iPad instead of Mac/PC/computer?

[GregA]

A 77 year old friend of mine is looking at getting a computer. She uses one at work but doesn't like them much, and pecks slowly at the keys.

I wonder if her getting an iPad is better than buying a Mac or PC.

The computer will almost exclusively be used for
1) email
2) photos
3) web browsing
4) solitaire
I'll probably eventually encourage calendar, and weather apps.

I could set her up on my computer I guess and sync down to the iPad - but if in 2 years time I'm not around and her grandson plugs in his computer to help her update - she'll lose everything if she syncs to him. Right? An OS update is easy, I'm worried about the content syncing. On an iPhone if you move to another machine (even after 2 years with no PC in between) you pretty well lose any iPhone stuff you sync, replaced by the other machines stuff.

I suppose that basically I'm asking... can she backup her photos somewhere, from the iPad?

Also, I'm wondering whether photos can be loaded effectively onto the machine. Can she crop? Rate? make albums? She has all her photos stored in her camera at present.

What are your thoughts everyone?!?

 

[northy124]

Does the iPad need to be synced to a Mac/PC? if it does then a Mac/PC would be better

 

[BobHail]

Remember that with the iFlop I mean iPad you have to have or buy a Mac or PC with iTunes. Otherwise it won´t work at all.

And for example when you buy a Mac, what do you need the iPad for then?

 

[Chaos123x]

yeah Apple really needs to eliminate the need to sync it with another computer. Especially if they want to go after grandma and people who don't like to use computers.

 

[Tomomcd]

I don't see why you would NEED to sync it to a pc/mac. Apart from backing up or syncing content.

If its just being used for some basic apps and little multimedia it could stand alone

 

[iOrlando]

yeah Apple really needs to eliminate the need to sync it with another computer. Especially if they want to go after grandma and people who don't like to use computers.

I don't see why you would NEED to sync it to a pc/mac. Apart from backing up or syncing content.

If its just being used for some basic apps and little multimedia it could stand alone

apple doesnt want to tell people you no longer need a mac. ( even though technically you dont).

the ipad can be solely self-sustaining if apple wanted it to be, but for now they have chosen to market it in between mac and iphone so thats why you need to sync it.

 

[Hankster]

iPad would be fine for her as long as she never visits a web site that has Flash.

 

[surferfromuk]

A 77 year old friend of mine is looking at getting a computer. She uses one at work but doesn't like them much, and pecks slowly at the keys.

I wonder if her getting an iPad is better than buying a Mac or PC.

The computer will almost exclusively be used for
1) email
2) photos
3) web browsing
4) solitaire
I'll probably eventually encourage calendar, and weather apps.

I could set her up on my computer I guess and sync down to the iPad - but if in 2 years time I'm not around and her grandson plugs in his computer to help her update - she'll lose everything if she syncs to him. Right? An OS update is easy, I'm worried about the content syncing. On an iPhone if you move to another machine (even after 2 years with no PC in between) you pretty well lose any iPhone stuff you sync, replaced by the other machines stuff.

I suppose that basically I'm asking... can she backup her photos somewhere, from the iPad?

Also, I'm wondering whether photos can be loaded effectively onto the machine. Can she crop? Rate? make albums? She has all her photos stored in her camera at present.

What are your thoughts everyone?!?

1) Synching. You raise some good points and the answers aren't known by anyone right now! However, it'll probably back up like an iPhone and certainly won't erase contents without a 'warning' ( even an iPod does that if you set if to 'manually' update only). Chances are someone will have released an iPad Rip app which will just copy of all content
2) I wouldn't be surprised if this doesn't update online like a Mac
3) I imagine they'll come out with a 'migration Assistant' for moving to the next iPad since it doesn't specifically have to require a PC or Mac long term. You can be certain there will be millions of people in the same position so solutions will be made.
4) Chances are iPhoto will be very similar to the Mac version allowing essential photo editing but no one really knows for sure yet.

The best thing is you can just buy one of Apple.com and play with it for 14 days and return it if it's not right, so really you can't lose!

I personally think a maintenance free iPad would be brilliant for her!

 

[surferfromuk]

A 77 year old friend of mine is looking at getting a computer. She uses one at work but doesn't like them much, and pecks slowly at the keys.

I wonder if her getting an iPad is better than buying a Mac or PC.

The computer will almost exclusively be used for
1) email
2) photos
3) web browsing
4) solitaire
I'll probably eventually encourage calendar, and weather apps.

I could set her up on my computer I guess and sync down to the iPad - but if in 2 years time I'm not around and her grandson plugs in his computer to help her update - she'll lose everything if she syncs to him. Right? An OS update is easy, I'm worried about the content syncing. On an iPhone if you move to another machine (even after 2 years with no PC in between) you pretty well lose any iPhone stuff you sync, replaced by the other machines stuff.

