Have I forgotten anything?

lr1277

HereToday said:

lr1277 said:

Will the intended users be able to set up networking themselves, especially if the the broadband router has a password?

How about anti-virus/internet security?

I find it harder and harder (though not impossible) to get a one-off purchase of MS Office. Microsoft want users to pay a yearly licence fee. Will the intended users be up for that?

I have setup VNC Server on my parents' computer and have VNC client on my phone (never used) and my computer. However I sent up VNC server long before covid lockdowns. Some people say there are security issues with VNC and prefer to use Microsoft Team Viewer.

HTH

When did Microsoft acquire TeamViewer?
Easy to buy a one-off purchase of Office. Try eBay for instance.

Windows 10 has a built-in anti-virus. Couple with the extra security some Browsers offer, it's usually enough.

Sorry I got my terminology mixed up. Its what I remember hearing, but on googling I find that MS Teams works with Team Viewer

The threads on this site where users have problems with buying/selling on eBay are off-putting so I use Amazon. But each to their own.

HereToday

lr1277 said:

HereToday said:

lr1277 said:

Will the intended users be able to set up networking themselves, especially if the the broadband router has a password?

How about anti-virus/internet security?

I find it harder and harder (though not impossible) to get a one-off purchase of MS Office. Microsoft want users to pay a yearly licence fee. Will the intended users be up for that?

I have setup VNC Server on my parents' computer and have VNC client on my phone (never used) and my computer. However I sent up VNC server long before covid lockdowns. Some people say there are security issues with VNC and prefer to use Microsoft Team Viewer.

HTH

When did Microsoft acquire TeamViewer?
Easy to buy a one-off purchase of Office. Try eBay for instance.

Windows 10 has a built-in anti-virus. Couple with the extra security some Browsers offer, it's usually enough.

Sorry I got my terminology mixed up. Its what I remember hearing, but on googling I find that MS Teams works with Team Viewer

The threads on this site where users have problems with buying/selling on eBay are off-putting so I use Amazon. But each to their own.

Which threads? Which site? I haven't seen the complaints about buying selling via eBay.. If you buy a product for £1 that normally costs £100 from a seller with no feedback, expect problems. Buy from sellers with good feedback, no problems.

lr1277

Hmm, I do remember seeing more of the ebay problems when on the previous version of the forum you could see all the posts made that day.

So in answering your question, I looked on this board:

Ebay, Auctions, Car Boot & Jumble Sales

At this moment in time, there are 4 threads on the first page that have eBay in the title and the posters don't seem to be coming onto praise eBay, just my impression. I only read one of the threads.

As I said, each to their own.

Apparently I said too much, so I am out of this thread.

HereToday

jimbob_3 said:

Thanks for the comments & the idea to go via ebay for a copy of office.
Unfortunately I can't get there to set it up (as somebody suggested), otherwise things would be much simpler (sigh!)
Also, good spot that the one I wanted is no longer available (at least not for delivery) from currys
I asked if they wanted a used machine, and they insisted they wanted to buy new (apparently they have budgeted £1,000 for everything - PC, printer, Office etc! )
I noticed the lenovo ideacentre that was suggested, is available on amazon for £749.99
Is it worth getting at that price?
It seems a little expensive for what it is, but I guess it is still within budget.

I think you'll find that you won't get anyone here to recommend an AIO.

But a shame they won't consider refurbished, as the more you spend...once you are looking at £750: https://www.stockmustgo.co.uk/collections/all-in-one-pcs/products/dell-inspiron-7000-27-inch-desktop-amd-ryzen-7-1700-16gb-ram-1tb-hdd looks good at £720 delivered. 27" 4k Ultra HD screen, RX580 8 GB dedicated graphics 16 GB of RAM 256 GB + 1 TB of storage. It's a bit of overkill too be fair. Cannot imagine that it would be a quiet device, but I like the large 4k monitor.

A Grade refurbished should mean it's as new.

Neil_Jones

lr1277 said:

HereToday said:

lr1277 said:

Will the intended users be able to set up networking themselves, especially if the the broadband router has a password?

How about anti-virus/internet security?

I find it harder and harder (though not impossible) to get a one-off purchase of MS Office. Microsoft want users to pay a yearly licence fee. Will the intended users be up for that?

I have setup VNC Server on my parents' computer and have VNC client on my phone (never used) and my computer. However I sent up VNC server long before covid lockdowns. Some people say there are security issues with VNC and prefer to use Microsoft Team Viewer.

HTH

When did Microsoft acquire TeamViewer?
Easy to buy a one-off purchase of Office. Try eBay for instance.

Windows 10 has a built-in anti-virus. Couple with the extra security some Browsers offer, it's usually enough.

Sorry I got my terminology mixed up. Its what I remember hearing, but on googling I find that MS Teams works with Team Viewer

Microsoft Teams and Team Viewer are two entirely different things.

