Mum Is 'Seriously Considering' Buying A Laptop!
By Janey1966
@Janey1966 (24170)
Carlisle, England
October 10, 2012 7:02pm CST
As you know I have mega chats with Mum on the telephone 3 nights a week and the other night she amazed me by saying that she is 'seriously considering buying a laptop.'
This was music to my ears.
You see, Mum LOVES the internet. She is fascinated by it BUT she is always reliant on me to do research, shop on her behalf...allsorts.
Don't get me wrong, I LOVE doing all this for her but in the back of my mind I can't help thinking that she is more than capable of mastering the internet on her own (obviously, I would make sure she bought a laptop whilst I was there so I could train her up during the week I stay at her house) but the internet opens up the world doesn't it? Stops us all from feeling lonely and bored.
I mean, MyLot is a prime example. People are on here from all over the world and it never fails to amaze Mum (and me for that matter) that I can type this and in a few seconds it is posted on a site 'across the Pond' lol.
So, whaddya think? Do you reckon Mum could be the next Bill Gates or what?
Erm, maybe not. We don't want to get TOO far ahead of ourselves!
You see, Mum LOVES the internet. She is fascinated by it BUT she is always reliant on me to do research, shop on her behalf...allsorts.
Don't get me wrong, I LOVE doing all this for her but in the back of my mind I can't help thinking that she is more than capable of mastering the internet on her own (obviously, I would make sure she bought a laptop whilst I was there so I could train her up during the week I stay at her house) but the internet opens up the world doesn't it? Stops us all from feeling lonely and bored.
I mean, MyLot is a prime example. People are on here from all over the world and it never fails to amaze Mum (and me for that matter) that I can type this and in a few seconds it is posted on a site 'across the Pond' lol.
So, whaddya think? Do you reckon Mum could be the next Bill Gates or what?
Erm, maybe not. We don't want to get TOO far ahead of ourselves!4 people like this
14 responses
@UmiNoor (4522)
• Malaysia
11 Oct 12
I can't imagine my mum with a laptop! My mom doesn't go online. I only see her playing games on the computer. And that is very seldom. My father is different though. He builds his own computer.
It's great that your mum is seriously considering buying a laptop. Now instead of talking on the phone, you can skype her.
1 person likes this
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
11 Oct 12
I don't have skype. I know what it is but I don't know how to get it lol.
My MIL only plays Microsoft games on the laptop. She doesn't even log onto the internet and I don't think her husband does either.
Their grandson, on the other hand..
1 person likes this
@pals101 (2010)
• Philippines
11 Oct 12
That's good news.. You can also let her join the mylot community in order for her to earn, learn and enjoy the advantages given...I love also to train my mum someday, and buy her a laptop or a computer for her to practice together with my dad. 
1 person likes this
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
11 Oct 12
Training Mum would be so much fun as she's quite eccentric and will - no doubt, do something daft, causing lots of laughter..which is what it's all about really, isn't it?
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160940)
• United States
11 Oct 12
It certainly would open up a lot of new places to her, and I think if people have something that interests them then they enjoy their later years even more. My dad is still fairly active on the internet and he is almost 81. She will enjoy it if she will do it.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
11 Oct 12
I'm quite excited at the prospect of teaching her too (something I have often thought about with others too as I am not too technical myself so know where newbies are coming from) so, no doubt when I'm at her house at the back end of October, she will drag me to Comet lol.
1 person likes this
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
11 Oct 12
Yes, I was just thinking that myself. The lady is a legend.
2 people like this
@BarBaraPrz (47660)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
11 Oct 12
That'd be nice, especially if the two of you figure out the Skype thing...
A couple people have suggested she join the 'Lot, but do you really want her to see all the stories you tell about her exploits? Might get ya in trouble...
@BarBaraPrz (47660)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
12 Oct 12
And the other thing is, if she posts her own stories, there go half your discussions! 
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
11 Oct 12
Nooo, she'll laugh along..she's like that. Anyway, she knows I post discussions about her already, that's how open we are.
1 person likes this
@changjiangzhibin89 (16789)
• China
11 Oct 12
It is great for your Mum to make the decision.She should have bought it long ago, if so, she didn't have to bother about her TV programmes and paid extra money for the programmes she liked .What is more important is that once she is retired,it can enrich her life .I guess it won't be too long before she becomes a mouse potato if she owns one.
1 person likes this
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
11 Oct 12
'Mouse potato.' Haha! I like it!
