freebird
Drama Llama
'cause I'm free as a bird now
Posts: 6,927 
|
Post by freebird on Jun 16, 2016 21:02:00 GMT
My MIL is 77 and uses a PC. she likes to check her email and do genealogy. When something is going wrong though, she can't fix it she needs help. She's asked about tablets before but never said for sure she wanted one.
Amazon has fires on sale for $40 until Saturday. I was thinking maybe a good christmas gift. Or should I wait until it's closer to Christmas in case something goes wrong with it?
|
|
Dalai Mama
Drama Llama
La Pea Boheme
Posts: 6,985
Jun 26, 2014 0:31:31 GMT
|
Post by Dalai Mama on Jun 16, 2016 21:03:34 GMT
I wouldn't wait.
|
|
smginaz Suzy
Pearl Clutcher
Je suis desole.
Posts: 2,606
Jun 26, 2014 17:27:30 GMT
|
Post by smginaz Suzy on Jun 16, 2016 21:05:40 GMT
I bought my dad a tablet. He still doesn't get a lot of it but he was using his brother's and seemed to really enjoy it, so I thought it would be great for him to have his own. I am glad I did, although he still only does pretty basic stuff, I know that he appreciates it.
|
|
milocat
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,570
Location: 55 degrees north in Alberta, Canada
|
Post by milocat on Jun 16, 2016 21:14:15 GMT
For $40 I'd buy one. If you think she'll have too much difficultly figuring things out and depending on how far it is from your house to hers and how often you see her I might want to get her the exact same tablet you have. When my mom get her first smartphone she got the same brand and model as me then she'd call and I could walk her through things step by step exactly.
|
|
|
|
Post by papersilly on Jun 16, 2016 22:02:27 GMT
I think a tablet would be helpful if she can't, or has trouble getting to, her desk top. at least it's portable and she can use it while on the couch or sitting in bed. and if you can get it for $40, even better.
|
|
|
|
Post by jemmls4 on Jun 16, 2016 22:09:24 GMT
I have an iPad and I bought a fire a few months ago. HATE the fire. I find it very difficult to use. I ended up buying another iPad. So now DH uses the olde one (it's 5 years old) for games and surfing and I have my new one for all the things I do.
|
|
azredhead
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,755
|
Post by azredhead on Jun 16, 2016 22:12:31 GMT
Yes go for it. We're giving my DH's aunt his 4th. generation one for the same reason. She's not so great with computers but the big screen and touch pad would be a lot easier for her. We've already showed her on Dh's (newer one) and one her SIL's and she loves it. She likes the idea of starting with the basic anyway to see if she likes it. So that's a good start.
|
|
|
|
Post by cmpeter on Jun 16, 2016 22:14:59 GMT
All of her kids chipped in and bought my MILan iPad two years ago. They were all afraid that it would end up not being used. But she loves it and uses it all the time.
My Kindle Fire collects dust. I don't think they are worth the $40.
|
|
|
|
Post by femalebusiness on Jun 16, 2016 22:19:05 GMT
I have an iPad and I bought a fire a few months ago. HATE the fire. I find it very difficult to use. I ended up buying another iPad. So now DH uses the olde one (it's 5 years old) for games and surfing and I have my new one for all the things I do. I agree about the iPad. I have one and if it dies I will buy another one instantly. I bought my husband a generic inexpensive tablet so he could listen to I Heart Radio and it is never used as a tablet. I love my iPad. |
|
|
|
Post by mari on Jun 16, 2016 22:29:24 GMT
I wouldn't rush based on the price. The Fire tablets are on sale often for $40. Last Black Friday/Christmas, they were down to $30 or $35
|
|
JustTricia
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,842
Location: Indianapolis
|
Post by JustTricia on Jun 16, 2016 22:31:01 GMT
Since you mentioned the Fire being on sale for $40 (only $10 off it's normal price), I'm guessing price is a consideration. For $40, I think the Fire is a great choice. I actually bought a new one for myself last weekend (my old one was four years old and I wanted the expandable memory this one has).
