My Dad Needs A New Laptop

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If you go with a Windows 8 PC, definitely go and download Classic Shell (classicshell.net). It'll restore the functionality you are probably hoping to see that MS inexplicably destroyed.

I bought a Toshiba Satellite about three weeks ago and have been very pleased with it so far (although not so thrilled with Windows 8). Was sold on them after seeing my father in law use one every day for work for the past 4 years straight.

Prices are right in line with Dell, but I think the build quality is better. I suppose it's a great example of how Japan devaluing their currency a little has made them more competitive in industries like this.
 
Why not get him a desk top? I just don't like laptops. My wife has a cute little Eepc by Asus but it is sort of annoying to me with the sub size keyboard.
 
ABM said:
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.

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Your dad is very similar to mine. Peripheral neuropathy. Can barely walk. Pretty much stays in his easy chair. I hope I don't inherit the neuropathy issues. They suck big time. :(
 
My dad, 92, also wants a new computer. Noting wrong with his Dell but I only get there about twice a year for tutoring and then find he's forgotten half of what I taught him last time. I've heard tell the Wow is popular with older users because it's more instinctive than Mac or Windows for people who have not been using those systems for 20 years and know their quirks. Anyone hear about it?
 
SlyPokerDog said:
What will you be using the laptop for?

What size of laptop do you like? I like bigger laptops, 17". That Lenovo on page 4 looks nice.
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awesome!!
 
SlyPokerDog said:
Fry's extended warranties are pretty good. If you buy from Fry's you should look in to it.
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That's sweet, Sly. I think I'm gonna pull the trigger. Order on-line with an in-store pickup. What could be easier?! Thanks! :)
 
ABM said:
That's sweet, Sly. I think I'm gonna pull the trigger. Order on-line with an in-store pickup. What could be easier?! Thanks! :)
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Also the laptop has HDMI so you can still hook it up to your TV. Duck games are just a few months away!
 
ABM said:
That's sweet, Sly. I think I'm gonna pull the trigger. Order on-line with an in-store pickup. What could be easier?! Thanks! :)
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I did notice this in an Amazon review of this product, though. Cause for pause??

Don't buy from this company. I have the G780. Lenovo has a habit of making what on paper looks like a good product and then including a huge flaw. Usually its the garbage WIFI cards they use. Mine has a broadcom. It is rubbish and I new this when I bought it. What I did not know is that it is impossible to swap it out for a better one. LENOVO whitelists all hardware. If it is not on the whitelist it will not work in your laptop. So I call the indian telemarketer (lenovo support that charges by the minute) and he tells me that any mini wifi card would work in my laptop. He didn't even know about the whitelist. The really bad part is that they do not make any other card with the FRU # that will work in your laptop. So you are stuck with junk. You could mod the bios and risk bricking your system. I was also informed by the indian man that changing the wifi card would void my warranty. Nothing is more basic than swapping a wifi card.
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ABM said:
I did notice this in an Amazon review of this product, though. Cause for pause??
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How old is that review? I notice that there are a few different configurations of G780's. The one at Fry's seems to be the latest version because of the i5 chip and the 1 TB hard drive. In some reviews on New Egg and Amazon it seems like an above average laptop. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834312431 http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&ke...vptwo=&hvqmt=b&hvdev=c&ref=pd_sl_8vf89b44n7_b

Are you currently using wireless to connect to the internet? If you are and if you have problems either connecting or if you randomly disconnect from the internet then return it.
 
Done deal. Thanks, Sly. Will pick up on the 4th. :cheers:
 
First of all. thanks, Sly. for the suggestion. I am now posting from my new Lenovo 17" laptop!

OK, question: I have backed up my old laptop to an external hard-drive. Do I simply plug that into my new laptop and everything automatically gets installed correctly??
 
ABM said:
First of all. thanks, Sly. for the suggestion. I am now posting from my new Lenovo 17" laptop!

OK, question: I have backed up my old laptop to an external hard-drive. Do I simply plug that into my new laptop and everything automatically gets installed correctly??
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What program did you use to back up everything?

Also you really need to be careful. You don't want to restore your old system on top of your new system. That could overwrite your new operating system and it wouldn't have drivers to make the new hardware in your laptop operate correctly. Is there just data, files, pics, music and movies you want to restore or is there some software you also want to restore?
 
SlyPokerDog said:
What program did you use to back up everything?

Also you really need to be careful. You don't want to restore your old system on top of your new system. That could overwrite your new operating system and it wouldn't have drivers to make the new hardware in your laptop operate correctly. Is there just data, files, pics, music and movies you want to restore or is there some software you also want to restore?
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Pretty much just data, files, etc. Was considering just dragging and dropping(?)

I would, then, like to use the external for backing up the entire system.
 
ABM said:
Pretty much just data, files, etc. Was considering just dragging and dropping(?)

I would, then, like to use the external for backing up the entire system.
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Yes, copy over the files you want to keep. Dragging and dropping will work just fine. After you have gotten the files you want I would reformat your external backup drive and then search for system backup or system image in your windows search box and follow the directions.
 
SlyPokerDog said:
Yes, copy over the files you want to keep. Dragging and dropping will work just fine. After you have gotten the files you want I would reformat your external backup drive and then search for system backup or system image in your windows search box and follow the directions.
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Cool beans. Thanks!
 
If you want to reinstall applications, you need to run the installers for them. Some might have come on CD or DVD. Others you might have downloaded. If you can download newer ones now, I'd do that before installing something old.

Data files, like your word documents or your porn collection can be simply copied. Just don't copy the viruses with them.
 
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