Eso
macrumors 68020
LOL
Your dad doesn't sound like he would want to use an iPad.
I don't believe an iPad is any easier to learn to use than a computer, and he clearly has no interest in using one of those.
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iPad for an Old Dad??
- Thread starter MissyTX
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LOL
Your dad doesn't sound like he would want to use an iPad.
I don't believe an iPad is any easier to learn to use than a computer, and he clearly has no interest in using one of those.
I plan to set up my 80+ mother-in-law with one. She now uses WebTV, but the web surfing capabilities on that aren't great. I plan to set it up, and every now and then when I visit, I can re-sync it to do software updates, backup, etc.
It'd be nice if syncing for updates would be 100% optional, but it's not clear if that'll be the case. There are a lot of people who could use the iPad, but don't have a son-in-law with a computer.
It'd be nice if syncing for updates would be 100% optional, but it's not clear if that'll be the case. There are a lot of people who could use the iPad, but don't have a son-in-law with a computer.
goobot
macrumors 604
i didnt sync my iphone 3g till 6 months after i got it. and thats just because i had to do something jb wise. i also havnt sync my 3gs for about 4 months.
sync is a hassel and you dont need to do it.
MythicFrost
macrumors 68040
The iPad says it requires a computer, you can't use it until you've sync'd it - I wish you could though.
I have now found the ultimate use for a net-book, for syncing your iPad 🙂.
Do you think you could buy a cheap $250-300 net-book + the iPad w/ 3G?
I have now found the ultimate use for a net-book, for syncing your iPad 🙂.
Do you think you could buy a cheap $250-300 net-book + the iPad w/ 3G?
I personally need it. I'd have big problems if my contacts, calendars, and content didn't match what's on my main system, and they change constantly.
I also like having the latest firmware.
Robin4
macrumors 6502
goobot
macrumors 604
yes but his dad wont need to keep his stuff up to date cause cause he already doesnt need a computer.
also his son could just update it every 3 months or so.
o and i update my iphone too right when an update comes out. i just dont sync it.
A netboom would be fine for backup. In fact i am currently selling my eee pc 1005hab for $250. But if you get a netboom he might as well use that vs. an iPad. The OP was asking about going iPad solo.
goobot
macrumors 604
Eso
macrumors 68020
Well that's dandy, but I know that when you buy a new iPod Touch and flip it on... the first thing it tells you is to sync it. In fact, you can't use the device until you do this (or at least I couldn't see a way to do it). I hope they change this with the iPad. I think there will be a lot of people who want to buy it and use it right away... and might not have a computer (despite the fine print stating it's required).
I hope such a capability will come later. The iPad is like 98% of the way there already... seems it'd be a simple matter to enable OS updates w/o sync'ing... and make a more fully-featured version of iTunes (the application, not the store) a native app.
goobot
macrumors 604
the iphone is like this too. tho they have to enable it before leaving the store. i also have a ipod touch and had to do this. you can just ask them to activate it when you buy it tho.
anthonymoody
macrumors 68040
My dad's even older than yours 🙂 Cheers to them both.
I'm pretty positive that once he sees mine he'll want one. He's definitely an old dog and uses the iMac somewhat grudgingly for email and web surfing - mostly for stock quotes.
I'm optimistic about the iPad for him because he more-recently got an iPhone and loves it. Yes I had to set up the basic functionality for him (email account, stock list, couple of bookmarks, etc.) but he completely digs it. Even texting now 🙂
So he knows the UI and I'm pretty positive he'll be happy to forego the iMac...
I'm pretty positive that once he sees mine he'll want one. He's definitely an old dog and uses the iMac somewhat grudgingly for email and web surfing - mostly for stock quotes.
I'm optimistic about the iPad for him because he more-recently got an iPhone and loves it. Yes I had to set up the basic functionality for him (email account, stock list, couple of bookmarks, etc.) but he completely digs it. Even texting now 🙂
So he knows the UI and I'm pretty positive he'll be happy to forego the iMac...
