PC wanted for 67 year old beginner !

dulcey

l bought a laptop jn john lewis with a two year guarantee last year for £475 toshiba.it has a built in webcam, the keyboard is the normal keyboard size .l have a mouse, as l find it quicker when playing a game against the clock. the screen size is 17". l did have a 2nd hand p,c before this but found sitting at a table with it made my back ache. the laptop is so much easier and convenient as other posters have said.maybe your mum could have a try on both before she decides. before you buy a printer do check the ink prices sometimes they are about half the price of the printer

forgotmyname

People assume you have to sit on top of the tower, Wireless keyboards and mice means you can put it anywhere you want.

If you use the CD/DVD drive a lot you can use a USB hub with an external drive and keep that nearby. I use my TV as a monitor
also. Just need a video card with 2 outputs, Mine has the standard Monitor connector and a HDMI connector.

I can work on the normal monitor and have a film playing onto the TV from the same PC. Ideal for catchup
TV etc.

Not a power monster either. I think its 4 years old? AMD dual core 4200 CPU, 2gb RAM. Lots of HD space.

gordikin

Give us all an answer location wise and perhaps we can help freebie wise

Coopdivi

forgotmyname wrote: »

Dont buy a laptop if on a budget, Overpriced & overrated. People think oh wireless. Until they realise how quickly the
batteries die.

You dont need a £450 computer, If fact if you have a local computer store not a big chain like PC World you should get
everything you want for £450 or less.

For general web browsing etc a fairly basic PC will be fine, Windows XP, 1GB RAM, 200GB Hard Drive, DVDRW, You dont even
need dual/quad core CPU's either. Playing games or opening lots of programs at once then think dual/quad core but dont
more than you need.
Upgrading later can be cheap, Most laptops can not be upgraded, Except a bit more memory or hard drive sometimes.

A Desktop can be upgraded to your own needs,Faster processor, Bigger screen, More memory, Hard drive space, DVD writers, Better video cards
to play games. etc etc.

It's pointless telling people about how much cheaper and better a desktop is if you don't provide links to back up your claims. Can you provide examples, possibly from your local area, of these dirt cheap desktops otherwise your post just becomes totally meaningless.

When the OP first enquired, I had a good look around the net and the cheapest I could find for a standard desktop complete with Windows and a DVD rewriter was about £313. Add in the cost of a decent sized monitor for £120ish and that's £430 spent. Yeah sure you can get a net top for less than 200 quid but you've either got to put up with Linux or faff around adding a decent operating system. Most people just want to take a computer out of the box, plug it in and get on the internet.

There's nothing wrong with laptops. I've had my Fujitsu Siemens for over four years. The only thing I've ever added to it is more memory. It runs perfectly well and suits my needs. The majority of people buy a computer to go on the internet and do things like emails, shopping, Facebook, Skype etc. Nothing complicated. So there's no great need to upgrade. If you find the screen is too small, just plug a monitor into the back as I've done with mine. Problem solved. If you find the keyboard is too small just plug an external one in. They're as cheap as chips. Heck you can even get wireless ones so you don't have to have your snout pressed up against the screen.

Coopdivi

Bornagain wrote: »

TBH, an older person may find a desktop much easier to use. I have to say I cant manage the fiddly keys on a lap top, cant stand the lack of a mouse either. Dell have a lot of decent offers and dont forget the topcashback site and googling for the discount codes, just to make it even more affordable. She doesnt need a super dooper gamers spec, just the very basic one will be fine for her.

