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mikedude86

macrumors regular
Original poster
Sep 2, 2010
133
102
Ok, so here’s the deal. My mom who lives in another state is retiring in the next year or so and is getting stressed that her employer is making her do all of the ”paperwork” for this online. This is because my mother has no computer, no home internet and has only had an iPhone about a year. I’m thinking of sending her an iPad, with some sort of keyboard case. So looking for advice on the following:

1) Is this a realistic idea? I do not want to have to get a new cellular line, nor do I want to pay extra for the device itself. So, she would need to tether to her iPhone. I recently upgraded our ATT plan to include i think 30GB of HotSpot, which should be enough. How user friendly is this experience? Will I be able to easily provide instructions to her on this? She is not tech savvy at all, but has learned a little with her iPhone recently.

2) What combo should I get her? Was thinking of just getting a base model 7th gen iPad and not sure what keyboard to get, i tend to lean towards apple products, so prob a smart keyboard? How much should I consider waiting for the next gen, especially given they just upgraded the iPad? Price is a factor here, I have a 2020 iPP 11 inch, MK and Apple Pencil, but she has no use for anything close to my setup. I’d like to get something as close to a full sized keyboard as possible, and something reliable, that works with the smart connector. Don’t want something Bluetooth, since the connection isn’t always reliable and I won’t be nearby to troubleshoot.

3) Is it possible or easy to screen share with an iPad?
 
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The first thing I'd want to know is what is her computer experience in her current work setup? If her workplace is requiring her to be online, are they not offering hardware and software assistance? There seem to be some important details missing from this description.
 
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It’s minimal compared to most I’d say. She solder’s motherboards all day but probably wouldn’t know how to turn on a PC.
 
It’s minimal compared to most I’d say. She solder’s motherboards all day but probably wouldn’t know how to turn on a PC.
But they're requiring her to work from home online and not providing any assistance? That sounds kinda odd. And how is she supposed to solder motherboards from home?
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Also, wouldn't there be some specific requirements from her employer about a home computer setup or minimum Internet speed, etc.?
 
So sorry, I will edit my post, my mother currently is not working from home. So there is no issue there. Her issue is that as she prepares for retirement her HR department refers her to initiate all of that process online.
 
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When did you last visit Mom? Communicate with her employer or have her ask them to send her all the details about what she must do to initiate her retirement. Once received, go and visit her with a laptop and get it done. Don't send her an iPad in the event some of the programs or apps HR makes her use don't work on an iPad.
 
When did you last visit Mom? Communicate with her employer or have her ask them to send her all the details about what she must do to initiate her retirement. Once received, go and visit her with a laptop and get it done. Don't send her an iPad in the event some of the programs or apps HR makes her use don't work on an iPad.


I’m asking for product advice here, not for advice on how to handle my mother’s actual retirement. She is an adult and I can’t just call up her employer, and in most cases nor can she, HR for her company isn’t even located in her state and it’s just made an all around difficult situation. Also, even if I flew out to visit her, which is not a good idea given both our states are currently ridden with Covid, I myself only own an iPad. So if “programs or apps” aren’t going to work on an iPad, I won’t be much help.
 
I’d go with iPad 7th Gen and the Logitech Combo Touch. My mom is retired and uses an iPad 6th Gen. I bought her the Logitech Slim Folio to use as a physical keyboard and she really likes it. The recommended setup is even better with trackpad support.
 
I’m asking for product advice here, not for advice on how to handle my mother’s actual retirement. She is an adult and I can’t just call up her employer, and in most cases nor can she, HR for her company isn’t even located in her state and it’s just made an all around difficult situation. Also, even if I flew out to visit her, which is not a good idea given both our states are currently ridden with Covid, I myself only own an iPad. So if “programs or apps” aren’t going to work on an iPad, I won’t be much help.
Ok. She is the employee so of course she can call her company HR no matter where it is located. You have no idea what programs HR will require her to use yet you seem intent on sending her some model of iPad? Seems to be too early to make that product choice. Travelling from one "Covid ridden"" state to another "Covid ridden" state seems to be a non-issue. They are both "Covid ridden".
 
