Get a tablet or not for my dad?

[greengoblin]

Hi all

I live overseas and am visiting my parents in Jo'burg shortly. I gave my dad my old laptop running XP a few years ago - his first introduction to computers and the internet. He's in his 70s and uses the laptop for browsing, internet banking and a little bit of emailing. He also likes to print articles or reports for later reading. With XP nearing end-of-life, I'd thought about getting him a tablet, but my challenges are:

1. He likes to print articles, and tablets aren't as easy to print from (solution - buy a wi-fi-enabled printer or one with a printing app that can be downloaded to a tablet, such as an HP or Canon printer)
2. He's using MTN and a Huawei USB modem for the internet. As we'll stop using the laptop completely (with XP end-of-life), how do we set up/control the cellular modem via a tablet only?
3. My dad's not very computer literate, so needs a non-technical, simple solution. He doesn't use the laptop much as it takes time to start up, hence why I though a tablet would be a better solution (instant-on).

Is a tablet the right solution, or should I be considering a simple laptop/Chromebook (or other alternative) to allow USB modem and USB printer to plug in? That would mean my dad having to learn Windows 8.1 (which I'm unfamiliar with, as I'm happily using Win 7).

What do yo suggest as a solution?

Thanks very much,
greengoblin

 

[opinionhated]

If you get a tablet, you need to do setup, have at least two weeks to force train him, make sure you can do remote support, and make sure it's a simple no nonsense OS, i.e. a nexus. The worst would be getting a Samsung. Sony isn't too bad.

 

[greengoblin]

A solution to the modem would seem to be getting a router that would be compatible with the MTN USB modem. Any recommendations?

 

[cerebus]

A solution to the modem would seem to be getting a router that would be compatible with the MTN USB modem. Any recommendations?

A solution to the modem would be to get a Mifi device e.g. from Afrihost. This is what someone I know who does long distance trucking got to use with his tablet and smartphone.

http://www.afrihost.com/site/product/mobile_devices

 

[bwana]

A solution to the modem would seem to be getting a router that would be compatible with the MTN USB modem. Any recommendations?

Why not just get a tablet with cellular connectivity built in?

 

[FNfal]

Just put a SSD in the laptop and load windows 7 .
The SSD will boot the laptop almost instantly and windows 7 is still available here but expensive.
No learning curve for the whole deal.

 

[Arthur]

Or get a tablet+PC in one. My Surface 2 Pro is a very zippy Win8.1 system running enterprise apps, Office 2013, and other stuff. Plus it's a tablet. Not cheap, admittedly. But really useful. And super-compact, very portable.

 

[Vis1/0N]

it's a simple no nonsense OS, i.e. a nexus. The worst would be getting a Samsung. Sony isn't too bad.

Samsung makes the 10 inch nexus. It is approaching EOL as I have heard a few times that it has been out of stock. As for having the latest versions of android - it is always win-lose so a Nexus device is not the best overall. Since Asus makes the smaller Nexus it loses points vs Samsung or Sony.

The XP laptop won't stop working but it will be more vulnerable. Since XP sp2 from 2004 I have not applied a single update or patch (apart from .net 3.5 framework/ IE7) to the machines in our office network...that is 7 years (2006) installed with the only scares being a use accepting anti virus upgrades as opposed to updates. The only rule I have is to scan any flash disks.

So yeah XP vulnerability is overplayed and I don't see the point of upgrading windows.

Chromebook will be data intensive so without ADSL it might not the best option in a South African context. Otherwise it would be the best choice.

A tablet could be used to supplement the activities on the current XP laptop. Though I would say for the price you could get a cheap laptop with a longer OS life cycle.

I would suggest upgrading the laptop to Linux mint and get a cheap 10in Lenovo tablet.

 

[Necuno]

Why not just get a tablet with cellular connectivity built in?

0_0 tablets haz cellularz

 

[Arthur]

My Asus PhonePad has cellular.

 

[MickeyD]

Why not just get a tablet with cellular connectivity built in?

^this.

 

[Nikkel]

Just put a SSD in the laptop and load windows 7 .
The SSD will boot the laptop almost instantly and windows 7 is still available here but expensive.
No learning curve for the whole deal.

^This +10

 

[greengoblin]

Thank you all for some good ideas. No need for a tablet with cellular connectivity - my dad won't be taking his tablet out and about with him. Also don't need a PC+tablet - it's just for occasional use, so can't justify the cost. SSD in laptop is an interesting idea, though the laptop's a 3kg HP from 2005, so I'm not sure how long it will last (could be fine for years!). Linux would mean a whole new learning curve for my dad, so I'd stick with Windows, as he has some familiarity with that.

