Ok, my grandma is 65 and she is a really up-beat kind of person. She not a grandma that knits all day long. Anyway, she has had this Compaq for about 7 years and it's about to die. She got a virus and the Hard-drive had to be purged. Then her CD burner broke. The main things she like to use the computer for is the internet, e-mail, and most importantly is her pictures she takes with her digital camera. I breifly told her about the Mac mini. She really wants to watch the price if she gets a new computer. There are dells you can get for $295...but i need to convice here that the Mac mini is awsome. She is just really sick of viruses, spyware, and stuff. If she gets a dell she will still have to worry about the viruses. She is so confused with the Windows OS...I told her how easy and simple OS X is and how it won't take you 20 minutes to figure out how to print a 4x6 picture with iPhoto. I told her that you wont have to worry about any of that stuff with Macs. She has a nice moniter already that the Mini could hook up to. I have been telling her this stuff for the past month...but now that her burner broke and her Hard drive had to be erased...I think its time to have her get a Mac now, or for Xmas. She is coming over tonight and i need to convince her to get this Mini. What should i tell her?
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How do I convince my Grandma to get a Mac Mini?
- Thread starter AlmightyG5
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Well, you could always ask if you two could go over to the Apple Store when she visits. You were intending to get that iSight, remember? 
Or better yet... surprise her with it. See if your family can get some money together, and buy her a Mini for Christmas.
Or better yet... surprise her with it. See if your family can get some money together, and buy her a Mini for Christmas.
JohnEZ said:Or better yet... surprise her with it. See if your family can get some money together, and buy her a Mini for Christmas.
There are 4 Macs in my house. However my 5 other aunts and uncles all use windows and are telling my grandma to get a new windows. Mom my was thinking of having the whole Family go in on a Mac Mini....but everyone hates Macs in my family.
AlmightyG5 said:
You get what you pay for. Only $295 ... she would likely have that number (or more) in viruses before long. It sounds like your grandmother would be a perfect match for a Mac mini. Let her experience firsthand how there would not be a formidable learning curve ahead and the rest should fall into place nicely. Good luck and I wish her well with her upcoming entry into the Mac world.
AlmightyG5 said:
Sit her in front of your iMac -- show her a couple of things, let her play with iPhoto and some other neat stuff.
Mere words will not stop the corrosive chorus of Windows users preaching their collective insanity.
Tell her Matlock and Angela Landsburry from "Muder She Wrote" use macs. Prolly wouldn't hurt to throw in a Macguyver, either
Actually, I think pretty much what you've told us here is a good start. Maybe a demo.
Actually, I think pretty much what you've told us here is a good start. Maybe a demo.
Blue Velvet said:
That is poetry! I put that in my sig if thats ok with you. I will show her stuff tonight...But I know she will never go out and buy one...The best bet is to get her one for Xmas, but my Mom and Dad are going to spend $500 by themselves. And if my uncle heres that my grandma is looking into Macs he will flip because he is obssesed with windows and wont accept that Macs are better.I think he is just jealous of my iMac!...
AlmightyG5 said:
Repeatedly say the two magic words:
NO and VIRUSES
This works to change someone from rock-solid opposed to indifferent. Then follow up with a demo of Spotlight, Dashboard, Aqua, iLife, and Office. Make sure they understand Macs are fully PC-compatible.
AlmightyG5 said:
If by some chance she is not quite sold on the idea of a Mac mini, I have an alternate suggestion ... transform it from a personal sale on her part and buy her one for Christmas. She would be surprised by the gift and impressed by your generosity and thoughtfulness. Nobody refuses a Mac when presented as a holiday gift in a box with festive wrapping.
I've helped several seniors with their first computers and they all appreciate
how trouble free their Macs are.
They hear from friends all the time complaining how they can barely
do the basics without a nightmare of maintenance and updates.
Most people who defend Windows simply are not aware of how trouble free computing can be.
how trouble free their Macs are.
They hear from friends all the time complaining how they can barely
do the basics without a nightmare of maintenance and updates.
Most people who defend Windows simply are not aware of how trouble free computing can be.
Deepdale said:
Thats what I want to do...but my mom said we can't get it for her by ourselves...we would need the rest of the family to chip in(Which they won't want to because they hate Macs) So, mybe my grandpa could split the cost with us...even though he would never use it because he doesn't know how to turn a computer on
I am about ten years younger than your grandma and recently bought myself an iBook. I was so fed up with sharing computers with my husband and son, and having all those windoze problems. I think that a lot of people actually enjoy computer problems but not me.
I am enjoying using my iBook and learning something new. The family is so impressed with what I can do, but a bit put out that I don't need their help anymore. Yes, I did have a problem with the first one and got a replacement from Apple, but I sorted it all out. It's always good to learn new things and be a bit different at any age.