Have you ever thought about buying a mouse and plugging it into your laptop? You can do that you know. There's thousands to choose from.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/b/ref=amb_link_157558467_3?ie=UTF8&node=430567031&pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=16XTZDX7ZRWK7GQB2FRA&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=216172447&pf_rd_i=428654031

And keyboards.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/b/ref=amb_link_157558467_4?ie=UTF8&node=430565031&pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=0V5ZB66B7TGG9HA071Y8&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=216172447&pf_rd_i=428654031


Here's a wireless keyboard and wireless mouse for less than £18 including delivery.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Logitech-920-002661-Wireless-Desktop-Mk250/dp/B003BORCK8/ref=sr_1_5?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1288314508&sr=1-5

Coopdivi

Ste if you want a laptop IT247 have a Lenovo for just under £315 including delivery. I don't know much about the company but I can't find anything negative about them on the net.

http://www.it247.com/product/1/LNVSUA73/M41E2UK-Lenovo-B550-0880-Intel-Celeron-T3100-1-9-GHz-Processor-2GB-RAM-320GB-HDD-DVD-Writer-Intel-GMA-4500M-graphics-15-6-Display-Windows-7-Home-Premium.html?

Alternatively Argos have a similar Lenovo for £330 reserve and collect from store. If you buy before this Sunday you will also get vouchers worth £20. In addition the laptop comes with a free mouse and bag.

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/5083235/c_1/1|category_root|Office%2C+PCs+and+phones|14418968/c_2/3|15701344|Laptops+and+Netbooks|16164797/c_3/4|cat_16164797|Laptops|16164800.htm

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/ArgosPromo3/includeName/Argos_best_deals.htm?mvt=HP1_nf

If the Argos offer is not in stock in a store near you, Play have another similar Lenovo but with a larger hard drive for £330 including delivery.

http://www.play.com/PC/PCs/-/653/860/-/16698728/Lenovo-G555-AMD-Athlon-II-M320-2-1GHz-2GB-320GB-DVD-SM-15-6-inch-Windows-7-Home-Premium-Laptop-Notebook-M328UK/Product.html?searchtype=genre

forgotmyname

Coopdivi, Been on the pop or somebody upset you??? You added more memory but what else can you add?


I could find prices for my local shops but what are the chances of my shops being local to you and charging the same?

It is upto the OP to read suggestions and make up their own mind. My daughter wanted a laptop despite me
saying you dont. Bought her a laptop and now she wants a desktop for xmas.

Just for you some online prices..

250gig HD £26
Motherboard £32
CPU 2.7ghz £30 (retail box with heatsink)
Case £11 + PSU £12
DVDRW £12
2GB RAM £25
You need an operating system, £70 for windows 7 home premium or XP for a couple of £ instead.

So there you got a tower for £148 + choice of Operating System.
Add a mouse & keyboard from £1 each upwards.

18.5" Monitor from £77

Does that leave you enough to buy some furniture?

Take it out of the box and plug it in and get on the net, Not these days. Because they do not supply windows discs with a laptop
you need to finish the windows installation and then backup to blank DVDs before you can start to work on the system.
If you fail to do that and software crashes the computer you are stuck.

Ebuyer if you want to check prices, But i bet i could knock a few extra £ off by buying at the comp fair.

Coopdivi

If you prefer a desktop, Amazon have a Zoostorm for £310 including delivery.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Zoostorm-2-4ghz-Windows-Premium-7871-0031/dp/B002UXQN5G/ref=sr_1_3?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1288315923&sr=1-3

PC World have an LG 22'' monitor for £120 reserve and collect.

http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/lg-w2243s-22-widescreen-lcd-monitor-02611283-pdt.html

Alternatively Amazon have an AOC 21.5'' monitor for £114 including delivery. I've not heard of AOC before but it does get good reviews.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/AOC-F22S-inch-TFT-Monitor/dp/B00310QBQS/ref=sr_1_5?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1288316848&sr=1-5

[Deleted User]

Another option would be

Free home delivery £280

http://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/compaq-sg3-110uk-06318340-pdt.html


Pick up instore £120
http://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/lg-w2243s-22-widescreen-lcd-monitor-02611283-pdt.html

The pc is a decent spec for the price

HTH

ste1200

Thanks for all the advise, I was going to show her all this tonight, however, in her infinite wisdom, after bingo last night she popped into Asda and bought a laptop for £250 !! She wants me to go and sort it out for her tonight. She can take it back within 28 days if its no good for her. I'm sure I'll be back on her, but again, thanks for your help so far.