What is the best computer for Seniors?

[goclark]

My mom is 87 and wants a Lap Top.

She only wants to play games ,use the internet and get email.

Most of the new ones have all these bells and whistles that she won't need.

What is my best option?

Mac? Dell? HP?

Edit: She is 87 not 76 !

[KitchenWitch]

1. Toshiba makes some good laptops

[goclark]

I saw a Toshiba today.

It looked great and was on sale for $769.

I hate to put that much into it because she may not like it enough to stick with it.

I would love for her to enjoy the internet!
She loves to learn, just loves to LEARN new things.

[KeepItReal]

31. Toshiba laptops are great.

I've been a Toshiba user for awhile. Have a Sony Vaio now, but the old Toshiba is still in good shape.

[no name no slogan]

2. go Mac

as a Windows user, i'd say get her an iMac. it'll do exactly what she wants it to do, and will do so in a manner that makes sense.

and if she wants to get into shell programming, she can always open a command line :P

[goclark]

15. What's shell programing?

[no name no slogan]

35. propeller-head UNIX geek stuff

no "normal" person should ever do it-- or want to do it. You can do some very powerful things with it, but it's fairly arcane for your average end-user who doesn't program.

[goclark]

49. Thanks for the info

[Bluzmann57]

3. My parents have an HP

it's a laptop and they are very satisfied with it. Very good graphics and sound.

[salvorhardin]

4. What kind of games?

If you mean just basic flash games and stuff like that, although the picture of your 76 year old mom playing Unreal Tournament makes me smile, then maybe a basic laptop with Linux on it would be best. Otherwise, I'd say Mac. You can probably get a pretty good deal on an iBook G3 now that the iBook G4s are out.

[goclark]

12. I made a tiny mistake, she is 87 :)

I'll let you in on a little secret.

Her 87 yr. old boyfriend just got a lap top.
Now she wants one so she can send him emails.

Is that cute or what--!

I'll take a look at the ibook

She also likes Bridge and Solitaire.

[dhinojosa]

21. That is totally cool!

Happy at 87!!!!

[salvorhardin]

23. Hah hah! That's great!

She'll do just fine with an iBook. I've had more than a few older clients (older defined as >= 70) who had never used a computer before they came to me. One guy runs his entire book business online, does research and corresponds with people all over the world.

The only difference I've noticed with older clients is sometimes they have a harder time understanding the GUI and the whole WiMP (Window, Mouse and Pointer) paradigm. They do better with keyboard commands at first. I think it might have something to do with them growing up with televisions and typewriters. For them, TVs were an entirely passive medium while typewriters were the interactive medium in their time so they don't conceptualize the idea that they can interact with different parts of the "picture" on their computer monitor and that the mouse acts like their hands. Just at first though.

[goclark]

25. Very good point

I was looking at ebay but I'm not very smart about choosing the type of options that I want to have for Mom.

I just know she doesn't need all the extra memory and the DVD etc.
But most have all that stuff.

Any other hints are greatly appreciated.

[dhinojosa]

20. DOOM 3

hahah

[dhinojosa]

22. Get her a mac.....I think...make it fun...

:)

[goclark]

26. I'm really headed that way -MAC

I've had a Dell Lap top and didn't like it.

Now I have a Sony Desktop and I love it.

But, Mom wants only a Lap Top!
She just told me her boyfriend has a Dell but she could live with a MAC!

My Mom is a card, keeps me laughing all the time.

I told her this morning. " Bush had a Physical and they said he's OK."

Mom said, " Tell those damn doctors to give him a MENTAL and then they will see that there is NO There- There!"

[sendero]

5. One that ties up the phone..

....line continuously - so they can't call you every 10 minutes to ask how to do so and so :)

[goclark]

13. We live in the same house : )

But I do understand, she will be calling my name 100 times a day.

[lpbk2713]

6. How's her eyesight?

She may need something bigger than the 15 inch screen found on most laptops.

[goclark]

8. Eyesight not good

big screen may be a lot better.
Do all of them come with the font size option?

That wouldn't apply to the games however, right?

[Nomad559]

7. You may find a good deal

on the Fat Wallet forums.

http://www.fatwallet.com/forums/categories.php?catid=18

A Toshiba A85-S1072 for $449.99 (After Rebate)
$799.99 - $150 BB Rebate - $200 S1072 Rebate = $449.99
http://www.fatwallet.com/t/18/501991/

:)

[goclark]

14. Thanks! You guys are great!

Just added fatwallet to my favorites.

[khashka]

9. Mac

Expensive but intuitive and easy to use....

Khash.

[goclark]

10. I've heard great things about the MAC

never owed one.

The mini Mac sounds great but it's not a lap top.

[barb162]

11. isn't an abacus a computer

[IChing]

16. Mac get her a iBook

Its not only she will not get virus, spyware, or worms the ease of operating system is such that she will have no problems using it. You don't need to load a bunch of unnecessary programs on it since the programs supplied by Mac are top grade and easy and instinctive to use.

The new iBook is around $999 and was just upgraded or you could buy one from this year for much less.

