Help choosing a laptop

[Swamp Dog]

I figured if you guys know a fraction about laptops as compared to what you know about ski gear, I'll be all set

So my Dad is going to be 75 in a few weeks. Mom wants to get him a laptop for his birthday and I've been tasked with picking it out. They are going to go to FL for a few months this winter, first time ever, which is the reason to have a laptop.

So, here's what he does on his computer..... reads email and checks account balances. Seriously, that's about it. No games, does some photos on his desktop but I don't know if he'd even try on a laptop. Being 75, his hands are a bit arthritic and he wears bifocals. I only mention that because a Netbook is the obvious choice, but they are just too small.

Mom would like to spend about $500. I'd kick in any extra if needed (big of me, huh?).

So, if you guys know of any decent machines/deals, I'd love to know about it. And thanks!

Ellen

 

[riverc0il]

Does he have any computer experience and any preferences on Operating Systems? The reason I ask is my first thought is just get a Mac (I am not a fan, but they are a good recommendation if someone is not set on a PC) though I can not imagine Macs go for as little as $500.

I would avoid the cheaper stuff that is cracked full of crapware. We just bought a Lenovo after a ton of research and I was pleasantly surprised how crapware free the computer is. For only internet and email, any lap top will do. Just avoid the multimedia loaded low spec models that are made to look attractive in the headlines but are cheap for a reason. Something more business minded... Dell Business, ASUS, Lenovo, etc. are all good bets to avoid having an acceptable spec computer bogged down with crap and have more attention paid towards looks and aesthetics than anything else.

But really, for internet and email, it is more about FEEL so get your dad into a computer store and have him touch and feel and lift these things. That is probably the biggest issue as even the lowest spec and heaviest crapware multimedia oriented comp is going to do email and internet just fine.

 

[mondeo]

Does he have any computer experience and any preferences on Operating Systems? The reason I ask is my first thought is just get a Mac (I am not a fan, but they are a good recommendation if someone is not set on a PC) though I can not imagine Macs go for as little as $500.

Macs start at $1K, and are small. I'd probably go with a 15.4" or 16" screen.

One of the things that Microsoft supposedly did with Win7 was work with system builders to limit the amount of bloatware on the computers, so that probably won't be as much of an issue anymore. If it's only email, internet, etc., the cheapest laptop you can get would do. Stay away from netbooks because they'll be small, but other than that, specs don't really matter.

 

[Puck it]

Go with Dell. You can get one with W7 for under $500. I would suggest more ram like 2Gb and bigger hard drive. It may add a $100. Dell customer service is the best and it will come all preloaded and set to go.

 

[Swamp Dog]

I was wondering if anyone had any experience with Lenovo. They seem to have a lot of machines at the price point I'm looking at. I'm not worried about crapware and the like, I plan on opening it and optimizing/configuring it all for him before giving it over.

I've taken Dell completely off the table for now, only because I am so unhappy with my Inspiron and have been since day one.

Macs are too spendy for what they need/want.

My son has an Asus laptop and husband has an Asus desktop, love both of them. Of course they are hard core gamers, so those models are way more computer than I'm looking for right now. But I'd definitely go with Asus.

Have you seen the new HP laptops? The keyboards have an off-center touch pad which I find odd and think it would bother me, but maybe not someone who has never used a touch pad before? I'd probably get him an optical mouse, so maybe the touch pad wouldn't even matter.

Might go cruise Staples and Best Buy later today.....

thanks all.

 

[Puck it]

I was wondering if anyone had any experience with Lenovo. They seem to have a lot of machines at the price point I'm looking at. I'm not worried about crapware and the like, I plan on opening it and optimizing/configuring it all for him before giving it over.

I've taken Dell completely off the table for now, only because I am so unhappy with my Inspiron and have been since day one.

Macs are too spendy for what they need/want.

