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Kindle, Tablet, Netbook -- what's best for someone who's never used a computer before for books/email/Pandora/chats?
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Innovations
Kindle, Tablet, Netbook -- what's best for someone who's never used a computer before for books/email/Pandora/chats?
<font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" size="1"><div>Should you buy a Kindle or some other kind of ereader? Wondering what "in the cloud" means? Get and give advice on how to get the most out of your iPad or other tablet device, as well as top tech tips.</div><div><br /></div></font>
I'm looking for the best internet internet/e-book for reader friend of mine who has never used a computer before. I'm trying to figure out if a tablet, netbook, or kindle-like thing would be the frien
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Forums » Technology » Innovations » Kindle, Tablet, Netbook -- what's best for someone who's never used a computer before for books/email/Pandora/chats?
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Kindle, Tablet, Netbook -- what's best for someone who's never used a computer before for books/email/Pandora/chats?
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Kindle, Tablet, Netbook -- what's best for someone who's never used a computer before for books/email/Pandora/chats?
posted at December 4, 2011 1:54 AM EST
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Posts: 3
First: December 4, 2011 Last: December 4, 2011 |
I'm looking for the best internet internet/e-book for reader friend of mine who has never used a computer before. I'm trying to figure out if a tablet, netbook, or kindle-like thing would be the friendliest and most easily learned for her. I I'd be grateful if you'd post your experiences with the varous netbooks, e-book readers, etc., and what you did and did not like, and how newbie-friendly they were. My friend loves to read and is pretty much housebound, so I wanted to get something for her that will be easy for her to rent e-books on and not too expensive for her to buy e-books on. She's also very isolated, so I want something that will allow her to easily access and use social media, especially chat forums. I want her to have easy access to Pandora as well. I'm rather worried about her -- she's two states away from me so I can't go by and see her, and phone chats aren't enough -- so your replies would be very, very helpful. Thanks, M |
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Re: Kindle, Tablet, Netbook -- what's best for someone who's never used a computer before for books/email/Pandora/chats?
posted at December 4, 2011 5:22 PM EST
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Posts: 601
First: December 16, 2009 Last: May 17, 2013 |
I recently purchased an IPad and find it very easy to use. You can access the internet, download and read books and magazines and a lot more. I am not new to computers so I think someone who has never used one before might need a little instruction at the beginning. If she has an Apple store near she can get hands on instruction there. These are amazing devices but are more expensive than the Kindle or Nook book readers. I also have a Kindle that I purchased when they first came out. I know they have recently fallen in price and I'm sure the newer ones are in color. I have a friend who uses a Nook and loves it. Both are quite easy to use but are basically for buying and reading books. She might wish to start with either of these. The link below might help you with the pros and cons on these devices: http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-20009738-1/kindle-vs-nook-vs-ipad-which-e-book-reader-should-you-buy/ Hope this helps. In Response to Kindle, Tablet, Netbook -- what's best for someone who's never used a computer before for books/email/Pandora/chats?: I'm looking for the best internet internet/e-book for reader friend of mine who has never used a computer before. I'm trying to figure out if a tablet, netbook, or kindle-like thing would be the friendliest and most easily learned for her. I I'd be grateful if you'd post your experiences with the varous netbooks, e-book readers, etc., and what you did and did not like, and how newbie-friendly they were. My friend loves to read and is pretty much housebound, so I wanted to get something for her that will be easy for her to rent e-books on and not too expensive for her to buy e-books on. She's also very isolated, so I want something that will allow her to easily access and use social media, especially chat forums. I want her to have easy access to Pandora as well. I'm rather worried about her -- she's two states away from me so I can't go by and see her, and phone chats aren't enough -- so your replies would be very, very helpful. Thanks, M Posted by MicMan |
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Re: Kindle, Tablet, Netbook -- what's best for someone who's never used a computer before for books/email/Pandora/chats?
