Hi Jetjay,
Please don't think your idea of a useful gift has soured. It's still a wonderful and thoughtful gift you are giving!!!
And then you blamed yourself that they won't be joining the Apple 'Club' because of you. Please don't think that way!
Giving an ipad as a gift is surprise enough when someone opens it! It will takes mere minutes to set up on the phone with Apple support.
I know I went into detail as to what to expect if you set it up beforehand so you would be aware of dealing with their name on new emial address (which you can do on the ipad after you activate it (turn it on.) Personally, I think the pre-set-up can be a little awkward, given you'd have their private info, but that would have been your decision.
Can you please give more details? I
s it someone you see often?
Do they live near you?
Are they younger, older?
Any needs they might be able to work around to maximize how they can best use the ipad? Are they out of communication with family, friends, etc., because of distance?
Do have an Apple store where you live?
Given no email account, I thought it could possibly be a Senior. While my father-in-law used to use a computer, he hasn't in a while, yet for his 91st birthday in May he wanted an ipad and looked forward to it. I put many, many hours into researching how it can be useful to him (partial vision and some other things.)
In my research I also found many you tubes taken as families gave Senior parents ipads as gifts. They were overjoyed and some cried. If you would need help there, Apple support, who have always been incredibly patient, will walk you through anything you need.
There are also many others who have posted similar concerns.
Please let me know asap. You're doing such a kind thing and we won't give up on your gift if you don't!
I saw that I solved your problem. I'm always happy to see that anyone has solved anyone's problem, but I only needed to let you know the pre set-up details. I don't think I really solved it.
So please send more details. No one here knows you, so you can let us know what you want and your concerns. Check those you tube dvideos out. The ipad recipients did not complain that they weren't set up when they unwrapped their ipad presents!
FYI - you don't need to copy/paste the post you're responding to. In the corner of each post, there is a greyed out word reply. Click on that and write what you want.
Hope this helps.