Laptop for my mother in law?

[Celebration]

She is 84 and not at all computer literate, and lives in a retirement place apartment. However she definitely has all her faculties, and in the past had that "My Mail Station" to do emails to grandchildren. That thing was a piece of crap, so no wonder she ditched it.

Now, she rarely hears from her out of town grandchildren and she is thinking about getting a laptop for email. I can't really see her surfing the web but she might want the ability to click on a site emailed to her. If she got used to it, she might want to try more. As for web access at the retirement place, I am thinking her phone line and AOL would be a good place to start, to keep it as easy as possible and not have to install anything. But of course I don't like AOL. But if she wanted something more sophisticated she could go to it later. I actually think AOL might not be a bad place for her to start.

Okay, she doesn't need Microsoft Office for sure. She will want to be able to open pictures.

Anyway, I have a laptop that is a hand me down, but I have never bought a laptop. I saw a discussion about laptops below this, and I do know that Toshiba has a good reputation. I am just open to suggestions about all this.

Also, her phone system actually goes through the retirement place. Is that a problem? They actually offer web access from some computers downstairs at the place, and I have offered to show her how to use them, but she does not want to do that for some reason--now she seems to want her own laptop.

Any suggestions you all have about all this are welcome. This is a sort of general what should we recommend for her question.

[CK_John]

1. I think you need to check with the apt management first to find out

what ISP opportunities they offer if any. They may have a wireless hotspot that will receive at her apt or they may have a contract with a dialup provider. Of course they are a business and will act accordingly.

Try to find out for her if any of her friend in the complex have laptops and who provides the service.

Also, google ISP providers in her area and call and see if any service the apt complex.

This is the most important thing to find out, along with the costs. Then go shopping for a refurbished LT or check Craig's list or go to a local computer fixit shop or person to get a used one.

Avoid AOL they are may not be around much longer.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

2. For refurb laptops...

Check the Costco website. Costco has a computer refurbishing division. Their prices are great.

[qanda]

3. We bought my mother a laptop for her birthday

And all I can say is that unless you want endless calls about what she should or shouldn't allow then you should probably make sure it has XP on it instead of Vista. We got my mom an HP and, except for Vista, it's working out well. The thing she likes the most is the webcam and being able to see and talk to her grandchildren.

[canetoad]

4. I guess you (and she) need to take into account

things like mobility of her hands, her vision - all that stuff that could make using a computer an unpleasant experience if the frustration levels grew too large.

There are lots of work-arounds; attach a full size keyboard and mouse, make sure font sizes are set up so the screen is readable. In a stroke of genius, my boss bought a tiny tablet PC, planning to use it in the office but also take it when travelling. Now his desk is home to a 17in LCD plus kb, mouse etc. The frustration of viewing everything on the tiny screen grew too great.

Go for a larger size, even if it means considering second hand.

[Celebration]

5. the mouse for sure

The My Mail Station thing convinces me that despite her liking to act pitifully helpless at times, she can do this. She was able to use the very small keyboard and read impossibly small print. She has never used a mouse and definitely I would get her a mouse with a laptop rather then whatever built in thing it has.

My husband actually has a 17 inch laptop and he has an attached keyboard and mouse to it. He ordered it from HP awhile back. I don't think I want an HP.

I appreciate ALL the answers here. I intend to check with the retirement home, but I bet none of the residents there have separate online providers and I doubt if wireless anything would be available. AOL might go out of business? Hmmmmm.......

I am not that familiar with Vista but XP sounds like a good idea. I'll let you know how it goes.

[canetoad]

6. If there is no wireless

and she needs to use dial-up from the phone plug in her room, is there any reason to use AOL? You could probably find a small local dial-up provider with really cheap rates for the amount of use she intends.

[Celebration]

7. how about net zero?????

I just have a weird feeling there are no small local dial-ups available. I have a computer guy coming to my house tomorrow and I will ask what he suggests about all this, as well as calling the administrators of the retirement home. It is just that he is a little long winded at times and I pay him by the hour.

