Anybody got any suggestions for a good laptop to suit a increasing OAP with health issues of mobility and arthritic hands ?

My mother is not using her PC much now as she complains  that it hurts her shoulders and arms to much and that is one of the main ways I keep in touch so have suggested I get her a laptop or tablet.

I was thinking an IPad as they are light weight and I think will be easier for her to use but what do other people think ?

Laptops are getting lighter and smaller, it depends what she uses it for as to what will suit her needs.

My Mum gets pain in her wrist from using the mouse so I have told her to use the touch pad on the laptop instead.

Does she take to new things well?
Only reason I ask is that my elderly mum finds it hard to adapt to new things/learn how to use them, which I think is not uncommon. We've had a new washing machine for over a year and she still can't remember how to use it - she's better with the new cordless phone but as for the dishwasher, forget it!

Your mum may well be different, though - in which case maybe a laptop as it's more like what she's used to, she can have it on a lap tray and relax in her favourite chair, though the scrolling pad might take some getting used to if she's used to a mouse and might not suit her hands.

That is the dilemma but using fingers on the iPad rather than a laptop seems easier.

We can't really get her to try things out as we don't just live town the road.

She is rather 'difficult' as we bought her a mobility scooter and and traipsed all the way to Wales to deliver it and she only used it once as it was far too difficult to use. :-(

> She is rather 'difficult' as we bought her a mobility scooter and and traipsed all the way to Wales to deliver it and she only used it once as it was far too difficult to use. :-(

*nods*
Yup, she sounds like mine! We have threatened to buy her a scooter, but she would rather stay indoors and moulder (as long as someone is at her beck & call 24/7).

Be cautious and don't spend too much just in case... lol :)
I my mum's case, she learnt to touch-type as a teenager and was a secretary most of her working life, so typing on a screen would be too much of an alien concept for her.

>Your mum may well be different, though - in which case maybe a laptop as it's more like what she's used to, she can have it on a lap tray and relax in her favourite chair, though the scrolling pad might take some getting used to if she's used to a mouse and might not suit her hands.

Just an opinion from somebody with rubbish hands, and have had lots of operations on them, and plenty of cortisone injected into them!

I work on a laptop at home, and PC at work.  The mousepad they gave me at work has a wrist support, which was accepted by me with some cynicism!  How wrong was I?   Best thing invented, and at last no more hand supports, elastic bandages etc. 

The little stupid red button that I can use at work if I don't want to use a mouse, is as much use as an ash tray on a motorbike.  And this silly little glass think on my laptop at home just irritates the hell out of me.  So I would definitely go for mouse with wrist support.  The smaller the tool, the harder for limited hand mobility.  And my hands are so bad that I am unable to pinch you!     (Taking lessons on how to put the nut on people!)  :-)

> So I would definitely go for mouse with wrist support.

Thanks for that Jean. While it might not suit the OP's mum, it would probably be the best solution for mine :)

I'd go for the iPad, there isn't too much to learn on how to use them.

There's no heavy lifting and no waiting to boot up, I never thought I'd like mine but I wouldn't be without it now.

I've recently got an Acer laptop. Nice large keys to type on. Haven't a clue regarding the size of the keys on the ipad but I struggle typing on my galaxy phone.

The IPad keyboard is very good and don't think she will have a problem with them ( well I saw that and I am sure she will find one !) so think we will go with that. If she doesn't like it we will have it back as there is often a fight to whose turn it is on the iPad we have got here !

I think the size is right and it is quite light and very easy user interface plus excellent graffics etc.

Thanks for all your feedback !

Lucy