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My Dad wants an iPad- does he need Mac or pc as well??

N

needthephone

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Apr 4, 2006
813
0
sydney
My Dad wants an iPad but I have some reservations.

On the face of it the iPad seems ideal as he just wants to look at the Internet, email, mess around with photos etc.

But although he has a laptop (he hates as he says it's always updating and freezing) I can't see him using iTunes to load the iPad.

I have an iPhone but not an iPad. So do you have to use iTunes to maintain and load the iPad as well?

For something Like the iPad having to use another pc or Mac is a serious deficiency which makes a simple product unusable for someone in their 70's who is not computer literate.

Can't he do it all just with a 3G data plan- he lives in the uk and I Am in Australia so can't be on the spot to set him up.

Anyone any advice???

Thanks
 
People at the Apple Store will help him set it up. Just remember to get your dad to tell the folks at the Apple Store that he doesn't have an iTunes computer at home.
 
the iPad would be perfect for your father's needs.

the iPad was made to cater towards people like him, one who isn't tech savvy, but wants to consume media in a fast and easy way.

btw, why would he need iTunes? if he really wanted, he could just use iTunes once. to load up his music/photos, and not have to touch it again for awhile.

if he wants to add photos, he can easily purchase a camera kit, or get a slew of filesharing apps from the app store. doing so would be a simple drag and drop affair.
 
Thanks! But will he need a pc/Mac for on going maintenance eg software updates?

Anyone any recommendations for which is best uk network to go with?

Thanks
 
needthephone said:
Thanks! But will he need a pc/Mac for on going maintenance eg software updates?

Anyone any recommendations for which is best uk network to go with?

Thanks
Click to expand...

yes, if he wants to update software, he will need a PC/mac. I believe O2 is best for uk no? sorry, im stateside, wouldnt know.
 
You don't need a computer to use an iPad.

If you want to perform updates: Backup your iPad at the Apple Store, update, and if all goes well go home (and delete backup).
 
You don't need a computer to use iPad, but a computer can act as a backup of iPad data.

Plenty of free content on iTunes podcast, web.
 
Thanks - an iPad will be perfect I think.
What they need as a cloud based service so you can get rid for the need for a pc completely.
 
needthephone said:
Thanks - an iPad will be perfect I think.
What they need as a cloud based service so you can get rid for the need for a pc completely.
Click to expand...

that will eventually happen (wireless syncing) in due time. im guessing by end of year or early next year.
 
needthephone said:
Thanks - an iPad will be perfect I think.
What they need as a cloud based service so you can get rid for the need for a pc completely.
Click to expand...

Good call on getting him the iPad. It also sounds like he could use a new Lappy. His sounds like nothing but trouble....must be old and running windows.

Perhaps get him a Macbook as well, or you could do updates for the iPad on your home computer with iTunes and he doesn't have to sync the library content to do the update.
 
He won't need a PC/iMac if he can use yours occasionally to update his. (If you don't mind him having a log-on account on your Mac, so he can set up his own iTunes account.

It is kind of necessary for updates, it's good to have a back up of all your music and apps if you need to restore and what if he wants to put his music collections or photos on to it?

Have you noticed by the way, all the Apple iPad ads show some dude at home sitting on their sofa using the web or iTunes, via wifi. A bit hard to do this without a wireless router (and a comptuer). Given that unlimited data plans for 3G are on the way out, if he wants to down load movies might be a good idea.
 
3lionsbecks said:
Good call on getting him the iPad. It also sounds like he could use a new Lappy. His sounds like nothing but trouble....must be old and running windows.
Click to expand...

No its less than 2 years old, its a dell running Vista. Evertime it starts it wants to update either software or virus definitions which he just has no patience for. It also doesn't fill him with confidence so he basically never uses it - we all (me any my brothers) persuaded him to get it but he hates it.

Trust me he just doesn't like computers so he wouldn't appreciate a mac laptop either. I just can't see him hooking it up to itunes.

He is keen on the ipad as all he wants to use it for really is the internet and maybe email.

I think it sounds perfect if it was with a plan say 02 which offer 3 gig for 15-pounds a month. As he won't be downloading torrents !! I think this will be plenty and he can then ditch his laptop data plan

http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2010/05/uk-ipad-data-tariffs-announced-for-orange-o2-vodafone/
 
needthephone said:
No its less than 2 years old, its a dell running Vista. Evertime it starts it wants to update either software or virus definitions which he just has no patience for. It also doesn't fill him with confidence so he basically never uses it - we all (me any my brothers) persuaded him to get it but he hates it.

