a tablet for mom

[zigzag03]

my 85 yo mother thinks she'd like to try one of those tablet thingees, you know, the ones you swipe your fingers to change the screen...

shes on her computer every day, has mastered downloading books from the library to her nook, and altho she complains about not being able to understand all this computer stuff, shes actually not bad for her age. so the question becomes which one.

i'd like to get her an ipad, but i have never had an apple product, not even an iphone, so i'm concerned about the learning curve for us both. then of course there are plenty of android options, but really i was wondering what you all thought about the current batch of windows rt devices that are coming out. it seems to me the best way to go in terms of compatability and connectivity with her desktop, and keeps us in the windows world.

anyone with any experience with these devices i'd sure like some input on the user experience. i'm not sure how exactly she'll use it when she gets it but at 85, if she expresses an interest who am i to not try and make it happen for her. thanks, zz03

 

[T_Yamamoto]

What is she going to use it for?

Edit: I'd get an iPad because if she doesn't like you, you can still sell it for a nice price.

 

[Ketchup]

I do not have experience with Apple products, but I have been in a similar situation. My mother is 66 and got a iPad a couple years ago. She actually started with an iPhone a couple years before that.

When she got her iPad (and iPhone) she figured them out with no help from me. She doesn't use her PC for much at all anymore. It is mainly a storage device for the Apples. I wouldn't be terribly surprised if your mother has a similar experience.

I have never had an Apple product either.

 

[Radeon962]

I'm an Android fan, but just got my mom (66) an iPhone 5 as it's much easier to use as you can't change much and she can ask her friends or my kids how to do things. She asked me questions on the ride home from getting it and has had sporadic questions since Saturday, but for the most part she has been able to pick it up quickly and use it without my assistance.

You can also walk into nearly any mall and go to an Apple store for a class or make an appointment with a genius to learn more if she has specific questions. I don't see anything currently on the Android side that is better spec'd and has the same ease of use as the iPad.

Have not used the RT as I tried out Windows 8 on two of my machines, but went back to Win 7 waiting for 8.1.

 

[Eug]

iPad retina. There is no other viable choice for grandma in 2013 IMO.

BTW, I am in a household with an Android phone and tablet, and an iOS phone and tablet, and I'm the one with the Android devices. IMO Android just isn't there yet for simplicity.

 

[OBLAMA2009]

ipad 4 fur shure

 

[thecapsaicinkid]

Nexus 7, more comfortable to hold.

 

[Sheep]

Nexus 7, more comfortable to hold.

This might not work if her vision isn't so great, in which case a bigger screen would be more useful than a smaller form factor.

 

[dainthomas]

Apple store for a class or make an appointment with a genius

does not compute

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

my mom uses the iPad. I'd say definitely iPad. The worse they are with technology, the more you should steer away from Android.

 

[Ravynmagi]

This might not work if her vision isn't so great, in which case a bigger screen would be more useful than a smaller form factor.

Bigger screen doesn't always mean bigger fonts though. Usually text is the same size on a 7 inch screen as a 10 inch screen, they just fit more on it.

I think a smaller tablet may be better, because it's lighter, easier to hold, and can be more comfortably held closer to the eyes if she does have difficulty reading.

So I was thinking an iPad mini or Nexus 7 might be better choices. Both are very comfortable to hold, can be held closer to the eyes.

The iPad 4 is a pretty heft tablet.

Regarding Windows RT, a Verge article today mentioned not a single Windows RT device was shown at Computex. Some Windows RT devices in production have been canceled and there aren't that many in the works. I really don't think this is a platform that has much of a future, because Windows 8 tablet can be found pretty cheap, run all the same Windows RT apps and can run Windows 8 desktop apps too.

That said, I think Windows 8 or RT really isn't a good choice for an 85 year old. Sounds like many young people are confused by it.

 

[BladeVenom]

Nexus 7, more comfortable to hold.

The Asus Memo Pad HD 7 is sounding pretty good. It has the rear camera and SD slot that the Nexus lacks. It's also going to be cheaper.

 

[Skott]

Similar situation as OP but wife instead of mother. My wife has about the same knowledge as OPs mother concerning PCs. I'm getting her an ipad 4 mainly because its probably the easiest tablet for someone to start with from what I have heard. I'm more of a android fan(phones) myself but never owned a tablet so it should be interesting. Gives me the position to actually see how good these Apple products really are before I buy myself a tablet.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

The other thing I could think of is Nexus 10 with dumbed down mode and large icons. That could help.

 

[zigzag03]

thanks everyone. let me clarify couple things. vision is actually not an issue at all. and when i said rt, i guess i thot that was the only windows option, so win8 would probably not be an issue either. as to what she'll use it for, as i said, i'm not sure it won't just be for reading her email or playing solitaire without getting up out of her chair, which is one of her bigger problems (mobility,that is).
that said, my real thought was about connectivity. if she wants an office doc (or in this case, a libreoffice doc) from her desktop, is wireless the only (altho not a bad) option? adapters needed for usb or card reader? and what about printing something? whats an air-printer, for instance.
personally, i'd be interested in taking a crack at the i-world, but really was afraid of dumping something new on her. the local apple store is a trek, would probably be buying from best buy or online. guess i'll get out and get hands on next. glad to keep taking input from you all and thank you very much. zz03