"An Apple is the only computer I would buy for my mother." That's roughly the famous line said by Bill Gates' character to Steve Jobs' character in the based-on-real-events movie "Pirates of Silicon Valley." It turns out Gates might want to consider buying his mom an iPad as well.
I saw this surprising revelation in action recently. A couple with whom I am acquainted bought an iPad. They're both around 60-years-old. One still doesn't know how to check his cell phone voicemail. The other can't install a computer program without being walked through the process by her 25-year-old daughter. They subsequently told an even less computer-savvy couple in their late 50s how much they love the new device, and they too began considering buying one.
I didn't expect this, but I should have. Even though it might seem like the iPad would mostly appeal to younger consumers, re-examining that logic shows something different. In fact, whether you're a Generation Xer or Millennial, chances are that your mom wants an iPad for the following reasons:
1. It isn't that hard to use.
Your mom is awful with a computer. That time you taught her how to use e-mail, you felt like you needed a fifth of Jack to quench your frustration. But downloading an app is much, much easier than installing a program in Windows. You just go to the app store, download it, and -- voila! If she thought a Mac was easy to use, wait until she sees an iPad in action. Just pray she doesn't discover Facebook.