SchneiderMan
macrumors G3
I'm 99% sure I will be getting my mother an iPad shortly after they come out. She uses an iMac now and I have to spend a lot of time on the phone troubleshooting little stuff. As a small touch owner, I'm convinced that the "big one" will be much easier for her to use and for me to support. Whenever I see her I'll bring my laptop along and sync. She won't need a computer for apps, books, or anything else. She won't care if the software is up-to-date or backed up, but since I'll see her frequently that won't be a problem.
In addition, my wife wants one badly. We'll wait until the 3g version comes out and get one for her birthday. She's better at tech than I am and I'm no slouch. The point is that the iPad may be good for people who need a simple device to read books, communicate via email, and use some apps, but it is not a "simple" device.
Mooch
In addition, my wife wants one badly. We'll wait until the 3g version comes out and get one for her birthday. She's better at tech than I am and I'm no slouch. The point is that the iPad may be good for people who need a simple device to read books, communicate via email, and use some apps, but it is not a "simple" device.
Mooch
I did the same thing. I got iPhones for both my parents and they love them. I'm sure they'll love the iPad too. They do have a main computer they sync with though.
honestly...i dont know how old people do it...haha. i see old people everyday at the library at CSULB come up to me and ask me questions daily. (i work as a librarian 😉 ) and somehow...all i can think of is an old dude scratching his head thinking. "i just wanna watch the golden girls" and sadly, cannot figure it out. As easy as we think it is, some old people...are just hopeless
kdarling
Contributor
Depends on how much you want to keep in touch, and how.
Pictures and email are okay, but I'm a BIG fan of video calling... and so is everyone in our extended family.
We gave dedicated ASUS video skype phones (easy to use) to all the grandparents and non-techie aunts, and they use them everyday to call our laptops. We talk, show them the kids and their drawings, vacation spots, snow and just see how each other looks.
However, he'd need the internet service and a WiFi router. Which to me is a basic need these days, since he could use the video phone, a laptop, the iPad, or whatever he (or his visitors) wish with it.
Hopefully Apple will get a clue and put a camera in the next iPad.
Regards and good luck (my father's 88 and uses a laptop, my mother uses the video phone).
I am getting one for my 72 year old mother. She has PC that she never uses because she finds it to complicated. All she wants is to do some light surfing and check her emails (pictures of the grand kids). It will be perfect for her.
OP - I think the iPad would be a terrific device for your father. You could set it up to do the initial sync with your computer and whenever you want to update the software you can do it on your computer also. Other than that he would need no other access to any other computer. My wife has an iPhone and the only time it ever is connected to a computer is when I update her iPhone OS, which I've done once. As far as easy of use, there couldn't be anything easier for him to use. I'm 60 years old and even though I do have a Mac, I'm looking forward to the freedom the iPad will give me.
What a condescending opinion. Hey guess what you're going to be old someday yourself.
Yeah and most old people think young people are hopeless because they are just so immature. 😉 😀
yeah. sadly i to one day will be old and ignorant with future technology.
not denying that.
Maybe we only think it's easy because we learned how to do this stuff when we are young and our brains were still developing.
When you think about it, there's nothing especially intuitive about sliding a plastic mouse around on a pad, and learning to relate this to how a tiny pointer is moving around on a screen in a totally different plane. We all LOVED this when we first tried in a Mac, because it was so much easier and faster than typing commands on an empty screen. But it's still a learned technique and doesn't come naturally or effortlessly.
I think the iPad is different. You really can point and touch something (even if the "thing" is just a graphical block or something on a screen) and you will get immediate feedback from how the device responds. And you won't need extremely fine vision or precise hand-eye coordination because everything will be bigger.
I'm not saying that the iPad is JUST for old people. (Or for children, who should also take to it like crazy.) As Moocher points out above, the fact that it's easy to use doesn't mean it's a "simple" device. I expect that many of us will find it pleasurable to use because it removes a layer of abstraction between ourselves and what we are asking the device to do for us.
I agree with Wolfpackfan, though: this "old people are hopeless" comment is condescending, and also rather heartless. These folks can deal with demanding, non-user-friendly technology like manual typewriters, sewing machines, old-fashioned steam irons, and internal combustion engines that you had to crawl under the hood and tweak now and then to make the car start. Give them a little respect, please.