Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

After much agonizing because of the huge discrepancy of the reviews posted, I finally decided to take a chance and buy a Telekin for my Mother-In-Law. Here is my honest evaluation of this unique but OVERPRICED machine. First, let's be honest about computers in general. Unless you are a techno-geek who loves cyber-problem solving, they are ALL unreliable piles of junk. I have owned several types of computers over the years and I have NEVER had one that performed to a satisfactory standard of user-friendly ease. All of them are persnickety gadgets that freeze, crash and do strange and unexplainable things at a moment's notice. At this time, I own a slick, top-of-the-line Mac and I find myself on the phone to Apple tech support almost daily because of the problems that continually arise. Second. Please be sure to get it straight in your head what the issues are here. This is a case of quality vs functionality vs simplicity. Because the Telikin is a SIMPLE COMPUTER there have to be some concessions to functionality. There are things that it will not do because in order to make it simple, they had to limit it's functionality. This isn't necessarily a bad thing because the market this product is aimed at do not require huge functionality. In my opinion, it is perfectly legitimate to limit a machine's functionality in the name of simplicity. IT IS NOT, HOWEVER, ACCEPTABLE TO COMPROMISE A MACHINE'S QUALITY IN THE NAME OF SIMPLICITY. And that is the chief failing of the Telikin - they have produced a low functioning, poor quality computer and they try to explain away the faults and failings because it is SUPPOSED TO BE SIMPLE. I am sorry, but it is not OK to sell a second rate machine for twice it's worth, simply because it is simple. Not a good excuse. Having said that, I must tell you that of all the low grade, malfunctioning machines I have ever seen, the Telikin is perhaps the worst. It comes with a boatload of aches and pains that the Telikin company are aware of and they are always "working on it". This is an especially bad situation for computer novices who are already lost and are continually running into one of Telikin's "known problems" and they get frustrated, thinking it is their fault that something went wrong. When you turn it on, it literally GROANS, MOANS and GRINDS, until you think it is likely to explode from the strain of simply being used. Still, there are some things to recommend it, so here is the list of the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. THE GOOD: 1. Easy set up. It really is idiot proof, with a simple plug and go set up that has you online within minutes (assuming you have internet service already set up. 2. User-Friendly (when it is working correctly). Someone really did take the time to create a user interface that is probably the most sensible thing I have ever seen. It was lovingly crafted and would be fool proof if only the works of the machine had been as carefully made as the interface. I loved it for simplicity and straightforwardness. Well thought out design and good for anyone who is a computer novice and only wants access to the most common computer functions. AT THIS TIME, YOU WILL NOT FIND ANOTHER COMPUTER INTERFACE THAT RIVALS THE TELIKIN, no matter where you look. Do NOT believe all of those computer geeks who swear up and down that they can take ANY computer and create a simple, locked down interface that duplicates the Telikin. I have tried with several tech savvy guys who were sure they could provide what I needed for my Mother-in-Law, and in spite of all their big promises, when it came to the things that count, they were unable to deliver a simple interface. THEY CANNOT DO IT, mostly because the people who know how to create this kind of thing, simply don't understand the experience of a tech novice. What is simple to them will be Greek to most Grandmas. Really. They cannot do it. They don't even understand what it is. 3. Good Tech Support (if you buy their support package for $10.00 per month). This tech support is the best around for it's purpose and the customer service agents are all especially trained to interact with folks who know nothing in the world about computers. They are as good - if not better than - Apple Care; and that is saying a lot. 4. Tech Buddy Capability. This is great, because I could log onto my Mother-in-Law's computer from my own computer 800 miles away. We could sit together every day on long distance and I was able to walk her through anything she needed help with just as if I were in the same room with her. I could see and also control her computer from my own computer. Seriously, this is GREAT. THE BAD: 1. Poor Quality Guts. All the Tech Geeks who are slamming this computer for it's poor quality are telling the truth. It is really, REALLY junky, and the Telikin folks are so enamored with their "unique" product that they cannot or will not look at this glaring failing with unvarnished truth. This machine works poorly and so all the great simplicity of the interface is spoiled when Grandma is faced with a crashed computer and she thinks she did it. The enormous set of problems this machine has will be overwhelmingly discouraging to someone who is afraid of computers to begin with. Very sad, but true. ***DO YOU HEAR THIS TELIKIN??? BE HONEST ABOUT THE POOR QUALITY OF YOUR MACHINES AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT! You have a great idea and it is being ruined by sub standard operating system and specs. If you care about your reputation and your customer base, you will address this issue with great vigor! The Telikin Computer needs a complete overhaul.*** 2. The Telikin people nickel and dime you to death. My Mother-in-Law's power cord got lost and we had to buy a new one. This measly cord cost a whopping $75.00 + shipping. Very sad. 3. It will not work with most printers on the market, so you must buy your printer from Telikin. And even then, they are not too particular about how to get your printer to work with your computer. The printer part seems like an afterthought and is sloppily done. We did get my MIL's printer to work in the end, but it wasn't as easy as the initial set up. A cheap printer came with our Telikin, but it wasn't very nice and we ended up deciding that we needed an upgraded all-in-one from Telikin. 4. Actually, it doesn't work well with much that isn't included in the basic unit, but that isn't necessarily all that bad since this kind of limitation is to be expected with a computer that is meant to be this simple. 5. Poor customer service for people who don't pay the $10.00 per month. Be prepared to wait on "hold" for an hour or more to get even the smallest question answered. 6. IT IS TOO EXPENSIVE FOR WHAT YOU GET. THE UGLY Old age, dementia and death are not pretty. The demographic of the Telikin's customer base are people who are often struggling with these issues. Before buying any kind of computer for an aged relative or yourself, take account of your loved one's capabilities. My MIL would have loved something like this 10 years ago, but we were simply too late for this to be useful for her. THIS IS NOT THE FAULT OF TELIKIN AND HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE NEGATIVES I HAVE LISTED. She simply didn't have the aptitude to use something like a computer and even though she tried really hard it simply didn't work out for her. One of the better aspects of Telikin is that they have a 60 day trial period and during that time you can make a judgement about whether it will work out or not. We finally threw in the towel about a week after the trial period was past and there was no grace. We were stuck with a computer that was useless and now it is gathering dust in my sister-in-law's garage. We will probably donate it. If you buy this computer, be careful to leave yourself about 10 days to ship it back if you choose not to keep it. Would I do it again? NO. I just think Telikin's drawbacks outweigh it's assets. As far as I know, there isn't anything on the market at this time that will fill the very real need in this niche. It is too bad that Telikin doesn't live up to it's promise, but a miss is as good as a mile in this case. If the poor quality cancels out the great interface, nothing else matters and Telikin has failed.