Do you need a Mac to use an iPad?

[Soundhound]

We're getting my mother in law an iPad for xmas. She's not at all computer savvy (to say the least!) but thought she might like being able to surf the web, type simple emails etc with the iPad.

Since she doesn't have a Mac, is she going to run into problems? She's visiting us over the holidays so we can set up the iPad for her here. But when she returns home, someone will have to come over to her house and set up the Airport Express (which we got for her) with a Mac, right? After that will she be okay without a Mac while using her iPad?

Thanks!

 

[sammich]

You just need a computer running the latest version of iTunes for backing up and updating software. To actually use the iPad, you just need the Mac to activate (which you can do in store).

If she needs to fix the iPad, she'll need a computer to restore, or if she put a passcode on it and forgot, she'll also need to plug it in to a computer to unlock it.

 

[Soundhound]

That's what I was hoping, thanks. Can you set up an Airport Express with an iPad, or do you need a mac for that?

You just need a computer running the latest version of iTunes for backing up and updating software. To actually use the iPad, you just need the Mac to activate (which you can do in store).

 

[sammich]

You don't need an airport express. Just grab any old wireless router, but if you already have an express, you can download Airport Admin Utility from here.

 

[spillproof]

A Windows computer and a $20 Netgear router will work just fine. Other Apple products are not a necessity.

Once the iPad is activated, a computer is no longer necessary (or ever necessary if she gets it activated at an Apple store), unless she wants to back up data.

 

[Soundhound]

She has a PC (old). Will a Netgear $20 wifi router really do the trick?

A Windows computer and a $20 Netgear router will work just fine. Other Apple products are not a necessity.

Once the iPad is activated, a computer is no longer necessary (or ever necessary if she gets it activated at an Apple store), unless she wants to back up data.

 

[Soundhound]

Can you set up an Express with an iPad, or do you need a Mac to do that?

You don't need an airport express. Just grab any old wireless router, but if you already have an express, you can download Airport Admin Utility from here.

 

[spillproof]

She has a PC (old). Will a Netgear $20 wifi router really do the trick?

Any wifi router will do the exact same thing as Apple's AirPort Express. As long as you can connect the router to the modem with whatever cable type your modem accepts, you are good.

And in regards to your question response to sammich, I'm not sure if set-up can be done over a wireless connection. That may depend on the router; my 2wire modem-router combo nor my friend's Belkin router let us set-up over wireless.

 

[HBOC]

I just picked up an iPad due to the fact that Apple is replacing a bunch of stuff on my MBP, and I don't think i can access my Airport Extreme from the iPad.

But as others have stated, any wireless router should work.