Internet Access From A Tablet?

For someone who has never used a computer before, a Mac would be much easier to learn. While there is a learning curve for those who are used to the Windows way of doing things, there would be only the normal learning curve involved in learning to use a Mac. The only downsides that I can think of are the expense, and the likelihood that those who are available to help might be familiar only with Windows. As far as the expense goes, Macs also last longer and are more trouble free, so you get what you pay for. As for the learning curve, someone who knows how to use an iPhone shouldn't have much trouble with a Mac.

 

Asking us which computer is right for your friend is kind of like asking what kind of shoes should she buy. It all depends on what she wants it for, @Hal Pollner
Is she just going to send emails and video-chat with family and friends, and look at family photos, or does she want to learn to do complicated programs that she needs a computer for ?
If she has never used a computer before, I would definitely recommend a tablet for her, rather than a computer.
Here’s why:
Tablets are simple and easy for someone to use, even when they have no experience with using a computer.

Tablets seldom (if ever) get a virus, so you do not have to have an anti-virus program that has to be updated each day to keep it safe.

Tablets weigh maybe a pound, so they are small and lightweight to carry around, and you do not have to have special furniture like computer desks/chair. You can relax in your recliner or lounge in bed and use a tablet.

Tablets come in many sizes, from 7” wide to almost 13” wide, so the large ones are comparable to a small computer.

Tablets have a touch screen, so you can use your finger or a pointer (stylus) instead of needing a mouse or touchpad.

Tablets start at about $50, and go up to over $1,000, so you can get one in any price range .

Some tablets are very simple, such as the Grandpad, which is designed for seniors who are not computer-savvy, but want to keep in touch with friends and family.
If this is all your friend wants to do, a Grandpad might be something for her to think about, and would be far easier for her to use than trying to understand how to operate a computer when she doesn’t actually need all of that capability for her needs.
Here is a short video that explains how a Grandpad works, and actually, just about ANY kind of tablet is about this easy to use.

 

Of course you can get online with a tablet, @Hal Pollner ! How could you have possibly missed ALL of the threads here with most of us talking about our iPads, Amazon Kindles, and other tablet computers ?
She can not only join the forum (please DO invite her !); but it will be MUCH simpler for her since she knows how to use a tablet, and is not tied to using a computer.
Pretty much, unless you are doing really technical work that requires a computer, you can do everything on a tablet that you can do with a computer, and it is much easier to use.
Just send her the link to the forum website, remind her that she needs to use a full name (first/last name), and she should be able to join in with the rest of us here.

 

YAY and Whoopee, another iPad user joins our forum ! Welcome to SeniorsOnly Club, @Eileen Barnes , glad to have you with us.

 

I deleted your last post, @Hal Pollner , because posting someone’s full name and information online is not safe to do at all. However, I would certainly be glad to help her if I can do that.
I am not sure what you mean about needing an account to go online ?
She needs an internet service provider to go online, and you (or one of her friends from church) can best tell her what internet provider is available where you live.
If she has WiFi already, then she just needs an email account , so she can register at this forum.
What is she using her tablet for, if not to be online ?

 

Hal, can you ask her if she has an email address , please ? If she has that (and I am guessing that she does), then I will send you a PM with my email and she can write to me.
Also, please ask what kind of tablet she is using, because that will help me a lot if I am going to assist her.

As far as I know, you have to have an email address and an account to use a tablet. For an iPad, she would need an Apple ID to even use it, and the same thing if she has a Kindle, she needs an Amazon email account.
If she has a tablet that goes online, then she probably had to go online and register an account to use the tablet.
If she has some kind of a tablet that does not connect to the internet at all, then she will need a different device, one that can connect to WiFi .

 

I know that I am going to regret getting involved in this, but I haven't been able to figure a reason why anyone would have a tablet (except for maybe a Big Chief writing tablet) without Internet access. While an iPad will operate without an Internet connection, any app that someone would want to put on it would require an Internet connection and, while I don't have to have an Internet connection to operate my Kindle and to read any books that I have downloaded, I wouldn't be able to download them without an Internet connection, and I wouldn't have been able to purchase the Kindle without one. Okay, maybe they sell Kindles at Best Buy or something, but I would still need an Amazon.com account. So I am thinking that if she has a tablet computer device, she probably has Internet, and if she has Internet, she has an email address. She may not remember it or may have forgotten the password, but she has an email address.

 

Hal, it was ONLY TWO questions !
Not even hard ones.
I can see that she has/had a facebook account, so she was online at some point. Just ask her this :

1. What kind of tablet she has ?
2. What is her email ?

Just DO it !