about it, but focusing more on if I personally wanted one. He also mentioned getting an iPad1, and even IF I go the route of getting one through apple's re-manufacture program, they are $350. Seeing that it's the common price for a used iPad right now, that might be the way to go.

Since we are still looking at a July time frame for the next time we visit, for sure I will keep my options open to where I find one of these.

Thanks for all of the help, and the comments have been very helpful. I do wish that other companies could provide some competition, but I'm quite satisfied that there even is a product out there that is easy to use for seniors who have never used a computer before. That one thing will make me a fan of Apple in this case. It's nice to be buying a product not because it's just cool tech that has oodles of useful and useless apps, but because it fits unusual needs for customers. It's quite interesting to think about.

I have seen refurbished iPads on CL "in sealed box" for $250.00 and $275.00 FWIW