I suppose that basically I'm asking... can she backup her photos somewhere, from the iPad?

Also, I'm wondering whether photos can be loaded effectively onto the machine. Can she crop? Rate? make albums? She has all her photos stored in her camera at present.

What are your thoughts everyone?!?

1) Synching. You raise some good points and the answers aren't known by anyone right now! However, it'll probably back up like an iPhone and certainly won't erase contents without a 'warning' ( even an iPod does that if you set if to 'manually' update only). Chances are someone will have released an iPad Rip app which will just copy of all content
2) I wouldn't be surprised if this doesn't update online like a Mac
3) I imagine they'll come out with a 'migration Assistant' for moving to the next iPad since it doesn't specifically have to require a PC or Mac long term. You can be certain there will be millions of people in the same position so solutions will be made.
4) Chances are iPhoto will be very similar to the Mac version allowing essential photo editing but no one really knows for sure yet.

The best thing is you can just buy one of Apple.com and play with it for 14 days and return it if it's not right, so really you can't lose!

I think an maintenance free iPad would be brilliant for her.

 

[IgnatiusTheKing]

It actually might work if she gets MobileMe along with it. That will cost her an extra $99 per year (as I doubt she'll be hunting for a discount on Amazon or eBay) but she won't have to worry about syncing with a computer because she can store all her photos on MM.

The drawback, of course, would be that she won't be able to update the software. But at 77 years old, would she really want to once she learns how it works?

 

[rick3000]

The single biggest problem with the iPad is that it needs to sync, it can't be used by itself. My dad travels a lot, and though the mac tablet would be great to replace his netbook, but since he can't use it as his only device and would still need another device to even activate it (if it's like an iPod) and to get pictures, movies, etc onto it, so he won't get one. I would stick with a MacBook for your grandma, plus no one knows what kind of universal access stuff the iPad has, like zoom, speaking text, etc.

 

[Scorpio12345]

That's the thing... If Apple had put some sort of Finder app on the device it would have completely eliminated the need to sync with another Mac or PC. As far as i know, there is no way of downloading music/pictures that aren't from the built in iTunes store (i.e. from Amazon MP3, external hard drive etc.) and adding them to the iPad iPod library and photo library...

A simple Finder app would actually be the perfect addition to completely change people's view of this as just being a big ipod touch now that i think about it...

 

[surferfromuk]

The single biggest problem with the iPad is that it needs to sync, it can't be used by itself. My dad travels a lot, and though the mac tablet would be great to replace his netbook, but since he can't use it as his only device and would still need another device to even activate it (if it's like an iPod) and to get pictures, movies, etc onto it, so he won't get one. I would stick with a MacBook for your grandma, plus no one knows what kind of universal access stuff the iPad has, like zoom, speaking text, etc.

You don't know this yet.

 

[Cloudane]

What's this about it "needing" to sync, out of curiosity? Can't see why it'd be a requirement - I haven't synced my iPhone for weeks (and only do so because I organise my music and photos on the desktop, which can be done directly with the iPad if you don't need Aperture's levels of power), email can be set up directly on it, music and apps can be downloaded directly from the store etc etc. Unless it needs an initial iTunes connection to activate - which would be a bit daft but I guess someone else could do that for them.

My only worry is if something screws up and the tech support tard at the call centre tells them to do what amounts to a hard reset. No backups. Fairly minor point, though.

I have to admit it seems a brilliant device for the older folk. None of the horrendous learning curve of a desktop, none of the worries, and I've seen 70 year olds who have trouble with things like TV remote controls and printers pick up and use an iPhone as if it's completely natural. As this is basically a bigger version (minus the phone) it'll be great for that.

 

[Jaro65]

iPad would be fine for her as long as she never visits a web site that has Flash.

She doesn't know what Flash is. Nor does she care.

 

[Airforce]

A 77 year old friend of mine is looking at getting a computer. She uses one at work but doesn't like them much, and pecks slowly at the keys.

77 years old? The screen is only 9.7 inches on the iPad. She should go with a large monitor(24 inches or so) and desktop. My grandmother(she is a bit older, 91) went with a cheap Walmart sale desktop($300 or so) with a 24 inch monitor I got on sale for $120 and loves it.

 

[TraceyS/FL]

77 years old? The screen is only 9.7 inches on the iPad. She should go with a large monitor(24 inches or so) and desktop. My grandmother(she is a bit older, 91) went with a cheap Walmart sale desktop($300 or so) with a 24 inch monitor I got on sale for $120 and loves it.

My 87yo grandma has a G5 iMac that replaced her performa! Lol!

She isn't online with it though, and I was trying to figure out how she'd use the ipad. I think the $15/mo would be great for her and aleviate some concerns. Only prob is, she's in CA and we won't be able to restore it if needed.

Still pondering it, but it's a great market for them to target.