New laptop for OAP

Annikka_Green

My elderly mother has finally agreed to replace her HP Windows 7 laptop. Her main requirements are for email, occasional browsing and Zoom. She doesn't do online banking and she also doesn't get on well with touch screens so tablets are out. About 6 months ago I made the move myself from Windows laptop to MacBook Air and am very comfortable with the transition (small mistake of buying the Apple mouse and never using it). I think it would be ideal for my mother to get a MacBook too as I think it will be easier for me to support her. I'd keep the old laptop for a while and then wipe it before scrapping it.
She is worried about the higher cost and how well she will adapt as she heard from friends moving from Microsoft to Apple was difficult. I would like her to avoid paying annual Microsoft fees and generally speaking Apple is more secure. Any thoughts or any other points we need to consider?

[Deleted User]

Annikka_Green said:

My elderly mother has finally agreed to replace her HP Windows 7 laptop.

What's wrong with the HP laptop other than it being on Windows 7? It is a money saving forum so just checking you have explored the options of getting more time out of the current laptop? Depending on the model / age, there may be some relatively cheap upgrade paths that keep it going. If you want to consider that, just post the exact model number and there will be plenty of suggestions available from other forum members.

Annikka_Green said:

I'd keep the old laptop for a while and then wipe it before scrapping it.

I hope you mean sell / recycle? If it works then it has value to somebody somewhere.

Annikka_Green said:

She is worried about the higher cost and how well she will adapt as she heard from friends moving from Microsoft to Apple was difficult.

Can she try your MacBook out just to see how similar email / Zoom / browsing are - for basic usage I don't see a great deal of difference but depends on the user I guess?

For basic usage I'd say Mac vs PC really is just personal preference and budget and given that it is a money saving forum, then of course a PC for the type of usage would be a better recommendation in that it will be cheaper and something your mother is familiar with.

However a second hand refurb MacBook might keep the costs down if you go that way?

Annikka_Green said:

I would like her to avoid paying annual Microsoft fees and generally speaking Apple is more secure. 

There should be no annual Microsoft fees for the usage you have described. Any upgrade from Windows 7 will be a big leap in security but there is a bit less to worry about with a Mac.

Annikka_Green said:

 Any thoughts or any other points we need to consider?

I'd concentrate on the following for an 'elderly person'**:

• Size and weight of the laptop are probably the biggest factors especially if not used at a desk / table
• Screen size considerations especially if eye sight isn't 100%
• Screen brightness especially if used in bright and sunny areas
• Good quality in built webcam for zoom
• Good quality in-built loudspeakers using zoom, loud and clear 

An idea of the budget available if the new laptop path is being taken, for the usage described, quite a moderate budget should be able to do everything that is needed.

**I'm just using your description of "elderly person" but that can mean so many different things and I'm just trying to consider factors the might be relevant in terms of health and mobility.

Belenus

Annikka_Green said:

My elderly mother has finally agreed to replace her HP Windows 7 laptop. Her main requirements are for email, occasional browsing and Zoom. She doesn't do online banking and she also doesn't get on well with touch screens so tablets are out. .....Any thoughts or any other points we need to consider?

Why does she need to replace the laptop?

Read this thread. I sorted out an elderly friend's old Windows7 laptop at a total cost of £10 for additional memory.

What is the specification of her laptop?

More memory if required plus a free upgrade to Windows10 might give her everything she needs for the foreseeable future.

She won't have to pay Microsoft a penny and Windows10 will give her all the security she needs.

J_B

Surely, you want to minimise her expenditure (to maximise your inheritance!!!! )

Seriously though, why go to the expense and learning curve of getting something apple when maybe she could improve her current machine

Annikka_Green

[Deleted User] said:

Annikka_Green said:

My elderly mother has finally agreed to replace her HP Windows 7 laptop.

What's wrong with the HP laptop other than it being on Windows 7? It is a money saving forum so just checking you have explored the options of getting more time out of the current laptop? Depending on the model / age, there may be some relatively cheap upgrade paths that keep it going. If you want to consider that, just post the exact model number and there will be plenty of suggestions available from other forum members.

Annikka_Green said:

I'd keep the old laptop for a while and then wipe it before scrapping it.

I hope you mean sell / recycle? If it works then it has value to somebody somewhere.

Annikka_Green said:

She is worried about the higher cost and how well she will adapt as she heard from friends moving from Microsoft to Apple was difficult.

Can she try your MacBook out just to see how similar email / Zoom / browsing are - for basic usage I don't see a great deal of difference but depends on the user I guess?

For basic usage I'd say Mac vs PC really is just personal preference and budget and given that it is a money saving forum, then of course a PC for the type of usage would be a better recommendation in that it will be cheaper and something your mother is familiar with.

However a second hand refurb MacBook might keep the costs down if you go that way?

Annikka_Green said:

I would like her to avoid paying annual Microsoft fees and generally speaking Apple is more secure. 

There should be no annual Microsoft fees for the usage you have described. Any upgrade from Windows 7 will be a big leap in security but there is a bit less to worry about with a Mac.

Annikka_Green said:

 Any thoughts or any other points we need to consider?

I'd concentrate on the following for an 'elderly person'**:

• Size and weight of the laptop are probably the biggest factors especially if not used at a desk / table
• Screen size considerations especially if eye sight isn't 100%
• Screen brightness especially if used in bright and sunny areas
• Good quality in built webcam for zoom
• Good quality in-built loudspeakers using zoom, loud and clear 

An idea of the budget available if the new laptop path is being taken, for the usage described, quite a moderate budget should be able to do everything that is needed.

