Magical Laptop Computers - the most amazing and useful gift

Written by Julie Taylor

What would be the most amazing and useful gift for someone who may be immobile or perhaps disabled for an extended period of time?

When I asked this question of trauma survivors who had been able to use a computer to help them through their ordeal, their answer to this question was almost unanimous: a laptop.  Even a friend who had never really used computers and who had found the whole idea of email and a computer very 'user-unfriendly' before she became ill, fell completely in love with her laptop. It's like having a full-time personal assistant, with endless patience, right by your side. You never again have to wait for someone else to find you some information, buy and mail a card for you, go to the bank for you or do any of the million and one other chores that need doing every day.  Check out this beautiful HP Pavilion G60-230US 16.0-Inch Laptop. Hewlett Packard made the nicest PCs in a lower price range that I could find - you can also check out other models through this link.  HP machines are great value and well designed - a very good quality Chevvy?

APPLE MACS are my favourite - aluminium one piece body or white plastic body - and by the time you buy software - which is not included with most PCs there may not be a huge difference in price - although they are more expensive.  There's some gorgeous video, film, photograph and audio capabilities; they also fire up faster; work cooler (PCs can run quite hot) and are pretty virus resistant. Although Macs run on different software you can always export attachments that can be read by a PC - you do need some extra software but usualy it's only $99 (This is my computer and I love it!) I see Macs as the VW, Mazda or Jaguar of computers?

IBM Thinkpads can be great - for a while I preferred the plain language of the PC (which I was used to) and resisted the 'cool lingo' of the Macs. I found the whole Mac 'thing' a tad irritating!  Thinkpads - from what I saw - are very robust and good quality.  Like the Cadillac of PCs.  The advantage is that they run on the same systems as every other PC.  And they're strong - at least some are.  Check them out if you want a PC and really want a quality, strong machine.  Pricewise I found them to be more expensive than Macs and they were much more 'plain' - however, check around and see what's available.

In 1985 there were no laptops that I am aware of and my office computer was anything but user friendly.  My mom sat by my bedside for hours on end, practicing for her oral French exam... and my first words were French!  This shows the power of what the unconscious mind can do.  There is so much that we don’t know about what exactly and how much an unconscious person can hear - and what could they learn? It could have been very helpful to be able to listen to family members reading to me, for example. It would certainly have saved me monnths of isolation, loneliness and helplessness.

I was totally disoriented and I wasn’t even sure which century we were in - literally.  I was completely out of touch with everyone and everything. Eventually, a few months later, I wanted to help myself rebuild and get better and I had no idea what I could do. By then it had become clear to me that I would have to help myself if I was to get better. The hospital was seriously understaffed and there was little in the way of physiotherapy available, let alone any othe programs I needed.  I was totally stranded - I was determined that I would get better but I had no idea where to start.  A computer would have made so much difference. So much…

For a while, it’s likely that your trauma will stop you dead in your tracks and you won't want - or be able - to do anything much.  Fear of the unknown, for you and your family, is huge - and everything at that point is an unknown.  Although even at that very early stage, a computer could provide some much needed information.

Some days it seems like every brain cell is plotting against you and there would be no way you could even sit up in bed and open a laptop, let alone form a cohesive thought, find the address you need, write down your thought (if you were able to hold it in your memory long enough to write it) and send it off into cyberspace.  And to be honest, the last thing on your mind is staying in touch with friends.  That's the time a nurse could set you up with a movie or some soothing music.  Or a home movie of your family and children while you wait for chemotherapy...

For weeks after I surfaced from my coma, I didn't know my own name let alone that of my children.  I had no idea which year it was or how many kids I had, let alone could I have messaged them. Despite this though, with a laptop my caregivers could have operated my computer and enriched my life even when loved ones couldn't be physically by my side.  In this way it would help caregivers enormously.

During the early stages one of the very best gifts (other than to wake up perfectly well) would be a laptop.  Your nurse could play your favourite music on it for you.  You could listen to talking books or watch movies (or just have them on for company).  You could look at photographs and home videos of loved ones – and none of these tasks require for you to even touch the computer yourself.

As you felt stronger you could stay in touch with your closest family.  I love email because it is on your schedule rather than someone elses - for example the phone demands attention as soon as it decides to ring! You could receive messages from friends.  You could google your diagnosis and read about the newest treatments available.  Eventually you could form new friendships anywhere in the world and chat with others who are going through the same challenges as you.

After my second trauma, my computer was my lifeline – I didn’t have a laptop but I was physically well enough to sit at my desk.  I had just moved into a new house in a new town, three hours drive from my nearest friend and to be honest it was only my computer that kept me sane. Luckily I was physically fit and able to sit up at a desk.  Without it I would have been totally isolated. I hadn’t worked outside of my own home and home office in over fifteen years and I was 'new in town'.

My computer offered me an insight into my new ‘single world’ and I was able to find out how to change a faucet and research jobs.  After a few months I was working as a volunteer and starting to think and write about ReBuilding.  On a personal note, online dating was perfect for someone who after nearly 30 years had to learn how to date again. I was able to read about the experiences of other single women of my own age and 'practice' in anonymous safety.