I went over to Mac in November after 12 years on PCs and have no regrets, Tiger-os is supposed to be 18 months ahead anything Microsoft does.

[goclark]

18. Where do I find a last years ibook?

Should I try ebay?

[IChing]

19. Only with reputable sellers on ebay

check a 14 inch out, apple just updated the processor on their iBooks last week so I'm sure there are many of this years earlier version available.

I am leery of private parties but it's your call

[goclark]

24. I was checking ebay right before I saw your post

Would it be described as a 14 in. screen ibook 2005?

The more I see the ebay prices the better I like that option.
I just want to get the best deal there.
Don't want a lemon. : (

Edit: I was so sleepy I called an ibook an ipod : (

[IChing]

27. Apple iBook, not a 14" iPod, LOL

Apple's warranty is transferable and good for one year, if it has Apple Care that is also transferable and good for 3 years,

[goclark]

28. Those are important items to consider

If I go the ebay way maybe I can get lucky and get Apple Care.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

17. A very light laptop with a good-sized screen

Dell

[goclark]

29. I had a Dell and it was pretty light

Thanks for the tip.

[applegrove]

30. Suss out the big huge ones - with the big screens. Get something shock -

proof. Get your local sewer to wip up a Notebook Cozy with lots of stuffing. Handles too.

And check out the software available in large font for the visually impaired. Something with lots of volume too. She may end up making all her long distance calls on the internet in a year or too. It needs a mike attachment I would say.

[goclark]

32. How thoughtful you all have been!

DU is really a family.

I told my Mom that my DU friends have been trying to help her go
" High Tech!" She was delighted.


I 'm still leaning toward the ibook MAC with the big screen.

I'm not thrilled about spending more than $500 for it because this may be just the "kick of the month" for Mom.

But, her Doctor told me that she is doing very well for her age.

He said, "Life Is All About Happy Memories and Keep Those Memories Coming For Her," and that's my main purpose every day.

[youspeakmylanguage]

33. You may want to talk her out of a laptop...

They are easily dropped, broken, and forgotten in hotel rooms or public places. They are also a popular target for thieves. The small keyboard, screen, and touchpad mouse may also discourage her from using it for long periods of time.

I would try to talk her into a small, lightweight desktop CPU, flat-screen monitor, and wireless keyboard/mouse combination. That way she could easily move the computer from room to room in her house.

[goclark]

34. We live together

and I was going to set up space in her den for her lapttop.

She would never have to move it and would have the TV beside her and the telephone.


The other consideration is that if we had a laptop, I could take it if I needed one on a trip or if mine wasn't working.

I do understand your point however : )

[Samurai_Writer]

36. My mom is 68 and loves her iMac

We're about to get her a new one, as she has one of the first generation iMacs, and she needs a newer one... this one is running OS 8.4 or something and doesn't have much memory. She does email, surfs the internet, pays her bills online, etc. She's had this computer about five years or so, and it took her a while to get used to it, but it was by far the easiest OS for her.

[goclark]

37. Thanks so much,everything I'm hearing about Mac is good except

where to get them.

I went to Circuit City and Home Depot and they don't sell them.

I want to really SEE one.

[IChing]

41. I check your profile, there are Apple stores in your area

bring grandma

[goclark]

42. We just got home from the MAC store at the Grove

Oh are the ibooks great!

$899 for last years, $999 for this year's.

[IChing]

47. Did you get to operate them?

You know, you can always go on e-bay and save some money.

[goclark]

52. I also am going to check out PCMacMall

I went to their website and they had lots of choices.

[IChing]

53. Yeah, but tell me what you thought of the apple store trip.

and the operating system, demonstrations etc.

Is this your choice?

[goclark]

54. The MAC store was awesome!

People were testing all the different ipods and computers.

It is very high tech in design.

The lowest price was $999 for a lap top.

They did have some of the last year's ibooks "in the back,still unopened" and they were $100 less.

The Apple Care policy would be an additional $200 +/-

I would need to buy some soft wear etc.

When I get back in town I'll decide.

Too many choices, : )

[IChing]

48. dupe n/t

[chaska]

38. It's a problem, for sure....

I tried to teach my father to use a computer. He physically could not work a mouse. We finally gave up. But then he really didn't want to learn anyway.

[prolesunited]

39. Mac

Plug and play and completely user friendly. She'll love it!

[goclark]

40. That's what I want for her!

[auburngrad82]

43. An abacas

seriously...

[goclark]

45. why? Is that a brand name?

[pitohui]

44. definitely not a laptop

at 87 issues like ease of use of keyboard and ease of viewing monitor often means that a desk top system is the better choice

a laptop is more finicky for trembling hands and weak eyes and often won't be used because of discomfort issues

unless she has to transport the computer, a desk top is the better choice and cheaper too, she can shop price

[goclark]

46. You have many good points

I'm beginning to wonder if I should get the lap top and let her have my PC?

[pitohui]

50. i would very seriously consider going that route EOM

.

[goclark]

55. Thanks pitohui!

[Poiuyt]

51. An iMac would be perfect if you wanted a desktop

All in one construction with a great monitor...sharp as a tack. Plus she could use the wonderful Mac operating system.