1 person likes this
@cher913 (25782)
• Canada
11 Oct 12
well, i know that there is a book for seniors who want to learn more about the computer. it is in the 'dummies' series. i saw it our local library a few weeks ago. also, i know that our library has classes on learning the computer for seniors, so maybe your mom can look in her area for something such as these.
i think it is good for your mom to learn something new. it stretches the brain!
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
11 Oct 12
She has a library down the street from her so that's a good idea letting her loose in it lol. It's one of the libraries that HASN'T closed, such is its popularity.
@margerydaw14 (735)
•
17 Oct 12
my husband is possibly same age as your mum(not sure how old she is, so dont be offended, he is 66) and a couple of years ago I bought him a lap top. it has been a total success. his last car he bought on line, i have just introduced him to facebook, he has his own account, plus he now has a iphone and an ipad, and speaks to his friends on skype! so good luck to your mum, joining the silver surfers!
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
9 Dec 12
Yes, Mum is 66 too. Unfortunately, she's not as adventurous as your husband and changed her mind about getting a laptop. If she had taken the plunge I'm convinced it would've had the same effect as it has on your husband..but, it wasn't to be.
I'm a bit upset about it but if she doesn't want a laptop I can't force her into buying one as - even the cheaper models - are expensive.
In fact, my Dad hasn't even used a DAB radio we bought him for Christmas a couple of years ago and that was about £65. He won't accept that his hearing isn't the best and blames any equipment he's listening to rather than his ears.
@artemeis (4194)
• China
11 Oct 12
I wonder if a iPad is more suitable for your mother than a laptop. I am saying this because I don't think she would be using everything in the laptop. In my opinion, iPad is much simpler and more user friendly than a laptop which may be over engineered for a novice like her.
I am saying this in view of my 72 year old father whom I recently bought a iPad after his hesitation with my handed over laptop which I had mine upgraded. He didn't like the laptop which was much more heavier and had most programs he does not use.
Unlike, iPad which is more portable and versatile. He is using it to read his book collection and watch movies when he is bored. Most of all, we could video call each other anytime we want.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
11 Oct 12
iPads are great, I agree but are very expensive and Mum would to use many apps in order for it to pay for itself, in my opinion anyway. It's rare that iPads are in sales, for example.
What we're hoping for is that when we visit the electrical retailer (Comet in this case as it's within walking distance of her home) there may be laptop bargains to be had. There is also an assistant who has worked there years and - funnily enough, helped me to buy my previous desktop computer that lasted 9 years!
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
13 Oct 12
I don't know if you can browse on tablets. I'm a bit behind with all the technology.
@GemmaR (8517)
•
12 Oct 12
I remember the first time that my Mum got a laptop, and it was the absolute making of her. One of the things that she really likes doing now is shopping online because it means that she is able to get hold of things that she wouldn't have been able to in the shops. Another thing that she really enjoys doing is talking to the people who she hasn't been in contact with for a long time because it means that she can see what they have been up to since they last spoke and I know that she finds that kind of thing very interesting.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
13 Oct 12
Mmm, if Mum started online shopping I don't think she'd be able to stop lol.
I know what you mean though; it opens up a whole new world of possibilities which can't be a bed thing, can it?
@jazzsue58 (2666)
•
11 Oct 12
My mum, bless her heart, will think nothing of spending £200 on a food processor from QVC, but is scared of getting a PC. We can't even persuade her to get a mobile. She doesn't think of the telly as technology, even thoufgh she's got the full interactive set-up. And she refuses to believe my car has a computer under the bonnet.
"Don't be silly. How can you look at the screen and drive at the same time? It wouldn't be safe!"
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
11 Oct 12
Haha! She'd get on swimmingly with my Mum, that's for sure as she's a bit like that!
Mum doesn't have a mobile either (and I don't) so she would probably go for BT Broadband - the cheapest, as she won't be downloading stuff, unless she surprises everybody!
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
11 Oct 12
Plus the fact I keep saying, "Buy yourself a laptop!" I think it's finally sunk in lol.
@PointlessQuestions (15397)
• United States
15 Oct 12
Hi Janey! I'm proud for your mom for wanting to get a laptop. They are really convenient and they do everything a desktop computer can do. I'm using my iPhone to mylot most of the time. I'm very comfortable with it and I can mylot anywhere. At home I use our wifi and while out I use my data account which has 3 thousand megabits. I think your mom will enjoy a laptop and it will become very useful on it.
The Internet does open up my world for me. I do t get lonely when I can talk to you and everyone else.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
9 Dec 12
Unfortunately, Mum changed her mind about the laptop. I think she was worried about what would happen once I'm away from her house and not able to 'supervise' what she was doing. Basically, she wasn't confident enough to 'take the plunge' and I am sad about it but I cannot force her into buying one.
