ipad elderly dad - 3g if the dont have internet?

[donnaw]

While I do use my wifi at home I have travelled extensively and used my 3G. I recently spent a week away and I used Skype every day for 20-40 mins, surfed, checked my email, etc and I only used about 400 mb.

I would suggest you verify which 3G ipad to get. Make sure he has sufficient coverage with either AT&T or Version before you decide. Unless he starts streaming a bunch of video I think 3G might be a really viable solution.

Btw, I'm 60 and while I do need my reading glasses I find the iPad screen size just fine because one tends to hold it closer to their eyes than sitting at a desk in front of a monitor. Comparing holding an iPad or sitting at a desk and looking at a 15" monitor I would pick the iPad every time.

 

[s7on3d]

My Experience

I recently bought an iPad for my 85 year old computer (and generally technology) illiterate grandmother. She had never touched a computer before. Within 45 minutes she was skyping her grandchildren and sending emails. Pretty soon after that she was surfing the web.
As far as the 3G vs Wifi, I went for 3G and haven't looked back. I checked the reception in her house and chose the provider with the best 3G reception. The reason I prefered 3G is that the internet connection is (for all practical reasons) always there. There isn't a router to get disconnected by mistake or reset itself after a power shortage. It's just always there. She doesn't stream many movies or do any bandwidth heavy operations, so she's never been close to passing her data package.
The screen size hasn't been a problem, especially because the 2-finger-zoom is SOOOO much easier to use than ANY zoom feature in windows. It makes reading websites an absolute pleasure.

Hope it helps a little,
Ilan

 

[driftless]

Post-Script - you may want to consider a stand for the iPad as well.

Good luck.

 

[spiderman0616]

My parents are both 60-ish and have no good internet where they live. Their 2 options are crappy overpriced satellite internet or dialup. I finally convinced them to ditch their old Windows XP box on a 1 Mbps satellite connection and they got a Verizon 3G iPad. They have never been happier.

With their old computer, every time we tried to use Skype I had to spend 20 minutes on the phone with them beforehand getting their webcam to start working again. Every time I went to their house, there was something else wrong with the stupid thing, and I would spend all weekend fixing it.

They bought a 16 GB iPad, a cheap router to set up a LAN, and an AirPrint compatible printer. Skype/Facetime calls with them are instantaneous. They never need help with corrupt files or crashes or driver problems. Everything just works the way it's supposed to work. It's made my life a lot easier.

 

[Consultant]

Wifi = more expensive than 3G no contract.
However, if they plan on watching a lot of videos, WiFi would be better (unless you jailbreak the device and unrestrict 3G)
For most people, 3G will be fine.

Thanks everyone....sounds like iPad is viable as an alternative in this case since he is consuming content, not creating it (other than simple emails)...no word docs, no spreadsheets, no ppt, etc. Who knows, maybe he'd get some pleasure from a few sports games, some apps, etc...the simplicity is key, and guess IOS has that advantage...

Yes, he'd need to try out the virtual keyboard, but I suppose as you have noted, can always add a keyboard to ipad.

Sounds like 3g vs WiFi could go either way with each having pros and cons. What are some heavy 3g users paying per month for heavy iPad data use?

iPad can read word documents / spreadsheet / ppt.
With Apple apps you can edit those documents too.

iPad virtual keyboard works fine
http://obamapacman.com/2011/05/ipad-helps-legally-blind-woman-see/

iPad works great even for the computer newbies
http://obamapacman.com/2010/04/100-...ed-composes-limerick-tribute-to-apple-tablet/

 

[dontwalkhand]

I recently bought an iPad for my 85 year old computer (and generally technology) illiterate grandmother. She had never touched a computer before. Within 45 minutes she was skyping her grandchildren and sending emails. Pretty soon after that she was surfing the web.
As far as the 3G vs Wifi, I went for 3G and haven't looked back. I checked the reception in her house and chose the provider with the best 3G reception. The reason I prefered 3G is that the internet connection is (for all practical reasons) always there. There isn't a router to get disconnected by mistake or reset itself after a power shortage. It's just always there. She doesn't stream many movies or do any bandwidth heavy operations, so she's never been close to passing her data package.
The screen size hasn't been a problem, especially because the 2-finger-zoom is SOOOO much easier to use than ANY zoom feature in windows. It makes reading websites an absolute pleasure.

Hope it helps a little,
Ilan

Best experience I have heard from others, here. Thinking about getting my grandma an iPad as well!

 

[BJMRamage]

Not sure if you will be back on here but my thoughts.

Ipad for sure. As far as WiFi or 3G… 3G is $130 more off the bat. Plus a nominal charge each month for service. Service that will let them take it out back, to a neighbors house and to the senior center, wherever (ok, so some places may not get great coverage).
With WiFi you will need to purchase internet for the WiFi to connect to…this is a greater charge per month.

If they already had WiFi/Internet connection at the house, I'd say go with WiFi it is cheaper. But currently it sounds like they are Sans Internet.Home Internet seems to be around $40/mo for decent service. That means after 3 months the 3G difference in price is met and it is basically the difference in monthly charges.

Since your parents may not be used to Netflix, streaming Movies and all the other bandwidth-hogging internet action, I cannot see them going over the 3G limit. How much can your parents consume off the internet? I'd think not as much as the younger crowd can and does. At $30/mo a year is only $360 + $130 for 3G = $490. For Home Internet Connection it could be $480 for year one. Year 2 is 3G = 360 and WiFi = $480.