What kind of computer to replace WebTV?

Karen G · Jul 2, 2013

My 89-year old mother has had WebTV for several years but we just learned that the internet access service from MSN will be discontinued as of Oct. 1. I need to find a very simple computer for her so that she can continue to do email and internet surfing. That would be all she would use it for, I think. She has just dial-up internet access at the retirement community where she lives.

She also needs a fairly big screen as she has macular degeneration. She'd need a keyboard, too.

Any suggestions?

SMHarman · Jul 2, 2013

Karen G said:
My 89-year old mother has had WebTV for several years but we just learned that the internet access service from MSN will be discontinued as of Oct. 1. I need to find a very simple computer for her so that she can continue to do email and internet surfing. That would be all she would use it for, I think. She has just dial-up internet access at the retirement community where she lives.

She also needs a fairly big screen as she has macular degeneration. She'd need a keyboard, too.

Any suggestions?

I would suggest an iPad or other large tablet with a bluetooth keyboard.
The community likely has WiFi to connect it to.
Simple for email and internet surfing and easy to pinch and zoom.

timeos2 · Jul 2, 2013

Look at the Chrome book. $250, easy to use & does everything she's likely to want/need. Has a keyboard - much easier for typing. Less expensive than tablets. No need for security/anti virus. It's a great transition from the old Web to. If she doesn't have WiFi access then get the $320 3g model (2 years of 3g service comes free).

Elan · Jul 2, 2013

timeos2 said:
Look at the Chrome book. $250, easy to use & does everything she's likely to want/need. Has a keyboard - much easier for typing. Less expensive than tablets. No need for security/anti virus. It's a great transition from the old Web to. If she doesn't have WiFi access then get the $320 3g model (2 years of 3g service comes free).

I second this suggestion. Seems like the perfect use of a Chromebook.

BocaBum99 · Jul 2, 2013

Karen G said:
My 89-year old mother has had WebTV for several years but we just learned that the internet access service from MSN will be discontinued as of Oct. 1. I need to find a very simple computer for her so that she can continue to do email and internet surfing. That would be all she would use it for, I think. She has just dial-up internet access at the retirement community where she lives.

She also needs a fairly big screen as she has macular degeneration. She'd need a keyboard, too.

Any suggestions?

I would purchase an iPad and get the 3G/4G option. We did that for my Mother in Law who is not tech saavy at all and she loves it. She has had absolutely no problem using it.

Then, we did the same thing for my father who is also not computer/tech saavy and he loves it, too.

Ease of use is way more important for seniors than price especially since they can always pop into the Apple store to get help on anything they don't understand. For anyone who has spent hours on the phone with their parents trying to help them with their computer, they know that simple things like "tell me what is on your desktop" can be the most confusing concept.

For a keyboard, I bought the standard Apple Bluetooth keyboard for my iPad mini. Works great.

tompalm · Jul 2, 2013

Concur that iPad is the way to go with 4G. Forget the dial up. However, the cost is $20 per month with the iPad, but it is so much better than dial up.

timeos2 · Jul 2, 2013

tompalm said:
Concur that iPad is the way to go with 4G. Forget the dial up. However, the cost is $20 per month with the iPad, but it is so much better than dial up.

Awfully costly when you add it in. Ipad $599, keyboard $50-125. Monthly 4g $20+.

Chromebook $320. Monthly $0 (24 months) $15 after. Keyboard standard. For someone going from Web TV / dialup this may be a much more palatable expense.

BocaBum99 · Jul 2, 2013

timeos2 said:
Awfully costly when you add it in. Ipad $599, keyboard $50-125. Monthly 4g $20+.

Chromebook $320. Monthly $0 (24 months) $15 after. Keyboard standard. For someone going from Web TV / dialup this may be a much more palatable expense.

Until something doesn't work and it becomes a very expensive paper weight because nobody can help them fix it.

SMHarman · Jul 2, 2013

BocaBum99 said:
Until something doesn't work and it becomes a very expensive paper weight because nobody can help them fix it.