My son has an Asus laptop and husband has an Asus desktop, love both of them. Of course they are hard core gamers, so those models are way more computer than I'm looking for right now. But I'd definitely go with Asus.

Have you seen the new HP laptops? The keyboards have an off-center touch pad which I find odd and think it would bother me, but maybe not someone who has never used a touch pad before? I'd probably get him an optical mouse, so maybe the touch pad wouldn't even matter.

Might go cruise Staples and Best Buy later today.....

thanks all.

Lenovo's suck. Quality has gone way down since IBM sold the rights. Everybody at work hates them that has them.

 

[o3jeff]

I was wondering if anyone had any experience with Lenovo. They seem to have a lot of machines at the price point I'm looking at. I'm not worried about crapware and the like, I plan on opening it and optimizing/configuring it all for him before giving it over.

I've taken Dell completely off the table for now, only because I am so unhappy with my Inspiron and have been since day one.

Macs are too spendy for what they need/want.

My son has an Asus laptop and husband has an Asus desktop, love both of them. Of course they are hard core gamers, so those models are way more computer than I'm looking for right now. But I'd definitely go with Asus.

Have you seen the new HP laptops? The keyboards have an off-center touch pad which I find odd and think it would bother me, but maybe not someone who has never used a touch pad before? I'd probably get him an optical mouse, so maybe the touch pad wouldn't even matter.

Might go cruise Staples and Best Buy later today.....

thanks all.

I just got a Lenovo about 2 months ago and have no problem and would recommend them to anyone. Maybe Puck it can enlighten us with some info to back his statement?

Anyways I will pm you the site I got mine from.

 

[dmc]

I just got a Lenovo about 2 months ago and have no problem and would recommend them to anyone. Maybe Puck it can enlighten us with some info to back his statement?

Anyways I will pm you the site I got mine from.

I just gave up my old Lenovo for my old job... It was tad big but it was a good machine.. Loaded it up with a ton of stuff for testing and what not...
Dragged it all over the place - until I got a MAC and used that for travel cause it's lighter...

 

[playoutside]

Wouldn't go with Dell...think their support is a nightmare.
Toshibas have a history of breaking and bad support. Sexy little laptops, but I'd pass.
Lenova (when it was IBM rocked) not sure about it anymore
Love my HP...mine is 4yrs old and still running great.
Bought an HP for my sister and hers is still great 2 yrs in.

Based on my experience with my mother, really check on the keyboard for your dad. Much of that generation is typically not great on keyboards and with vision issues it just makes it worse. If he is using a regular keyboard now, most any laptop may bug him for a while...feel and spacing is different.

Screen glare was also an issue with mom and her vision. Play with any laptop you consider to be sure it can set at an angle that works for your Dad.

 

[billski]

The biggest mistake I ever made was getting a Windows-based machine for an elder. Unless the person is already comfortable using Windows and willing to do updates and willing to occasionally troubleshoot application integration problems, and willing to pay for updates, it is NOT WORTH IT. You will pay for it with perpetual aggravation and user frustration. I made this mistake four times, I'm a slow learner.

If you can get over buying new, buy a REFURBISHED APPLE NOTEBOOK. Make sure you get the software. Buy a new laptop battery, it's probably kaput. If you must, buy an extended warranty. Yes, you can get an extended warranty for refurbished stuff on ebay; I have.

I have bought refurbished computer goods for over 20 years now. It's never been a problem as long as you buy from someone reputable.. there is one on eBay for $675 right now. You won't even pay tax.

As a dedicated PC user since 1983, it took me a while to warm to Macs. But now that I have, the huge benefits are: they are configured high-end, so you never really need to update, the software an elder need all comes with it, and is very intuitive to people who don't have any interest in computers, it's essentially virus proof and if it has a problem, it generally deals with it without getting you involved.

So, what you said about price point, and the simplicity of what your father uses it for is what I'm targeting here. He probably doesn't need expandability or flexibility or god-knows what kind of apps. He does not need more aggravation.

