Keesha
š
- Location
- Canada šØš¦
I also got a $10 SIM card for one of my old iPhones which I can now use as a hotspot to use with my iPad with unlimited data so that worked out well.
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Need HELP with computer purchase Please!
- Thread starter Keesha
- Start date
debodun
SF VIP
- Location
- way upstate in New York, USA
I've been delaying getting a new system, too. I'm using a clunky desktop running Windows 7, but hey, it still works most of the time. But it's like driving a dumptruck when everyone else has a Ferrari - slow but it will eventually get you there. I am concerend about learning how to operate a new computer - not like 20 years ago. So many more choices these days. Wi-fi or modem, memory, disk capacity, speed. What to choose?
Keesha
š
- Location
- Canada šØš¦
I understand what youāre saying debodun. Iām not in the least computer savy and find learning anything technical, frustrating , so donāt much like change, especially once Iāve finally figured things out. Trying to figure out what to get was confusing.
I had no idea so I talked to the woman at Costco who suggested to try one and if I donāt like it bring it back. Itās not often that you get the opportunity to try a computer and return it if itās not what you are looking for.
I wish I could help you with your search but that would be like the blind leading the blind. Perhaps if you write down the things you are looking for it to do , someone else , who is knowledgeable about computers , might help. Hopefully they do.
Iām fairly used to apple which is why I chose what I did and of course the return policy was ideal so hopefully this will work.
Do you shop at Costco or know anyone close who does? Best Buy is supposed to be good. Factory Direct has refurbished stuff for much cheaper.
My suggestion is to talk to others who know about computers. Unfortunately Iām not one of them but good luck either way.
I had no idea so I talked to the woman at Costco who suggested to try one and if I donāt like it bring it back. Itās not often that you get the opportunity to try a computer and return it if itās not what you are looking for.
I wish I could help you with your search but that would be like the blind leading the blind. Perhaps if you write down the things you are looking for it to do , someone else , who is knowledgeable about computers , might help. Hopefully they do.
Iām fairly used to apple which is why I chose what I did and of course the return policy was ideal so hopefully this will work.
Do you shop at Costco or know anyone close who does? Best Buy is supposed to be good. Factory Direct has refurbished stuff for much cheaper.
My suggestion is to talk to others who know about computers. Unfortunately Iām not one of them but good luck either way.
debodun
SF VIP
- Location
- way upstate in New York, USA
None I wouldn't have to make a trip to "the big city" to get. The one I'm using now I bought as a refurb from a computer fixit shop. I paid over $400 and that was in 2012.
Happyflowerlady
Vagabond Flowerchild
- Location
- Northern Alabama
Ok today I went out and purchased an iPad Pro. When researched what Iād need to use the garage band app, many people were very pleased with this. With over 2,200 five star reviews @ a 98% satisfaction record and 90 days to try it out, I figured I canāt go wrong. If this isnāt suitable Iāll take it back and try something else. Thatās the beauty of Costco. Yayyy.Iāve got it charging up right now.
I think that you will love the iPad Pro once you get used to using it. If you look in the Books app, Apple has free tutorial manuals for the ipad, and there are also a lot of great YouTube videos for anything you want to learn about using the iPad. Did you get the 11ā or the 12.9 inch one ?
If I can be of any help, be sure to PM me.
Here is the link for the Apple user guide from the Books app.
https://books.apple.com/us/book/ipad-user-guide/id1464778568
Keesha
š
- Location
- Canada šØš¦
Oh you are just awesome but be careful what you offer. Lol. You might regret that once I start asking questions.
The great thing is with this new SIM card and hotspot , is that now I can actually watch videos without it cutting into my data. I couldnāt watch many before and learning some things like Garage Band, you really need to watch the video so you can keep going back to absorb a bit at a time cause thereās so much to learn and Iām a real slow learner. Lol! Or even better, download it. Something I couldnāt do before.
Iāve gotten it charged up now and have used it. Tonight I will work on Garage Band cause Iād love to share some of my music with you. Iām much better at communicating through music.
This is a 12.9 inch iPad. Now Iād like to get a protective case for it but first make sure I like it.
What types of things do you do on yours or rather, what do you use yours for? From the reviews I read , this computer is supposed by great for the arts
. Apparently the graphics are supposed to be good. Iām looking forward to learning how to use it.Setting it up I felt like pulling all my hair out. All those questions and passwords . Awwwwwwwwww.
I am excited though. Itās like my new toy.
Keesha
š
- Location
- Canada šØš¦
Youāre probably going to hate me saying this but Iām going to anyway. I know you donāt trust online banking and thatās ok but you should at least get a credit card so you can safely purchase things online. Itās safe. Humanity has been doing for a long time and if it didnāt work, youād have heard about it.
If you get a card you can shop anywhere. Plus many card companies now offer a percentage back for using the card so itās credited to your account. You can actually save money by using a credit card if you pay it off every month. If you became a Costco member you can get all kinds of everyday deals with a money back guarantee on anything you purchase with no receipt needed.
With getting older these options can come in quite handy. Ok! I know I should probably not say anything but I worry about you. None of us are getting any younger here and this would help you keep your independence for longer and I know how much you enjoy that.
Happyflowerlady
Vagabond Flowerchild
- Location
- Northern Alabama
I have a 12.9 iPad Pro, too, as well as the smaller 10.5 iPad Pro I use both of them for different things. The 12.9 I use like I would a laptop, and I have it in a keyboard case, which makes it perfect for typing.
It is also good for watching YouTube videos because of the larger screen size, and I do my photo-editing on this one , as well.
The smaller one is for when I am not typing, and just want to hold it and read or research something. I also use this one for watching videos, because even though it is smaller, I can hold it easier than the larger one.
When I travel, I take the 10.5, and then I have a keyboard case for that one, too. Otherwise, I just have a little protective case (from Amazon) on the smaller one.
Here is my 12.9 in the keyboard case. If you do not expect to do a lot of typing, then all you should need is a protective case.
It is also good for watching YouTube videos because of the larger screen size, and I do my photo-editing on this one , as well.
The smaller one is for when I am not typing, and just want to hold it and read or research something. I also use this one for watching videos, because even though it is smaller, I can hold it easier than the larger one.
When I travel, I take the 10.5, and then I have a keyboard case for that one, too. Otherwise, I just have a little protective case (from Amazon) on the smaller one.
Here is my 12.9 in the keyboard case. If you do not expect to do a lot of typing, then all you should need is a protective case.
Happyflowerlady
Vagabond Flowerchild
- Location
- Northern Alabama
Another option is to get a prepaid debit card, like Walmart sells, and then use that for online purchases. It does not track back to your bank account, so it is safe to use online.
I only do online shopping from places that I trust, mainly Amazon or Samās Club, and I use my paypal card for ebay shopping.
Keesha
š
- Location
- Canada šØš¦
OMG!!! Wow! Iām thrilled. Seriously. Someone who has two iPads and ones the same as mine and offering to help if needed? This must be my lucky
day or something. My trip to Costco was wonderful, I found the iPad I think I need and a member who is also trying to adopt a vegetarian lifestyle has just offered to help me? 
Someone pinch me.A keyboard case. The one at Costco was set up
with a keyboard case. Something else I didnāt know.Iāve never done any photo editing except cropping.This is soooo exciting. I thought the iPad mini was cute. A perfect size to use for reading a book.
Oh I am so going to pick your brains HappyFlowerLady.lol.
Keesha
š
- Location
- Canada šØš¦
Oh YES!!! Sheās probably like that even better.
Great idea. Online shopping is getting better all the time.
Happyflowerlady
Vagabond Flowerchild
- Location
- Northern Alabama
The iPad Mini IS the perfect size for reading !
I have one of those, too. I use it for reading, traveling (I have a keyboard case for traveling for that one, too), as well as listening to motivational self-help apps at night, with my headphones.
They come in all different sizes, and once you fall in love with your iPad, you might end up wanting a āwhole familyā, like me.
My large one was a Christmas gift from my daughter, Robin. The 10.5 , I bought from the pawn shop, and the Mini I found on ebay, so they were both used when I got them, and it happened over time, as I found a good deal on one.
I have one of those, too. I use it for reading, traveling (I have a keyboard case for traveling for that one, too), as well as listening to motivational self-help apps at night, with my headphones.
They come in all different sizes, and once you fall in love with your iPad, you might end up wanting a āwhole familyā, like me.
My large one was a Christmas gift from my daughter, Robin. The 10.5 , I bought from the pawn shop, and the Mini I found on ebay, so they were both used when I got them, and it happened over time, as I found a good deal on one.
Keesha
š
- Location
- Canada šØš¦
Haha. I almost choked on my drink when I read this part. My husband asked what I was laughing at so I quoted the above. He said, I hope not! āŗI want a family already.
Happyflowerlady
Vagabond Flowerchild
- Location
- Northern Alabama
Well, Keesha......... I guess it is time for True Confessions here.
My husband also has 3 ipads.
He has the 12.9 that Robin got us both as gifts. He has an iPad 5th generation (which it is time to update when I find a good deal for him, but he is happy with it), and he has an iPad Mini 2 (really old one) that he uses out in the garage to connect his Bluetooth speakers with. He also carries it with him sometimes when he is working on some project that he wants to take pictures of.
And, naturally, we both have our iPhones, as well. So now, you have the whole unvarnished truth of the matter, when it comes to me and iPads.
My husband also has 3 ipads.
He has the 12.9 that Robin got us both as gifts. He has an iPad 5th generation (which it is time to update when I find a good deal for him, but he is happy with it), and he has an iPad Mini 2 (really old one) that he uses out in the garage to connect his Bluetooth speakers with. He also carries it with him sometimes when he is working on some project that he wants to take pictures of.
And, naturally, we both have our iPhones, as well. So now, you have the whole unvarnished truth of the matter, when it comes to me and iPads.
Keesha
š
- Location
- Canada šØš¦
Wow! I might be bring presumptuous here but itās sounds like youāre loaded. Is! Not so much. It took everything in my piggy bank to purchase this so I hope itās all that I need and then some.
I watched a few garage band tutorials and could almost cry with frustration but like my my diet, Iām determined to learn this.
Do you take many photos and if so where do you store them? Also, do you have protective coverings for them? While walking around with mine in my hand last night, I considered the damage that would happen if I dropped it since I drop everything especially on our new porcelain floors. Even the hardwood floors arenāt too forgiving.
Happyflowerlady
Vagabond Flowerchild
- Location
- Northern Alabama
I am definitely NOT loaded ! I am actually below poverty level, low-income senior, but I do surveys and such for a little extra money, and then that is what I use to buy things , after I save up enough money to do it.
The only new iPad that I/we have , is the one that my daughter got for us as Christmas gifts, and we have had those for going on two years now. My daughter has us on her phone contract, so that is why we are able to have an iPhone. Before that, we had one of the low-income āObama phonesā that are so tiny you canāt even see to use them. (They are like a very cheap Tracphone. )
The other ones are old model iPads that I found on eBay (or the pawn shop) and bought really, really cheap, well used, and out of date; but they work for what we need them for.
Anyway, photos....... yes, I have a lot of them, and they are stored in the Apple iCloud. A lot of storage comes with each Apple account, and if you need more, it starts at about 99 cents a month, which is a whole lot more storage space.
I do have protective coverings for my iPads . I have the little sleep/wake covers, except for the big iPad, which has the keyboard case, and it pretty much stays in place and I use it like a laptop.
The kind of cover you will want, depends on how you expect to be using the ipad. If you are going to be holding it a lot, then something lightweight is good. If you plan on using it as more of a computer/laptop and typing, then a keyboard case is excellent, so you do not have to use the virtual keyboard .
That is why I wanted two sizes. The 12.9 is large enough that I can read things easier, and the smaller one is lightweight and easier to hold for things that I want to do that for.
Also, before moving into the more complicated things, like Garage Band and photo-editing, I would suggest spending time just getting used to using an iPad, and how the basic things work, and then doing the more advanced things.
Even as long as I have had an iPad, there are still new things that I am learning all of the time, and watching YouTube tutorials to learn.
Here is the kind of lightweight cover that I have on my smaller iPad Mini.
The only new iPad that I/we have , is the one that my daughter got for us as Christmas gifts, and we have had those for going on two years now. My daughter has us on her phone contract, so that is why we are able to have an iPhone. Before that, we had one of the low-income āObama phonesā that are so tiny you canāt even see to use them. (They are like a very cheap Tracphone. )
The other ones are old model iPads that I found on eBay (or the pawn shop) and bought really, really cheap, well used, and out of date; but they work for what we need them for.
Anyway, photos....... yes, I have a lot of them, and they are stored in the Apple iCloud. A lot of storage comes with each Apple account, and if you need more, it starts at about 99 cents a month, which is a whole lot more storage space.
I do have protective coverings for my iPads . I have the little sleep/wake covers, except for the big iPad, which has the keyboard case, and it pretty much stays in place and I use it like a laptop.
The kind of cover you will want, depends on how you expect to be using the ipad. If you are going to be holding it a lot, then something lightweight is good. If you plan on using it as more of a computer/laptop and typing, then a keyboard case is excellent, so you do not have to use the virtual keyboard .
That is why I wanted two sizes. The 12.9 is large enough that I can read things easier, and the smaller one is lightweight and easier to hold for things that I want to do that for.
Also, before moving into the more complicated things, like Garage Band and photo-editing, I would suggest spending time just getting used to using an iPad, and how the basic things work, and then doing the more advanced things.
Even as long as I have had an iPad, there are still new things that I am learning all of the time, and watching YouTube tutorials to learn.
Here is the kind of lightweight cover that I have on my smaller iPad Mini.
Camper6
Well-known Member
- Location
- Northwestern Ontario Canada
"What I really miss about not having a computer is storage. Iāve actually lost almost 3 years of pictures I took due to needing to store them on my iPhone. I enjoy photography very much. "To start with Iām computer challenged. In fact the only reason Iām online at all is because I have an iPhone but thatās about all I know how to use.
What I really miss about not having a computer is storage. Iāve actually lost almost 3 years of pictures I took due to needing to store them on my iPhone. I enjoy photography very much.
Next thing I want it for is to make digital music back tracks for vocals and saxophone playing so that I can hopefully share my music with others online.
We donāt have a computer or internet here at the moment but are looking into getting it.
The computers Iām currently looking into are AppleMac minis, MacBooks, Mac airās , MacBook pros etc., but they are pricey.
Iāve got my eye on a Mac mini
https://setapp.com/lifestyle/why-get-the-mac-mini-latest-model
What Iād like to do is create backtracks for songs I like so that Iām creating my own music. Since Iām not doing this to make money, I donāt have to worry about copyright issues especially if I use YouTube. They have their own copyright policy you have to fill out before uploading anything online. This is what Iāve been told by others and not something Iāve tried. In fact, Iāve never in my life recorded any of my work.
Correction: as kids we taped us singing āCome Togetherā by the Beatles when we were little kids to send to my grandmother . She hated it.
Do any of you use an Apple computer for music or know anything about making music back tracks?
I need to learn more about computers before I commit to buying one. Iām planning on purchasing my computer from Costco so if I donāt like it, I can return it with no questions asked.
I just skimmed through all of the posts and if your problem is not enough storage, then the answer is an external hard drive where you can store until the limit of the drive is reached and that's quite a bit.
External hard drives now are relatively inexpensive as compared to getting a huge capacity computer. It beats storing in the Cloud and similar solutions. And it can be used on another computer if you decide to change.
I can't get the link to work but they are available at Best Buy and similar stores and they will even help you to get it installed.
Keesha
š
- Location
- Canada šØš¦
Oh thanks Camper. Someone else suggested this. Iām not fond at all of storing photos on iCloud. Iāve got photos stored in other photo storing websites but then once I got a new phone with a new email address Iād forget my passwords etc., and theyād all get lost which totally sucks. Plus I ended up accidentally deleting my last iPhone which probably had the best pictures Iāve ever taken in my life and although I understand they are only materialistic things, they held so many positive memories and now I canāt ever get them back and it upsets me so much. Thatās another reason why I want to learn more about computers. I canāt keep relying on asking my husband either.
Thatās a great suggestion Camper. Thank you. ā¤
I will look into it. Iām soooooo technically challenged and just trying to learn technical stuff is incredibly frustrating. My mind almost shuts down due to it.
Yesterday I considered chucking my new computer threw the window.
I bit of an exaggeration. Of course I wouldnāt because then I couldnāt take it back nor do I have the money for a new window 
LolCamper6
Well-known Member
- Location
- Northwestern Ontario Canada
Throw it anyway. "We don't need a window on such a sunny day". Remember those lyrics from "Manana is soon enough for me".?Oh thanks Camper. Someone else suggested this. Iām not fond at all of storing photos on iCloud. Iāve got photos stored in other photo storing websites but then once I got a new phone with a new email address Iād forget my passwords etc., and theyād all get lost which totally sucks. Plus I ended up accidentally deleting my last iPhone which probably had the best pictures Iāve ever taken in my life and although I understand they are only materialistic things, they held so many positive memories and now I canāt ever get them back and it upsets me so much. Thatās another reason why I want to learn more about computers. I canāt keep relying on asking my husband either.
Thatās a great suggestion Camper. Thank you. ā¤
I will look into it. Iām soooooo technically challenged and just trying to learn technical stuff is incredibly frustrating. My mind almost shuts down due to it.
Yesterday I considered chucking my new computer threw the window.
Camper6
Well-known Member
- Location
- Northwestern Ontario Canada
I'm in the same boat. I'm considering renting one to see how I can cope with it. I hate to give up my computer running Windows XP. There is so much nice stuff on it, like being able to record music to a CD and being able to edit pictures. If you want to get more speed out of your Windows 7, consider downloading a program called CCleaner. It clears the cache. I use it quite often. I have the free version and they constantly are asking me to upgrade but I won't.
Keesha
š
- Location
- Canada šØš¦
Hi HappyFlowerLady.
