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mattyb · Jun 13, 2010, 02:58 PM

She's going to be 72. She's pretty good with PCs, using MS Office and doing basic Photoshop stuff. But having to explain the Wifi and 3G stuff and then the setting up of the Wifi stuff (they do not live near me) at their house is going to really fook me off.

Tempted to force her into the 3G model just so that she can go on the Net from where-ever she wants.

What say the MacNN Lounge dwellers?

imitchellg5 · Jun 13, 2010, 03:05 PM

No. Plus you'll have to set her up with an iTune account if she doesn't have one yet.

mattyb · Jun 13, 2010, 03:09 PM

FFS, I didn't think of that. She's loathe to sign up to anything requiring CC details.

turtle777 · Jun 13, 2010, 03:10 PM

The main disadvantage of the current iPad/iOSt: no ability of screensharing / VNC / Remote Desktop of the iPad.

However, the simplicity of the iOS might not make this as big of a point.

-t

mattyb · Jun 13, 2010, 03:38 PM

There's LogMeIn isn't there? I use that now to sort stuff out on their PC from my iMac.

Its the Wifi setup in their house thats scaring me the most. And maybe trying to show her how to find a wifi network when she's out of the house.

subego · Jun 13, 2010, 03:46 PM

Do they already have wifi?

residentEvil · Jun 13, 2010, 03:53 PM

Originally Posted by subego

Do they already have wifi?

read the first post? the one before your post?

imitchellg5 · Jun 13, 2010, 03:56 PM

Originally Posted by subego

Do they already have wifi?

turtle777 · Jun 13, 2010, 04:21 PM

Originally Posted by mattyb

There's LogMeIn isn't there? I use that now to sort stuff out on their PC from my iMac.

Not controlling / sharing the screen *of* the iPad.
I'm talking about a VNC / screen sharing *server* app that would share the screen of the iPad.

(Yes, there's tons of VNC / Remote Sharing *clients* for the iPad that remotely control / share the screen of a Mac or PC)

-t

subego · Jun 13, 2010, 04:30 PM

Originally Posted by residentEvil

read the first post? the one before your post?

Yes. Which is why I asked for clarification.

Both posts can be interpreted either way.

subego · Jun 13, 2010, 04:33 PM

Originally Posted by imitchellg5

[IMG]

Wow. That was a jerk-ass response to someone trying to be helpful.

mattyb · Jun 13, 2010, 04:39 PM

They don't have wifi. PC with ADSL modem/router is far away from the lounge as well. Thinking about it, I wonder if they'd get a decent wifi signal from the router (which IIUC has wifi capability). I might have to lay some cable and get a wifi node setup in the lounge. I see the need to hire a very large drill.

subego · Jun 13, 2010, 04:53 PM

How far are we talking?

imitchellg5 · Jun 13, 2010, 05:21 PM

Originally Posted by subego

Wow. That was a jerk-ass response to someone trying to be helpful.

Well, you could have read the thread and I wanted to use double-facepalm very badly.

subego · Jun 13, 2010, 05:38 PM

Originally Posted by imitchellg5

Well, you could have read the thread and I wanted to use double-facepalm very badly.

Whatever.

mattyb · Jun 14, 2010, 02:01 AM

Originally Posted by subego

How far are we talking?

At least 10m, no direct line of sight, supporting walls etc. Even sound doesn't travel well between the rooms in question.

Phileas · Jun 14, 2010, 06:22 AM

I get decent wifi in my back yard via the addition of an Airport Express to the network - and we live in an old Victorian house with double brick walls. Might be easier than drilling holes.

residentEvil · Jun 14, 2010, 06:44 AM

walls, no line of sight, is a good thing for n, not so much for b or g.

n needs those things to help it bounce the signal around to provide it's coverage. you might be surprised how well n works in that situation.

Paco500 · Jun 14, 2010, 06:55 AM

We got one for my stepfather- 84 this year. Been working out no probs. We had the advantage of me 14 yr old nephew spending a week at their house getting it set-up.

scaught · Jun 14, 2010, 08:40 AM

Originally Posted by mattyb

FFS, I didn't think of that. She's loathe to sign up to anything requiring CC details.

I wonder what happened with the no credit card lady who got the free ipad. Can you download free ipad apps over the air with an itunes account without a credit card number set up?

Phileas · Jun 14, 2010, 08:52 AM

Originally Posted by scaught

I wonder what happened with the no credit card lady who got the free ipad. Can you download free ipad apps over the air with an itunes account without a credit card number set up?

Yes, but it takes a bit of a workaround. Some, um, acquaintances of mine have US store accounts to get access to US only apps and you don't need a credit card to register.

subego · Jun 15, 2010, 11:06 AM

Originally Posted by mattyb

At least 10m, no direct line of sight, supporting walls etc. Even sound doesn't travel well between the rooms in question.

You know, this seems worth a shot with the built in wifi with something like LogMeIn. That's not too far.

If that doesn't work, you know you're going to need a new access point anyway, so you can get an 802.11n one, set that up yourself beforehand and mail it to them pre-configured. If that doesn't work, then you can go in person.

OTOH, gram would rather you came in person anyway, and she might also not be tolerant of the multiple branches of failure this plan could entail.

ort888 · Jun 15, 2010, 11:22 AM

Does she have wifi?

subego · Jun 15, 2010, 12:28 PM

Now, that was funny.