Do Your Parents/Grandparents Use A Computer?

[Saphire]

I have a cousin who is is her 40's and she still doesn't own a computer, even though she uses one at work. I have made comments to her how it would be nice to write using e-mail, but she is not interested. Do you know people who are still young but resistant to owning a computer? My Mom is 82 and if it weren't for her poor eyesight, she would be using one. What is the 'cut-off' age of the people you know that own and use a computer?

 

[OK!]

My mom and dad (both mid-60s) use computers constantly. Unfortunately, none of my grandparents are still living, but none of them used computers. We got my grandma on my mom's once to send an email and she wasn't interested in doing anything further with it, so that was that.

 

[Liberty Belle]

My grandparents are no longer living, but when my grandmother was alive she'd email, but not much else. My other grandmother wouldn't go near a computer - it made her nervous.

My parents use the computer and internet all the time. Probably more than I do. They're in their sixties, so pretty young yet.

 

[Mikelly1221]

My parents are very good with computers and use them daily. They are in their early 60's

My grandparents...well DGM (early 80's) can't even push play on a VCR and DGF when he was alive still typed on a manual typewriter. So, the grandparents, not so much...

 

[JessicaR]

My MIL is 78 and she uses one but I use the term lightly. She prints her crossword puzzles and plays pogo. She is clueless about email.

My parents are young and they both use computers. I do have a GF that refuses to use one and says she has no desire to learn.

 

[Goofyluver]

I don't think there's an age cut-off.

My parents and grandparents are all tech savvy. In fact...much more than me.

 

[momrek06]

My parents both use a computer. M&D are 82&81yo. They spend their winters in FL and they email all of us scattered around the country on a pretty regular basis. I will say dad does like to use this FONT and this size of type!!!

 

[Mrsduck101]

My parents are both 60 and use their computer to email, pay bills, play games, etc. My dad actually is talking about buying a laptop

 

[DISUNC]

NO! My parents are 80...I am lucky they can turn the TV 0n!

I have a sister who is 52, and cant figure out a DVD player!

 

[Cool-Beans]

My parents do. Grandparents are very dead. Neither of my grandmas would use a VCR, so I doubt they'd have used computers.

I remember teaching my mom to use the minimize, maximize and exit buttons. It took FOREVER just to do that. The woman required more patience on teaching computer stuff than anyone I've ever known. My brother would start yelling, lol. I remember hearing him yell, "It is RIGHT clicking because you click the BUTTON on the RIGHT! YOU DON'T HAVE TO MOVE THE MOUSE!!!!" He finally gave up and I got recruited.

I'm so glad she knows everything she needs to know now. Good Lord, that was a nightmare.

Kids seemed to pick it up just fine.

 

[SydSim]

My mom doesn't use a computer, but at 69, I just taught her how to text and she's passed me in her knowledge! KWIM

 

[C.Ann]

My cousin (in her 60's) has a computer - her DH won't touch it with a ten foot pole.. No interest at all..

A 70 year old pen pal had Web TV for awhile.. Gave that up and decided she was not interested in having a computer.. (She works on one all day long at the Post Office..) However, she recently purchased he son's used lap top and is very quickly becoming frustrated with it.. She only "allows" herself a half-hour per day to use it or learn anything on it..

DD's FIL (mid-to-late 60's) has had a computer for a few years now.. He just decided this week that he needs to take an introductory class for Windows XP.. I don't know what he's been doing with it up until now, but I do know that his wife (same age) is terrified of it and won't have anything to do with it at all..

I got my first computer (used) in 2000.. It was Windows 95.. I learned most of what I know by trial and error.. Considering it only cost me $120, I wasn't too concerned about blowing it up - LOL.. (My late DH had NO interest in it at all..)

My second computer was Windows 98SE - used.. Again, trial and error..

The lap top I have now I purchased in April of 2006.. I'm not so quick to fool around with the "trial and error" stuff because I bought it new and it cost me a nice chunk of change.. However, I did purchase used copies of "Windows XP For Dummies" and recently, "Cleaning Windows XP For Dummies" and I use those for guide books a lot of the time..

My mom (90 now) never had any interest in having a computer and never would have been able to figure out how to use it in a million years..

I know a lot of couples (older) where there is a computer in the home, but it's usually only "one" spouse that uses it - not both..

 

[momrek06]

I have a sister who is 52, and cant figure out a DVD player!

 

[Buckalew11]

My mother has a PC and a laptop. She took computer classes several years back and enjoys using her computer. She's 71.

My MIL used to use one at work but does not use one now. She is 72.

 

[laurie31]

My parents are 80 and 76. They email and surf the web. They upgraded to high-speed last year, because they were frustrated with how long it took to download videos on dial-up.

(mostly they watch vids of their grandchildren that my DB and I send them - they aren't poking around you tube - lol)

They will shop (browse) online but then they will call and order over the phone when they find something they want. They aren't comfortable entering their CC info online. However...if the website doesn't have a phone number, they will call ME and ask me to order it for them (with their card)! I guess they think if *I* put in their credit card number, then it's safe! LOL

Dad even printed out their Christmas card addresses on labels. He figured out the font, color and everything. I was impressed!

 

[N&B'smom]

My grandmother just turned 87 this month. She LOVES her computer. She plays games, emails, etc. I think she'd go crazy without it!!

 

[clh2]

My Grandpa died about 8 years ago, he was 90 at that time. He used a computer until he was 89, until his health started failing. At that point, it was mostly to look up the obits for the local paper.

My dad was a main-frame programmer in the 70's, so his first desktop computer was an "8088". He is now in his early 70's, and he continues to be quite computer literate, and when he retired in his early 60's, he was quite an Access guru!

 

[disykat]

My grandparents died before the computer thing, but my parents use theirs. There is a great senior citizen computer club in their town and mom occasionally goes to one of their classes if she feels she's getting behind the technology.

I have a friend (in her 40's) who refused to use email until very recently. She was on several committees with me over the years and it was kind of pain because she wasn't on the email chain so you had to call her separately. She recently started emailing and is sorry she resisted for so long. I told her that the good part is that by now MOST people have gotten over forwarding lists of jokes etc. to everyone in their address book!

I still have lots of friends who don't check their email regularly though. Even if I'm super busy I still check mine twice a day (unless I'm on vacation!) So much committee work is done by email now I don't dare skip! Since I only work in the morning I usually also check my work email at home to see if I missed anything important in the afternoon.

 

[damo]

My mom is 82. She uses the internet to email and play solitaire but especially for Facebook. She loves how she can see pictures of her family and friends and comment on them.

My MIL is 87. She doesn't use the internet but uses the computer a lot playing Bridge.

 

[Cindy B]

My FIL passed away at 80 and he never touched one EVER!

My dad is close to 60, and he hardly ever uses one either. However, my mom is the same age and she uses a computer often.

My MIL was using them until she passed away-- she passed away when she was in her 70's.

Just today, I was at the library. Like most libraries, the card catalog is computerized. This lady (60 plus) was trying her hardest to figure out what to do and she looked really puzzled. I was waiting for the machine and she admitted she had no idea what she was doing (simple title search). She offered me the machine and I did the title search for her. I realized that I did it too fast for her so I showed her again how to do it.

She was very grateful.

If I had to venture the age gap, I would say in the 70 plus range, closer to the 80 plus range.