It is sort of a shame for everyone involved that I am the most computer literate person of the family living in town! I would willingly relinquish that role (especially with regard to mother in law!). Please pray for me that everything goes relatively smoothly.

[CK_John]

8. With dialup ensure they have a local # to avoid long distance charges.

Here a link for localnet which has good service in this area. Click on your state and it show cities and towns with local numbers.

<http://www.localnet.com/coverage.cgi>

[Celebration]

10. this could actually help ME!

I looked for the tiny town where our fishing trailer is, and, hard to believe, but it is listed. I think I will try this instead of AOL when we are there. I can get my AOL account back to the five hour per month plan. That is the only place I use it, but I like having the AOL address for various things. Thanks!!

[CK_John]

13. AOL has been trying to get out dialup for several yrs. Check article from

CNET.
<http://www.news.com/AOL-hanging-up-on-dial-up-customers/2100-1025_3-6043910.html>

[canetoad]

9. I think your next step

is see what the story is at the retirement home. IMO a nurse/supervisor is not the best person to talk to. Do they have some kind of office or IT administrator?

Best get an accurate overview of the facilities available before you talk to computer guy at $$$ per hour.

[Celebration]

11. I agree

I just remembered someone there that has internet access, and she has AOL. So, obviously the phone line that goes through the switchboard will most likely work fine. I am still thinking AOL for ease of use. If they quit on us then we can look at other options.

Anyone that can put up with My Mail Station as long as she did can put up with dialup and AOL.

She's not exactly the type to buy a refurbished laptop, though I think it is an excellent idea. We'll have to play this one by ear.

[RC]

16. I don't think you want net zero. Saying it was Slow was being nice.

There should be other local dial ups or even a local wireless???

[wakemeupwhenitsover]

12. This is the ISP I used & never had any trouble. I only gave

it up when I went to DSL.

They have tons of numbers & are cheap.

http://www.isp.net/

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

14. You say she doesn't need MS Office

But, she could end up getting something attached as a spreadsheet.

Open Office is free, and seems to open most MSOffice documents.

NetZero works fine, as long as the phone call is local.

For "mouse training", Solitaire is a good game. It's a familiar game, and can use drag/drop, double-click, etc.

[Onlooker]

15. I boutght my parents a Gateway

My father was 84 and my mother 80 when I bought it. They felt the most important issue was its weight, so important that to save a pound I got them one with a 14" screen, and it's very nice. I keep it on low resolution and put everything they need (Internet, Microsoft Write, folder for their email attachments, etc.) on the desktop and everything they don't need into a folder I call "technical." Look around and you might be able to get her a free printer/copier with it, and old people find copiers very handy in dealing with their personal affairs.. (I did at Best Buy). As far as the specs go, make sure it has 1 gb of memory or more.

Here's a pretty good website for finding one:

http://www.myproductadvisor.com/mpa/home.do

If going with a PC, I think Vista Premium is better for old people because it has better looking desktop and a couple of good accessibility options. The processor doesn't matter, but get at least 1 gb RAM. And, of course, a normal mouse is a lot easier to use than the portable one.

Also, she can probably keep it plugged in all the time, and simply close it to turn it off and open it to turn it on. I was reluctant to allow that, but after calling Gateway they told me the only real harm that will do is wear out the batter more quickly. But, after a year, it's still working fine.

[Gore1FL]

17. Go to the Dell outlet for laptops

You can get them cheap (I have a scratch and dent that I saved about $500 on) and the scrtch is only visble under the right light and looks like a hair landed on it.


http://outlet.us.dell.com/ARBOnlineSales/topics/global.aspx/arb/online/en/InventorySearch?c=us&cs=22&l=en&lob=INSP&MODEL_DESC=Inspiron%201520&s=dfh

use the following search criteria:

model -- Inspiron 1520 (intel core 2 duo)

min memory -- 2000 (you could get by with as little as 1000, but don;t recommend it.

video card --- 256 (I doubt she is a gamer, but it is really sluggish in vista without it IMO

I'd recommend Vista home premium, but vista home basic is probaly fine.

There is one out there right now for $779. (this changes by the minute...)