Desktop PC for parents

[andyfraser]

What about something from here:
http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/lapto...mebooks/703_7707_70798_xx_xx/xx-criteria.html

I'm biased because I'm a huge fan of Chrome OS but that's because I use it. It's fast and secure for a start. I still use a desktop for photo editing and a few other things but actually spend most of my time, probably 90%, using a Chromebook (14" HP). There are some amazing web apps to most things now.

 

[accountantpete]

Check out the Curry's ebay shop - you get the "slight defects" at £50 less with the same guarantee.

eg http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HP-Pavili...563?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item19fdad35db

 

[Over The Hill]

I did the same with the in-laws. Desktop is the way to go. Oldies seem better with a mouse and the better seating setup of a desktop.
Also easy to replace or upgrade parts of it if needed in the future.

I have bought three (two for home and one for inlaws) Acer refurbished/new desktops from Currys and all have been fine. Cheap and easy.

 

[Drago]

I'm very lazy, and every 3 or 4 years just buy a new Dell desktop job. Not been let down yet.

 

[vickster]

I did the same with the in-laws. Desktop is the way to go. Oldies seem better with a mouse and the better seating setup of a desktop.
Also easy to replace or upgrade parts of it if needed in the future.

I have bought three (two for home and one for inlaws) Acer refurbished/new desktops from Currys and all have been fine. Cheap and easy.

They use it as a desktop with cordless mouse and keyboard, they don;t often use as a laptop, if they do the mouse comes with. That's why I thought they wanted a desktop, but mother was confused and they want another laptop

 

[vickster]

What about something from here:
http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/lapto...mebooks/703_7707_70798_xx_xx/xx-criteria.html

I'm biased because I'm a huge fan of Chrome OS but that's because I use it. It's fast and secure for a start. I still use a desktop for photo editing and a few other things but actually spend most of my time, probably 90%, using a Chromebook (14" HP). There are some amazing web apps to most things now.

They don't need anything whizzy...my mum doesn't even know what an app is bless her

 

[vickster]

Check out the Curry's ebay shop - you get the "slight defects" at £50 less with the same guarantee.

eg http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HP-Pavili...563?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item19fdad35db

I've bought PC World refurb before so may see what they have. Parents won't feel comfortable buying from eBay (they don't know what it is really or how it works). They'll buy online from a main site to collect or in store

This looks a good deal for i3 http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/lapto...6-laptop-black-silver-10101111-pdt.html#cat-0

Asus decent I assume? Well no worse than HP, Lenovo? Acer?

Or more memory for a bit more?

http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/lapto...50-15-6-laptop-silver-10109036-pdt.html#cat-0

 

[RitchieJoe]

The specifications on the above laptop appear to fit the bill, as far as reliability goes with asus I could not comment on their laptops. I did however purchase one of their tablets and it has had to go in for repair 9 months after purchase.

 

[vickster]

I expect at that level they are all much of a muchness. I guess if it goes pop on day 366 so be it, JL have a 2 year warranty, depends if they think it's worth the extra £60 (which could perhaps be reduced as my brother works for them if he's ok to use his discount)

 

[andyfraser]

They don't need anything whizzy...my mum doesn't even know what an app is bless her

That's the beauty of Chromebooks (and Chromeboxes). They're the least flashy computers you can buy. Chrome OS is literally just the Chrome browser with some extra features to give a desktop. Google have done a great job of making Chrome OS resilient but things can go wrong with any OS. On Windows it can be frustrating sorting out problems. On Chrome OS you just power wash (factory reset basically) and log in again and a few minutes later everything's back as it was.

 

[Berk on a Bike]

Best desktop I've owned was a Dell. For your parents' price bracket look at Dell's Outlet store. It sells returned or refurbished systems which are marked down and on which Dell give an as-new warranty. They do sell the box only (with keys and mouse) so a monitor would be extra. Right now they've got an Inspiron 3646 with 500gb hard disk and Windows 8.1 for £150 + VAT.

 

[vickster]

I think it'll be a JL purchase now I've spoken with brother

Either the HP above or an Asus, the HP seems better specced though for another £30

http://www.johnlewis.com/asus-x555la-laptop-intel-core-i3-4gb-ram-1tb-15-6-black/p1843958
http://www.johnlewis.com/hp-15-laptop-intel-core-i3-8gb-ram-1tb-15-6-/p1855442?colour=Red

 

[John the Monkey]

Best desktop I've owned was a Dell. For your parents' price bracket look at Dell's Outlet store.

The only note of caution I'd sound is that they tend to be a pain to keep going (adding drives, chipsets not being updated for future windows versions &c). If you're happy replacing every few years though (and don't intend to open the case) a great option.

 

[vickster]

Their website wasn't working. Now looking at laptops

 

[Berk on a Bike]

The only note of caution I'd sound is that they tend to be a pain to keep going (adding drives, chipsets not being updated for future windows versions &c). If you're happy replacing every few years though (and don't intend to open the case) a great option.

We've had ours for nearly 10 years and it's solid.