Best computer for an elderly person who is all there but has absolutely no experience of using a computer, ever, and is rather worried about it!

[Shiveringsward]

I want to buy an elderly relative a fairly simple "starter" computer.

Nothing too complicated.

The plan is that she will be doing banking and supermarket grocery orders and looking on Facebook. Also a few accounts.

I think Android will be best as everyone else in the family has an Android.

Any suggestions please are all they all much of a muchness? The reason I ask is that I am not terribly knowledgeable about computers either.

TIA for any advice.

iPad. Honestly much more accessible and intuitive than a laptop.

The octogenarians in my family are glued to theirs.

But you said Android … Can’t help there, we’re all Apple-bonded.

iPad

My 80+ parent is as computer un literate as they get. She got an iPad a few years back and hasn't looked back.

You can get a Samsung tablet for similar but functionality wise the iPad wins every time.

My mum found an iPad much easier than android

Ipad

And I say that as an Android fan myself

Another ipad recommendation here. Does she already use a smartphone? If so, the touch screen on icons etc won't be hard to understand.

When you said 'computer' did you mean like a laptop? If so, no, no, no - it will honestly be too much for her to learn/take in etc.

My 97 year old FIL also uses his iPad all the time (and he has a computer and is very tech-literate)

Android won't be on a laptop, it will be a choice of Microsoft Windows or an Apple computer. Have they used a computer before, and are they completely sold on a laptop? If so, a basic Microsoft Windows laptop would be fine. Chromebooks require a home wifi connection via broadband as everything on them is saved to the cloud via the internet, not to the actual computers hard drive.

I would go for a minimum 4gb RAM for speed, and if they want to store photos on the hard drive from their phones/ pictures people email them then I would say a minimum 128gb hard drive would be ok, but 256gb would be better as you can store more pictures and videos on it.

Don't sign up for windows 365, there are lots of free word processing and spreadsheet programs if they need them.

What sort of budget are you looking at? Be aware that if you/ they go looking in Currys for example, Currys are going to throw all sorts of things at you that you do NOT need, like insurances, extra cables, expensive antivirus software, microsoft 365 etc, whereas what you DO need can be found cheaper, or in the case of antivirus/ antimalware/ adblockers, for free, elsewhere.

The other good thing about iPads is that if they live near the Apple store the staff there will help them with anything. My PIL have an iPad and a Mac, and any time they have a question/issue they take it into the store and someone sits with them (very patiently) and helps them out.

DinosaurOfFire the OP clearly stated that the person has absolutely no experience of using a computer, ever,

(And if you knew any very elderly people without (any or much) computer experience you too would be recommending an iPad!)

Another vote for iPad. Clear and intuitive

Tbh OP if you are recommending am "android" computer (which doesn't exist if you mean a proper laptop/desktop pc) are you the best person to be helping your relative? Sorry if that's mean, but.....

Agree with everyone else and can provide a further example if 83 y/o grandparent fairly proficient with their ipad.

Probably going to be some good deals very soon - Amazon black Friday is rumoured to start this weekend.

I agree with pp. iPad all the way - very easy to use for someone who knows nothing about computers (that would be me...) plus no worries about viruses etc.

IPad.
My brother taught my then 84 year old dad how to use it the weekend before the first lockdown, and it has been a godsend.

He doesn't shop on line, but we Skype daily and he browses t'internet. He reads every online newspaper going and identifies things we can order for them.

He was computer literate before and has a PC he uses for emailing and writing documents. But he doesn't have a smart phone and is generally slow to pick up technology. The iPad seemed very intuitive for him.

iPad. My technophobe mum can usually one easily.

iPad here too.

@EdmontinaDonsAutumnalHues Thank you, I reread and just noticed elderly- my family doesnt tend to live past 65- 70 so I just realised my view is skewed towards younger "older family members".

A large screen tablet with a tablet specific keyboard would probably be best for the reasons everyone else has specified, the specific apps could be downloaded and kept logged on and its definitely easier than a laptop.

iPad! We managed to get 100 yr old great aunt going on an iPad, and now even MiL85 loves hers. Load it up with the apps they use and they're away.
But if you're an android family, perhaps another tablet would be better?

I also recommend an iPad. I bought my dad one in 2015 and he took to it straight away. He’s upgraded it a couple of times since . My mother in law also used hers constantly. Much simpler to use than a laptop or computer. Perfect for the uses you described. If the rest of the family had iPhones too, your relative would be able to use iMessage to text as well.

My phone is an android as is my DH’s, and so are my daughters’. I’d still definitely recommend an iPad.

Do it soon, OP! There’s nothing in the world more joyous than being FaceTimed by a beloved elderly person.

Wow! Just on my lunch break and came back to see all these replies! Thank you so much everyone, wasnt expecting such a fantastic response...
...just working my way through the replies now!

Another vote for IPad .

She might like the cases that are also a separate keyboard . Remember that many many women of that age are proficient typists.

Show her how to use YouTube to listen to some of the music she enjoyed when she was young. She will love it.

Tbh OP if you are recommending am "android" computer (which doesn't exist if you mean a proper laptop/desktop pc) are you the best person to be helping your relative? Sorry if that's mean, but.....

No offence taken at all thevassal I have not got a clue as you spotted straightaway and thank you for the tip about Black Friday. The present is for Christmas so that will be v timely!

Also, once they have it, help them set up Siri - so they don’t even need the keyboard to call or FaceTime their favourite people.

(Although my Siri tends to answer me with a disrespectful “Uh huh …” when I request his services. )

Thank you so much everyone.

The vote is overwhelmingly an Ipad so Ipad it is, with optional keyboard!

Just have to investigate the prices now. I am not in UK and there is an enormous price range. I am a bit worried about the cost, not from our pov but from my aunt's. She will be absolutely horrified about the prices if she finds out, and I don't mean in a mild way, she will be genuinely upset!