A lot of elderly find it easier to swallow capsules...
We just got our Grammy a “MailBug”...it is just for emailing...very simple...she loves it...she is 94. Just google mailbug. All you have to do is plug it into a phone jack and you’re ready to go. Cheap too.
What makes you think he or she won’t use it for gaming. Didn’t the new version of Call of Duty just come out?
Have you looked at the iPad? Pretty much impossible to not be able to use.
Why would you just not use an iPad or iPad 2? They can be operated by just about anyone who can see...
ipad.
My 75 y/o mother got an iPad and loves it! She browses the internet and reads book from both iTunes and Kindle apps. She likes it so much she went out and bought an iPhone too.
We have an iPad and a Samsung android tab. For simplicity, the iPad wins. My 3 year old figured it out with no problems. The Samsung touch interface is a little more squirrelly, it has a lot more mis-touches than the iPad. I am intrigued by the Kindle Fire, though. Maybe somebody who has tried one will chime in.
The new Kindle Fire is supposed to be pretty easy to use, and priced at $199 it’s not a huge investment as a “let’s try it and see how it works out” type thing.
You asked.
For the low price ($200-250), I think the Nook/Kindle Fire may be what you want. It can easily and quickly send and receive email. Not knowing her eyesight, the ability to read books in LARGE text, and various fonts - may be something she would really like.
The iPad is my particular favorite; very easy to use, can easily make text larger - with the 10in screen, it can display more of a large text than the smaller Kindle/Nook can with it’s 7inch screen. iPad will run more money, in the neighborhood of $600 for one I would consider (16 Gig is just too small for full utilization).
If it is just email, look for a Peek Pronto.
If Simplicity is your game, iPad is the winner, hands down. Ease of use nothing remotely comes close.
Pretty much any Android tablet or iPad should be good for basic Internet use. You mention e-mail; is she mostly going to be receiving messages and writing them? (If she’d going to be writing messages of any length, a netbook might be better.)
I don’t mean to hijack the thread, and this is not totally off base, but since the FR geeks are sure to be on this thread:
Can I expect to be able to access network files with a tablet, or does it just somehow use the WiFi connection ONLY to access the Internet?
Thanks.
I vote iPad for a couple of reasons:
1. Instant-on - no waiting for boot-up
2. Click on 1 button to launch email. Very intuitive.
3. iKindle app syncs with an existing kindle account if you have one.
4. iKindle app has the ability to use reverse resolution (black background with white type) which is very helpful to readers with low-vision. This is not currently available on actual Kindles. I think you can even make the font larger in the iKindle app than you can in the Kindle itself.
5. With the advent of iCloud, you no longer need to sync with an actual computer to back it up. It just needs to be attached to wifi and plugged in.
6. Can store photos of kids/grandkids to show to off how cute they are.
7. Free classes offered at the Apple Stores to learn how to use them.
There’s more, but that’s just off the top of my head. I recently talked my sister-in-law in her 70s to get one, and she LOVES it and has begun using it for even more than I thought she would.
Mike
My wife and I certainly qualify as elderly and we both grew up in a distinctly nontechnical atmosphere. Mining camp and rice paddy certainly not an introduction to modernity.
iPad gets both our votes. If you can read a book, you can adapt to the iPad. Plus, if you travel, the iPad is easy and useful in keeping in touch plus cheaper than cell phone.
http://www.pogo.com/games/luau?pageSection=ag_list1_pl_freebingo&stMinverPageSection=category
You can play for free as a guest, or sign up, also for free. The site is ad-supported (there are 30 second ads between games).
If you win a bingo game, you get a “jackpot spin”, a longshot chance to win money or prizes. The spin gives players a goal to shoot for.
I've search many sites for bingo for my older relatives, and this is the best one I've found.
I have an iPad and a Transormer (android tablet)
As as checking email or getting on the internet, it’s pretty much a wash.
Android is going to be cheaper.
If you wanted to video call, facebook would be pretty easy if you want an iDevice yourself.
I personally find using the Android tab easier to use over all but that is very subjective.
If I were buying a device for an 83 year old, I would also look at notebooks, as eyes get older, the larger screen makes a huge difference.