posted at January 9, 2012 1:25 PM EST
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Posts: 2
First: November 8, 2009 Last: January 9, 2012 |
I use a Motorola Xoom (Android OS). The Android vs iPAD tablet tends to turn into an almost religious arguement but the bottom line is they both do basically the same thing - all of which is in your list of requirements. Mine is provisioned through Verizon and they have training sessions available. I do NOT, under any circumstances use it for banking/financial transactions. I use my locked down, firewall protected, encrypted laptop for that. Even with the security applications that are available for tablets the security around the app stores is a bit lax - but iPAD does win over Android in this category. |
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Re: Kindle, Tablet, Netbook -- what's best for someone who's never used a computer before for books/email/Pandora/chats?
posted at January 10, 2012 11:36 PM EST
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Posts: 3
First: July 22, 2009 Last: November 30, 2012 |
I've had a great deal of experience with home computers going back to the early 80's. I've also taught novices of all ages at three different colleges (non-credit courses). The Apple iPad 2 is unquestionably a device straight out of science fiction. While other tablets can do pretty much the same thing (as mentioned earlier in this thread), the iPad 2 is a device that even novices can operate fairly quickly. It also has about the best touch response as well as the best screen of all tablets. Just look in Consumer Reports. Any issue of Consumer Reports that rates tablets will have the Apple iPad at the top of the ratings. The biggest deficit to owning an iPad 2 is that it's expensive and you can't see flash videos on the internet. On the other hand, aside from what I already wrote, the iPad 2 has more apps (application programs) for it than any other non-Apple tablet, many of them free or very low cost. This is the science fiction century, as far as I'm concerned. We are beginning to see the predictions of sci-fi from decades ago come true in every day life. When I saw parents prop up an iPad for their toddler to watch a cartoon movie while they ate at Old Country Buffet restaurant, I was astounded. Just a few feet away from me was science fiction come to every day life reality! I expect to see more of it. By the way, I don't own one. It's just too expensive. A bit ironic that I know far more than many of those who own these things, but won't buy one. I own a netbook instead, bought used at a great price. Far more useful for actual computer work than a tablet for me. I also own a TV based on last century technology (vacuum tube screen). Science fiction technology, while great, comes with a high price tag. |
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Re: Kindle, Tablet, Netbook -- what's best for someone who's never used a computer before for books/email/Pandora/chats?
posted at March 10, 2012 6:28 AM EST
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Posts: 601
First: December 16, 2009 Last: May 17, 2013 |
I bought my ipad2 in December and find it a wonderful device --using it far more than my desktop. Recently I bought the Withings blood pressure cuff that is made for the iPad and it works great. It will even do a timed automatic reading that is the more accurate way to check your blood pressure. A log is created showing the readings and the time and date. You can take the iPad with you on doctor visits and check its accuracy against your doctor's cuff. At first I found typing on the on screen keyboard to be a bit challenging but have adapted. I use it on the treadmill when I am working out. It fits easily in the book slot and I can either read or watch movies through Netflex. The book reader that comes installed is great but I also have the Kindle apt and can read my Kindle books on the iPad. I love the Epicurious apt that allows me access to recipes. The iPad stays on my kitchen counter with the recipe displayed as I cook and I keep the recipes I like in "favorites" for future use. I use the phone apt for talking with my son. And can see him as we talk. I use the "Dropbox" apt to transfer files from my desktop to the iPad as I have not updated the system on my desktop to be able to fully make use of iCloud. In just two months I find it indispensable. |
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Re: Kindle, Tablet, Netbook -- what's best for someone who's never used a computer before for books/email/Pandora/chats?