One's designed to allow people to attend meetings virtually (or teach virtually), the other is designed to take control of a computer.

Neil49

Don't bother spending money on a version Office for general use. Download Libreoffice for free. It will do everything you need unless it is absolutely essential that you must use MS Office. It can be downloaded in minutes and no licence is required. You don't get hassled for any purchases or upgrades either. 

Download it for yourself to see what it's like. 

https://www.libreoffice.org/

CoastingHatbox

I have an Lenovo IdeaCentre and I'm not sure I can really recommend it.

Lenovo use a prioprietary power supply with an extra  non-standard connectors that connects the case. And they have changed the pin out on the motherboard power connectors. They also implement UEFI in a non-standard way which causes dual boot problems.

It is causing me a headache literally because the fans are no so noisy with a few years worth of use, and whilst I can replace the case fans and CPU fan, I need to look at changing the fan in the existing power supply.

As for buying use/reconditioned from eBay, I've done this for myself and relatives on a lots of occasions. Probably about a dozen machines now. I have had issues with two - one was provided without the hard disk/SSD caddy and become disconnected in transit. The lacquer on the palmrest (laptop) had also gone tacky in a large area and really made it unpleasant to use. So I had to resolve those two issues before sending the laptop on. The second was a laptop I bought for myself which would randonly lose power - even connected to its charger with the battery removed (it was a model that would work without a batter). But the buyer protection you get via eBay (and PayPal) is pretty good - it just requires a little patience.

If you are going to get the machine delivered direct to your relative without an opportunity to check/test it first, and install Windows 10 from scratch, then I wouldn't recommend buying used/reconditioned.

I'm sorry, I didn't appreciate the gravity of the situation, in not being able to deliver a pre-setup machine to them. (I wasn't necessarily thinking you would go into the house and set it up, more that you would at least be able to leave it on the door step for them).

And in the situation where you are dealing with an elderly relative, an AIO actually makes some sense, despite the use of proprietary parts and them being more akin to a laptop with repairs (fiddly). Fewer bits to plug in will make it less intimidating for your relatives to setup and will save some conversation about where the cables go.

There are no AIOs on the Dell Outlet Store, but a couple of desktops that look okay:
https://outlet.euro.dell.com/Online/SecondaryInventorySearch.aspx?c=uk&cs=ukdfh1&l=en&s=dfh&sign=PXhcOSHtr1T4IOw/PR7UdYDhodbpFsiAJf+1ywARBfRFrTvAbw7FTyNhipMzUsknmCUiXFtJUdvOFHL5wBNp7A/idjoViQNX27qET0lvM2l/geqLZ1en1QlXw5fKbAmzsw3Tcatz5KSFn4cSOOSh4INQYDSXZ5mQBYyqNl+JwXhL5drrImrWIei5bkmNK6Et2nfw+ohe23w5iX+9bt0fK1n/vbdKk9XE

That has a proprietary power supply though with a 6 pin connector, so I'm not making it a recommendation. However, I think it is well priced and leaves a lot of change in your budget for monitor, printer and other peripherals.

There is also one with a 24" monitor included (special offer) for £577.33:
https://www.dell.com/en-uk/shop/desktops-and-all-in-ones/new-inspiron-small-desktop/spd/inspiron-3881-desktop/cd388120

The Dell AIOs look to be ~£150 more.

This looks like better value, but sadly doesn't have an SSD - shameful in this day and age:
https://www.ebuyer.com/876314-medion-akoya-e23401-aio-intel-core-i5-8gb-ram-2tb-hdd-win-30026005

Also, mixed experiences with ebuyer and returns. There are some other AIOs on there at varying price points. Another option might be building a PC and then shipping it to them with insured postage?

jimbob_3

Thanks for all the suggestions
Being very busy at work I didn't get a chance to buy one previously, however
after all the comments on this site - I have decided to go for a different approach and basically not get an AIO, but buy things separately, get them sent to my house so I can set everything up, check its working etc then ship / wait for lock down to end to then get it to their house 
Whilst this is an AIO (mentioned above) and doesn't look too bad
https://www.dell.com/en-uk/shop/desktops-and-all-in-ones/new-inspiron-small-desktop/spd/inspiron-3881-desktop/cd388120
but wondering if people are aware of anything better elsewhere?
(just to recap, the people I am buying it for want about a 23inch monitor,  don't play computer games and have a budget of £1,000 but that also needs to include a colour printer / scanner and some version of office)
Thanks

Chino

jimbob_3 said:

(just to recap, the people I am buying it for want about a 23inch monitor,  don't play computer games and have a budget of £1,000

As they've lived without such a setup for at least a month since your OP and are apparently happy to wait for at least another month or two, maybe they can actually just live without it and save themselves £1,000?

jimbob_3

Unfortunately not - their existing PC is very definitely on its last legs!