iPad for an Old Dad??

[Night Spring]

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.

LOL! I remember I once had to show a younger person how to use a manual typewriter -- they asked "Where's the return key?" Had never seen a return handle. Once they got a handle on the handle (sorry about that pun!), next, it was: "How do you fix a mistype?" Well, the computer's certainly made life a lot easier, but I have to admit, I feel nostalgic for those manual typewriters. Must be getting old.

 

[MrAgileBeast]

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.

i said Some. not "old people are hopeless"
im just looking at it from my point of view.
i can be a bit blunt at times, (anyways my comment really is inapropriate, now that i think about it makes no sense) i redact my statement from this topic. however i still believe some old people are hopeless

 

[vini-vidi-vici]

i said Some. not "old people are hopeless"
im just looking at it from my point of view.
i can be a bit blunt at times, (anyways my comment really is inapropriate, now that i think about it makes no sense) i redact my statement from this topic. however i still believe some old people are hopeless

The thing is, that with any luck, you and I will be the old people one day. We'll be the ones who "just can't figure this thing out". And the younger generation will be running circles around us. Yes, we might wish to deny it, but I fear it is inevitable!

 

[applesupergeek]

Getting one for my dad too.

 

[demiurgical]

getting one for my mother. she's been expressing interesting in browsing the internet and stuff. I think the iPad will finally be something she can easily use especially when she doesn't know much English and even if I made a Mac setup in Chinese for her it would be hard for her to type on and English keyboard. But with the Chinese writing recognition pad like on the iphone but will be bigger on the iPad it will be perfect!

 

[danlovaj]

Brought to you by the iPhone auto-correct no doubt.

Actually I have iPhone auto correct turned off. Annoying sometimes. Funny I did it twice. See how I would benefit from a larger screen on the iPad??? Cannot wait to get my hands on one!!

 

[marksman]

Buy a crappy used notebook that will be readily available once the ipad goes on sale and put that in the corner with itunes on it, for the time every 6 months he might need to sync it.

I have gone many many months without synching my iPhone. Everything I have needed to do with it was done without ever hooking it up to my PC.

I suspect for what his father is likely to be doing this would be the same case. He is not going to be hacking it, he can download apps for it live... so what exactly would he need to sync it for...

In fact the only reason I sync with my computer is to copy over radio shows I record on my macbook. I could actually access them wirelessly if I wanted to...

So again not really any major reason to have to be able to use a pc.

Very worst case he could take it to an Apple store and they would help him get going again.

I think it would be fairly usable as a solo device for your Dad. Be able to read books, newspapers, magazines. Check email, browse the web, perhaps get some apps relative to his interest.

Although I will say this, I gave my parents my original iphone when I got the 3g model and they still don't really got it figured out, and they are younger then your dad. In fact my mom asked me today to "give her a lesson" on how to use the iphone.

 

[marksman]

Yes, actually you can. If you send an email to itunes support, you can have EVERYTHING you downloaded from the iTMS "reset" to download. I think their is a limit to once every 12 months but it it possible. You need to enter a redemption code, but it works similar to the apps.

The firmware is the only thing someone would need to sync for. Backups can be done via apps such as iDisk, Dropbox and services like Mobileme.com. Just because you haven't heard of something, doesn't mean it's not possible. My wife has the 3G version and likely hasn't connected it to the desktop in nearly a year. No clue what OS she's running but it doesn't effect her daily use and all here contacts, calender events and email is always backed up via Mobile me.

Think outside the box and anything is possible

This does make a good point. Might be a good idea to get a familypack of mobileme and then have your dad's sync up with something you have or at least the service. That way contacts and such would be saved in case of a failure.

 

[GermanSuplex]

I think a cheap PC desktop may be your best option here. It will be cheaper (initially, anyways.. internet access is another story) and will allow him to do more, and is also less fragile. If he has a landline, maybe see if the provider offers a cheap DSL service. That's only $15 - $20 a month, about the same as the iPad's 3G service.

The iPad is certainly an option, but setting him up with an email and a few bookmarks on a budget PC sounds better to me. I know you mentioned an iMac, but that seems like overkill to me. If you were going to go that route, then I'd suggest getting an older Mac or a bare-bones Mac mini.

 

[sushi]

My father is 76 years old and lives by himself. <snip>

I think that the iPad would be a great solution for him.

Suggest that you take him to a local Apple store so he can test one out.

yeah. sadly i to one day will be old and ignorant with future technology.

not denying that.

Yep, and it will happen before you know it.

 

[mac88]

Definitely bring him to an Apple Store and have him test it out. Have him try typing on it and the different applications. If he enjoys it, surprise him and purchase one on the spot along with one of those neat Apple branded holders for it. Good luck to you and your dad!

 

[jick]

i guess my dad would like it too

.. all computers should be as simple as iPhone/iPad!

 

[ThatsMeRight]

The iPad doesn't need synching, it would just come in extra handy.

