New laptop for 'granddad'

J_B

Father in law is the wrong side of 80, but still in good health.

He currently has a Fujitsu Siemens Esprimo Mobile Model V5515 which is past it's best
Last week, the screen refused to load on start up - I taught him to run it in 'safe mode with networking' as a temporary measure, then he rang the next day to say it was working in 'normal' mode!!!
Anyway, it's been problematic for a good while now. I think it has 2 x 500Mb modules of RAM and it was so slow that we took it to the shop and they guy said that there was (IIRC) probably a problem with the motherboard that despite there being 2 modules of ram, somehow, Windoze was only recognising one of them and despite swapping for different types, the problem was still there, so he has limped along with it for the last couple of years, but after the last problem, he's decided that he needs a replacement.
All the above is irrelevant really, but just to stop folks saying ... 'have you tried ...'

He needs a 'cheap as chips' Windows laptop - I would prefer him to have Win7 as it would replicate what he has always known (I think he had Win95 before his current Vista one)
I've read about making W8 look like W7, but have no experience.

There is an Argos in town, but nowt much else, and I think he would be more comfortable with 'click and collect' and I did see one on eBay earlier, refurb from them. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GRADE-A-REFURBISHED-IBM-LENOVO-R61-LAPTOP-4GB-RAM-WIFI-WINDOWS-7-PRO-/161472023474?pt=UK_Computing_Laptops_EH&hash=item25987b8bb2
However, as it will probably be me that has to 'set it up' for him, maybe I could get it delivered to me and then deliver when done.

He likes to browse websites for information.
He has a copy of M$ Word, but I'm sure Libre would be fine.
He uses e mail daily, but not for anything particular.
He has a USB printer that he uses sometimes, can't remember the model, but it's only a 3/4 years old
He would need CD/DVD RW
Wifi
His current model has maybe a 320 Mb HDD, which is only half full, so a large HD is not important
In fact, his current model is very slow, so, anything would be an improvement!!

Suggestions ... please

USM

I don't have an answer but curious as to what 'windoze' and 'M$' is?

rollon65

Hello J B,

The latest copy of Webuser magazine shows in "Laptops under £300":

Gold Award to Asus X200MA @ £175.55 on Amazon, but it only has a 11.6 ins screen.
Silver Award goes to Asus X553MA @ £261.92 - 15.6 ins screen on this machine.
Bronze Award goes to PC Specialist Mirage II @ £296.00. Another 11.6 ins screen machine.
I guess if you care to Google these you will get the full specifications.

Good Luck - rollon65 (also a Grandad!).

John_Gray

USM wrote: »

I don't have an answer but curious as to what 'windoze' and 'M$' is?

Well, whatever they are they sound Really Cool and Sophisticated! :rotfl:

J_B

John_Gray wrote: »

Well, whatever they are they sound Really Cool and Sophisticated! :rotfl:

Would I get more sensible answers if I didn't use those words????

paddyrg

J_B wrote: »

Would I get more sensible answers if I didn't use those words????

Probably. Very likely. If you're so vehemently anti-Microsoft, have you considered Linux or OSX? OSX does of course only come on hardware from a company that make Microsoft look like saints, but you might be OK with BSD?

Frankly all laptops are going to be similar at the cheap as chips end of the market, capable of doing what he needs, so look at the hardware and find one he likes. You can get external DVD drives if that works out better.

Windows 7 won't be on any Argos boxes, but PCWorld BUSINESS site will have some. You may pay a premium for the privilege.

coolagarry

I wouldn't be concerned about windows 8. The initial version was a bit of a pain but 8.1 is very similar to Vista. My two pc's are Vista and 8.1 and I have no problem changing from one to the other (they are virtually the same...start screen etc.) and I'm the wrong side of 70 and definitely not particularly tech savvy. I find the Argos outlet on ebay to be very good for bargains. Over the years I have bought a number of reconditioned laptops from them and they have all appeared new. I have never had a problem with them but the 12mts guarantee ensures that if there is a problem it will be dealt with.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Toshiba-Satellite-C50-AMD-E-Series-1-4GHz-Dual-Core-15-6-Inch-500GB-2GB-Laptop-/151458954958?pt=UK_Computing_Laptops_EH&hash=item2343a83ece

John_Gray

J_B wrote: »

Would I get more sensible answers if I didn't use those words????

From the more sensible participants on this forum, I suspect!

If you/he are/is not averse to second-hand, Microdream* does a good range of ~3-year-old laptops, mostly Lenovo.

* other fine second-hand laptop suppliers are available!

J_B

paddyrg wrote: »

Probably. Very likely. If you're so vehemently anti-Microsoft, have you considered Linux or OSX.

Sorry, I wasn't aware that by writing windoze and or M$ that I was being "vehemently anti-Microsoft"

Apologies if anyone was 'offended' - it was just an expression

securityguy

J_B wrote: »

Sorry, I wasn't aware that by writing windoze and or M$ that I was being "vehemently anti-Microsoft"

What else did you think you were implying?

rollon65

Take no notice J B, there are those on here who lives are so dull and uninteresting that they can't resist the thrill of taking the p**s out of innocent posters wanting some assistance.
Rest assured that there are folk who post with the genuine purpose of trying to help.
Doubtless I'll take some flak for posting this.

Best regards - rollon65.