Recently, after my car accident, I followed the lead of my dearest friend whose own friends had held a benefit for her and bought her a laptop while she was hospitalized with cancer.  With her laptop she was able to sit up in bed – or on bad days, even half prop herself up! – and use her Mac. She was able to find very little in the way of support groups for young people who have had cancer: so she has been able to start her own group, online - baldylocks.blogspot.com. As yet she has been unable to get back to painting – she’s a brilliant artist – but she has discovered in herself whole new computer-based artistic talents.

For me, as most of my own friends are scattered all over the world email was the perfect answer for me.   Gradually, as I got stronger I was able to fill my days and stay in touch with family and friends. Recently I have been able to write and re-write website pages, ready for my son to make into this website.  There are several courses I will take soon to update my resume. I can pay my bills, do my banking online very easily and do all my shopping – for groceries, comfortable easy-to-wear clothing, toileteries and more - all from my home and at 3am if I can't sleep!

I am able to compensate for my sometimes patchy memory by keeping a calendar on my computer, complete with alarms to remind me of all my appointments.  I use the task manager to keep my never ending to-do lists – again complete with alarms.  My contacts are all in one place and birthdays and other important dates, including school holidays, are entered in my calendar.

My computer really does enable me to organize my life more easily... What am I saying! Without it I would be totally stuck: it enables me to get on with my life.

In a nutshell, my laptop  has opened up my world. It's simple to use and is the perfect companion for ReBuilders of all ages.

The laptop I bought is a Dell and whilst it has been wonderful (and cheaper), I am lusting after a beautiful white Mac! To be fair though my Dell is fast and efficient and - although I haven't needed it for this computer - I have tried out the customer service which is fast, courteous and accurate.

The Mac is lighter, doesn’t get so hot (I sleep with mine sometimes and it's warm, not hot), is more portable, is as powerful (I think?) and beautifully designed – it looks like a large, sleek powder compact.  (They have gorgeous hunky black laptops for the guys too!) The Mac is light and portable enough to walk around with and use anywhere whereas my Dell is somewhat heavy and unwieldy – if I close my Dell, I have to wait ages while it wakes itself up again. Most software, icluding Outlook, Office and Dreamweaver is available for both Macs and PCs although you should check out whether your favourite software is available and how much extra it will cost you.

Recently I have considered buying a PDA (which I think stands for personal data (or digital?) assistant) which ‘hot synchs’ with your computer and updates your tasks, calendar and email each time you hot synch them. You carry this very light and fairly simple to use PDA (the size and weight of a small agenda) and have all your information at your fingertips all day.  There are many manufacturers, of which one is Palm, and most seem compatible with Macs and PCs.

I also have a separate cell phone - it is possible to combine a PDA with a phone - the Blackberry - although this is much heavier. In the end my brain was on overload as there are so many different configurations to choose from. There are also folding keyboards, writing 'grafiti' on a screen with a stylus, tiny keys and a wonderful GPS system... For now I'm still using scraps of paper covered in scribble... And my trusty Dell.

Another gadget I have is a voice recorder so I can 'jot down' my thoughts (before I forget them) while I'm in the car or in the dark in bed. I was hoping that I could buy a mike and connect it straight into the computer but, for now anyway, it seems that's not an available option. (The GPS is a great idea too and would be so useful!!...)

I was in a bit of a dilemma, deciding where on my site to put this article. Finally I decided that primarily 'Computers' should be in Financial... They are so versatile but you can certainly organize and pay your bills, which is financial. On occasion my son has phoned me - over a thousand miles away - and asked me for money for a haircut and within minutes I can have it in his bank account. 'Priceless' as mastercard would say...

Online courses are available and you could retrain and update your skills on your computer. You could even use it to work from home and so generate an actual income (eventually). Sitesell have a very wordy website course (but as good as any out there).  You can do this for free and learn more than you ever thought possible. Eventually you buy a url for around $10 and get free hosting on Godaddy for a short 5 page site.  As you learn you can either get more hosting on Godaddy, who are the cheapest around. Or buy a Sitesell subscription which includes the cost of the url, hosting and a ton of extra help in the way of keywords and getting your site 'represented'.  Excellent! Not the newest technology for sure but pretty easy to use and the most successful.

It doesn't end there though! There are cognitive exercises available online to help you sharpen and heal your weary brain. Physical exercises for every problem you can think of. Emotional support when you're feeling alone and sad or strong and supportive. Endless information and education about every conceivable topic. You can keep in touch with family and friends on your own - perhaps interesting - schedule. Perhaps you need to send a card, send for a dvd, do your banking, take a course, shop. You can also watch movies, listening to music or look at photos - which really helps to pass the time and, if necessary, can re-introduce you to your world.

What an amazing gift...

It is even possible to start learning how to go about creating your own website and (and ultimately your income) working from home - download the 'how to build a website university course' FREE!