[SOLVED] Reliable Laptop for Elderly Neighbour - Budget $1,000

Tsubasa on 26/08/2023 - 13:08
Last edited 28/08/2023 - 20:18 by 1 other user

Hi all

My neighbour's Windows 7 Toshiba laptop is in a bad state and needs replacing urgently. Its used for video conferencing, email, word processing and as a photo repository. Budget is around $1000, onsite support would be needed on top me thinks.

Looking for a recommendation of a reliable model that I could buy from one of the major electronic stores or manufacturers. He doesn't drive and is not particularly tech savvy. He lives in Perth, WA.

Features of interest are a long battery life, large hard drive (ideally a separate OS and data drive) and minimal problems over its hopefully long useful life. They also need USB A for printing.

Shifting away from Windows is not possible. They want to maintain their current set of applications and UI understanding.

I plan to install Stardock Start11 to make it more Windows 7 like. Also likely to set up google drive to sync any key folders onto the cloud.

Happy to take further suggestions to make their experience a bit easier.

Computing Computer Laptop

Comments

  • Jimothy Wongingtons on 26/08/2023 - 13:22

    windows 7

    not tech savvy

    Big hurdle right there… even win 10 has a bit of a learning curve migrating from 7 for typical user… let alone 11 which is standard on most new pc and laptop now.

    We have 1 pc at my office still running windows 7 and is probably a massive security liability because an older member of staff refuses to learn anything new.

    • Tsubasa on 26/08/2023 - 13:29
      +1

      I agree. Have a few of those at work and trying to get rid of them is a pain.

      Start11 can spoof a Windows 7 start menu on Windows 11 so its a small step in the right direction.

  • thatonethere on 26/08/2023 - 13:36
    +1

    Ipad with a keyboard might be the go. Icloud backs up everything.

    • Jimothy Wongingtons on 26/08/2023 - 13:47
      +2

      Shifting away from Windows is not possible.

      • thatonethere on 26/08/2023 - 15:55
        +2

        Always challenge a fixed mindset

        • cookie2 on 27/08/2023 - 07:24
          +1

          Not quite. Not too much and not with older people at a certain point. You don't make digital applications harder, you make them easily accessible to continue use and if you're lucky a little more development so they don't become completely out of touch (for their needs).

          Challenging doesn't mean that you completely change something.

          You need to balance their requirements, skill level, cognitive ability to develop further skill and maintain it and their interest and motivation to learn.

          That means that what is the best scenario, isn't the best for everyone and you need to be flexible and understanding of the individuals needs. Good on the elderly neighbour for maintaining this level of digital literacy.

    • casho on 01/09/2023 - 16:49
      +1

      This. My parents laptop was constant problems. Bought them an ipad. All good. How hard is it to click an icon?

  • rumblytangara on 26/08/2023 - 13:48
    +2

    Base model Thinkpad E series still come with onsite warranty and are at 1K. Not sure what you mean by "large" hard drive though, anything base model is going to come with a single SSD but you could add more storage.

    (Is battery life really that important for someone who's obviously keeping it at home?)

    • Tsubasa on 26/08/2023 - 15:11

      Thanks for the suggestion.

      Large hard drive (thinking 2TB) is more for the photo collection.

      Agree that the battery life expectation is not that high. I would assume 10 hours max to allow the device to be moved from room to room.

      • rumblytangara on 26/08/2023 - 15:47

        There are occasional deals for a lenovo 65W charger here for $25. Just get an extra one of those, if he can't bother moving a charger around.

        No laptop is going to come with 2TB, you're going to have to add secondary storage.

        • Tsubasa on 26/08/2023 - 21:10

          Am I right in that only gaming laptops come with a secondary HDD option these days?

          I couldn't see a slot for another drive in the Thinkpad E series specs. Configuration options are limited too but the base model will do for what is needed bar the larger storage drive.

          • rumblytangara on 26/08/2023 - 22:05

            @Tsubasa: Beats me. My ThinkPad from a couple generations ago has slots for two.

  • Mugsy on 27/08/2023 - 00:15
    +1

    What does he take photos with?

    If the phone, I suggest just getting a MS365 account or other affordable online storage option and let the phone auto upload the photos.

    I hardly take photos with my DSLR or Mirrorless these days… phone is always on me and photo back up is automatic with auto upload to onedrive. Unless he's doing photoshop work, he could bypass having the photos on his laptop… can still view the photos via OneDrive online.

    Just some food for thought.

    I went through the same thing with Dad… he just takes photos with his phone these days. So with my family MS365 account, both he and mum have their phones auto back up photos to make life easier. Also did the same thing with my wife's phone and iPad… again, to make my life easier since I'm tech support for all these people.

    • Tsubasa on 27/08/2023 - 00:34

      From the looks of it, the pictures are from friends and family and past travels. I did set up a google photos sync way back. It was a means to keep the most important photos safe.

      • Mugsy on 27/08/2023 - 12:55

        I see.

        Yeah, a Google Photos sync and he saves the photos to a folder that auto backs up is the way to go.

        I bought an ASUS laptop for my wife earlier this year when she started her TAFE course and found her 10yo MacBook Air nor brand new iPad Pro just wasn't suited towards MS Office tasks. I linked the laptop to one of her MS365 accounts and she just saves all her course materials in Documents which automatically backs up. No stress for me if the laptop ever dies.

        Actually, this chat has reminded me that I have to chase up JB Hi-Fi for the receipt and extended warranty documents… they never came through. Need that receipt for tax returns.

  • cookie2 on 27/08/2023 - 07:28
    +3

    Good on the elderly neighbour for maintaining this level of digital literacy. And to you for helping.
    The lenovo yoga is good and has the touchscreen too (which may or may not be useful). Not sure about the usb a though but guess you can get a converter.
    Anyway reasonably priced and leaves money for other things.
    Bought a couple of refurbed oones previously advertised on OB, not sure what's available now.

  • Gdsamp on 28/08/2023 - 11:22
    +1

    some lenovo models might still have option of Win11 Licence with pre-installed downgrade to Windows 10, i think the learning curve from 7 to 10 is not too bad

  • Tsubasa on 28/08/2023 - 20:18

    Thanks all. I've suggested the Lenovo Thinkpad E16 for the replacement. This comes with a 512 GB SSD, I can look at after-market upgrades if a larger HDD needed.

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