Exactly, my mother in law liked the look of our netbook and wanted one. We got her an iPad instead and she loves it. The small screen, processor power and keyboard of the netbook were big deterrants to it being the day to day machine.
The chromebook could be a good alternative but Google may give up on the project then what ongoing support is there. They have given up on other things the people have loved like reader.

DaveNV · Jul 2, 2013

I have a friend who is in her late 70s, who I just helped downgrade from a full-on laptop to a Chromebook. All she wanted to do was email, surf the web a bit, and do Facebook. She absolutely LOVES the Chromebook. For the $250~ price she paid, she couldn't be happier. Added bonus: It's very lightweight, doesn't overheat her lap when she uses it, and it has a very clear screen.

Dave

BocaBum99 · Jul 2, 2013

BMWguynw said:
I have a friend who is in her late 70s, who I just helped downgrade from a full-on laptop to a Chromebook. All she wanted to do was email, surf the web a bit, and do Facebook. She absolutely LOVES the Chromebook. For the $250~ price she paid, she couldn't be happier. Added bonus: It's very lightweight, doesn't overheat her lap when she uses it, and it has a very clear screen.

Dave

What if I want to use Skype to communicate with my kids? Do I have to switch to Google Voice?

DaveNV · Jul 2, 2013

BocaBum99 said:
What if I want to use Skype to communicate with my kids? Do I have to switch to Google Voice?

Good question. According to this website: http://community.skype.com/t5/Other-devices/Skype-for-Google-Chromebook/td-p/1412245 you can't use Skype yet because Microsoft hasn't developed an interface for it. So I'm not sure what the choices are.

Dave

Elan · Jul 2, 2013

BMWguynw said:
Good question. According to this website: http://community.skype.com/t5/Other-devices/Skype-for-Google-Chromebook/td-p/1412245 you can't use Skype yet because Microsoft hasn't developed an interface for it. So I'm not sure what the choices are.

Dave

Google Hangouts. Video chat with up to 9 others.

http://blog.laptopmag.com/how-to-launch-a-google-hangout-on-your-chromebook

BocaBum99 · Jul 2, 2013

Elan said:
Google Hangouts. Video chat with up to 9 others.

http://blog.laptopmag.com/how-to-launch-a-google-hangout-on-your-chromebook

I'd hate to tell Grandma that she needs to have all of her friends sign up for Google Hangout to do what they've always done with Skype. Who is going to help her set it up?

I'll keep using my laptop as my home computer and my iPad mini as my remote device using dropbox for file sharing.

Having Skype was mighty handy when I was in Europe. I could make calls to the US over free wifi connections to bypass the high calling rates in Europe.

Elan · Jul 2, 2013

BocaBum99 said:
I'd hate to tell Grandma that she needs to have all of her friends sign up for Google Hangout to do what they've always done with Skype. Who is going to help her set it up?

I'll keep using my laptop as my home computer and my iPad mini as my remote device using dropbox for file sharing.

Having Skype was mighty handy when I was in Europe. I could make calls to the US over free wifi connections to bypass the high calling rates in Europe.

I don't use either, but I can't imagine one is any more difficult to set up than the other. Hangouts is part of Google's apps suite so anyone using an Android to video chat with grandma is probably good to go.

DaveNV · Jul 2, 2013

And my friend has no plans to use Skype. I don't think she even knows what it is. Don't mention it to her, or she'll drag me back over again to get her set up. LOL!

Dave

What kind of computer to replace WebTV?

Karen G

SMHarman

timeos2

Tug Review Crew: Rookie

Elan

BocaBum99

tompalm

timeos2

Tug Review Crew: Rookie

BocaBum99

SMHarman

DaveNV

TUG Review Crew: Expert

BocaBum99

DaveNV

TUG Review Crew: Expert

Elan

BocaBum99

Elan

DaveNV

TUG Review Crew: Expert