My Dad Needs A New Laptop

[ABM]

His current one (about 6 or 7 years old) is on its last leg...

OK, he's 91, and just needs a basic computer: stuff like solitaire, facebook, e-mail...and perhaps a few word docs here and there. We want to spend the least amount possible on a simple system.

I saw one of these Chromeooks for $199, but wasn't sure if it's the answer, or not.

http://www.google.com/intl/en/chrome/devices/chromebooks.html#ac-c7

Any other thoughts or recommendations out there?

Thanks in advance.

 

[MickZagger]

I got an Asus for $500 with a touch screen and windows 8. Very simple to navigate. I love this thing. Not sure if that's too spendy though.

 

[donkiez]

Have you considered a tablet? For cheap laptops you dont need to know to much, the $350-$500 set ups at bestbuy or wherever will be more than he needs. I havent looked into chromebooks but google usually makes good stuff.

 

[ABM]

Heh, my Mom is all worried about the finances of the matter. She thinks he's "just fine" with the laptop he has....even though it takes about 5-10 minutes (or more) to fully start up. I've told him to just keep it on all day and not shut down every time he's done using it for that moment.

Anyway, I'm planning to just buy one for him, but she'd have a fit if i paid $500-$600. So, I thought going as inexpensive as possible, may do the trick.

This one appears to be the ticket....starts quickly, has all he needs in terms of an operating system.

http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-XE303...TF8&qid=1361671769&sr=1-1&keywords=chromebook

 

[Denny Crane]

Chromebook only has a browser, you can't really run apps on it like with other operating systems.

I think you might be better off getting him as cheap a tablet as you can find. It'll browse the web, do his email, play games, etc.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

Ipad.

{Poasted via palm pilot}

 

[ABM]

Ipad.

{Poasted via palm pilot}

He's a keyboard guy. 91 years old with Neuropathy in his fingers. In fact, I may end up purchasing a separate keyboard for him.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Heh, my Mom is all worried about the finances of the matter. She thinks he's "just fine" with the laptop he has....even though it takes about 5-10 minutes (or more) to fully start up. I've told him to just keep it on all day and not shut down every time he's done using it for that moment.

Anyway, I'm planning to just buy one for him, but she'd have a fit if i paid $500-$600. So, I thought going as inexpensive as possible, may do the trick.

This one appears to be the ticket....starts quickly, has all he needs in terms of an operating system.

http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-XE303...TF8&qid=1361671769&sr=1-1&keywords=chromebook

Your dad is too old to be looking at porn on the internet. Take the laptop away from him.

That Chromebook has a very small screen.

Fry's has some very nice laptops on sale for between $250-$398 this weekend. http://www.frys.com/template/onad/product_navigation/?site=sa:TOP_BANNER:Spot1

Why not pick your dad up in your ghey little Prius and the two of you go out to Fry's and go laptop shopping. If you need to tell him you have a $200 giftcard from a rebate you have to spend before it expires. Tell your mom that you know a guy who will pay $100 for your dad's old laptop so the new laptop will be practically free. (Make sure you get the extended warranty, lol)

Anyway, my dad and I have had some great shopping adventures at Fry's over the years. A few of the times we've also snuck in a movie at Bridgeport Village on the Imax screen. (Mom isn't a scifi fan, lol)

Take your dad laptop shopping, let him pick out what he wants.

 

[Denny Crane]

http://www.frys.com/ads/computer-tablets-notebooks-accessories

The $267 one has a keyboard, big screen, but isn't super modern. At least it runs Windows 8, tho.

 

[ABM]

Why not pick your dad up in your ghey little Prius and the two of you go out to Fry's and go laptop shopping.

My Dad can barely walk, let alone take a ride in my ghey little Prius.

Thanks, though.

 

[ABM]

http://www.frys.com/ads/computer-tablets-notebooks-accessories

The $267 one has a keyboard, big screen, but isn't super modern. At least it runs Windows 8, tho.

Nice.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

My Dad can barely walk, let alone take a ride in my ghey little Prius.

Thanks, though.

Sorry about your dad. I think you should stick with a laptop instead of a tablet or chromebook and Fry's has pretty good deals.

 

[ABM]

Take your dad laptop shopping, let him pick out what he wants.

Did want to share that he just turned 91 last Sunday. Unfortunately, he has Neuropathy in both feet and is now reduced to his big easy chair....just getting up a few times per day to eat, or go to the bathroom with his walker or a wheelchair.

He fell a couple of weeks ago and severely strained his clavicle. He's on the mend, though. his mind is still sharp, so us kids are all blessed to still be able to enjoy quality time with him and my Mom (89)....who, btw, just celebrated their 68th year of marriage.