Where would Win 7 be available from in Jhb and how much is it? Similarly, any recommendations on an SSD? 64GB's probably sufficient - my dad's not loading games onto the laptop

 

[FNfal]

You will have to check if it has a SATA connection for the SSD i doubt that being 2005 model but check first.
I know esquire has windows 7 but you will have to open an account there to buy.
To get an account go here http://shop.esquire.co.za/Page.aspx?ID=821&CS=94
Maybe there are places in Jhb that still have windows 7 .

 

[greengoblin]

Actually, I may just be better going Windows 8.1 and making it as desktop-friendly as possible.

So - seems the best options are either an SSD for a 9 year-old laptop, plus Windows 8.1 or to buy a 10" tablet (Lenovo?), a USB-capable router (or Mi-Fi device) and a wi-fi enabled printer. Your thoughts and recommendations?

 

[itareanlnotani]

I got my father an iPad, he loves it. He's 65.

I setup email and skype on there, and some games, and he uses it daily.
Was a good buy. It even came with training from Apple (via FNB), although he didn't bother going.

A little more expensive than the Android tablets, but it works well, and he's happy.

 

[bwana]

Thank you all for some good ideas. No need for a tablet with cellular connectivity - my dad won't be taking his tablet out and about with him. Also don't need a PC+tablet - it's just for occasional use, so can't justify the cost. SSD in laptop is an interesting idea, though the laptop's a 3kg HP from 2005, so I'm not sure how long it will last (could be fine for years!). Linux would mean a whole new learning curve for my dad, so I'd stick with Windows, as he has some familiarity with that.

I didn't suggest a tablet with cellular for mobility but for simplicity. No router to worry about. No wifi issues. The fact that he can take it out and about is just icing on the cake.

 

[greengoblin]

Just to confirm (asking the obvious question), if I get a tablet with cellular connectivity, there's no need for a router or USB modem any longer. The tablet would connect directly to MTN's cell towers and use data under a monthly plan?

Secondly, can you recommend an affordable monthly plan for low data usage (likely to be 500Mb per month - surfing, a handful of emails, no downloads).

Thanks for the advice, everyone.

 

[midnightcaller]

Just to confirm (asking the obvious question), if I get a tablet with cellular connectivity, there's no need for a router or USB modem any longer. The tablet would connect directly to MTN's cell towers and use data under a monthly plan?

Secondly, can you recommend an affordable monthly plan for low data usage (likely to be 500Mb per month - surfing, a handful of emails, no downloads).

Thanks for the advice, everyone.

My dad is 72. Got him a nexus 7 7inch tablet with built in wifi and 3G. Setup kindle app for his books, ewn, news24 ,email, skype, gps tracking, Remote Cctv monitoring, online banking, streaming radio 702 (he is outside of radio 702 FM broadcast coverage)

He loves the device. He takes it everywhere. He has stopped using his pc and laptop completely.

If you buy a tablet with built in 3G modem, then you don't need a router. the tablet will connect directly to the 3G network.
I suggest that you chose a tablet with 3G. I prefer 7inch for ease of use and mobility. Perhaps consider iPad mini. He can get help at any of the Apple stores. Consider getting a prepaid SIM card and load data as and when needed. I suggest vodacom because of the multiple channels available to get assistance and load airtime.

Buy it , I'm sure he will love it.

 

[StonerStuart]

I bought my dad a tablet.

He is 51. He has a kindle and loves books.
Honest to Jebus he cannot use a PC at all. He gets frustrated because he gets a little red dot with a number in it on the icon of an app on the iphone i bought him... So i explained its a notification. "What the hell is that" he replies...

So he is very techretarded with anything post 19vootsek... Best Aviation Tech in JHB but cant use anything without it coming with a 2,500 page QWIM.

So he thought he had broken the iPad because its screen was black... Calls me, This piece of schit it broken.
Go around to see what's wrong with it. - The battery was flat!


So I hope your dads much more clued up on tech than mine is or its just a waste of cash.


I would get suggest the iPad Air and a Time Capsule, link the two and fill the TC with movies and series or whatever he enjoys.

But Apples Devices are limited so id go Lenovo, or similar, a tab running windows so its not too much of a shock in the UI.