Best combo box for seniors

panda516

This is a common enough query but not often with usability concerns for older people, so hopefully no repetition!

We recently bought an Ariva 250 and love it, pretty easy to set up and delighted with everything. Everyone's advice on boards.ie much appreciated and dead on as always.

I'm now going to do the same switch over for my grandmother. She currently has a saorview box and a sky box (no subscription) and it's a bit confusing for her switching from one to the other. I'd like to pick the simplest fta/saorview combo box out there. No pvr or Web functions necessary just the option to arrange the top English and irish channels one after each other from 1-20 that an older person could then easily use.

Is another Ariva 250 the way to go or is there an even simpler combo option out there, reliable firmware, big button remote, basic menus, programmable single channel list etc etc. Also we'd be looking to get it within the next few days so has to be available now.

Thanks in advance

panda516

panda516 wrote: »

This is a common enough query but not often with usability concerns for older people, so hopefully no repetition!

We recently bought an Ariva 250 and love it, pretty easy to set up and delighted with everything. Everyone's advice on boards.ie much appreciated and dead on as always.

I'm now going to do the same switch over for my grandmother. She currently has a saorview box and a sky box (no subscription) and it's a bit confusing for her switching from one to the other. I'd like to pick the simplest fta/saorview combo box out there. No pvr or Web functions necessary just the option to arrange the top English and irish channels one after each other from 1-20 that an older person could then easily use.

Is another Ariva 250 the way to go or is there an even simpler combo option out there, reliable firmware, big button remote, basic menus, programmable single channel list etc etc. Also we'd be looking to get it within the next few days so has to be available now.

Thanks in advance

II should add that based on posts like this http://touch.boards.ie/thread/2056910477 I'm leaning toward the Ariva 150 due to the lack of an all-in-one remote which isn't needed for anything other than volume. But even taking away all the pvr functions and simplifying things even more would be great...

NIMAN

Panda

Can I ask if the 250 box has a permanent PORN link on the menu?

Think I read this once, and perhaps might not be suitable having that available?

byte

I think the 150 is handy enough to use for older people. It does have a relatively easy to use remote control and when you press a number, the onscreen graphic seems big and legible (unlike the 120).

Of course the usual caveats apply, like no digital Aertel, having to manually retune following a frequency move of channels, etc.

panda516

byte wrote: »

I think the 150 is handy enough to use for older people. It does have a relatively easy to use remote control and when you press a number, the onscreen graphic seems big and legible (unlike the 120).

Of course the usual caveats apply, like no digital Aertel, having to manually retune following a frequency move of channels, etc.

Aertel not needed so it all sounds good. Pity there's no easy-peasy non-pvr/Web option.

Can anyone confirm the lack of youporn on the 150? Wouldn't enjoy explaining that to an 86 year old who stumbled across it in the menu!

byte

YouPorn link is on the 150, I'm afraid. I think it's PIN protected but it's there nonetheless.

Johnboy1951

Hahahaha ....... this cracks me up ....... people who have lived to 86 years of age not being familiar with the existence of porn .....

I also, as usual, object to the categorisation of people of advanced/advancing age as being technically lacking.

Definitely some are, as with all age groups of the general population.

Remember ....... it was that generation who invented the gear you now accept as normal ........

micks_address

Yes its there.. but do you think they would actually every navigate into the menus to see where it is? i know my parents just use the box to watch tv and have never gone near the menu/settings for fear of messing things up!

Johnboy1951 wrote: »

Hahahaha ....... this cracks me up ....... people who have lived to 86 years of age not being familiar with the existence of porn .....

I also, as usual, object to the categorisation of people of advanced/advancing age as being technically lacking.

Definitely some are, as with all age groups of the general population.

Remember ....... it was that generation who invented the gear you now accept as normal ........

STB

Yes its in the menu. No, it cant be removed from the firmware unless you are a software compiler, have the source code and are familiar with LZMA etc.

The chances of the item in question actually working are dependant on

1. An internet connection.
2. Somebody actually turning DHCP on.
3. Actually entering one of these menus.
4. Having the latest firmware (as the app needs this as most stuff is hardcoded)
5. Having the PIN number to turn the feature on - in the event that all 4 have been passed above.

Now I dont think that most 86 year olds could get by one of those never mind all and in that sequence, so its not an issue.