17.3" laptop for £400 (ish)

EveryWhere

On budget 'customer returns';

https://www.laptopsdirect.co.uk/refurbished-acer-aspire-5-a517-51-33un-core-i3-8130u-8gb-1tb-17.3-inch-wind-a1-nx.gswek.005/version.asp

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Acer-Aspire-5-A517-51-Intel-Core-i3-8130U-8GB-1TB-17-3-FHD-Laptop/273762579967

Only one storage drive slot, but perhaps the easiest to swap HDD for SSD.

https://www.acer.com/datasheets/2018/4876/A517-51/NX.GSWEK.005.html

Again, don't expect business class quality.

esuhl

Thanks again, all -- much appreciated! I've picked out a few of the machines that I think will be best and passed them on to her.

I'm confident that she'll be able to pick a suitable one, and I've got a much clearer idea of the spec she needs, so... I'll leave it up to her to weigh up the options.

Thanks again (again)! :beer: