Go Computer: Made for Grandma

Grandpa, I’ve got a present! Says: June 19, 2009 at 2:38 pm

[...] Published by Maria Mihale, on Jun 19 2009, in the categories: Gadgets Today, on my way back to the city I have lived since I started college, I had one of the most intriguing discussions ever with my grandfather who strongly believes that he needs a cell phone right away. Maybe you don’t think it’s outrageous, funny or, just like I said, intriguing, but when an 84 years old fellow comes to you and says “Hey kid, I want a thing like yours and I want it right now!”, it kind of makes you wanna laugh a little bit. And I’m sure it won’t be long until he comes to me pretending he needs a computer of his own, also. Actually, he did say once he’d like to learn how to use the computer because he wanted to know if he won the lottery. So this is why I’m happy now to see that someone came up with a computer especially designed for old people. And it is called the Go Computer. It is quite simple and, what’s more important than anything else, it is “easy-on-the-eye”, as the manufacturer presented it. Being the result of efforts made during a decade of research, the Go Computer comes with a large typeface keyboard which has coded keys in different colors, comes also with a trackball which is easy-rolling, or a zoom that is able to magnify up to 200 percent. Old people should be very happy to know that the Go Computer doesn’t require advanced knowledge, so it can be set up in no more than five minutes. Not to mention that they won’t be able to break the computer, to crash it, nor to confuse it, as it comes with protection against viruses and spam. All they have to do is to just go to the Go Computer website and grab one for $799. (Source: Coolest-Gadgets) [...]

turn.self.off Says: June 20, 2009 at 6:04 am

Those color coded keys reminds me of the ZX spectrum…

bgates Says: August 19, 2009 at 6:40 pm

I currently have MSNTV-2 connected to my Sony 32″ Flat Screen with great broadband reception. MSNTV is slowly dying on the vine and I am interested in replacing it with the Go Computer. My concern is whether I could hook this up to my Sony TV which allows me to view internet from my easy chair rather than setting at a computer desk. Is this possible & since with the GO System the computer is mounted on the back of the viewing screen would this be a road block? I will appreciate hearing from You. Cheers, bgates

atlana Says: September 7, 2009 at 6:55 am

considering that an Asus EEE netbook (Intel Atom 270, 1 GB ram, 160 GB HDD) is the heart of all this, and that the User Interface is mainly Flash/IE-core based – 800 bucks is pretty much a rip-off!

a netbook for 200-250 USD, good quality keyboard + mouse for 50 USD, 100-250 USD for a 20-24″ monitor, “Internet for Dummies”/”Computer for dummies” boocks for 10 USD each, and iGoogle as startpage. Cheaper, more versatile and no monthly subscription fees. Above all, you’re not being locked-in to a proprietary service.

cellman Says: September 8, 2009 at 6:52 pm

The Go Computer is well worth the money. I have a GO Computer and It has changed my life. I never knew it could be so easy to use a computer……Money well spent!!!

I did not need any fancy computer classes or book for dummies.

Jim Says: October 2, 2009 at 9:16 pm

I agree with atlana about the price and configuration, but beyond that, look at the top row of keys on the keyboard. Aren’t they F keys? What do you suppose Grandma is going to make of that? This looks like a product that’s been designed pretty much for a niche market like MSN TV. Grandma is still going to need lots of help, and where’s the guarantee that the proprietary service is going to stick around after the sales have bottomed out? Who knows? Maybe MSN will scoop it up.

bgates Says: October 4, 2009 at 9:43 am

Does GO Computer have a Video Out Option so it can be viewed from a Sony Bravia 32″ Flat TV Screen? Tia/bgates

Glenn Condrey Says: October 19, 2009 at 4:09 pm

I agree with alana…
These things are based on the Eee Pc…I have a 701 sd, I just paid $139 for mine.
If this company is going to target a senior audience, they need to remember that most seniors are on fixed incomes.
$800+ bucks for a computer with a atom prccessor is WAYYYYYY too much.
These folks are better off getting a old version of Linspire installed on a cheapie computer for that kind of money.

Connie Mueller Says: November 6, 2009 at 4:46 pm

Looks like you have a good thing here. I have no trouble with my HP, but would like to know if just the keyboard is available and what the price is. Thank you for your help.

Connie Mueller

concern about the price Says: December 8, 2009 at 9:37 am

I am concerned about the price of GO Computer. Many seniors are on fixed incomes. If you buy this computer, you will also pay $19.95 per month. Yes, it is ripped off.

Nancy Alldredge Says: January 14, 2010 at 7:54 am

Where are the answers to the questions?

Apple Annie Says: February 6, 2010 at 9:28 am

I heard about this computer from my friend, who is not a ‘computer’ person. She asked me a dozen questions I could not answer about the GO COMPUTER, but she also gave me the web address.

One of her main reasons for wanting a computer is to ‘do’ her photographs. I used to take her digital camera picturess off of her camera floppy and put them on a CD. I also would email them to her son, and print copies for her. But my camera’s floppy is stuck inside the slot, so I can’t do hers any more, and my printer is not working as well.

So, my question is: Can she download her photos, and email them to her son and get a printer and print them out without too much trouble using the GO COMPUTER?

Thanks for any information.

z71guy66 Says: March 21, 2010 at 4:19 am

I’m going to get my Mom either an Ipad or a slate HP this year. It’s cheaper than the go computer with more technology and it will be just as simple to use with touch screen. No keyboard and no mouse.

Rugged Depot Says: January 19, 2011 at 12:19 am

Is this for real? It does make a lot of sense though. I have spent hours trying to teach my mom how to use the laptop she purchased, and until now, she still has Post-its all over her screen to guide her on how to check her emails. Plus, she complains all the time about how small the letters in he screen are. This computer would surely work great for her!

Christie Says: April 5, 2011 at 12:56 pm

Great title for this article! I couldn’t have said it any better!

Kevin Says: May 20, 2011 at 3:17 pm

This is definitly a rip off for senior citizens. Besides its cheap hardware that they charge 800 for they are charging 20 a month. Basically all it is, is firefox with an easier to use zoom button. You can’t really use anything else but firefox. Recently we cancelled the 20 a month service because my grandma became ill. They basically lock up your computer and when we called they said they would covert it to regular windows. So now we got netbook computer as a desktop?

Jason Says: June 30, 2011 at 10:06 am

This brings to mind a recent conversation I had with my mother-in-law. She just bought a new laptop — and I have no idea why she needs one — so she was trying out its various features. One day, she decided to write — err, type — a letter for her granddaughter. She called me in to ask for assistance regarding alignment. She had so many indentations in her letter, and being unfamiliar with Microsoft Word, I could not help her. She was surprised since she knew that I was always working with my laptop. When I told her I do not use Word at all, she was surprised. “Where do you write all of your notes and articles?” So I said, “I work online so I pretty much do my stuff on the internet.”An she says, “Can I write on the internet too? Where do I write there? On the blank spaces next to the ads?” Apparently, “internet” to her means “Yahoo” — since I recently put up an email add for her there. Grandmas and laptops are the cutest pairs!