My mother asked me to pick out a new laptop for her but I've never been in the market for one.
She doesn't need anything pricey as she really only uses it for Facebook/fb games, browsing recipes, and general web browsing.
With a budget of up to $500 (less would be preferable of course), I'd like to find something that will perform well and last a while.
Any help is appreciated.
Edit: She currently has a single-core processor so almost anything with multiple cores would be great. Her biggest complaint with her current laptop is that it's so slow even though there's hardly anything on it.
My mother asked me to pick out a new laptop for her but I've never been in the market for one.
She doesn't need anything pricey as she really only uses it for Facebook/fb games, browsing recipes, and general web browsing.
With a budget of up to $500 (less would be preferable of course), I'd like to find something that will perform well and last a while.
Any help is appreciated.
Edit: She currently has a single-core processor so almost anything with multiple cores would be great. Her biggest complaint with her current laptop is that it's so slow even though there's hardly anything on it.
I suggest a refurbished iPad with a keyboard case. Perfect for her use cases and guaranteed to never get viruses, and you won't get stuck playing tech support for some bargain basement Windows 8 notebook.
I suggest a refurbished iPad with a keyboard case. Perfect for her use cases and guaranteed to never get viruses, and you won't get stuck playing tech support for some bargain basement Windows 8 notebook.
A Chromebook is probably your best bet.
[url=http://www.theverge.com/2014/6/18/5817400/the-best-chromebook]A Chromebook[/url] is probably your best bet.
DrewA Chromebook is probably your best bet.
Chromebooks don't run on windows. If your mother isn't too computer savy she may not like the totally new experience of the chrome OS.
I literally just picked this up for my aunt yesterday
http://www.microcenter.com/product/421110/D550CA-MH31_156_Laptop_Computer_-_Black
If you have a microcenter near you I highly recommend this laptop. For $349 you get an i3, 4gb of ram and a 500gb hdd. You won't find specs like that every day in that price range.
[quote=Drew][url=http://www.theverge.com/2014/6/18/5817400/the-best-chromebook]A Chromebook[/url] is probably your best bet.[/quote]
Chromebooks don't run on windows. If your mother isn't too computer savy she may not like the totally new experience of the chrome OS.
I literally just picked this up for my aunt yesterday
http://www.microcenter.com/product/421110/D550CA-MH31_156_Laptop_Computer_-_Black
If you have a microcenter near you I highly recommend this laptop. For $349 you get an i3, 4gb of ram and a 500gb hdd. You won't find specs like that every day in that price range.
I would say an idea pad though it's pretty pricey. If you're willing to dish out the money for one, it's definitely worth it.
My brother got a really nice cheap laptop for school recently I'll have to ask him what it is, but it was for sure under 700ish
EDIT: something I forgot to mention about the ideapad and laptops in general: if you don't really like windows 8 like me, you can usually factory order a laptop that has windows 7 on it which is generally better for people that aren't so tech-savy.
I would say an idea pad though it's pretty pricey. If you're willing to dish out the money for one, it's definitely worth it.
My brother got a really nice cheap laptop for school recently I'll have to ask him what it is, but it was for sure under 700ish
EDIT: something I forgot to mention about the ideapad and laptops in general: if you don't really like windows 8 like me, you can usually factory order a laptop that has windows 7 on it which is generally better for people that aren't so tech-savy.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834231457
Just bought my mother this last week. It has the biggest screen for the price range, and the specs aren't too bad either for casual computer use.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834231457
Just bought my mother this last week. It has the biggest screen for the price range, and the specs aren't too bad either for casual computer use.
Yeah she doesn't like Apple products and she's pretty used to win7. I wouldn't want to make her learn a whole new OS.
And I don't have a microcenter nearby. :/
Yeah she doesn't like Apple products and she's pretty used to win7. I wouldn't want to make her learn a whole new OS.
And I don't have a microcenter nearby. :/
disengageYeah she doesn't like Apple products and she's pretty used to win7. I wouldn't want to make her learn a whole new OS.
And I don't have a microcenter nearby. :/
Chrome OS is literally Chrome. I was able to teach my grandma to use chrome, it really shouldn't be that hard.
That being said it is also just Chrome so if there is any win7 specific thing she needs that might not be the best.
[quote=disengage]Yeah she doesn't like Apple products and she's pretty used to win7. I wouldn't want to make her learn a whole new OS.
And I don't have a microcenter nearby. :/[/quote]
Chrome OS is literally Chrome. I was able to teach my grandma to use chrome, it really shouldn't be that hard.
That being said it is also [b]just[/b] Chrome so if there is any win7 specific thing she needs that might not be the best.
thrasherDrewA Chromebook is probably your best bet.
Chromebooks don't run on windows. If your mother isn't too computer savy she may not like the totally new experience of the chrome OS.
I literally just picked this up for my aunt yesterday
http://www.microcenter.com/product/421110/D550CA-MH31_156_Laptop_Computer_-_Black
If you have a microcenter near you I highly recommend this laptop. For $349 you get an i3, 4gb of ram and a 500gb hdd. You won't find specs like that every day in that price range.
If the mother already know how to browse the web then she already knows how to use Chrome OS because that's all you do. It not having Windows is actually one of Chromebook's bigger benefits.
[quote=thrasher][quote=Drew][url=http://www.theverge.com/2014/6/18/5817400/the-best-chromebook]A Chromebook[/url] is probably your best bet.[/quote]
Chromebooks don't run on windows. If your mother isn't too computer savy she may not like the totally new experience of the chrome OS.
I literally just picked this up for my aunt yesterday
http://www.microcenter.com/product/421110/D550CA-MH31_156_Laptop_Computer_-_Black
If you have a microcenter near you I highly recommend this laptop. For $349 you get an i3, 4gb of ram and a 500gb hdd. You won't find specs like that every day in that price range.[/quote]
If the mother already know how to browse the web then she already knows how to use Chrome OS because that's all you do. It not having Windows is actually one of Chromebook's bigger benefits.
post pics of mother so i can c what she wants.
post pics of mother so i can c what she wants.
Most laptops you'll find now are going to only be available with Windows 8.1. Some may have 8 still on them, but I doubt it at this point (plus, there's really no reason not to have 8.1). I'm 99.999% sure you will never see 7 on an in-store laptop again.
I would check on Newegg and filter by Windows 7 and price under $500. Find something that will last her a while for what she does.
Most laptops you'll find now are going to only be available with Windows 8.1. Some may have 8 still on them, but I doubt it at this point (plus, there's really no reason not to have 8.1). I'm 99.999% sure you will never see 7 on an in-store laptop again.
I would check on Newegg and filter by Windows 7 and price under $500. Find something that will last her a while for what she does.
The one that Rigel posted looks like a good buy.
The one that Rigel posted looks like a good buy.
Even if todays notebooks come pre-installed with windows 8.1 there is a high chance that you're able to downgrade to windows 7 without additional cost. (at least the pro versions) Not really a valid argument.
Even if todays notebooks come pre-installed with windows 8.1 there is a high chance that you're able to downgrade to windows 7 without additional cost. (at least the pro versions) Not really a valid argument.