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Dragging my parents into the 21st century
mere_immortal
So tasty!Registered User regular
So tasty!Registered User regular
So my parents have never had a home PC, but my mum uses one on a daily basis at work and also goes to the library every day to use their shared machines. I want to get them a computer for Christmas this year so they have something to use in the house but not sure what I should go with.
So the choices are an iPad which is simple and easy to use, there's no real way they can break it through downloading crap and it has everything they need. A laptop would have more of a similarity to what they are used to but would be easier to get infested with crap until I come round and sort it out. An android tablet would be much cheaper but again I'd be worried about how user friendly it would be for them.
Realistically it would just be for web browsing and probably some email and skype stuff so I'm not sure I can justify the price of an iPad, although it will probably last without upgrade for a good few years so maybe it's worth it? What do you think H+A, suggestions for specific laptops or tablets would also be appreciated!
So the choices are an iPad which is simple and easy to use, there's no real way they can break it through downloading crap and it has everything they need. A laptop would have more of a similarity to what they are used to but would be easier to get infested with crap until I come round and sort it out. An android tablet would be much cheaper but again I'd be worried about how user friendly it would be for them.
Realistically it would just be for web browsing and probably some email and skype stuff so I'm not sure I can justify the price of an iPad, although it will probably last without upgrade for a good few years so maybe it's worth it? What do you think H+A, suggestions for specific laptops or tablets would also be appreciated!
Steam: mere_immortal - PSN: mere_immortal - XBL: lego pencil - Wii U: mimmortal - 3DS: 1521-7234-1642 - Bordgamegeek: mere_immortal
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The ipad is worth the significant premium to set it and forget it. The similar android tablets all cost roughly the same as the ipad, unless you're willing to take the hit on your size.
You can easily get laptops for $400 as well.
However, that being said, we got my Mom an iPad for her birthday and it was the best gift ever. Well, sort of... on the plus side, she uses the thing all the time now. On the down side, she has discovered Facebook and funny cat pictures, and how to email / text said pictures to us....
Ipads are pretty great, you could go with an ipad mini to get the cost down when they come out in November. They are going to be $300
Basically the up front cash cost of the machine is pretty much a side issue. It's the support cost that counts because you will almost certainly be providing that support 24/7, for free, for ever.
so its not like the technology is a barrier.
I demand tech kittens for this thread.
The new iOS actually auto updates apps too. Set it and forget it.
Yeah.
The only upside is you get free food every time you go there. When I go, I fix my dad's laptop, and get dinner for free out of it.
Is the Air technically the iPad 5 with the 3 being the retina version of the 2 and the 4 being an improved processor?
The new generation of iPads use the 64 bit processor, so, I think it doubles the CPU over the 4. But the new iPad mini might be the best bang for the buck, but again, you lose some screen size for the price difference.
Also high likelihood that other more immediate friends/family than yourself can help them if they do get stuck because everyone knows how they work.
Plus if it's just for web and email you can go probably drop back a few generations from the latest and save a bit of cash.
Not really. Once you get past the surface level they can actually do a lot more to suit your needs and preferences.
But it's true that iOS is pretty simplistic and minimal (partially because it hasn't changed significantly in years) and sort of designed for people who hate technology (or think they do). So for older people whose grasp on computer technology is marginal it is probably a better choice. Features beneath the surface level won't matter to people who will probably never get beneath that surface level.
Of course. For computer literate people, you are right.
However, for computer illiterate people like mere_immortal's parents, any slight barrier of learning is going to leave them choosing the easier, more comfortable route of going to the library like they always have, where the friendly librarian is always willing to help them with any problems they have. Leaving the expensive Android tablet a dusty paperweight, and his parents looking awkward whenever he asks them how they like their gift (and assuring him that they do indeed like it very much and appreciate the thought, but it's no trouble to just pop into the library before nipping into the supermarket.)
It's a psychology problem, not a technology problem.
That's why you get them a tablet. :P
Another consideration is do they like touchscreen interfaces? My parents do not so the iPad I bought them never gets used. They prefer to use either desktops or laptops. If the parents have smartphones then they are probably fine with the touchscreen interface (mine have candybar or flip phones).
I don't think they have much experience with touchscreens, but from seeing people who are not tech savvy at all handle an ipad I don't think that should be much of a problem. You see a thing you want to access and touch it, anything else I can teach them when they open it on Christmas.
If they don't use it it can always just "disappear" one day, and then OP has a tablet.
That being said, if you got the PC route, I’m a huge fan of Norton Internet Security (or 360 or whatever they call it now). The level of control over allow, deny or prompt is fantastic. I particularly like the “3rd party cookies” prompt, because it teaches the user how often a visit to site X wants to give data to site Y. You can also combine Norton’s password and ID remembering software with heavily locked down browser settings to allow mom-level convenience without the risk of bad stuff.
Also, remote access for will be a major necessity for fixing what’s fubar.
One thing with chromebooks though ( found out the hard way getting my niece one) is you cannot put Skype on it without some warranty breaching efforts.
My dad had Norton and turned it off because it slowed down his computer worse than the viruses.
(Yes, you could just not give them the password but grownups generally like access to their own computer.)
Also software that asks them about cookies every time they visit a harmless site will just teach them to ignore all warnings.
If they're identifying program use of resources and disabling programs, they're sophisticated enough that OP has been successful in upgrading them from their current user status. While Norton is too resource intensive for, let's say, a 5 year old netbook, it shouldn't kill a current system.
Getting your parents (or kids) to understand the difference between 3rd party cookies from espn.com and from lobsterporn.org is a big deal. I found that there isn't any easier way to teach "have you tried reading what's written in English on the screen?" as a skill than this. But diff'ent strokes, I suppose.
Like my mom wanting to price out her porcelain doll collection, Google Image searched "Tiny Asian Dolls" ... it was REAL awkward
I called your bluff and "tiny asian dolls" brings up actual dolls.
edit: on a completely unrelated note I am now a Bing user
Sure but at that point you might as well use Google Hangouts, does the same thing and it's already on there.