It sounds as if your grandma would be up for the challenge, and if she has you for technical support if she needs it I'm sure she'll enjoy it. It'll make her feel young again, and probably get your grandad involved too.
I am enjoying using my iBook and learning something new. The family is so impressed with what I can do, but a bit put out that I don't need their help anymore. Yes, I did have a problem with the first one and got a replacement from Apple, but I sorted it all out. It's always good to learn new things and be a bit different at any age.
It sounds as if your grandma would be up for the challenge, and if she has you for technical support if she needs it I'm sure she'll enjoy it. It'll make her feel young again, and probably get your grandad involved too.
Show her your iMac. Show her some apps, let her use it. Show her iPhoto, iCal (Windows doesn't come with a PIM (Personal Information Manager)). Show her her passwords will be kept in KeyChain, tell her how secure it is - 128bit-AES Encryption so if she is working on sensetive files. Tell her how fast it loads up - my iBook takes like 20-30 seconds to load all the way up (see siggy). Tell her that it comes with Industry standards built in - 512MB RAM, 40 GB HDD. Show her Expose (?TM). Show her Widgets. Don't forget that keyboard and mouse cost (USB ones that are Mac Compatible)....
Tell her this, and this is real. When I went to purchase my iBook, they were running out of Macintosh systems, soooooooo many people are moving to mac. Everyone is like getting rid of Windows and going to Mac. Expose and Widgets and Spotlight. Oh yeah show her spotlight.
Sorry the is the Apple Logo - Shift + ALT + K = Apple Logo
Tell her this, and this is real. When I went to purchase my iBook, they were running out of Macintosh systems, soooooooo many people are moving to mac. Everyone is like getting rid of Windows and going to Mac. Expose and Widgets and Spotlight. Oh yeah show her spotlight.
Sorry the is the Apple Logo - Shift + ALT + K = Apple Logo
Two words:
No malware
Also, what's up with misuses love/hate in the English American language? Example: my family hates macs.
No malware
Also, what's up with misuses love/hate in the English American language? Example: my family hates macs.
I know it should be that: My family doesn't care for Macs. huh?Chacala_Nayarit said:Two words:
No malware
Also, what's up with misuses love/hate in the English American language? Example: my family hates macs.
I've found that the Apple Switch Site is a great resource for people who are considering a switch to mac. It addresses many of the major concerns that switchers have about getting rid of windows.
Also, maybe you should tell her some of the stories that people on this site have posted in the thread. People love to talk about their macs, and their stories can be good examples of why OS X is so great.
Also, maybe you should tell her some of the stories that people on this site have posted in the thread. People love to talk about their macs, and their stories can be good examples of why OS X is so great.
Tell her it's on sale
Really though, get some photos and videos of the family, and start showing them off with the mac (slideshows, movies, etc)/
Really though, get some photos and videos of the family, and start showing them off with the mac (slideshows, movies, etc)/
If you have a Mac, make the dock max size, and say, "See how easy this is to read compared to those pixel fonts in Windows?". Good point, for older people, assuming she has eye problems. The bigger everything also makes everything just easier to use. I like pixel fonts on some websites, but HATE them in an OS.
You must show her Apple + and - to ZOOM the text of any web page she's
reading. System wide spell checker and a very easy to understand file system so she knows where everything goes in her home folder.
If she loves music load some oldies in iTunes and take her for a spin.
If she's a photo buff show her how easy it is to load, edit and send photos.
If she loves to play piano, show her GarageBand.
and so on.
My old neighbor now has a photo catalogue of his entire vintage guitar collection, his antiques and copies of all his important documents on the computer, burned to CD and back-ups in his safe deposit box.
Another old friend has become a Civilization addict.
All agree that OS X just works!
reading. System wide spell checker and a very easy to understand file system so she knows where everything goes in her home folder.
If she loves music load some oldies in iTunes and take her for a spin.
If she's a photo buff show her how easy it is to load, edit and send photos.
If she loves to play piano, show her GarageBand.
and so on.
My old neighbor now has a photo catalogue of his entire vintage guitar collection, his antiques and copies of all his important documents on the computer, burned to CD and back-ups in his safe deposit box.
Another old friend has become a Civilization addict.
All agree that OS X just works!
I think what granny really needs is a dual dualcore powermac. Tell her that unsharp masks on 10,000x6,000 pixel pics will be a snap.
HTH
HTH
While I would agree that OSX is a much better OS than Windows, am I alone in thinking that it wouldn't be a good idea to get your Grandmother to get one. While she is still fairly young, I think she would have a good amount of trouble adjusting to Macs after using that Compaq for the past 7 years. With the combination of the increased price and the trouble it willl cause her to learn a new OS, I would suggest letting her keep with Windows.