Tablets for the techno-inept

[vickster]

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.

Mum is 69, dad 72

I could lend them my iPad for a bit...cold turkey

A small laptop might be a better option, but they need to sit at a desk to use the mouse which can be restrictive. I like the tablet + stylus option

 

[Dave 123]

My 80 yo mum has an ipad. She's kind of ok with it, but she's buggered the battery by constantly turning it on, using it for a minute, turning it off then turning it on an hour later.
Now the battery doesn't hold much charge.

 

[IDMark2]

Tesco have deals available on their original Hudl as they have a new model due in a week or two. My Mum (6*, she's here so she told me to put the star in even though you don't know her) picked one up using her points against it for £17.00 total. I asked her how she was getting on with it but she said she hasn't charged it yet! If your folks have points it may be a good cheap way of testing the waters, she was prompted to get one after I showed her some pics on my Nexus.

 

[ufkacbln]

My MiL uses a Kindle Fire, but only for games and reading

It is superb as the screen can be enlarged to suit her failing sight

We have unfortunately not allowed her unsupervised internet access as she tends to believe all the emails, and buys far too much tack

 

[welsh dragon]

69 isn't that old these days. I would go for something like a 10 inch samsung galaxy tab or similar. They won't want anyting too small. I have a bluetooth keyboard on mine, but to be honest I don't use it. I don't find the built in keyboard difficult or fiddly to use. Samsungs are easy to use. I love mine. What do they want? That's the main question. Take them to somewhere they can see and touch and use the tabs to see which ones they like best.

 

[smokeysmoo]

We got my folks a Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10 inch a couple of years ago, (they're now 78 & 76 years old).

Both were/are basically PC literate, at least they could deal with email, type a letter, do their shopping etc, but they still had worries about getting a tablet.

Mum was going to get a 7 inch tab but I said if she was going to be ordering shopping for example then bigger was best, (leave it @Fnaar )

At the time Samsung had a cashback deal as well which meant they got £50 cashback IIRC, plus I have a Galaxy Note 10.1, so the combination reassured them that the Samsung was the way to go.

So where are they now a couple of years down the line? They wouldn't be without it TBH, in fact Mum keeps making noises about Dad having his own one now

As for Samsung v's Asus v's others, IMO they're all much of a muchness as they all run Android anyway.

 

[jnrmczip]

Surface pro 3 is excellent

 

[welsh dragon]

Surface pro 3 is excellent

It's expensive though isn't it?

 

[Fnaar]

My 8-incher is great*, I fiddle with it all the time. Mrs F prefers a 10-incher, so has her own piece of equipment**

*Samsung Galaxy tab 3.0
**some tablet thingy

 

[jnrmczip]

It's expensive though isn't it?

Is expensive but worth it. My dad is 56 and he has recently bought a 10 inch android tablet from eBay (new) for £75 and it's also excellent and comes with a little key board too. I am going there today and will let you know the exact model you can have a look at it

 

[welsh dragon]

Is expensive but worth it. My dad is 56 and he has recently bought a 10 inch android tablet from eBay (new) for £75 and it's also excellent and comes with a little key board too. I am going there today and will let you know the exact model you can have a look at it

Thanks.

 

[stephec]

My 8-incher is great*, I fiddle with it all the time. Mrs F prefers a 10-incher, so has her own piece of equipment**

*Samsung Galaxy tab 3.0
**some tablet thingy

Typical that, no matter what you have they always want one a bit bigger.

 

[jnrmczip]

allwinner 10 inch from eBay £75 has android kit-kat and a 1gig of ram which is good check it out @welsh dragon

 

[jnrmczip]

ps he is into computer things and searched for the best one in that price range and swears this is it

 

[welsh dragon]

allwinner 10 inch from eBay £75 has android kit-kat and a 1gig of ram which is good check it out @welsh dragon

They are excellent. Definitely somewhere people should look first. Great prices as well.