After all these years it finally happened: My 77-year-old mother decided she wanted to get a computer.
For years, she thought it would complicate her life and waste time (sort of true) so she resisted the idea. But now the time has come for her to enter a life of digital communication. Do you have any holdouts in your family?
Already the complications begin. Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) released its new Leopard operating system October 26, and we were considering setting her up with a laptop and wireless home network. However, I am told that it would be able to help her remotely if we get her a Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) Windows based system. I have to check this out. The family debate is in progress.
I have a mixed marriage, with my wife sporting an iMac while I "make do" with a Toshiba notebook. I am the holdout in our family. My kids have Macs. Who knows, next time I may switch. This trend bodes well for Apple.
It appears that my mom was starting to feel left out. Every time one of her friends asks for her email address, she has to explain she is not online -- but now she can add "yet," because she will be soon. For years, we have been sending her faxes of things we wanted to share, so the time has come for one of the last holdouts to get with the program. I wonder when she'll set up her Facebook page? I just hope the world wide web can handle the additional load!
Sheldon Liber is the CEO of a small private investment company and the principal for design and research at an architecture & planning firm.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
11-15-2007 @ 10:00PM
Marie said...
Definitely buy Apple and then pay $99 for one year of their One-on-One in-store tutoring program. We did this last Christmas for my parents (80 and 79) and it was perfect for them. They took their computer into the Apple store and sat for 1 hour a week and were taught all the basics. We helped them from time to time, but the "Geniuses" at the Apple store were really
good to my parents and you'll see that the store is filled with older people learning the computer for the first time, especially during the week in the mornings. Go to the Apple website to read up on the One-To-One sessions.
11-15-2007 @ 10:22PM
RoseMary said...
The remote access assistance comes in handy - I have a friend in Ohio who helps me out ALL the time... I've never used a Mac, but I know people who swear by them... maybe my next purchase... for now I'm happy with my hp pavilion (used) laptop!
11-15-2007 @ 10:47PM
Charles Clifford said...
Apple are "marketing" geniuses. Their products are inferior, across the board; the people who buy them are just susceptible to blather; anybody with brains would go microsoft to infinity. How many software products work with apple vs Microsoft and why pay 25% more to get what MS people already have? You got to be stupid and stubborn; why even get their music players when others' products are better? Because you're a lemming, that's why!
11-15-2007 @ 11:38PM
Matt said...
Charles, you have no idea what you're talking about.
I'm actually going to get my parents to switch to mac's now that leopard is out, and my in-laws are also about to make the switch. You can control your mother's computer right throw iChat when she needs help, WHILE you're having a video chat w/her.
11-18-2007 @ 5:08AM
Pat Monks said...
Sheldon,
My wife and I helped two sets of parents switch to the Mac. It is definitely the way to go, especially with Leopard. I would suggest signing up for the .mac family pack. With that you can set up your parents with ichat and screen sharing so that you can help them out over the net. You can also set up a family shared storage area with the included iDisk feature of .mac. My wife's parents signed up for the Apple one-on-one tutoring at the Apple store. For $99 it is a real bargain. The entire experience is well thought out by Apple and it shows in the ease with which people can adapt to and start using the technology. There is no doubt that this is the safest way to go.
Good Luck!