Computer newbies forum: Need help getting my 75 year old mother connected to the Internet

Gee, from someone almost ready to collect Social Security (assuming it's still there) 75 doesn't seem that old to me!

I am assuming you mean your mother is in independent senior housing. Good. That means she's surrounded by other old folks, most of whom are online, probably most of them using Windows.

A lot of senior residences, centers, and local libraries have drop-in help for beginners. So if she really wants to get online for herself -- not because you want her to -- get her what her neighbors around her have and something that you understand enough to answer questions. That way she'll always have somebody to walk her through something.

If it's not clear to you what kind of help she can get from neighbors or community and you want simplicity, get an iPad. I had never touched an Apple anything in my life, picked up a friend's iPad and before the weekend was over I was showing him how to use it.

Find out if there is building network already. If there's not, and you're thinking of a tablet see if a trusted neighbor will give permission to share a wi-fi connection. If you get her a tablet she'll have have wifi access somehow. If you get her a laptop it might be better to wire it straight to the modem.

My grandfather is 93. My uncle got him a PC a few years ago and set it up for him so he could keep in touch with family and check on his financials. He is now in a home and his eyesight has deteriorated to the point that he can no longer see the words on the screen. However having done tech support for him while he had his computer and reading the posts on the page I believe I can offer some advice. I am very tech savvy and always checking out the next cool gadget. Many people are suggesting the iPad, netbook, laptop or similar device. I think PlinkaDinkaDonka had a good point though and made me think about something else. Charging these devices. I plug in my smartphone and tablet on a regular basis but will your mother be able to handle this? I like the small desktop idea or maybe one of the all in ones to save space. A desktop type laptop would be alright but I am reminded of my grandfather who eventually needed extra large fonts on the screen and large printing on the keyboard. He also needed a light to see the keyboard properly. If I had to get something for your mother to use I would 1. Make sure it is incredibly simple to use. 2. Make sure it has accessibility options so as she gets older she can keep using it. 3. Keep the cost to a minimum since this device may not have a long life span (of course I hope it is around for years to come as is your mother). I would skip the wireless and keep the tried and true wired connection if possible and go with a desktop model with a large screen. The SmartTV is an interesting option too. I haven't played with my own SmartTv enough to really comment on it though. I hope this helps. Good luck.

Get her a iPad,Make sure you get her a protective cover for her ,She may drop it here and there,Most places has Wi-Fi and hook her up to it.,There are apps for finding hot spots even devices now that make their own hotspot.Take your time in showing her how to work it,Be patient..........

1. Go to Toys R Us and buy an Etch A Sketch
2. With a black marker write INTERNET on the top
3. Glue an extension cord to the Etch A Sketch (does not have to be plugged in)
4. Hand the Etch A Sketch to your grandmother

There are three issues....
1. Is there necessity
2. Does she need it
3. Does it interest her...

I have been teaching seniors in imparting basics and internet operations. I found that people above 60 find it almost useless to learn...
The reason is that children teaching their parents and grand parents do not patience... Seniors tend to forget and need repeated instructions drilled.
You need a very cool guy to teach them/

However the 3 issues are important... and the order is

1 Does she need it
2 Does it interest her...

The third issue of necessity will diminish once top two are accepted///

Are you doing this for yourself, or for her ? Does she have any interest whatsoever in being connected ? What happens when it is revealed that she has a genuine phobia about anything more technical than a cordless dial up telephone ? Have you taken her to someplace that has a connected computer, demonstrated it, and gauged her reaction ? Until these questions are answered, every word typed is just so much blather.

http://www.aarp.org

AARP offers great office in adjustable font sizes!

Hope this helps,
nowvoyager

Does your mother really want to get onto the internet? I ask because my husband has no interest in actually getting onto the internet as much as he likes my ability to do so. I have tried to show him how to use email and some other basic stuff and it is a lost cause.

So assuming that your Mom really wants to give this a go, I would recommend a simple laptop with space between the individual keys on the keyboard. Take your Mom shopping and let her tinker with the keyboards. Let her play with the tablets and the touchscreens and see what she is comfortable using. Remember that a laptop offers more memory, a bigger hard drive, a faster processor, and a larger screen which can be vital to those of us who have older eyes and need larger type. I own both a laptop and an iPad and if I had to choose between them I would keep the laptop and dump the iPad. To me tablets are very sophisticated toys while laptops are for more serious computing needs.

As far as Apple or Mac versus Windows based equipment, what do you use? It may be best, if it is possible, for both of you to use the same operating system, internet provider, email application, etc. It will be easier to teach her and to answer questions if you are familiar with what your Mom is using. A simple reference book to go with the equipment can be a real lifesaver when it comes to answering basic questions when learning to use a computer.

Finally, make sure your Mom's computer is protected using a good anti virus program and that her email program has good spam filters. Warn her about email problems such as phishing and the numerous scammers who will try to part her from her personal information and her money.

I was over 50 (I am now 64) when I got my first computer and once I got going I never looked back. Now, I cannot imagine my life without the internet and all it has to offer. Tell your Mom that she can do this and that it can open up a whole new world for her.

I'm 76 and have a 75 year old wife who wanted a computer to play games on, so we got a Dell laptop. She didn't like the internet, which automatically started on her her computer when I turned on my modem. I found that if they don't like something, they will resist learning it. But SLOWLY over the last 3 years and with much help and attention, she's willing to get on the internet. She STILL doesn't want to e-mail her friends so she has me do it.
So in conclusion, if she resists, you have a LONG road ahead of you. If she accepts your instructions easily, maybe it will be easier.

If you want to connect your mother to the internet you could always have a neural conversion processor installed in her brain and have an RJ45 connector attached to her head or perhaps a wifi chip with an internal antenna?

All joking aside, start her off with something that will be easy to use for a beginner. A tablet may be a good idea but she may be frustrated trying to type things on a touch screen. You could always get a bluetooth keyboard for a tablet if that's a problem. My personal suggestion though is to go with a laptop and wireless router/modem at home. Just make sure you only place necessary icons on the desktop and teach her how to use things like the web browser.