Laptop needed for my Mum

pantaiema

first78 wrote: »

My Mum is in her 70s and has just moved back to the UK, she's looking for a laptop so she can use social media, email, Skype and a couple of sites that she plays scrabble and backgammon on. Her eyesight isn't the best so she would need a fairly good screen. Ideally she's looking to spend under £200. Can anyone point me in the right direction as I am clueless when it comes to IT. Thanks!

There are a lot of second hand, refurbished 17" laptops ready to use with OS already installed sold on ebay for less than £200 that will be more than sufficient to do that jobs.

This one is just for one example

HP 17-Y018CY 17.3 Inch Laptop Windows 10 OS 1TB HDD 4GB RAM AMD C Grade

If one of your family member is quite teachy and could help her replacing the Harddrive and install the OS, adding RAM by yourself you could even find it for less than £100.

badger09

Which? recommends following laptops, all under £200

HP Stream 11-ak (11-ak0502sa) 64% £150.00

Lenovo IdeaPad S130 63% £180.00

Asus E203 62% £200.00

No idea if any of those would fit the bill.

pantaiema

badger09 wrote: »

Which? recommends following laptops, all under £200

HP Stream 11-ak (11-ak0502sa) 64% £150.00

Lenovo IdeaPad S130 63% £180.00

Asus E203 62% £200.00

No idea if any of those would fit the bill.

I am not quite sure whether they are sutable, but the OP has mentioned her mum eyesight isn't the best so she would need a fairly good screen. 11 inch laptop / tab might not be suitable. They don't have any room for a desktop either which could be installed with a wide screen

first78

EveryWhere wrote: »

Why do you think that a 12" screen would be ideal for someone whose eyesight isn't the best?

I asked my Mum what screen size she's used before and she said 12", I'm just going by that as I know she doesn't have much money to spend.

first78

Would something like this work?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FAST-12-5-LENOVO-THINKPAD-X240-LAPTOP-CORE-i5-4300-4GB-RAM-500GB-HD-WINDOWS-10/293216204250?hash=item44450c35da:g:tcsAAOSwiDhdckEe

that

first78 wrote: »

I asked my Mum what screen size she's used before and she said 12", I'm just going by that as I know she doesn't have much money to spend.

I am not sure that your mum realizes that they measure screens diagonally from one corner to the other corner, not edge to edge.

A 12" screen will be much smaller than a A4 sheet of paper! When you mum say 12" I think she means 17", but I do not know you or your mum

first78

that wrote: »

I am not sure that your mum realizes that they measure screens diagonally from one corner to the other corner.

A 12" screen will be much smaller than a A4 sheet of paper! When you mum say 12" I think she means 17", but I do not know you or your mum

Thanks for this! No she didn't know that!!! Will have to look more carefully, thanks for the heads up!

pantaiema

first78 wrote: »

Would something like this work?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FAST-12-5-LENOVO-THINKPAD-X240-LAPTOP-CORE-i5-4300-4GB-RAM-500GB-HD-WINDOWS-10/293216204250?hash=item44450c35da:g:tcsAAOSwiDhdckEe

That one will do the job of what your mum is trying to do. The only thing you need to be aware of is that this is 12.5" Laptop. In general it is small for a person of her 70s especially like you said she has and eyesight problem.

EveryWhere

first78 wrote: »

Thanks for this! No she didn't know that!!! Will have to look more carefully, thanks for the heads up!

Really wouldn't recommend such a small screen. Small screens are for people who are travelling with a laptop, so don't want anything heavy.
If it is going to be static, such as on a desk, go for the biggest screen possible. If she will be holding it her hands, like a Tablet, then she'll want a smaller device.


Got my mum a normal 15.6" screen. It's in use every day.

first78

EveryWhere wrote: »

Really wouldn't recommend such a small screen. Small screens are for people who are travelling with a laptop, so don't want anything heavy.
If it is going to be static, such as on a desk, go for the biggest screen possible. If she will be holding it her hands, like a Tablet, then she'll want a smaller device.


Got my mum a normal 15.6" screen. It's in use every day.

It will be static. Someone else on here suggested this one: https://www.encore-pc.co.uk/stone-nt310-h-i5-4200m-2-50ghz-4gb-ram-120gb-ssd-grade-c

If you know of any deals or can recommend anything that would be very much appreciated...I just want something that will be easy for my Mum to use, reliable and not cost too much. Thanks so much to everyone for their help!