posted at March 14, 2012 10:47 PM EDT
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Posts: 208
First: August 14, 2010 Last: May 7, 2013 |
I am a professional computer scientist. I have an immense number of computing options available to me, and I really don't try the first thing that shows up. They just seem to show up. That said: I have a kindle touch. It is really simple. There are only a few things to learn to use it. It works great in sunlight (why I got the touch). You can get a new book in a minute. You need WiFi somehow, but I have that in my house so no biggie. For simple internet access, there is the chrome book. It looks like a laptop but all you get is a browser (chrome). Almost nothing to configure or worry about. Really simple with a keyboard. Add a mouse. Tablets are great, but now this is a bit more complicated. There are 'apps' and configuration settings. Watching a movie or simple apps is great. But if is not as simple as the kindle or chrome book. I have a 10" Samsung and the screen quality is great. My daughter has an iPad and she loves it. It is bigger than a phone and has no keyboard (you can buy an external one). I have a 4G Android phone. It is great in functionality, but not simple. I like that I can find out anything, anywhere, anytime (almost). My kids hate it when I pull it out to resolve some diner table conversation at a restaurant on vacation. I wish I could say to get one device for everything and it will be very simple to use. We are not there yet (I think). If it were me, I'd start with something that got most of what I want like a kindle or chrome book. I would not try to get the one perfect device. The last trip I was on I took my Mac laptop (needed for work), kindle (reading on the beach), chromebook (3G and access to maps and directions), and Android smart phone (4G). I left my netbook and tablet at home. I took a few paperback books, for takeoff and landing. I like things that work well, and not one device was perfect -- but the Mac was pretty close, but I would not recommend it to a novice. Sorry if this does not meet your budget. The kindle touch was $80 so maybe start there. (I don't work for Amazon). |
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Re: Kindle, Tablet, Netbook -- what's best for someone who's never used a computer before for books/email/Pandora/chats?
posted at May 15, 2012 2:55 PM EDT
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Posts: 373
First: October 22, 2011 Last: May 3, 2013 |
Personally I am an Android fan but in a long discussion on another board among professional IT people, one of the common ideas that seem to come along was that Apple was easier to use than an Android system. A problem with either of these choices is the cost. You can get a pc or netbook for a lot less and it will have more capabilities. A big question here is how fast she picks things up. The previous poster mentioned a kindle at only $80 which is a hard price to beat and I think it would be simple to use. Another question is whether she would want to type a number of emails or store a lot of pictures sent to her from relatives. Below is another option if she wants some more power, otherwise my guess would be to check out the kindle and see if it meets here needs. I can tell you about a netbook I bought my wife. I was considering a tablet or an IPAD but she had no desire for anything but a wifi connection. I came across a netbook at Costco which was only 349 and it included a 500gb hard drive and 4 gb of memory. Its size is not much more than a tablet and it has a lot more power. She is delighted with it. It does not have a cd/dvd drive but it has a usb port so you can use flash drives to copy files. Some netebooks go down to 10 inches but of all those I saw, they only had 2 gb of memory and it was not a full version of Windows 7. My wife has commenyed many times how much she likes it, Her main reason for wanting it was to set up her recipes on a system which she could take into the kitchen and use there. Even if I got her a tablet, she would want a holder so it would not lie flat and an optional keyboard to enter a lot of informmation. One of the benefits of Costco is they extend the warranties of their pc's. |
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Re: Kindle, Tablet, Netbook -- what's best for someone who's never used a computer before for books/email/Pandora/chats?
posted at April 2, 2013 7:59 AM EDT
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Posts: 3
First: April 2, 2013 Last: May 10, 2013 |
I know this is an old post, but thought I'd share my experience with my mother. She's 85 and never had computers in the work place. While I agree that pretty much all medium range tablets (not talking b/w only book readers) can do the same functions, my experience with my mother is that the iPad is just incredibly more intuitive and easy for her to understand without me being around all the time. It's been great for her. |
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Re: Kindle, Tablet, Netbook -- what's best for someone who's never used a computer before for books/email/Pandora/chats?
posted at April 3, 2013 10:09 AM EDT
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Posts: 3
First: April 3, 2013 Last: May 2, 2013 |
I have a basic KIndle and you can register to get e-books for free, Sams Wholesale sells it for $69.00 or 79.00 dollars, late post but just wanted to add my 2cents. |
Forums » Technology » Innovations » Kindle, Tablet, Netbook -- what's best for someone who's never used a computer before for books/email/Pandora/chats?
