has anyone succesfully brought their parents into the computer age?

[hatwoman]

I'm increasingly thinking that my single 76 year old mum would get a huge amount out of a computer. she feigns disinterest but I think she has no idea what could be at her finger tips. emails from me for one thing, plus photos of dds, plus being able to see places we've been to (she's very into hearing every detail or days out, holidays etc); plus being able to book holidays, on-line shopping, reserving library books, etc etc.

I;d really like to get her one for Christmas. has anyone done this succesfully? what did you get? lap top or pc? pc has the disadvantage of being big - she would hide it in her spare room and forget to turn it on and worry about it taking up too much space and probably not like it. lap top she could put away but it might not be good for typing and viewing (which kind of defeats the object...)

My main thing though is trying to talk her round. I know it seems presumptious but I am so convinced that if she could get over the initial hurdle she could really enjoy it. so my main q is did you get your parents over this hurdle and was it worth it?

However my mum is blardy wimp and just gets my dad to do anything on the computer where necessary. She even gets him to print off emails so that she can read them sitting on the sofa and doesn't have to go and look at the pc. When she (very occasionally on holiday) sends an email or text, you can almosthear her picking out the letters as she writes it.

Franny, you seem to have my MIL .

Unfortuntately FIL abandoned computing for medicine at about the punch cards and wardrobe stage so he struggles to apply his (previous superior) expertise to tricky things like sendign email attachments...

My dad aged 75 has just got himself a laptop. He did a free course at the library first and now you can't get him off it. Mum even has to tell him not to when visitors are there! Loves it.

My mum is in her 60's and just recently started to use the computer. She remained a computer virin, despite my father being a computer whizz and three technical kids growing up in the house.

But last month she started googling and we can't stop her buying things on Ebay, she loves it

They are even looking to book their next holiday abroad online which I think is very brave on them after years of English holidays.

I would get a bigger screen, easier to read and type

Good luck and I think iot is great idea

cemmelia, I know 58 probably seems young (and it is) but the thread did ask about "parents" and didn't specify an age .

BTW mum is a non worker and has been for a while.... so modern technology is a hurdle for her. See all the "pros" you get for working later in life.!