The best way to know how to do something with the tech is to Google how do I ________________ on a _______________. There is always an answer. A laptop is made for files and photos. There are some good sales right now. You don't need a fancy one, just a basic laptop. You can zoom and see your family anytime, just like facetime on the phone but much better. Kindle Fire is a tablet. You can download pdfs, take pictures, read email, listen to music, watch movies, browse internet, and read book. Kindle 8 is an excellent buy right at $45. I use a laptop the ease of it and the Kindle fire for portability.