Computer For a Friend of my Mom's

[SinbadEV]

So my target is a 50+ Year old woman who has been using computers for a while and I'm soon going to be tasked to help her find a new computer.

There are some basic functions that I expect she will need to do:

Send/Receive Email
Browse The Internet (Including Flash Enabled Things Like e-Cards and Browser Games)
Instant Messaging
Skype
Getting Digital Images From a Memory Card
Basic Desktop Publishing (Office Suite)
Printing

I would also suspect she would appreciate being able to have a browser, email client, instant messaging client, skype and a few images and documents open at the same time without the computer freezing up.

My first thought was Windows XP + Microsoft Office 2003, which I don't know where to buy anymore... I don't like suggesting people steal software anymore.

I put together what I wanted on Vista+Office 2007 with Dell and it Came out to $777 which sounds like a deal until you notice it doesn't have a monitor, or a printer...

I'd be willing to explore the Linux Option but I don't personally have enough experience with it to be certain it would work the way I want it to.


So I come to you, the Internet for help:


Basically I want a smooth ride, so I'm thinking a "Intel Pentium dual-core E5200 (2MB L2, 2.5GHz, 800FSB)" processor, 4 GB of ram, 120GB SATA2 Hard Drive, DVD Burner, Media Card Reader and then a MoBo with decent integrated Sound, Video and Ethernet... I was also planning on suggesting an external portable backup drive.

I'm worried about things like simple "plug in my camera and the computer will ask her if she wants to copy the pictures to her photo collection" not being so simple on Linux...

What concerns do I need to address... what's the cheapest way to get my requirements met... are my requirements too high/low?

[Jazcash]

I advise: http://www.meshcomputers.com
Best worth for money PC's in UK.

I mean cmon, you can get 4GB RAM Models for as low as £279 and 8GB RAM Models for as low as £429...

[SinbadEV]

When I poked at that site those systems are pretty reasonably priced but I don't live in the UK...

[KaiserJ]

if i were in your shoes, i would be looking at the refurbished desktop computers at tigerdirect.

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications ... CatId=2628

how about one like this? totally seems like it would be adequate for a mom-puter, just throw a monitor in and you're done, you can get a 20-22" flatscreen for around $180-200. of course, that's one of the more expensive refurbished desktop computers they have, probably even the cheapest on a fresh install would work fine.... ofc, if you want a dual core, it's more expensive... but i don't really think she would need one.

as far as OS goes, most of these come with XP, but if you wanted to go a "build your own comp but cheap" route, you could always throw some sort of linux on there with openoffice.

edit : ubuntu comes with openoffice, browser, instant messaging client, email client... if there's anything else she needs, it's easy enough to open the package manager and grab whatever it is. my mom was able to sit down with this OS and get on the net, play solitaire and check her email without any guidance from me, and she's in the age range and not particularly tech savvy.

[Peet]

openoffice

I think he'd be looking for software that works.

[SinbadEV]

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/ ... CatId=2632

Looks good and it includes Vista... for $377.96 canadien... seeing as Vista costs between $100 and $200 that's a great deal... I wonder if they would let me have it for significantly less if I didn't need an OS... probably not but it gives me hope to find a computer for my Mom's friend in the sub-400$ range.

@Peet:Open Office, works basically fine with enough ram... I don't use it though.

I'll install it on my laptop and let her see it before going Linux... I think this computer would run XP&MSOffice 2003 beautifully however.

[luckywaldo7]

If you want to go the linux route I would recommend Linux Mint over Ubuntu.

It is based on Ubuntu but has much better out of the box functionality. It comes with Flash already installed and plenty of other media plugins. There is also a lot of custom software, all conspicuously named starting with the word "mint" such as mintMenu and mintInstall all designed toward making the user experience better.

The default layout is more similar to Windows, and it comes with some good looking artwork and themes. Overall very polished and good for new users.

Of course, there will always be issues with linux. But I think this distro does the best so far.

