Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

My friend who is 86 years old and lives an active lifestyle called me for tech advice. He saw an add in the Sunday parade magazine for a Wow computer for seniors. Initially compared to other computers I thought $1,000 was a bit too much for a desktop computer. I quickly jumped online and found the Telikin TLMS18T3202W Home Desktop Computer on Amazon for $665, it apparently is an older prototype of the Wow. I showed him the computer on the Amazon website. He called Amazon and asked many questions, and he said they were very helpful. They advised he could buy it and try it out, and return it if he wasn't satisfied. Just to give you some background. I gave him an older Windows desktop PC. It was a good working computer. He has a high speed cable internet connection. Unlike someone like me who has been working on computers for 30 years. He has said many times, he struggles to navigate the Windows desktop. He quickly becomes confused when something pops up on the computer. He is leery of popups for Windows update, Flash updates, Antivirus updates, etc. Like many seniors he is leery he may get a virus, or damage the computer. He does online banking, email, a few web sites, and maybe a video. The Telkin "Wow" desktop is a great computer for all it offers. It has a touch screen so you can either operate it with a mouse or touch the screen. The computer is designed where you can't get lost clicking on something. The Navigation menu stays on the left hand side of screen at all times. So you can't click on something and loose your Navigation menu. The items on the Navigation menu are common items a senior would want to check. Video chat, weather, email, pictures, games, etc. The Navigation are large and easy to read, and can be activated just by touching the screen. The computer is designed to be VERY user friendly. It is also designed to where you CAN'T possibly get a virus. You CAN'T right click. You CAN'T install programs or download ANYTHING from ANY web site. So there is NO risk of accidently clicking on something and getting a virus. You can open any website, play videos, look a photo galleries. You can also plug in a USB drive and play videos, and view pictues. Although that was a bit of a challenge. The computer has a built in Video Camera and Microphone and uses Skype chat. Once again on the Video Chat it is very user friendly. Once you have a Skype account setup all you have to do is turn on the computer, and click Accept call. Basically in a nutshell this computer is designed where a family member can setup this computer. Give some 1 on 1 tutorials with your elderly family member on how to operate it. Then fly home 1,000 miles away and feel CONFIDENT they can turn it on and operate it without something going wrong. One design flaw of the Telikin Desktop computer is the SOUND. Whomever designed this for seniors did not take in to account most seniors have a hearing problem. That was the first complaint of my 86 year old friend. The internal speakers have less volume than an iPad. This was easily remedied by plugging in his external speakers from his other computer in headphone jack. Another complaint was the web browser. That is you CAN'T get rid of the Navigation Menu. My friend was distressed that he had a huge screen, and 1/3rd of that was used by the Navigation menu. That was a HUGE turn off for him. He wanted a FULL SCREEN browser, and could not see the purpose of keeping the Navigation menu on the left side. He advised it reduced the browser window viewing area. You can see everything on the web page, it just makes everything smaller. He was also not happy with the email. He uses Hotmail, and it did download everything from his Hotmail account, Except the folders he created that had pictures in them. Basically after two weeks he felt too restricted on the computer. Where it was locked down, and opted to go with a Mini Mac connected to his panel HDTV. I set that up for him and he is very happy with that. It is still a learning experience but he doesn't feel limited. I work everyday with many seniors with computer issues. For many years they have shunned the internet away, mostly in fear with all the stories they hear. They now know everything is going online, and it is quickly becoming an everyday part of their life. If you have a family member that is disabled, or has NEVER EVER used a computer before, This is the computer for them. If you live far away from your folks like I do and want to setup them up with a computer for them that can't break down. This is the computer for them. However if you have a family who has taken classes at the local library, is familiar to some degree with navigating a Windows or Mac desktop. I DON'T suggest this as a computer for them.