Who says you can’t teach an old dog new tricks? With baby boomers moving towards retirement and having more time than ever for fun and relaxation, technology can be a great way to get the most out of your golden years.

The most important thing to remember is that easy is best when it comes to technology. Many computers, MP3 players, smart phones have become simple enough that you don’t have to be an electrician to figure out how to plug everything in and make it work. The second thing to remember is that inexpensive is very important, too. With new versions and models coming out every six months, unless you are already a computer nerd you need easy and cheap, not expensive and glitzy. Unless you are already savvy, the best idea is usually to stick to a basic set up.

Picking a “Home Base” Mac or PC?

Do you want to video chat, have fun with photography, or listen to music? PCs and Macs have different benefits.

PCs are usually cheaper. You can get a Dell Latitude laptop for under $500 dollars and it will be a great “base” for doing word processing, web surfing, and emailing. Macs on the other hand, tend to be better for people who want to do video chat (since cameras are built in) who want to engage in artistic pursuits such as digital photography and want to easily interface with iPads, iPods and iPhones. Mac products do tend to be more expensive with laptops often costing more that $1,000, unless you check for refurbished computers.