 

[darngooddesign]

You need a primary computer to use an iPad.

No you don't.

 

[vini-vidi-vici]

The iPad doesn't need synching, it would just come in extra handy.

Well, it depends on how you define "need". If you want to update the OS on it, you'll need to sync it.

As far as being handy... the main reason I sync my iPod touch is that iTunes on my computer (Laptop PC) automatically downloads new podcasts. I can do this manually on my iPod touch, but it's a much longer & more cumbersome process that takes me out of the podcast player, and over to iTunes. it'd be a heck of a lot better if I could just press one button to update them all. Better still, why can't the iPad just include a desktop-like version of iTunes? (not the store, the client) There's plenty of screen space for it.

Both of these instances are things that could be solved with software. I hope that the iPad will address them, if not now, with some future update.

 

[diabolic]

Well, it depends on how you define "need". If you want to update the OS on it, you'll need to sync it.

As far as being handy... the main reason I sync my iPod touch is that iTunes on my computer (Laptop PC) automatically downloads new podcasts.

Someone could probably get by without syncing, but I know I couldn't. We don't know yet if they'll activate the iPad for someone in the store or not if they don't have a PC or Mac. The design suggests that Apple expects it to be used with a primary computer. I wish it was more of a standalone device.

Ultimately, I'd be most worried about him losing whatever content he downloads onto the iPad if he never syncs it. The backing up of the iPhone/iPod whenever you sync is a nice benefit.

 

[Night Spring]

Better still, why can't the iPad just include a desktop-like version of iTunes? (not the store, the client)

The iTunes store app for the iPad as shown on Apple's iPad webpages looks more like the desktop version than the one on iPhone/touch. Jobs described the iPod music player app for the iPad as a hybrid between the desktop and iPhone version, so I suspect the iTunes app is also a "hybrid." We'll have to wait until it comes out to see how close it is to the desktop iTunes.

 

[wackymacky]

How will he find typing on the iPad for doing e-mail etc. I can only really use the iPhone for typing short notes before I get frustrated

Although I think the ipad will be a fun device to use on the couch, it isn't meant to be a main computer, it's a mobile device.

Why not get him a iMac that is a couple of years old or a referb?

It'll run OS 10.5 with what ever web-browser he likes, have a word processer, if he's up to it you can teach him to (video) Skype his grandkids, what they both will love.

 

[Clix Pix]

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 )

Slight derailment of the thread for a moment, but I just couldn't let this slip by. Somehow I have the feeling that while you may work in a library, you are not a professional librarian. Perhaps you're an undergraduate student working as a library page (shelving books) or an undergraduate student who is also working as a part-time library assistant? People very often do ask questions of any library staff member, whoever happens to be standing closest to them at the time.....

The reason I bring this up is because as an actual library professional (with the MLS) I am slightly irritated at your immaturity and your disdain for older people. I don't want people to get the wrong idea about librarians. If you plan to have a career in the library field, working with the public, you'd better rethink your attitude. Even if you don't plan to spend your career in the library field, you'd better rethink your attitude.

 

[Janet1]

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

Even though this thread's almost a year old, I personally found some of the misconceptions on this thread a little annoying, especially the one above.

My mom's 75, and after retiring and moving to Florida, also lives alone.

I couldn't take off work when she went into the hospital for a heart procedure, but always seems to do better if she has something to look forward to. So I told her I was buying myself an iPad 2, and as soon as she got home, I'd send her my iPad 1. She doesn't have Wifi or any internet connection at her home, so told her I'd also continue paying for the $15/month 3G mobile plan for her. She's on a fixed income so she really liked that.

My sister called me to tell me that our mom woke up from surgery asking for her iPad, but I had already told her I wasn't going to risk having it stolen in the hospital, and would have to wait until she got home. Even her doctors were surprised at how fast she recovered. I know how to motivate my mom.

I updated, synced and loaded it up with apps before sending it down, and thought she might have to at least call me once or twice with questions, but nope! Could be because I also downloaded the Kindle App and loaded the "iPad for (Senior) Dummies" ebook on it, and told her to read it.

Guess she did, because she also didn't have any problem figuring out how to back up and sync her iPad with the old netbook I gave her last year. She knew she couldn't do it on her 3G mobile plan, so she just took it all over to the free WiFi at her local McDonald's, installed itunes on her netbook, and went from there.

Of course, she already knew about the free Wifi at McDonalds because she uses it on a regular basis, to play Scrabble on-line with our 90+ year old Grandma on the Nintendo DS's we bought for both of them a few years back.

Oh, and to the person who finds typing on the iPad "frustrating" and wonders how will old folks ever manage to use it to type their emails?

Yeah, well, my mom never learned how to touch type, and that might be a problem, that is IF she actually had to type her emails, but she doesn't. Instead she just downloaded the free app, "Dragon, Naturally Speaking" and dictates her emails. The app types them for her.

She may be elderly but she's not stupid.