**I'm just using your description of "elderly person" but that can mean so many different things and I'm just trying to consider factors the might be relevant in terms of health and mobility.

Thanks for your feedback.

My mother has no particular infirmity (other than being stubborn about change). She does like to use the machine at a desk in the study rather than elsewhere - and never outside the home. She uses her phone for emails occasionally and this is what she is doing at present.

The browser hasn't been usable for many websites for some time and cannot be upgraded so far as I can see. It now seems to have developed lots of other issues relating to memory and is effectively unusable in its current state as no applications will open any more, they all just freeze.

Yes, I will try to get some cash for the old laptop when it has been wiped. It seems to be too old to be traded in at big retailers.

On the idea of refurbished I will see if refurbs are available locally (Devon/Somerset border so not a lot of options around). We will have to buy from a shop anyway, so my mother can see what she is buying.

Annikka_Green

J_B said:

...why go to the expense and learning curve of getting something apple when maybe she could improve her current machine

Thanks. Point taken. We have been discussing the learning curve. 

I've tried looking at the machine but cannot get it working. It is so old and no applications seem to work any more. I had been trying to get her to replace it for years and I promise it is not me that sabotaged it  

The keyboard is worn, the touchpad doesn't work, it gets hot when in use as well as having memory issues which are making it unusable. I don't think it is worth paying anyone else to "improve" it. 

Belenus

Annikka_Green said:

J_B said:

...why go to the expense and learning curve of getting something apple when maybe she could improve her current machine

Thanks. Point taken. We have been discussing the learning curve. 

I've tried looking at the machine but cannot get it working. It is so old and no applications seem to work any more. I had been trying to get her to replace it for years and I promise it is not me that sabotaged it  

The keyboard is worn, the touchpad doesn't work, it gets hot when in use as well as having memory issues which are making it unusable. I don't think it is worth paying anyone else to "improve" it. 

You are right. My friends laptop was in very good physical condition and well worth spending time and a bit of money upgrading. Your mother's sounds as if it has reached the end of its useful life.

For your mother a basic laptop should not be too expensive.

As others have said I would advise against switching to Mac unless you think she could easily cope with the differences.

Good luck.

SonOfPearl

Annikka_Green said:

My elderly mother has finally agreed to replace her HP Windows 7 laptop. Her main requirements are for email, occasional browsing and Zoom. She doesn't do online banking and she also doesn't get on well with touch screens so tablets are out. About 6 months ago I made the move myself from Windows laptop to MacBook Air and am very comfortable with the transition (small mistake of buying the Apple mouse and never using it). I think it would be ideal for my mother to get a MacBook too as I think it will be easier for me to support her. I'd keep the old laptop for a while and then wipe it before scrapping it.
She is worried about the higher cost and how well she will adapt as she heard from friends moving from Microsoft to Apple was difficult. I would like her to avoid paying annual Microsoft fees and generally speaking Apple is more secure. Any thoughts or any other points we need to consider?

With such basic requirements, and preferring a keyboard to a touchscreen, any decent Chromebook would be a suitable device for your mum. They're very easy to use so the learning curve would be small and it would do everything she needed. As a bonus it should require very little support from you! Cheaper than a Macbook, and less hassle than a Windows laptop. 

There are lots of good Chromebooks depending on how much you want to spend, but perhaps something like the Acer Chromebook Spin 713 would be suitable. 

jamesd

It's pretty much routine for tablets to support keyboards and mice via bluetooth and many have HDMI display connectors so it's not necessarily best to rule those out. Even though they have a touch screen that doesn't necessarily have to be used. I'm using a tablet with attached screen, mouse and monitor while typing this reply.

If she's doing email on her phone now, what limitations for more general use does she have with that? Those, if any, might determine whether a Chromebook is suitable. Since many phones can support external monitors, keyboards and mice it might even be the case that her phone alone will do the job for her.

Neil49

SonOfPearl said:

Annikka_Green said:

My elderly mother has finally agreed to replace her HP Windows 7 laptop. Her main requirements are for email, occasional browsing and Zoom. She doesn't do online banking and she also doesn't get on well with touch screens so tablets are out. About 6 months ago I made the move myself from Windows laptop to MacBook Air and am very comfortable with the transition (small mistake of buying the Apple mouse and never using it). I think it would be ideal for my mother to get a MacBook too as I think it will be easier for me to support her. I'd keep the old laptop for a while and then wipe it before scrapping it.
She is worried about the higher cost and how well she will adapt as she heard from friends moving from Microsoft to Apple was difficult. I would like her to avoid paying annual Microsoft fees and generally speaking Apple is more secure. Any thoughts or any other points we need to consider?

With such basic requirements, and preferring a keyboard to a touchscreen, any decent Chromebook would be a suitable device for your mum. They're very easy to use so the learning curve would be small and it would do everything she needed. As a bonus it should require very little support from you! Cheaper than a Macbook, and less hassle than a Windows laptop. 

There are lots of good Chromebooks depending on how much you want to spend, but perhaps something like the Acer Chromebook Spin 713 would be suitable. 

I agree about the Chromebook option. 

They are easy to use, you can plug in a mouse if required, they keep themselves up to date and you can run Zoom on them.

GDB2222

I'm a bit confused about Microsoft fees. What are those?