Now, if money was no object, I would be buying iPads. But since it is, a Fire is a fine choice.
|
|
freebird
Drama Llama
'cause I'm free as a bird now
Posts: 6,927
|
Post by freebird on Jun 16, 2016 22:34:09 GMT
Sorry guys, I'm not an apple fan and there's no way I'm going to buy her one of those. I'm a kindle fan all the way (I have 4 already myself). Plus, it would be easier to help her out with it if I actually know how to run the thing.
|
|
|
|
Post by imkat on Jun 16, 2016 22:43:04 GMT
Yes! My mom is a similar age, and we got her an iPad two years ago. She uses it all the time and loves it. She has severe problems with her eyes, and the iPad allows her to supersize the text. She uses it for email and all of her reading. She gets free books from the library and goes through a few a week. At $40, no need to wait for a special occasion.
|
|
|
|
Post by grammadee on Jun 16, 2016 22:50:37 GMT
Sorry guys, I'm not an apple fan and there's no way I'm going to buy her one of those. I'm a kindle fan all the way (I have 4 already myself). Plus, it would be easier to help her out with it if I actually know how to run the thing. Then get her the Fire. As milocat suggested, it will make it easier for you to be the troubleshooter at a distance. Also, if she travels, she will be able to maintain her email contacts and have a familiar platform to search from. The kids got dh and I each an ipad a few years ago. I also have an iPhone so was quicker to pick up Apple navigation, but dh uses his ALOT. He checks the weather and news before going in for coffee with the guys, looks up EVERYTHING he is wondering about, uses it for texting so he is in touch with the kids & grandkids. He likes that he can use it in his favorite kitchen chair or his recliner, rather than going off to the office to use his PC. |
|
mlana
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,523
|
Post by mlana on Jun 16, 2016 22:59:51 GMT
I bought my mom and Granny Kindles and they loved them. Granny especially loved the slot games.
I set them up on my accounts at Amazon so they could read my books and use my Prime and I could handle any problems that might come up with the Kindles. This also meant that any games they bought were charged to my account, but I was ok with that. Granny passed away last summer, but Mom still uses both her and Granny's. When one's battery dies, Mom just picks up the other one.
For the games, books and videos, it's worked well. I don't know that either ever used it for anything else.
Marcy
|
|
georgiapea
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,846
|
Post by georgiapea on Jun 17, 2016 0:19:29 GMT
I'm your MIL's age and love my Samsung tablet. I have Nook on it and use it every day for research.
|
|
GiantsFan
Prolific Pea
Posts: 8,456
Site Supporter
Jun 27, 2014 14:44:56 GMT
|
Post by GiantsFan on Jun 17, 2016 1:10:47 GMT
Sorry guys, I'm not an apple fan and there's no way I'm going to buy her one of those. I'm a kindle fan all the way (I have 4 already myself). Plus, it would be easier to help her out with it if I actually know how to run the thing. I'm not an apple fan either. I had the original Fire and I wanted to love it , but to be honest with you I didn't love it. I gave it to my Dad (70+) and he uses it to play solitaire and mahjong. Apps come from the Amazon store only (at least this on this original one). My parents also have an Ipad that they use for email and looking up interesting things up on the internet. I bought myself a Samsung 8" tablet from Costco and love it so much more than the Fire. But of course it was more expensive. |
|
|
|
Post by utmr on Jun 17, 2016 19:28:18 GMT
Get it. We my parents a hand me down iPad and they loved it. Newspaper, Facebook, email, their favorite websites. We gave them an iPad because that's what we had, but as you have a kindle as well you can help her as needed.
And do it today. Christmas is a long way off.
|
|
Doxiemom
Junior Member
Posts: 76
|
Post by Doxiemom on Jun 17, 2016 19:37:05 GMT
My 87 year old mother LOVES and uses her Kindle constantly. She likes to read and this gives her easy and fast access to lots of books. For birthdays and Christmas I usually give her an Amazon gift card so she can buy books. My sister bought it for her one year for Christmas and it is by far the most useful gift she has ever received.
|
|
|
|
Post by Spongemom Scrappants on Jun 17, 2016 20:23:27 GMT
Sorry guys, I'm not an apple fan and there's no way I'm going to buy her one of those. I'm a kindle fan all the way (I have 4 already myself). Plus, it would be easier to help her out with it if I actually know how to run the thing. I am an Apple fan and that's what we got my mama, but I get your reasoning for the Fire. I would encourage you to get her a device whichever you choose. My mama has said it's hands-down the best gift she's received in recent years. She's on that thing ALL the time!  |
|
freebird
Drama Llama
'cause I'm free as a bird now
Posts: 6,927
|
Post by freebird on Jun 17, 2016 20:30:07 GMT
Thanks everyone. I bought her the blue one. Hopefully there'll be no problems with it so it's not out of warranty!! I might give it to her for her bday in October instead. I'm probably buying her a new PC for Christmas, hers is about shot!
|
|
