So Your Parents Want an iPad: Decreasing Tech Support Dependence on Your Kids

So my parents want an iPad.  No seriously, they do.  OK, maybe they don’t KNOW they want an iPad, but as their tech support person, I know that what they really want is an iPad.  No more Windows computers telling them they need to install updates, no more virus scans, no more uninstalled print drivers… No more 3 hour calls that end up with us on GoToMeeting.com  and me teaching them how to give me rights to control the screen on their computer.  What they need, is a simple computer that is controlled by Steve Jobs.  What they need is a walled garden.  What they need, is less choice, less function, more simple.

My parents are self-proclaimed technology-challenged “seniors”.  Anything from coffee makers to computers shut them down completely.  I can’t tell you how many times I’ve programmed phone numbers into a cell phone for my father.  When they get on the computer they want very little from it: email, web browser, pictures, Facebook.  They are the quintessential consumers of media with very little content creation.  Maintaining their computers for this relatively minor amount of use is too hard.  The iPad seems like the perfect union of simplicity and tech.

So the decision is made to move my parents to the Apple garden.  Here’s what it takes to get them (and your parents) up and running on the iPad – even if you’re 1500 miles away.

I purchased the 16GB Wifi + 3G iPad model directly from Apple and had it shipped to my house.  I also ordered the iPad Keyboard Dock, the Camera Connection Kit, the Apple iPad 10W USB Power Adapter, and the iPad AppleCare Protection Plan.  I also ordered the Otterbox Commuter case that can be used with the Apple Dock.

When the iPad arrived at my house, I did the unthinkable.  I opened it up, and synced it to my computer.  Yes, you heard that right.  I synced this iPad to a computer 1500 miles from the final destination of the iPad.  Why, you ask, would anyone do such a thing?  Well, you haven’t met my parents, and I haven’t met yours, but I’m guessing, if you’re reading this article, you value your sanity as much as I do mine.  You know that if you were to send an iPad to your parents house that turns on and says, “Connect to iTunes”,  the first phone call would be to you (“What is iTunes?”) and the pain that would ensue.  So yes, I synced the iPad to my computer.  This is a major barrier to adoption of the iPad – the need to sync with a computer.  The allure of such a simple device, demands the ability to turn it on and let the magic begin (without having to sync to iTunes). 

If you feel your parents are up to the task of setting up their own iPad, check out this article from GigaOM – complete with step-by-step directions and screen shots.  Of course, the difficult part is not really setting up the iPad, it’s installing iTunes in the first place.  So go ahead and fire up a GoTo Meeting, pull up Installing iTunes for Dummies, and walk them through the installation and setup process.

A Few Apps to Get Things Started:

Kindle – don’t just download the app, log in to their account, download a book, and set the text size to a larger font.
Silver Surf – an alternative web browser that offers larger navigation buttons, a high contrast mode, and dynamic text zoom .
Web Albums for iPad – a Picasa album viewer, so my parents can stay up to date with all the pictures the family posts to our Picasa albums.

New York Times
WebMD
Flight Status Pro – with Tripit
AARP
Weather Channel – pre-configured to their location
CNN
FreeCell Classic
TomTom Navigation
Pages
Print n Share for iPad
Angry Birds – you never know, they may like it
NPR
Words with Friends
Netflix
Movies

I configured each app for my parents, logged in to accounts or created accounts where necessary, identified locations.  I also set up a web bookmark for Facebook on their homescreen and logged in for them.  I set up their email account and made sure it populated their contacts.  Three hours of my time to ensure that my parents would be able to open the box and experience the magic of the iPad.

Final step – I put the iPad into the Otterbox case, packed it and all the accessories into a well padded box, took it to FedEx and shipped it out (with $1000 worth of insurance). 

I doubt that this venture will change my parents use of technology.  They will use the iPad largely as they've used a computer.  I doubt that my loading the Kindle app onto the main homescreen will convince my mother to read e-books,or signing them up for a Tripit account will inspire them to consolidate their travel plans electronically. I do hope that by doing the legwork of setting up this machine for them, they'll be able to enjoy the things they already do on their computer - without the pain of security updates and other Windows annoyances.  I hope they'll be able to enjoy the portability of this technology when they travel, and even in their own home.  Most of all, I hope the AppleCare Protection Plan will ensure that any future problems they have with this machine can be directed to Apple Support.  Wait, did I just say that out loud?  Hi Mom!

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