[jrebman]

Folks, hope somebody here can help with this.  We just got my sister in law a  32g iPod Touch 4g and she doesn't have a wireless network in her home.  She is also a pretty non-technical user so setting up a network may not be possible (we're in Colorado and she's in St. Louis).  If she is tethered to a Windows PC with the docking cable, can she pretty much do the same sort of things, with the obvious exception of checking mail, browsing, etc, when not at home?

Thanks for any help,

Jim

[JohnR]

Interesting question... I don't think so, but if she were at the computer then what would she be using the iPod touch for (that couldn't be done just as easily on the computer)?

[jrebman]

John, aside from loading up tunes and maybe apps, I don't know, but she might get a kick out of facetime, the weather app, etc, but the point is taken.

I suppose I could always configure a router for her and send it with plug and play instructions.  More curious if this works or not, or maybe there's an app that does this.

-- Jim

[Pez]

No, the Touch will ignore the cable for anything other than syncing and recharging. There is no back and forth data transfer other than that. You should definately configure a wifi router and send it to her. IMO

[brj]

I haven't used it, but the Apple class N wireless router might simplify the setup enough to be a viable option.

Link: Apple Airport Extreme

If you feel like providing ongoing technical support, you could always configure it to allow remote access.

[skunark]

Additionally, she would have to purchase apps via iTunes and and use an email client that supports syncing if she didn't want to find a wifi hotspot.   Not totally useless, but if you think she would want more than that, I agree, try to send her a router.   Perhaps it's time to either upgrade your router or get an inexpensive router for her.  Maybe a new airport extreme for you or an airport express for her?  Something that you might be able to preconfigure before sending to her as Pez suggested.   

Optionally you could ship her both an ipod touch, airport express and a cat5e cable and then ask her to take the iPod and AE to an Apple Store and ask them to configure it.  All she would have to do is provide power and plug the cable between the the two routers.
 

[jrebman]

Thanks everybody.  This is more or less what I figured, so I'll look into a couple different options.  I have a couple of spare wireless N routers here I can send to her, but I'll also look into the AE.  Setting up for remote access is also something I really should do.  She's a smart woman, just a little technophobic.

-- Jim