He is keen on the ipad as all he wants to use it for really is the internet and maybe email.

I think it sounds perfect if it was with a plan say 02 which offer 3 gig for 15-pounds a month. As he won't be downloading torrents !! I think this will be plenty and he can then ditch his laptop data plan

http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2010/05/uk-ipad-data-tariffs-announced-for-orange-o2-vodafone/
Click to expand...

those are some sweet data plan prices. I'm sure 3GB will be plenty but I heard that you can't download large files (itunes movies etc) over 3G. I use wifi and live in Canada so I'm not sure about this and it may be USA only...perhaps not in the UK.

Can you go into the settings for the updating programs on your Dad's Dell and shut off the auto-update features? this may help with his problem there. Also, Vista was terrible, so its no wonder that your Dad hates it as well.

Hope he enjoys the new iPad....its great.
 
Unfortunately I live in Australia but my other brother is close so he could do it.

3G data plans will allow him freedom to use it wherever he wants. The laptop is tethered to a cable.

I think he should get one, sounds perfect!!.

I m tempted too but not until it has front facing camera and phone functionality built in (but that's just me...)

I use skype and it was brilliant calling the UK using skype out (so a few cents a minute) from a restaurant in Sydney using 3G. Could you do this with an ipad too?

Who needs phone companies as they are now just data companies...sorry off MY OWN TOPIC!!
 
hsotnicam8002 said:
If he wants to watch embedded YouTube he'll need a Mac or PC!

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/975419/
Click to expand...


Depends on the embedded video. If it isn't flash I see it fine from the iPad.

On topic...I think it would be great for your dad needthephone. Either the apple store could set it up for him or your brother that is close. I would recommend your brother back it up for him once in a while in iTunes just in case and then when the update to iOS4 in the fall he could update it for him as well. But keep it seamless for your dad. Would that be possible? Of course depending on how your dad uses it you may not want to do the update if he doesn't need/want it either.

Does your dad have an iTunes account? He will need one to download apps, just like the iPhone. But once it is set up can get apps on the iPad itself. Not sure about setting one up from the iPad since I already had an account.
 
I'd be careful. Without a computer running iTunes, your father will have no way to back up any purchased content. Loading photos and making albums will be problematic (and without backups, he risks losing all his photos).

Since he has a laptop, I suggest you clean it out of Windows crapware and make it stable for weekly iPad backups. He doesn't need to use it for anything else, but I hesitate recommending an iPad without ANY way to back up its content.
 
needthephone said:
Thanks! But will he need a pc/Mac for on going maintenance eg software updates?

Anyone any recommendations for which is best uk network to go with?

Thanks
Click to expand...

Orange actually has the fastest and best 3G coverage in the UK. but you should check on your area to see what the best network choice would be for you.

Once your ipad is set up, you only need to plug it in to transfer music and the likes. But you can download it from the ipad through the itunes app.
The only thing you would have to eventually plug an ipad in for is software updates and maybe the odd back up. But this could be done on anyones computer in theory. So if hes not bothered about syncing all this new music and films onto it (as he doesn't own a computer anyway, this isn't an issue). No he doesn't need a computer. Lend someones laptop for 30 mins to update every now and again.
 
3lionsbecks said:
I really don't understand this. My iPad plays YouTube perfectly fine so I'm not sure what other people's issues are but I don't think it is the iPad that's the problem withe there YouTube.
Click to expand...

Likewise, YouTube app is fine for me. Please stop spreading information as if it was the case for all users, hsotnicam8002.
 
YouTube -- good. Btw I haven't backed up to iTunes since I first JB when we could first do it. I hope I'm not playing with fire ;). Nonetheless I haven't had a need.
 
Thanks I think he'll get one but there is a niche here for the less tech savvy user to be serviced, maybe someone could set up a mobile service where they could come round once a month for a set subscription ??
 
You can redownload any apps you've purchased if you deleted them or lost them somehow. Just go back to the app store and download the apps, and it pulls a window up saying you already purchased the app and do you want it download it again for free.
 
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