Electronics

[amyb]

Anyone have one of these?

I don't know much about it, other than it's a way for people to "facetime" without an Apple device.

I have an elderly friend in VA and had thought about sending her one of these so we can video connect...she doesn't own a smart phone.

I have a Samsung phone but do own an iPad that I use to facetime everyone.

Am I better off just Zoom calling her...which she did upload to her laptop, we just never tried it yet.

Or is Echo easier...but I'd need one too right?

During today's Prime Day it's on special, so anything anyone can advise...Echo worth it. What would I need to purchase with it to set her up? Or...just stick to Zoom call?...no need for another device for her to learn..

Thanks in advance.

[NickNack]

It needs to be set up to connect with her WiFi, so someone would have to do that for her and show her how to use it.  If she doesn't even have a smart phone I think you're much better off just trying to do the Zoom calls.  (You don't need a smart phone to use this.)

I have two Echos and love them, but I don't have an Echo show like you would be using.  You can play music on them and various things, but it sounds like she might be better off not trying to learn something new.  Others may have a different opinion.

[mimomof4]

You both don't need the Echo but you would need the Alexa app on your phone in order to complete the video call.Depending on Tech savvy your friend is the Echo could be too complicated. 

 Using Zoom if both of you are already comfortable with it may be the easiest option.  If you both use Facebook you can use Facebook messenger for video calls also.

[amyb]

@NickNack @mimomof4 

I already agree with both of you...why add something new. At first I was thinking it was much easier, because a friend had one and had shown it to me a while back. He made it sound pretty easy etc...but it's usually coordinating all of this stuff that might be pretty easy but still a pain!

She's taken to a good bit of technology, and has a daughter who can help her with things...

But she hates the smart phone idea, and told me when I visited this year...I just don't feel like learning another thing! Lol.

So you both are right. She did say her daughter put the Zoom app on her laptop for this reason, and she's willing to do this.

I also had mentioned FB messenger, as I'd used it before with some people...so I'll mention both to her again.

Thanks so much for your feedback. All I needed to know to discourage me. I kind of don't want to try to figure out a whole new thing either, lol.

I'll try Zoom or Messenger with her. Thanks again.

[Janey2]

Just call her on the phone. I hate zoom calls....you have to make sure you are presentable. I like to talk in whatever condition I'm in at the moment.

[amyb]

@Janey2 Of course we've talked on the phone.

But, we are actually wanting to find a way to FaceTime...so, that's what this thread is about.

For me, I much prefer face to face...doesn't feel I'm just talking to a device, but visiting with the person. She puts herself together everyday, and also, I've seen her in her pjs and no makeup before anyway, lol. But I got your point.

[Mz iMac]

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@Janey2 wrote:

Just call her on the phone. I hate zoom calls....you have to make sure you are presentable.

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@Janey2   No you don't.  You can turn yourself into a meme.

[gardenman]

The learning curve with an Echo is nearly zero. Once you have everything set up, she can call you by simply saying, "Alexa, call amyb." It'll default to a video call, but if either of you don't want it to be a video call you can close your camera shutter or say, "Alexa, video off" and it'll revert to a voice-only call. To end the call you just say, "Alexa, hang up." Easy-peasy. You just need to import the people she's to call into her contacts list. There are a gazillion links to detailed directions on what needs to be done all over the Internet, but I couldn't find a pure link without an ad that might get it poofed. Just do a Google, bing, Duckduckgo, whatever search for something like "Using an Echo Show to make calls" and you'll find lots of information. 

The poofers-that-be here have gotten a little deletion crazy and delete posts with links to sites that have ads selling anything these days, so I can't give direct links any longer, but a quick search should show you what you need to know.