Largest 2021 iMac vs Largest 2021 iPad Pro? What to buy for casual usage - media consumption/writing /bank transfers for older parents as only device?

[KensaiMage]

Please help me make the right choice.

I don't want anything smaller or different for them. The screen size is important to them, tired eyes, you know...

 

[iPadified]

I refuse to chose because it has do with your usage pattern and it is two very different devices.

Do you need a "real" computer?
Is the software on the iPad sufficient?
Do you expect to share media consumption or is for one person usage?
Is tied to a desk as the iMac is acceptable or not?
What is the computer literacy of the users?

The iPad 12.9 inch screen is very but it is very small for movies. Therefore I prefer my iMac for movies. Reading is best done on the iPad as you can easily change the distance to the device.

 

[Kung gu]

get an iPad Pro simple and easy to use in bed and on the go. If the computing needs are can't be served by an iPad Pro go for iMac.

 

[UltimateSyn]

My first thought would be to go with the upcoming ~24” iMac - 24” is already fairly large and I don’t think they will need the 27-32” screen and increased power of the larger-sized model, and I think the desktop OS paradigm will be more familiar to them.

iPadOS is intuitive for the most part, but becomes more intricate as you try to learn the different multitasking modes and plethora of gestures to accomplish various functionality (i.e. “Which corner of the screen do I swipe on to get the slider for the brightness / volume??” vs. easily understandable edicated brightness/volume keys). I also think the 12.9” is a little bit heavy and unwieldy for extended in-hand use, so if you’re going the iPad route I would opt for the Air - cheaper and lighter (they likely won’t notice the lack of ProMotion, lol).

What kind of device are they currently using for these types of activities?

 

[KensaiMage]

My first thought would be to go with the upcoming ~24” iMac - 24” is already fairly large and I don’t think they will need the 27-32” screen and increased power of the larger-sized model, and I think the desktop OS paradigm will be more familiar to them.

iPadOS is intuitive for the most part, but becomes more intricate as you try to learn the different multitasking modes and plethora of gestures to accomplish various functionality (i.e. “Which corner of the screen do I swipe on to get the slider for the brightness / volume??” vs. easily understandable edicated brightness/volume keys). I also think the 12.9” is a little bit heavy and unwieldy for extended in-hand use, so if you’re going the iPad route I would opt for the Air - cheaper and lighter (they likely won’t notice the lack of ProMotion, lol).

What kind of device are they currently using for these types of activities?

They are using an old Windows laptop and an iPhone 7. They’re quite comfortable using both devices.

 

[EntropyQ3]

My severely elderly parents shifted from an iMac to a couple of iPads. They couldn’t be happier. The iPads do what they want, while sitting in couches or comfy chairs, they can easily enlarge most things for easier viewing, pictures they take is immediately viewable on a nice size screen and shareable with their kids and grandchildren who they also FaceTime with.
It works really well.
Somehow they have also figured out to configure newsfeeds et cetera. My dad has a really foggy picture of what resides on his iPad, in the cloud or on the internet, or for that matter the difference between a browser window and an app. And it doesn’t matter.
The only fly in the ointment is all insistence on activating security features which confuse and obstruct. They don’t keep nuclear launch codes on their iPads, or even secrets from each other. I wish you could somehow set ”will be used in a safe environment” when setting up the iPads and then never have to deal with it again.

 

[Gudi]

— For ease of use iPad.

— For watching together iMac.

 

[David Hassholehoff]

As stated by others before me, it is hard to recommend without knowing more specifics, such as your parents' familiarity with the devices in question.

But strictly on what you've told us, I would go with the iPad. If they want to watch things together and already have a compatible (HD) TV, complement with an Apple TV. My grandmother got an iPad and an Apple TV a few years ago, well into her 80s. She had never touched a computer or tablet in her life, and she quickly learned how to use it to take photos and reading the local paper, the big display being a big help.

 

[darngooddesign]

Please help me make the right choice.

I don't want anything smaller or different for them. The screen size is important to them, tired eyes, you know...

I think the 13" iPad is more foolproof for non-computer people. Apple as a generous, no questions asked return policy so let them use it for a week and a half, and if the screen is too small return it and get the iMac. If they do like it, get a stand which supports a keyboard and mouse so they can also use it as a desktop computer. I just think that they will like not being always tied to a desk. Heck, get them the 2018 iPad Pro.

PS. iOS supports large and bold text, it's in the Accessibility settings.

 

[Fishrrman]

OP:

For the use case you described above, I would NOT get them either an iPad or a 21" iMac.

Instead, I'd get them a 27" iMac with the bigger display.
I'd get 8gb of RAM (can be added easily if you wish, adding RAM IS NOT possible on the 21")
I'd get an SSD inside (either 512gb or 256gb).
I'd get the basic or midrange CPU (they won't need "upper end").

You want A BIGGER DISPLAY because their eyesight may be "getting older" and they'll appreciate the ability to "enlarge text" if they need to, or choose a lower resolution as their "default resolution".

You may not be concerned about this, because you're younger.
But THEY will understand.

 

[Lemon Olive]

Are your severely elderly parents writing software or working with lots of peripherals? I'm gonna guess no.

Obviously the iPad.

 

[bobcomer]

The ipad will be the most useful, both my parents have more than one iPad so they can still use one even though it's charging. However, it's rare, but my Mother still uses a Windows computer when she needs to do picture/document scanning/printing and a few other things.

 

[xraydoc]

However, it's rare, but my Mother still uses a Windows computer when she needs to do picture/document scanning/printing and a few other things.

Is she going to want to have to learn how macOS works? iPad might be better since they already know how an iPhone works. Learning a new desktop OS may be more than they want to bother with, but only you (and they) can answer that.

 

[bobcomer]

Is she going to want to have to learn how macOS works?

I would say probably not, given my own mother's wants and capabilities. Learning a new platform is not that easy, and she doesn't even want to switch applications, much less the whole thing. That's age related though, the younger, the more able to change. (generally, but not always!)

 

[David Hassholehoff]

OP:

For the use case you described above, I would NOT get them either an iPad or a 21" iMac.

Instead, I'd get them a 27" iMac with the bigger display.
I'd get 8gb of RAM (can be added easily if you wish, adding RAM IS NOT possible on the 21")
I'd get an SSD inside (either 512gb or 256gb).
I'd get the basic or midrange CPU (they won't need "upper end").

You want A BIGGER DISPLAY because their eyesight may be "getting older" and they'll appreciate the ability to "enlarge text" if they need to, or choose a lower resolution as their "default resolution".

You may not be concerned about this, because you're younger.
But THEY will understand.

That isn't necessarily the case. An iPad is easily held near your face, and there are settings to increase font size, contrast and zoom. Plus the convenience of being able to use it to read the morning newspaper at the breakfast table, in the couch or in bed. iPad + Apple TV is a solid combination for people who just want stuff to work.