Another tablet enters the fray: AARP's RealPad

Froide · 10-27-2014, 10:44 AM

Quote:

AARP ANNOUNCES REALPAD, FIRST OF ITS KIND TABLET DESIGNED FOR AMERICANS 50+ APPREHENSIVE ABOUT TECHNOLOGY
Powered by Intel, RealPad to Serve as Digital Gateway to Over 70 Million Americans 50+

Press Center, September 4, 2014

Excerpt:

Quote:

Built on Google’s Android Platform KitKat 4.4, RealPad is ready for consumers to use right out of the box. Customers can pre-order RealPad beginning Sept. 4 at www.aarprealpad.org. Pre-orders of RealPad will start shipping out and be available in-store mid-October at Walmart stores nationwide right in time for the holiday season.

It's gotten lots of press, but until this morning, I was oblivious to it.

An entire paragraph is dedicated to each of the following "Five Key Differentiators of RealPad for Tech-Apprehensive Americans":

Easy to Use & Intuitive Interface to Help People Stay Connected
A RealQuick Fix Feature for One Click, Easy Tablet Troubleshooting
24/7 Customer Service and Remote Assistance
Affordable Pricing ($189); RealPad also includes a one-year AARP membership and a one-year limited warranty on the device
Pre-loaded Content and Tools to Ensure a Smooth Transition (built-in video tutorials on subjects such as understanding how to download apps, touchscreen basics, access and browse the Internet, and set up video calling, email accounts)

Here are the nuts and bolts:

Quote:

Built on Google’s Android Platform KitKat 4.4, RealPad is ready for consumers to use right out of the box. Customers can pre-order RealPad beginning Sept. 4 at www.aarprealpad.org. Pre-orders of RealPad will start shipping out and be available in-store mid-October at Walmart stores nationwide right in time for the holiday season.

Specifications of RealPad

Easy to use interface including RealPad RealQuick Fix for users to quickly view the status of their tablet on a dashboard (including battery life, Wi-Fi connection and Bluetooth Status, presence of untrusted apps, etc.)
Free 24/7 customer service with access to a live expert
More than 20 tutorial videos (top 10 pre-loaded on the tablet)
One year complimentary AARP membership
7.85” screen size
1.2GHz Intel® AtomTM Z2520 processor
2.0MP front-facing and 5.0MP rear-facing cameras
16GB memory
Connectivity - WiFi, Bluetooth
OS: Android KitKat 4.4

tubemonkey · 10-27-2014, 12:31 PM

Definitely not for techies - a dual-core CPU and a 163 ppi display.

ucfgrad93 · 10-27-2014, 02:10 PM

Since it comes from AARP, I wouldn't touch it with a 10 foot pole regardless of the specs.

Froide · 10-27-2014, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ucfgrad93

Since it comes from AARP, I wouldn't touch it with a 10 foot pole regardless of the specs.

[...]regardless of the specs.

Why not?

ApK · 10-27-2014, 03:22 PM

Quote:

AARP ANNOUNCES REALPAD, FIRST OF ITS KIND TABLET DESIGNED FOR AMERICANS 50+ APPREHENSIVE ABOUT TECHNOLOGY

I was waiting for a punchline. This sounds like an SNL fake commercial.

Ravensknight · 10-27-2014, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Froide

[...]regardless of the specs.

Why not?

that might make this fall into the Politics/Religion thread...

rollei · 10-27-2014, 04:05 PM

Price is similar to Kindle Fire HDX, wonder if anyone would buy AARP RealPad over Kindle Fire

tubemonkey · 10-27-2014, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rollei

Price is similar to Kindle Fire HDX, wonder if anyone would buy AARP RealPad over Kindle Fire

Lots of people would; after all, it's from AARP.

SCION · 10-27-2014, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rollei

Price is similar to Kindle Fire HDX, wonder if anyone would buy AARP RealPad over Kindle Fire

Yeah, the Fire comes with the Mayday button for assistance.

wawasteele · 10-27-2014, 04:18 PM

I ordered two. It's the first time we've had anything like this. I have a computer hooked up to our main tv and stream through it, but I have to use a wireless keyboard. Being able to use a remote sounds great. It will also be nice to be able to stream to the 2nd tv.

ucfgrad93 · 10-27-2014, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Froide

[...]regardless of the specs.

Why not?

Because it comes from AARP, and lets just say that I don't like their politics.

taustin · 10-27-2014, 11:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Froide

[...]regardless of the specs.

Why not?

The AARP can be very, very annoying with their marketing, and creep some people out. But mostly the first part.

Jack Torrance · 10-27-2014, 11:59 PM

AKA. JitterPad.

I wonder if it will come with a flashing 12:00 on the lock screen to make people feel at home.

rcentros · 10-28-2014, 01:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

Definitely not for techies - a dual-core CPU and a 163 ppi display.

It's probably an $89 re-badged, no-name Android tablet. I don't see anything different about it except that it has bigger icons on the bottom of the screen.

HarryT · 10-28-2014, 02:54 AM

The idea of computers specifically targeted at older people certainly isn't new. There was this, back in 2009, for example:

http://www.itpro.co.uk/617494/older-...imple-computer

10-28-2014, 02:54 AM	#15
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	The idea of computers specifically targeted at older people certainly isn't new. There was this, back in 2009, for example: http://www.itpro.co.uk/617494/older-...imple-computer Last edited by HarryT; 10-28-2014 at 02:57 AM.

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10-27-2014, 12:31 PM	#2
tubemonkey monkey on the fringe Posts: 45,746 Karma: 158575914 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Seattle Metro Device: Moto E6, Echo Show	Definitely not for techies - a dual-core CPU and a 163 ppi display.

10-27-2014, 02:10 PM	#3
ucfgrad93 Wizard Posts: 2,370 Karma: 9026681 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Colorado Device: Kindle Paperwhite 2nd Gen	Since it comes from AARP, I wouldn't touch it with a 10 foot pole regardless of the specs.

10-27-2014, 04:05 PM	#7
rollei Addict Posts: 219 Karma: 1000210 Join Date: Mar 2014 Device: Kobo	Price is similar to Kindle Fire HDX, wonder if anyone would buy AARP RealPad over Kindle Fire

10-27-2014, 04:18 PM	#10
wawasteele Addict Posts: 357 Karma: 656362 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: California Device: 1st PW, Sansa Clip Zip, Samsungs: GT 7.0 Plus, Note4, GT 4 10.1"	I ordered two. It's the first time we've had anything like this. I have a computer hooked up to our main tv and stream through it, but I have to use a wireless keyboard. Being able to use a remote sounds great. It will also be nice to be able to stream to the 2nd tv.

10-27-2014, 11:59 PM	#13
Jack Torrance “Here’s Johnny Posts: 186 Karma: 3863056 Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Overlook Hotel Colorado Device: Kindle DXG - 9.7 iPad - iPhone 12PM - Macbook Pro	AKA. JitterPad. I wonder if it will come with a flashing 12:00 on the lock screen to make people feel at home.