*edit* more here: http://www.linuxmint.com/rel_gloria_whatsnew.php

[Jazcash]

Windows 7 is going to be like 10* cheaper than Vista.

[knorke]

are my requirements too high/low?

way too high imo.
did the old computer turn out to be too slow for certain stuff? Then maybe its justified but otherwise:
dual core, 4GB ram? for office? wtf.
On the other hand, integrated video sucks I think.

what's the cheapest way to get my requirements met

used stuff from a few years ago...

[maackey]

I just went a couple weeks ago to my grandma's and helped her buy a new computer.

Basically I want a smooth ride, so I'm thinking a "Intel Pentium dual-core E5200 (2MB L2, 2.5GHz, 800FSB)" processor, 4 GB of ram, 120GB SATA2 Hard Drive, DVD Burner, Media Card Reader and then a MoBo with decent integrated Sound, Video and Ethernet... I was also planning on suggesting an external portable backup drive.

That seems a little beefy for basic web surfing/office documents. I admit that I was always pulled to the bigger/better machines, but then I reminded myself that all that speed and power isn't needed for simple tasks. We ended up getting some ~$300US computer 2.5ghz dual core, 2gig ram, dvd burner, etc... I mean, ram is crazy cheap nowadays, it couldn't hurt to get 4 gigs (if you have a 64bit operating system, otherwise don't) dvd burners are commonplace, as are enormous hard drives. If you're buying a new computer, get the absolute cheapest you can; they will come with more than enough.

(my uncle gave her a new monitor previously) and I installed OpenOffice and some other stuff (like firefox, flash, etc...) so that saved a lot of money. Ubuntu (and other linux distros) have absolutely amazing package repositories; just search for what you need, check the box and hit ok -> automatically downloads and installs. Couldn't be easier, and its all free as well.

I'm worried about things like simple "plug in my camera and the computer will ask her if she wants to copy the pictures to her photo collection" not being so simple on Linux...

Also, if you are considering the linux option, Ubuntu is extremely well polished. Camera pictures work beautifully, as well as flash cards etc... The only thing I would be concerned about is wireless and printers. Wireless can be hell to set up, and quite a few printer companies don't have drivers for linux. (If she has an HP printer, no worries; they work out of the box usually.)

Never tried mint as mentioned before, but if you can't install flash/dvdcodecs/mp3etc... for her this might be more suited for your needs.

As an aside:
She also had this ancient dinosaur of a computer that apparently had Windows NT 2000, but BSOD on startup every time. iirc 128 mb ram, 60 gb hd, 900mhz processor (one core, obviously). I installed ubuntu 9.04 flawlessly, although it took a little longer than I had anticipated. It was a little slow, but it worked fine. (I am going back to change the desktop from gnome to either xfce, fluxbox, or something quicker) The new computer is definitely nicer, but you don't need some super machine for most stuff

[Neddie]

I'd just get an EEE or Acer netbook for those needs. I can ever do basic Spring game development work on my netbook.

[bobthedinosaur]

486 ftw

[SinbadEV]

I'd just get an EEE or Acer netbook for those needs. I can ever do basic Spring game development work on my netbook.

Netbook is out of the question for over 60 year olds, keyboard, touchpad and display are far too small... especially for someone who has to wear glasses anyway.

I've heard of "NetTops" which are basically micro-PCs built on netbook technology... but that sounds like I'm paying for tinyness.

Okay, so modified requirements.

Duel Core Pentium (Probably 32bit), 2GB RAM, integrated sound and Ethernet but a low end but current nVidia PCIe graphics card, DVD Burner (Unless she wants BluRay), Media Card reader and WebCam, wide flat monitor and wired keyboard and mouse (unless she wants to attach it to her TV) and I'll Give Mint a TRY (I have 2.5 broken computers worth of parts sitting in the corner that I intend to put together into one working computer over the next month so I'll try Mint on there.)

[KaiserJ]

I think he'd be looking for software that works.

are you kidding? he was talking about getting windows vista