Best easy internet option for new technophobic user?

[starr69]

Hi,

My (75 year old) mom has decided to go online primarily for skype and fb. She doesn't have a landline anymore, so what would the best option be for her to get setup easily and quickly. She is in Port Elizabeth and I live in Cape Town, so I can't help her with setting up, and I'd like to be able to order something from my side, quickly and with minimal fuss. She probably won't be a very heavy user, iburst at her address doesn't show the best coverage - would that be a no-no for skyping? Any suggestions? TIA.

chris

 

[Azbubu]

I'd say mweb. :shrug:

 

[MickeyD]

Depending on the suburb ---> 8ta data contract

 

[starr69]

Thanks. She's in Humewood. Would it be best for her to wait out getting a fixed line solution? Or are the wireless options viable?

 

[MickeyD]

Thanks. She's in Humewood. Would it be best for her to wait out getting a fixed line solution? Or are the wireless options viable?

Humewood has excellent 8ta reception (also Vodacom, Cell C and MTN).

In terms of price and usage I would use a wireless solution UNLESS she is wanting to use the telephone for calls.

 

[starr69]

Humewood has excellent 8ta reception (also Vodacom, Cell C and MTN).

In terms of price and usage I would use a wireless solution UNLESS she is wanting to use the telephone for calls.

Thanks for that. She moved away from having a landline years ago. She uses her cellphone for calling - don't think she see the point in having both. Would the 8ta work well for skype?

 

[Azbubu]

So not mweb then?

 

[MickeyD]

Thanks for that. She moved away from having a landline years ago. She uses her cellphone for calling - don't think she see the point in having both. Would the 8ta work well for skype?

It will work. As will any of the other mobile operators' service.

 

[MickeyD]

So not mweb then?

Total cost of reinstalling a fixed line service, monthly POTS rental, monthly ADSL rental, monthly ISP cost vs a single mobile data prepaid or contract monthly cost for the small amount of data required.

 

[Azbubu]

So the 8ta 10gig?

 

[MickeyD]

So the 8ta 10gig?

This is where the skype boffins need to come in and offer advice on time/bandwidth required. IMO the 2/3Gb packages from any operator should suffice.

 

[droplet]

in my experience, skype video calls get 6 hours to the GB

 

[Azbubu]

Suppose it depends how much she skypes and the quality she uses.

 

[starr69]

OK. Thanks - really helpful. I'll tell her to go into an 8ta store.

 

[MaximusZA]

i would say any ADSL product. Just purely because its always connected, she doesn't have to worry about plugging in dongles and installing software etc. I remember trying to teach my gran how to use a cell and it was a mission, I don't even want to try and think what it would be like trying to teach her how use the dongle and software. so just switch on the pC and its connected i think would work better.

 

[Azbubu]

Is your mom a gamer because the latency on wireless isn't as great as ADSL.

 

[MickeyD]

i would say any ADSL product. Just purely because its always connected, she doesn't have to worry about plugging in dongles and installing software etc. I remember trying to teach my gran how to use a cell and it was a mission, I don't even want to try and think what it would be like trying to teach her how use the dongle and software. so just switch on the pC and its connected i think would work better.

Depends on who is paying for it...