 

[ABM]

Awwww, don't get butt hurt over the Prius part of my post.

Butt hurt? Heh.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Did want to share that he just turned 91 last Sunday. Unfortunately, he has Neuropathy in both feet and is now reduced to his big easy chair....just getting up a few times per day to eat, or go to the bathroom with his walker or a wheelchair.

He fell a couple of weeks ago and severely strained his clavicle. He's on the mend, though. his mind is still sharp, so us kids are all blessed to still be able to enjoy quality time with him and my Mom (89)....who, btw, just celebrated their 68th year of marriage.

View attachment 3082View attachment 3081

Sorry about your dad. That's great about your mom and dad. 68 years together is amazing!

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Butt hurt? Heh.

Sorry, you were right. I was wrong. Post removed.

 

[ABM]

Sorry, you were right. I was wrong. Post removed.

And let that be a severe, yet confirming, lesson to you. Hopefully, not to the degree of butt hurtness, though.

Carry on my wayward son.

 

[Denny Crane]

Did want to share that he just turned 91 last Sunday. Unfortunately, he has Neuropathy in both feet and is now reduced to his big easy chair....just getting up a few times per day to eat, or go to the bathroom with his walker or a wheelchair.

He fell a couple of weeks ago and severely strained his clavicle. He's on the mend, though. his mind is still sharp, so us kids are all blessed to still be able to enjoy quality time with him and my Mom (89)....who, btw, just celebrated their 68th year of marriage.

View attachment 3082View attachment 3081

Keep an eye on him. A friend of mine recently passed away - he was ~80 and really frail. He had fallen and bruised the right side of his face severely. Then he fell again and he died of complications of the fall (head injury).

 

[ABM]

Sorry about your dad. That's great about your mom and dad. 68 years together is amazing!

Actually, it really is. Once a year, my sisters, parents, and I get together for a special celebration. We used to take a day trip somewhere. Unfortunately, though, those days are gone. We now have a top-shelf meal at the folks. Nonetheless, it's always a fun time that we never take for granted.

 

[mook]

As old as he is, and as willing as he's been to put up with a pc that takes 7 minutes to boot, it ain't about the specs or the brand or the price. It's about making the transition easy and simple for him. Less important than what model you get is making sure his bookmarks, programs etc all get transferred across so that he experiences as little problems with the transition as possible.

This is a massive window to his outside world, so take the time to make sure he's happy with how everything works. Even something as simple as not not allowing his arthritic finger to click the icon he's used to on the upper right corner of his desktop that links to his favorite asian tranny porn site could be crushing. Give him that, and you give him the universe. Whether you spend $150 on a chrome book or $2500 on a mac.

 

[drexlersdad]

tablets are the future, let him be confounded and amazed like anyone should be proud to be. the world keeps going, let him taste the newest fruits, i would think he would want to.

 

[ABM]

http://www.frys.com/ads/computer-tablets-notebooks-accessories

The $267 one has a keyboard, big screen, but isn't super modern. At least it runs Windows 8, tho.

Zipped down there today and picked one up. Thx!!

 

[ABM]

naturally, my pops loves all the games he played on his old laptop. I did find solitaire on windows 8, but looks as if i'll have to search for the others on-line.

PS: This is my first exposure to Windows 8. The new interface appears to be replicating/mimicking phone apps, and such.

 

[BigGameDamian]

GO TO COSTCO!!! Don't be sorry later.

 

[ABM]

GO TO COSTCO!!! Don't be sorry later.

For games?? He used to play the games that were pre-loaded from Windows.

 

[BigGameDamian]

For games?? He used to play the games that were pre-loaded from Windows.

I don't know for games. I play games on my PS3 but the HP laptops at Costco are great especially for the price! It's worth a look anyway. I know they also have other kinds as well just don't buy Acer.

 

[ABM]

I don't know for games. I play games on my PS3 but the HP laptops at Costco are great especially for the price! It's worth a look anyway. I know they also have other kinds as well just don't buy Acer.

Read up a few posts and you'll see the one I purchased. Thanks just the same, though!

 

[ABM]

Looking like I'll be needing to replace my laptop. Any hot deals out there?

Thanks in advance.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Looking like I'll be needing to replace my laptop. Any hot deals out there?

Thanks in advance.

Fry's 4th of July Sale. Ad should be up on their website tomorrow or Wednesday.

 

[Haakzilla]

Looking like I'll be needing to replace my laptop. Any hot deals out there?

Thanks in advance.

...depends on your budget?! I just spent a pretty penny on a custom built laptop from www.digitalstormonline.com