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Ok. She is the employee so of course she can call her company HR no matter where it is located. You have no idea what programs HR will require her to use yet you seem intent on sending her some model of iPad? Seems to be too early to make that product choice. Travelling from one "Covid ridden"" state to another "Covid ridden" state seems to be a non-issue. They are both "Covid ridden".


Got it, your advice is appreciated. Now can we get back to discussing Apple products? That’s why I’m here :)
 
Let me just add that if she doesn’t need this immediately, it’s probably best to wait until September likely when the iPad 8 will be announced. It will probably have the A12, which will be a huge improvement for the standard iPad.
 
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I would suggest you test the tethering with your iPad/phones (at her home when possible, I realize you not close by and Covid) and get a list of what apps mom needs from the company, so she can submit her retirement materials online.

iPads can be great to download, scan, sign and email documents (Sign w/the Apple Pencil), but it is important that you know ahead of time what apps she needs, as the iPad may not be the answer.
 
Let me just add that if she doesn’t need this immediately, it’s probably best to wait until September likely when the iPad 8 will be announced. It will probably have the A12, which will be a huge improvement for the standard iPad.


Ok cool thanks for this! I don’t know why I thought they just updated the 7th Gen this year but it was last so def worth considering the wait.
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I would suggest you test the tethering with your iPad/phones (at her home when possible, I realize you not close by and Covid) and get a list of what apps mom needs from the company, so she can submit her retirement materials online.

iPads can be great to download, scan, sign and email documents (Sign w/the Apple Pencil), but it is important that you know ahead of time what apps she needs, as the iPad may not be the answer.


So she’s mentioned getting lost watching America’s Got Talent videos on facebook til midnight, so my hope is that if that’s possible she should be getting a decent download speed? My hope would be that everything could be done using a web browser, but I admit I have no idea. It wasn’t my intention to spark this conversation, but it’s been a challenge getting her help with this. She finally found a liaison to help with social security and those benefits but has gotten no where with her employer directly. Has anyone dealt with retiring with an employer online?

Aside from this issue, once she does retire she will need a device to be able to email friends and family on. That is one thing she does do on the computer she has access to at work, and that will obviously go away when she does retire. At that point I will make sure she is setup with home internet access and WiFi. She refuses to get it before then (she lives with family right now and will be in her own place after retiring).
 
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So sorry, I will edit my post, my mother currently is not working from home. So there is no issue there. Her issue is that as she prepares for retirement her HR department refers her to initiate all of that process online.
Ah, that makes much more sense. I see you've gotten some good responses here too.
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Has anyone dealt with retiring with an employer online?

My understanding is that the employer cannot require that everything be done online, and must provide (upon your mother's request) alternatives such as paper forms. Not all HR departments behave in a benevolent and helpful way unfortunately, but I believe she has some rights to ask for non-online options. If she tells them, "look, I don't have a home computer, how can you help me get all the paperwork done?", I would hope they would show some understanding and empathy and help her out.

Might she have a friend who worked there who recently retired she could ask for help? It sounds like this might be pretty frustrating for you as much as you want to make it easier for her. Kudos to you for brainstorming solutions. She's lucky to have you.
 
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I had a kind of similar "situation". The old Samsung tablet of my 79-year old mother died and I gave her one of my ipads, a 9.7 pro 2 weeks ago. I wanted to give her a smart keyboard, but refused as she prefers onscreen keyboards (she never learnt to touch type). I was with her for a week on holidays (she leaves in another country at 2000km from my place). I also set up an airdisplay program on a laptop (that she never uses) so that if she is lost I can remotely connect to the laptop and she can share the screen so that I can help her on the phone... Unfortunately if she has no laptop it's impossible to remotely help her other than with a webcam...
 
2) What combo should I get her? Was thinking of just getting a base model 7th gen iPad and not sure what keyboard to get, i tend to lean towards apple products, so prob a smart keyboard? How much should I consider waiting for the next gen, especially given they just upgraded the iPad? Price is a factor here, I have a 2020 iPP 11 inch, MK and Apple Pencil, but she has no use for anything close to my setup. I’d like to get something as close to a full sized keyboard as possible, and something reliable, that works with the smart connector. Don’t want something Bluetooth, since the connection isn’t always reliable and I won’t be nearby to troubleshoot.
I would recommend this keyboard case. Its fairly cheap and sturdy.
 
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