 

[riverc0il]

Lenovo's suck. Quality has gone way down since IBM sold the rights. Everybody at work hates them that has them.

Couldn't disagree more about Lenovos sucking. Ever a ton of research, we made a Lenovo purchase and the thing has blown me away in every way, including performance. The Lenovo was for my significant other, but I finding myself jumping onto her lappy whenever she is not home. Quality may have indeed gone down since IBM sold the brand but it really strikes me as one of the few top quality no non-sense laptop brands on the market. Most of the other laptop makers are into all the gimmicks as if marketing and sales have more input into building them. There are few things I am brand conscious about but when I want to upgrade my desktop to a laptop, I have little doubt it will be a Lenovo.

 

[riverc0il]

Based on my experience with my mother, really check on the keyboard for your dad. Much of that generation is typically not great on keyboards and with vision issues it just makes it worse. If he is using a regular keyboard now, most any laptop may bug him for a while...feel and spacing is different.

Screen glare was also an issue with mom and her vision. Play with any laptop you consider to be sure it can set at an angle that works for your Dad.

Yes, keyboards and screen glare are super important factors! I HATE the new keyboards on many lap tops. I like big and clicky keyboards. Call me old school like that. I would suspect older folks would feel the same way. Also, you may want to consider size of the keys. Smaller laptops tend to have smaller keys.

 

[RootDKJ]

I just got my wife an HP (dv2??). It's a 10" screen and weighs 3.9 pounds. She travels for work, so lightweight was important to her. She loves it. 64 bit, 3 gig ram, 250 gb hard drive all for around 500.

I've always been a fan of Dell, but price/weights/specs were all in HP's favor. We ordered it right off HP.com and it was here 9 days later.

 

[ctenidae]

Lenovo's suck. Quality has gone way down since IBM sold the rights. Everybody at work hates them that has them.

Interesting- I have a Lenovo X200 from work, and I have to say, its pretty darn good. Keyboard is a decent size, battery life is pretty good, screen is sufficient, and it has drains in the keyboard in case you spill a cup of coffee (or double bourbon on the rocks) on it.

There are some stupid bits, like having the radio on/off switch hyper sensitive and right next to the most accessible USB port. I still don't know what the blue "ThinkVantage" button is supposed to do. Other than that, though, pretty happy.

Maybe not a great computer for Swamp Dog's dad, but pretty good, overall.

 

[Puck it]

My company buys Lenovo's for managers, non-engineers, and engineers that do not the horse power. The major issue is the hard drives crashing. The other problem that I hear a lot of is not being able to swtich the video to the projector. I have a Dell Latitude and like it. Just my experience from work.

I have Compaq's for the kid's and the home PC. No problems with them. Only HP customer service sucks. They could never get the extended warranties right.

 

[Warp Daddy]

I'm 66 my son bought me my first laptop this summer . Its a Gateway NV 52 15.6" screen, 320GB HDD
,, 4GB memory w/ webcam DVD drive ----we love it .

I've been on PCs and Macs before but like this puppy !!-- got it at Best Buy

 

[Geoff]

I have a Dell Latitude and like it. Just my experience from work.

My personal machine is a Latitude D830 that is 27 months old. My work machine is a Latitude E6500 that is about a month old. Both have 15.4" 1920x1200 (high def) displays, full size keyboard, and a trackpoint which are my essential features in a notebook.

The main difference between the two machines is that the keyboard on the newer machine is way cheaper than the older D830. The newer one follows Moore's Law and is a little faster.

I won't own a laptop that isn't at least 15.4" and 1920x1200. The crap screens in little laptops give me huge eye strain. I had a big battle with the IT kid in California over the screen in September. My comment was something like "When you turn 50, you'll understand".

 

[Glenn]

We bought one in July. It's a Compaq something or other. I honestly don't know the specs. It was under $400 and has a 16" screen. Sold! It's been great for surfing the web via wireless.