A computer for grandma!

ElefantEd

My wife's mum has asked me to get her a new computer, as her old one has really had it - to be fair it has been going for 10 years, rather limping along for the last couple of years, with occasional bits of tender care from me to keep it in good health. However, it is now very poorly, and although I've managed to extract all the data from the hard disk it is not really good for anything.

She really only uses it for storing and printing photos and typing the odd document. She neither goes online nor wants to (which is a relief as I think she might well end up getting scammed or virused).

Essentially I just want to get a reasonable machine (i.e. the lowest spec you can actually buy nowadays as this will be more than adequate for her needs) and reinstall the OS and programmes she already has from her old machine (and save money by not buying them, obviously!)

The last time I bought a computer was some years ago, and I got it from Mesh Computers. Some online reviews suggest that their quality is a bit mixed though, so I wondered if anyone had any suggestions for a good place to purchase something suitable.

Just for reference, for £279 Mesh would sell me a machine with a 3GHz Pentium 63220 processor, 8Gb RAM, 1Tb hard drive and a DVD Rewriter, but no O/S or software, or a monitor, keyboard or mouse - all of which she is happy with.

Kernel_Sanders

You can't transfer a Windows OS to a new machine. For what she needs, a Linux distro would be perfectly adequate, free and legal.
But why on Earth would she need 8GB RAM, 3GHz CPU for what she uses it for?

ElefantEd

3GHz was the most basic CPU on offer! And I figure that 8GB is not much more than 4Gb, and might be handy if she wants to open loads of photos at once or something. Back in my youth I got this fixation that the more memory, the better - mind you this was in the days when 16k RAM was considered to be awesome!

As for Windows, why couldn't I install it (legally) in a new machine, so long as the old one isn't also in use? Only one installation would be in existence.

ElefantEd

Also, just to be clear: I'm looking for advice about where to get such a machine from, rather than what machine to get (though obviously any helpful advice on that is also appreciated, it's not the main thrust of my query).

Kernel_Sanders

ElefantEd wrote: »

3GHz was the most basic CPU on offer!

Were you offered this in the only computer shop on your Western Isle? Companies will deliver anywhere, you know!

ElefantEd wrote: »

Back in my youth I got this fixation that the more memory, the better - mind you this was in the days when 16k RAM was considered to be awesome!

Well, 32-bit machines can't even 'see' more than 4GB. On XP, even with SP3, you could have lots of windows on the go with just 1GB RAM. I'm presuming she's been using XP, and there's a Linux OS that is designed to look just like iit which I'm sure she could master without problems; she simply doesn't need the bloat of Windows. Does she realize that low spec laptops can be even cheaper than desktop systems nowadays?

forgotmyname

Will she be viewing and editing over 1000 pictures at the same time?

Im guessing from what you said she will use it for. she wont notice ANY improvement over 2GB of RAM.

One thing i diff to the above posts though. laptops. I think too many people get one when a compact desktop would have been a better option.

No problems with keeping batteries in a good condition and less heat problems.

GunJack

she needs something fairly basic - for instance, I got myself a new (to me) refurb off ebay for £37 a couple of months ago - dual core cpu, 2gb ram, dvd writer... would be more than adequate for her use. Maybe an extra £10 to find one with Win7 installed... £270 way ott for the useage..

wongataa

ElefantEd wrote: »

As for Windows, why couldn't I install it (legally) in a new machine, so long as the old one isn't also in use? Only one installation would be in existence.

Because you get an OEM Windows licence with computers which means that the copy of Windows lives and dies with the computer it was first installed on.

As your copy of Windows is old it would be better getting a newer version as it has been improved and less software/parts will work with XP now as it is so outdated. If you want more than 4GB of RAM then XP won't even see it all.

ElefantEd

I'd forgotten bout the Win XP limit of 4Gb, that's a good point.

However, I intend to start off with the current computer, put all the bits in the same case, then replace the PSU, then the motherboard, then the CD Writer, then the HDD and finally change the case. Clearly still the same computer!

Re: ebay. She would much rather buy a new one at a higher cost than get a second hand one with potential problems, lack of guarantee etc.

I asked her about a laptop vs a desktop and she decided on a desktop.

But to repeat: the specs aren't that important. Which SHOP would anyone recommend? The spec above was simply the cheapest one from Mesh, that's all, nothing special about it. I am interested in alternatives to Mesh.

NiftyDigits

ElefantEd wrote: »

I'd forgotten bout the Win XP limit of 4Gb, that's a good point.

However, I intend to start off with the current computer, put all the bits in the same case, then replace the PSU, then the motherboard, then the CD Writer, then the HDD and finally change the case. Clearly still the same computer!

Re: ebay. She would much rather buy a new one at a higher cost than get a second hand one with potential problems, lack of guarantee etc.

I asked her about a laptop vs a desktop and she decided on a desktop.

But to repeat: the specs aren't that important. Which SHOP would anyone recommend? The spec above was simply the cheapest one from Mesh, that's all, nothing special about it. I am interested in alternatives to Mesh.

Zoostorm Desktop PC 7873-1200 £149.99

You'll be lucky to find Drivers for XP.

For something compatible with XP, you'll have to go down the no warranty route.