New web browsing machine for dad.

[anonymous-user]

My dad has an ancient Windows 7 desktop which needs replacing.

He only does web browsing and email and probably needs at least a 14 inch display (maybe bigger as his eyes are 85 years old )

Laptop or chromebook or something else?

Cheap as possible is the budget!

[AJB88]

Chromebox + screen, keyboard and mouse.

[anonymous-user]

AJB88 said:

Chromebox + screen, keyboard and mouse.

Interesting!

The only issue is I think he wants a one box solution so he doesn’t have to have it out permanently and can get it out of a drawer when needed.

I’ll take a look though as I’d not heard of a chromebox.

[durbster]

The problem is the screen is a large part of the cost of a laptop, so a cheap one invariably means a cheap screen which are not good for elderly eyes.

I was looking for something as a family laptop and schoolwork, and ended up with this Chromebook:
https://www.johnlewis.com/asus-c434ta-ai0080-chrom...

I got it just before lockdown and have been really happy with it. It's fast and the screen is nice, bright and clear. I had intended to spend half that but after looking at loads in the shops over several weeks, the only devices under £600 with a screen I'd be happy with were tablets.

After five months of daily use by a small boy, the only issue is the screen is now more bogey than glass.

Wrong link

Edited by durbster on Monday 27th July 10:19

[hotchy]

Your dads windows 7 machine is ancient..


Better keep my vista hidden

[CubanPete]

Tv as a screen, keyboard with integrated mouse.

[anonymous-user]

durbster said:

The problem is the screen is a large part of the cost of a laptop, so a cheap one invariably means a cheap screen which are not good for elderly eyes.

I was looking for something as a family laptop and schoolwork, and ended up with this Chromebook:
https://www.johnlewis.com/asus-c434ta-ai0080-chrom...

I got it just before lockdown and have been really happy with it. It's fast and the screen is nice, bright and clear. I had intended to spend half that but after looking at loads in the shops over several weeks, the only devices under £600 with a screen I'd be happy with were tablets.

After five months of daily use by a small boy, the only issue is the screen is now more bogey than glass.

Wrong link

Edited by durbster on Monday 27th July 10:19

Good points. We're both going to John Lewis this afternoon for a look at all the options and see what screens he gets on with.

Edit - I think he might balk at £600

[AJB88]

If he wants something he can put away then yeh a Chromebook will be better.

[Mr Pointy]

I was going to suggest an NUC PC velcroed to the back of a 24" monitor but flip me they're a bit pricey.

[xeny]

Mr Pointy said:

I was going to suggest an NUC PC velcroed to the back of a 24" monitor but flip me they're a bit pricey.

I've done that with a Pi 4. Much more affordable, Trivial to replace the uSD card if anything bad happens.

[Mr Pointy]

xeny said:

Mr Pointy said:

I was going to suggest an NUC PC velcroed to the back of a 24" monitor but flip me they're a bit pricey.

I've done that with a Pi 4. Much more affordable, Trivial to replace the uSD card if anything bad happens.

Yes I was going to suggest that but it seems he wants to put it away in a drawer. £50 for the Pi & the rest on a big monitor.

[pequod]

Have a look at an Asus chromebook in Currys/PCW.

I have the basic model which I thought I would only use occasionally when away but, have switched from using my Win10 machine almost exclusively now and it's perfect for all the stuff your dad will be doing and at £179 it's a good robust little laptop with a proper (albeit not backlit) keyboard.

ETA you can increase the font size in settings to help him read the screen easier so the 11.5'' screen shouldn't be a problem.

Edited by pequod on Monday 27th July 11:41

[xeny]

Mr Pointy said:

Yes I was going to suggest that but it seems he wants to put it away in a drawer. £50 for the Pi & the rest on a big monitor.

spare HDMI port on the household PC and a wireless kbd and mouse?

[anonymous-user]

Just back from JR - The HP db0003na seems to be the current leader for £239 and a 14” display.

[Derek Smith]

If he's on a tight budget then Linux is not a bad way to go.

I used it on an 11-year-old Dell and it runs (ran - not used it during lockdown) well. The only downside is the battery not lasting long.

[csd19]

We got my Grandpa a Chromebook earlier this year as the PC was getting too much of a hassle for him, and it's meant he's been able to have videocalls from the family during lockdown. He does well for being 3 weeks off his 97th birthday....

[anonymous-user]

csd19 said:

We got my Grandpa a Chromebook earlier this year as the PC was getting too much of a hassle for him, and it's meant he's been able to have videocalls from the family during lockdown. He does well for being 3 weeks off his 97th birthday....

I’ll let my dad know this .... he’ll feel confident knowing he’s ‘only’ 85 and that someone a lot older manages

[0a]

csd19 said:

We got my Grandpa a Chromebook earlier this year as the PC was getting too much of a hassle for him, and it's meant he's been able to have videocalls from the family during lockdown. He does well for being 3 weeks off his 97th birthday....

Bloody impressive! Great because those that are elderly are those that would most benefit from communications and connectivity!

[sparkyhx]

garyhun said:

durbster said:

The problem is the screen is a large part of the cost of a laptop, so a cheap one invariably means a cheap screen which are not good for elderly eyes.

I was looking for something as a family laptop and schoolwork, and ended up with this Chromebook:
https://www.johnlewis.com/asus-c434ta-ai0080-chrom...

I got it just before lockdown and have been really happy with it. It's fast and the screen is nice, bright and clear. I had intended to spend half that but after looking at loads in the shops over several weeks, the only devices under £600 with a screen I'd be happy with were tablets.

After five months of daily use by a small boy, the only issue is the screen is now more bogey than glass.

Wrong link

Edited by durbster on Monday 27th July 10:19

Good points. We're both going to John Lewis this afternoon for a look at all the options and see what screens he gets on with.

Edit - I think he might balk at £600

I swapped mother in law to a chromebook recently - £300 with touchscreen (an ACER - CB315-3HT 15.6 inch) - she gets on with it.
The only issue I had was that you cant add icons for weblinks to the desktop like you can with a windows. so we had to teach her to use favourites properly

Edited by sparkyhx on Monday 27th July 19:00

[Corso Marche]

sparkyhx said:

The only issue I had was that you cant add icons for weblinks to the desktop like you can with a windows. so we had to teach her to use favourites properly

You can save webpages as shortcuts and they'll appear in the launcher drawer where you can organise/arrange them or group the icons in folders. For everyday use you can then pin those icons to the bottom shelf for one-click/touch access.