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80 year old mom's iPad review...

California

California

macrumors 68040
Original poster
Aug 21, 2004
3,885
90
My 80 year old mom's Mac credentials: been on Macs since 2002, iMac G3 and now her maxed out and sturdy iMac G5. She has an iPod photo with slide shows on it and her music that runs mostly in her Mercedes through its internal system, she loves that. I gave her an iPhone and a 12" Powerbook back in the day and she gave away the laptop and didn't want the iPhone, though she regretted giving away the iPhone once she saw it was an iPod that could store photos. Oh, she also used to have a 1st Gen shuffle that she gave to my sister.

Her review of the iPad was based on a commercial she saw. "It doesn't make calls and doesn't take pictures", and the keyboard is too small, I don't know what I'd do with it."
 
gibbz

gibbz

macrumors 68030
May 31, 2007
2,701
100
Norman, OK
Why would anyone expect a 10" tablet to make calls or be used as a camera? The form factor makes both somewhat awkward, IMHO.
 
D

drjsway

macrumors 6502a
Jan 8, 2009
936
2
Your mom should get a RAZR. Makes calls, takes pictures, and free with contract.
 
A

admanimal

macrumors 68040
Apr 22, 2005
3,531
2
So why would we expect your mom, who you clearly describe as not being a fan of technology (didn't want iPhone or laptop), to want an iPad exactly?
 
California

California

macrumors 68040
Original poster
Aug 21, 2004
3,885
90
johnnyhow said:
That was a massive introduction just to tell us that your mum doesn't like the ipad.
Click to expand...

Just wanted to make sure you guys knew she was a Mac fan.

drjsway said:
Your mom should get a RAZR. Makes calls, takes pictures, and free with contract.
Click to expand...

I just called her to tell her you said that. Good idea...

admanimal said:
So why would we expect your mom, who you clearly describe as not being a fan of technology (didn't want iPhone or laptop), to want an iPad exactly?
Click to expand...

She loves technology, and her macs. She didn't want two computers. And I got her the iPhone in Sept 2007, I didn't even have one yet, so no one to help teach her about it.

She and her 90 year old hubby, (plays tennis three times a week, was in the Army at Pearl Harbor and at DDay and was friendz with Stephen Ambrose) travel a lot and the iPad could be a good way to keep up with emails on those world cruises. We'll see if it works for her.
 
N

Nano2k

macrumors regular
Nov 6, 2009
109
0
Europe
I guess that what the OP wants to point out is that at the contrary of what many are saying, that the iPad is for not computer savvy people (such has old people), at least his old mother does not like it.
 
J

johnnyhow

macrumors regular
May 20, 2008
135
0
California said:
Just wanted to make sure you guys knew she was a Mac fan. .
Click to expand...
Yeh I understand now, and I guess you do make a really good point. As much as I like the ipad, I have to say I'm honestly not tempted to get one simply because it's basically an iPod touch with a bigger screen. Plus I also have a MacBook if I need a larger, but more portable screen.
 
C

cathyy

macrumors 6502a
Apr 12, 2008
727
4
I was kind of under the impression that the iPad was more for the computer-illiterate people.
 
S

surferfromuk

macrumors 65816
Feb 1, 2007
1,153
0
California said:
My 80 year old mom's Mac credentials: been on Macs since 2002, iMac G3 and now her maxed out and sturdy iMac G5. She has an iPod photo with slide shows on it and her music that runs mostly in her Mercedes through its internal system, she loves that. I gave her an iPhone and a 12" Powerbook back in the day and she gave away the laptop and didn't want the iPhone, though she regretted giving away the iPhone once she saw it was an iPod that could store photos. Oh, she also used to have a 1st Gen shuffle that she gave to my sister.

Her review of the iPad was based on a commercial she saw. "It doesn't make calls and doesn't take pictures", and the keyboard is too small, I don't know what I'd do with it."
Click to expand...

Good that she's still so open minded about new things after all those years. :rolleyes:

It'd be decent of you not to bait her into never actually trying it.
 
rdowns

rdowns

macrumors Penryn
Jul 11, 2003
27,397
12,521
Apple is doomed. Jobs specifically said the blue hair crowd was the target market. :rolleyes:
 
B

Bodhi395

macrumors 6502a
Jul 23, 2008
817
0
Wow, what a sobering review. It really makes you think, I mean, how in the hell will this device succeed when it's not connecting to the 80 year old plus demographic. As we all know, they make the heart of technology buyers. So this proves it, the iPad is dead on arrival.
 
eawmp1

eawmp1

macrumors 601
Feb 19, 2008
4,159
91
FL
If she's happy with the Serenity brand, why should she change to the iPad? (rim shot)
 
marksman

marksman

macrumors 603
Jun 4, 2007
5,764
5
okoemt.jpg
 
C

Chaos123x

macrumors 68000
Jul 8, 2008
1,698
34
She just gave away stuff you spent hundreds of dollars on?

I would send her to live at a old folks home after that.
 
mrgreen4242

mrgreen4242

macrumors 601
Feb 10, 2004
4,377
9
Nano2k said:
I guess that what the OP wants to point out is that at the contrary of what many are saying, that the iPad is for not computer savvy people (such has old people), at least his old mother does not like it.
Click to expand...

But this person is clearly not not-tech savvy. She has a PowerMac and a non-touch screen iPod already. She was able to identify some of the things technically possible but not included with the device with a brief commercial. She's one of the older people who understand technology, to some degree. For every person like the OP's Mom there is at least one person like my Grandma who understands that there are computers, but has no idea what they actually do. (One of) the target audience(s) for the iPad is the group of older folks in between those levels.
 
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