Tablets for the techno-inept

[vickster]

My fairly elderly parents are considering replacing their ancient laptop with a tablet for web surfing and email reading. They have never used one, they have no understanding of the functionality and wouldn't know an app from an email 'number' (as my mum calls them )

I have an iPad myself but no experience of any other brands. I don't think they need to pay the premium for Apple but I have no idea how the likes of Samsung, Asus etc compare? I have a Windows phone for work and it is utter s*** so I would steer them away from Windows stuff (perhaps unnecessarily but...)

They like John Lewis, who offer extended warranties and my brother works for JL so can get a discount

Any suggestions with Christmas round the corner and all

 

[ColinJ]

I think they might struggle with clicking on links and typing on the screen. Whatever you get them, I would consider getting them a Bluetooth keyboard and/or a stylus to use with the tablet.

 

[vickster]

Thanks Colin, they can't use the laptop without a mouse so that's a good shout

My dad likes a game or 10 of solitaire so it'll need to be able to have that loaded

 

[stephec]

Solitare's available as a free app on Android, it's on my tablet and phone.

 

[ColinJ]

Spider Solitaire is my favourite and I have a free Android version of that. (Also Backgammon and Sudoku.)

 

[vickster]

I have it on my iPad too. My dad is an avid reader, so if he had a tablet, we might be able to convert him to kindle too

 

[ColinJ]

The Kindle app works really well on my Galaxy Tab, except that I can't read the tab screen in direct sunlight so no reading outdoors!

 

[SWSteve]

Mother has a Kindle Fire (maybe a HD one, I don't know) and gets on well, housemate also has one so they can't be too bad. As far as I'm aware it's got Android Marketplace so all apps can be had that way, plus it's a kindle so books aren't going to be forgotten about.

 

[stephec]

Can they borrow a tablet for a week from a friend to see if they like the style of it before committing to buying one?

 

[ScotiaLass]

I have a Samsung tablet (the newest one) and they do a keyboard for it which is great....you click the tab into it and it sits like a small netbook.
I don't find typing with the onscreen a problem but can imagine it may be for your parents.
The Android system is great and much better than using iTunes etc....I got rid of my iPad after having one for years, in favour of the Samsung - I don't regret it at all!

 

[swee'pea99]

How elderly is elderly? Old people find new stuff very impenetrable. On the other hand, tablets are about as intuitive as tech gets. I think the suggestion above of somehow getting them one to play with for a couple of weeks and see how they get on is a really good one. If they get the hang of it, I don't think there's a whole lot to choose between the big names. Kindle HD, Google Nexus, Samsung etc. If they can get their heads round (and their fingers happy with) the whole tablet experience, they'll be happy with whatever you get them. If not, you'd be better of getting them a new laptop.

 

[snorri]

I'm no computer expert but this is my story for what it's worth....
I bought a Nexus partly as a safeguard as I was concerned my laptop was about to die. I can't say I took to it , swiping and trying to type on the small screen were a bit of a pain. I failed to keep the battery charged and it lost a lot of the info I had tediously fed into it. The laptop has not yet died but I bought a replacement and although taking a little time to adjust to Windows 8,it was easier to master than the Nexus which has barely been touched since buying the laptop.

 

[judder]

Recently bought a Samsung Tab Pro..Its very easy to work and great for the Internet and emails..

 

[Shut Up Legs]

Here you go. They don't use much battery power, or so I've heard

 

[slowmotion]

My daughter is so frustrated with my ignorance of all matters technical that she thought these tablets might ease my pain.