Yes I actually do know you probably went out of your way to get the best deal possible which is what I was going to do but then I decided to go into Costco and just get one to try. I may have been better off getting the smaller one for much less money and adding on the other things I needed instead. These things are a lot of money.
Yes your suggestion is a wise one. What Iām doing is frustrating myself needlessly. I should first get used to this to see if itās something I want to keep to use for all my other stuff. Iām trying to bite off more than I can chew right now. You are more sensible.
That is a gorgeous cover and great information. I completely missed your post before. Ok I need to get outside and do some gardening. Have a lovely day Happyflowerlady and thanks for the info.
Keesha
š
- Location
- Canada šØš¦
No.
Happyflowerlady
Vagabond Flowerchild
- Location
- Northern Alabama
Even if you deleted your last iPhone, your Apple ID should still be the same, and all of your pictures should be backed up onto the icloud, even if you were also storing them on the phone. So, it is possible that those lost pictures are still there, and you just need to use the same apple account to access them again.
I have almost 2,000 pictures on my ipad, all of which are shared from my Apple ID, and are on all of my devices. I really like that I can use my phone for taking pictures, and then they are automatically also on every other apple device that I have.
Apple offers so much storage that you should be able to store as many photos as you want to. My daughter has many times more photos than I do, plus about a zillion songs, and who knows what else, and all she uses is her ipad and iPhone. She just has extra storage that she pays for monthly.
You always get 5GB cloud storage free, and it took me many years to use over that amount, but then I got the 50GB plan which is 99 cents a month, and I am using about 16GB of that, so I will probably never run out. I think that Robin has the 2TB plan because she stores so many things on her ipad, but there is also a 500GB plan for 2.99; so extra storage is pretty cheap.
The nice thing about cloud storage, besides it sharing for all of your devices, is that even if you lost your device, or killed it somehow, or just got a new one, everything is backed up and saved, so ALL of your information (not just pictures and music) is saved and downloaded on the new device.
I have almost 2,000 pictures on my ipad, all of which are shared from my Apple ID, and are on all of my devices. I really like that I can use my phone for taking pictures, and then they are automatically also on every other apple device that I have.
Apple offers so much storage that you should be able to store as many photos as you want to. My daughter has many times more photos than I do, plus about a zillion songs, and who knows what else, and all she uses is her ipad and iPhone. She just has extra storage that she pays for monthly.
You always get 5GB cloud storage free, and it took me many years to use over that amount, but then I got the 50GB plan which is 99 cents a month, and I am using about 16GB of that, so I will probably never run out. I think that Robin has the 2TB plan because she stores so many things on her ipad, but there is also a 500GB plan for 2.99; so extra storage is pretty cheap.
The nice thing about cloud storage, besides it sharing for all of your devices, is that even if you lost your device, or killed it somehow, or just got a new one, everything is backed up and saved, so ALL of your information (not just pictures and music) is saved and downloaded on the new device.
Keesha
š
- Location
- Canada šØš¦
Oh thatās some great info but my husband said since I forgot my my Apple ID password that I may have lost them all which would be a real shame. I think I know my old email address though.
Is my Apple ID and my iCloud the same thing?
I just found this which Iām going to read through. Iād love to get those pictures back.
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Happyflowerlady
Vagabond Flowerchild
- Location
- Northern Alabama
You can still do it, even if you do not remember the password, most likely. Sign in with your email, and then guess at what you think your password was.
If it is wrong, you should see the option for āforgot passwordā. Follow that, and you can reset your password for that account. I think you will have identity verifications questions (what was the name of you first pet?, etc) that you will have to answer to prove it is you.
If you go to icloud.com , it will ask if you want to sign in with your Apple ID (whatever one you are using for the ipad), or use a different account.
You can then sign in using the old account, straighten out the password situation, and you should be able to share the photos with both accounts, using āfamily sharingā in icloud.
I sent you a PM with my iMessage info, so you can just message me instead of doing all of this on the forum thread, if you want to. This would be faster and easier,
If it is wrong, you should see the option for āforgot passwordā. Follow that, and you can reset your password for that account. I think you will have identity verifications questions (what was the name of you first pet?, etc) that you will have to answer to prove it is you.
If you go to icloud.com , it will ask if you want to sign in with your Apple ID (whatever one you are using for the ipad), or use a different account.
You can then sign in using the old account, straighten out the password situation, and you should be able to share the photos with both accounts, using āfamily sharingā in icloud.
I sent you a PM with my iMessage info, so you can just message me instead of doing all of this on the forum thread, if you want to. This would be faster and easier,