Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

PC Laptop for my Grandmother

Perrumpo

Perrumpo

macrumors 68000
Original poster
Jul 12, 2008
1,724
27
Hi guys.

I need some help narrowing down my choices for a PC laptop for my grandmother. I am a Mac person, so I'm not "up" on the PC market.

Requirements:
$500-$700
Windows 7
15-17" display
>2GHz
4GB RAM or more (DDR3 preferable)

Should I go intel? I know back when I used some PCs, I liked Athlon better. Has that changed? An SD card slot would be nice, too.

Thanks!
 
Perrumpo said:
Hi guys.

I need some help narrowing down my choices for a PC laptop for my grandmother. I am a Mac person, so I'm not "up" on the PC market.

Requirements:
$500-$700
Windows 7
15-17" display
>2GHz
4GB RAM or more (DDR3 preferable)

Should I go intel? I know back when I used some PCs, I liked Athlon better. Has that changed? An SD card slot would be nice, too.

Thanks!
Click to expand...

Why not get a used MacBook? This way if she's ever having trouble, you can hop on iChat, take control of her screen and fix her issues. And since you're a Mac guy, it'll be easier for you to troubleshoot.
 
AMD definitely has a price advantage, but you'd be hard-pressed to find an AMD in a notebook.

I'd look at Dell refurbs. Even if it says "scratch and dent," go for it. I've gotten two scratch-and-dent refurbs from Dell, both with petty imperfections in the paint.
 
Shake 'n' Bake said:
AMD definitely has a price advantage, but you'd be hard-pressed to find an AMD in a notebook.

I'd look at Dell refurbs. Even if it says "scratch and dent," go for it. I've gotten two scratch-and-dent refurbs from Dell, both with petty imperfections in the paint.
Click to expand...

I completely agree. My Dell "scratch and dent" was flawless. I honestly can not find the scratch or dent, just some fingerprints.
 
Thanks for the responses. This laptop is from my aunts and uncles, really, for my grandmother's birthday. None of them are Mac people, so it will have to be a PC, unfortunately. They've asked me to shop around, though. They'll definitely want a new machine, too (which pushes the Mac out of price-range, anyway).

Brendu, I have actually been eying that one on Amazon... well, a very similar one. It is 2.2GHz instead of 2.1, and DDR3 instead of DDR2, 500 GB HDD instead of 250. Seems pretty nice!
 
As an Amazon Associate, MacRumors earns a commission from qualifying purchases made through links in this post.
Perrumpo said:
Thanks for the responses. This laptop is from my aunts and uncles, really, for my grandmother's birthday. None of them are Mac people, so it will have to be a PC, unfortunately. They've asked me to shop around, though. They'll definitely want a new machine, too (which pushes the Mac out of price-range, anyway).

Brendu, I have actually been eying that one on Amazon... well, a very similar one. It is 2.2GHz instead of 2.1, and DDR3 instead of DDR2, 500 GB HDD instead of 250. Seems pretty nice!
Click to expand...

whats the price difference? good luck with it, HP makes solid products..
 
As an Amazon Associate, MacRumors earns a commission from qualifying purchases made through links in this post.
fartheststar said:
Get your grandmother a 20 - 22" screen (affordable one). Her eyesight will thank you.
Click to expand...

Well, the issue is that my grandfather hogs the desktop, their only computer. So a medium-sized portable machine that she can stow nearby in the family room is perfect for her. Besides, I'm not making the rules... I was told 15-17" :eek:
 
thejadedmonkey said:
I'd say the Acer. most old people don't need the fastest processor to render stuff these days.... at least not yet ;)
Click to expand...

I agree. I don't think it's worth the extra $100 to go with the HP. When I sent my suggestions to my uncle, he concurred. So we'll see if the rest of the gang agrees, too. The rest of them wouldn't really know what they're looking at, other than price, hah.
 
Any base model will have most of those features, Here in the UK our supermarkets do good deals on Dell laptops and they're pretty cheap!
 
I think I have to object to this condescending attitude toward grandmothers. I am in my 70's and do a lot of video work on my Macbook and Imac. Get her a good fast machine. She will be into video before you know it.
 
Perrumpo said:
Well, the issue is that my grandfather hogs the desktop, their only computer. So a medium-sized portable machine that she can stow nearby in the family room is perfect for her. Besides, I'm not making the rules... I was told 15-17" :eek:
Click to expand...

Just help a friend pick out a Sony from amazon... 729, but no tax/shipping... nice machine!

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002PHM0KY/ref=noref?ie=UTF8&s=pc

or similar from microcenter...
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002PHM0KY/ref=noref?ie=UTF8&s=pc
 
As an Amazon Associate, MacRumors earns a commission from qualifying purchases made through links in this post.
Why on earth would you buy your grandmother a PC? Why do you hate her so much? Are you deliberately trying to raise her blood pressure? Maybe speed-up the inevitable? Are you getting her back for all the ugly birthday sweaters and mouldy Christmas fruitcakes? News Flash: Apple's big 1-button trackpads are much friendlier to feeble, shaking, arthritic fingers. The MacBook's aluminum finish stylishly matches most any wheelchair. And the Unibody's are surprisingly drool-proof. If my grandson bought me a Dell I'd write him out of my will. Young whippersnapper! :eek::eek::eek:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back