[Kate D]

Hi All,

In the guilt of my impending departure to NZ, I'm about to buy my folks (well, my mother really!) a PC to stay in touch - photos, skype, IM, email etc. She'll be a totally newbie silver surfer NEVER having used a pc before in her life. She's nervously keen though reading between the lines, and she's always been interested when I've shown her the practical kind of things I do on-line. The mobile I bought her a few years ago - well with the aid of 9 grandkids, she's mastered text so with a bit of encouragement she definitely has potential! She's 73 to put it in context, my 82 year old senile father, at best, will look over her shoulder...

So here's my dilemma - work colleagues with elderly parents as newbie users all rave about Macs as plug and play etc. The rest of the family, including all my brothers left behind who can offer support, are all PC users. Gut feels says Mac will suit her better, brothers are kind of pushing for PCs, and after all, they'll be the ones around her to help/bail her out etc. As a PC user currently, I know how often I'm prompted to update things on-line and possibly alter tool bars, etc inadvertently in the process and I just don't want my Mum to have to deal with that. I might even buy a Mac myself when I arrive to a) be another user in the family, and b) I'll need something when I get there and desktop is in the container/storage for months, so that's another consideration. I haven't used a Mac in years but remember being really impressed with them.

So, without wanting to start a turf war on PCs vs Macs, I'd be really interested in real experiences that people have had when dealing with these considerations for elderly parents left behind! With guilt, the fact that Macs are twice the price is not a consideration at this time...!

Kate

[Milliemoo]

Hi there,

I'm by no means a 'computer geek' but IMHO I really think a Mac would suit her better. They are soooooooooo easy to set up and you have much less worries than you do with a PC. You don't really have to concern yourself about virus' etc like you do with a PC.

PC's have there place (in a skip :D only joking) if you're a serious hard core gamer for example, but for everyday surfing, emails, ease of use, a Mac wins hands down. Plus they look preeeeedy :nice1

Milliemoo

[ldlim]

A Mac is the easiest to operate by far and would most likely be the most adaptable for your Mother.

I personally prefer PC - but then I come from a family of computer geeks and programmers.

[macuser]

As a personal choice I have always had macs and would agree that they are much more user friendly than pc's. Just 1 of MANY areas in which macs beat pc's every time (IMHO). However, (as you mentioned this) you are still offered to run software update when new versions are found etc. and as all her tech support will be pc literate I would guess you would be better with a pc.

If you set it up to run skype, email etc on startup then she would literally just have to switch the thing on and it would all be there for her.

We're going to do the same for my parents in law when we go too.

Good luck

Helen

[dharder]

I think Mac would be fine if you get a similar setup yourself. Even though it might be very easy to use, I'm sure there will be moments when you might have to do some telephone support ('and now what do you see on the screen'), and for that I always found it good to have exactly what the person at the other end has.

If everyone in the family has PCs, then it might be easier to support her if she had one as well.

If she knows people with Macs that she could turn to ('and which button do I click now?'), then I think it'll be fine.

Daniela

[Milliemoo]

She'll need the support with a PC, but with a Mac, there may be the odd occasion she needs help, but no where near as much as if she had a PC.

If you're worried about updates, you can just change the setting so that it doesn't automatically check for updates. But all you do is click yes and it does it all for you though...seriously, she couldn't get confused by it. So long as she knows to expect a wee pop up every few weeks and all she does is agree to it, then she can't go wrong.

Milliemoo

[shakyle2906]

Hi All,

In the guilt of my impending departure to NZ, I'm about to buy my folks (well, my mother really!) a PC to stay in touch - photos, skype, IM, email etc. She'll be a totally newbie silver surfer NEVER having used a pc before in her life. She's nervously keen though reading between the lines, and she's always been interested when I've shown her the practical kind of things I do on-line. The mobile I bought her a few years ago - well with the aid of 9 grandkids, she's mastered text so with a bit of encouragement she definitely has potential! She's 73 to put it in context, my 82 year old senile father, at best, will look over her shoulder...

So here's my dilemma - work colleagues with elderly parents as newbie users all rave about Macs as plug and play etc. The rest of the family, including all my brothers left behind who can offer support, are all PC users. Gut feels says Mac will suit her better, brothers are kind of pushing for PCs, and after all, they'll be the ones around her to help/bail her out etc. As a PC user currently, I know how often I'm prompted to update things on-line and possibly alter tool bars, etc inadvertently in the process and I just don't want my Mum to have to deal with that. I might even buy a Mac myself when I arrive to a) be another user in the family, and b) I'll need something when I get there and desktop is in the container/storage for months, so that's another consideration. I haven't used a Mac in years but remember being really impressed with them.

So, without wanting to start a turf war on PCs vs Macs, I'd be really interested in real experiences that people have had when dealing with these considerations for elderly parents left behind! With guilt, the fact that Macs are twice the price is not a consideration at this time...!

Kate



Hi Kate

I know hardly anything on computers, leave all the techy stuff to OH.

Just wanted to say that i used to work for Age Concern back in the UK, who as you may know have offices all over the UK.

Most Age Concerns' offer free computer lessons, i know we did and they still do. Clients were able to meet with one of our volunteers on a daily/weekly basis at their offices, or you may be able to get someone to go to their house. My friends went to parents in law and set everything up for them, they were a massive help. They may feel better learnning with someone new than relying on the family.

It may be worth contacting them to see if they can be of any help.

HTH

Sharon

[IanW99]

Personally I would go with the computer type that you are most familiar with as it saves you having to learn or try to work out something that haven't got any experience of. Certainly if you just want to set up a PC so that it gives them the bare minimum and everything else is 'disabled' then you could do this to make it as easy as possible and ensure that they don't do something wrong.

Whichever way you decide, seriously consider using / adding some remote access software such as LogMeIn which allows you to take control of the computer (PC or MAC). So that you can provide remote support yourself, all they would need to do is switch on the computer and then you could take over.

Ian

[straff]

I would suggest a Mac as well you can login remotely very easily to fix things (called back to my mac in leopard) also you have ichat so you have fully presetup video chat with no issues of trying to get it to work. As they say it just works! Also software updates don't screw up the computer! Doesn't require an antivirus and you'll be able to share everything so easily!

[CJ22]

I'd go with a Mac also - they just need less maintainance, and don't break down as regularly as PCs do. They're also not as prone to viruses etc. Might be worth looking at a laptop, so she doesn't have to spend all her time sitting at a desk. If you do, get one with a built-in cam, but don't be tempted to use a built-in mic wth Skype etc., as you get feedback - you need a headset.

[Kate D]

Thanks for the feedback guys. Macbook is what I've decided on as I did a fair bit more research yesterday - both on line and in shops, as well as hard bitten user info from here. In fact one other random customer in the shop yesterday (maybe it's a female thing!) was telling me about how her and her hubby had just converted from PCs and couldn't speak highly enough of Macs! And yes, they are " so preeedy" as was quoted earlier:-)

Top tips about headsets for skype and remote access stuff though. Plan is to order the laptop tomorrow and break the news to my brothers. Hey - if it's that user friendly, my locally living PC user brothers should be able to assist if required with ease. Surely...

Sheez - it's my mother at the end of the day! Contact with her and ease of use for her is paramount. I go back to visit in less than two weeks (600Km from here) - I'll let you know if the newly delivered PC and broadband work to plan! Maybe others will be interested.

Now if only my EOI would move from selected to decision successful, I'd be able to sleep at nights...! It's amazing how quicky I too have become a late night forum addict!

Kate

[CJ22]

They're still processing it a month later? Nuts, I'd been assuming that part (selected to successful) went quite quickly.