Hi all,
Looking for suggestions for a laptop deal for a retired 70+yo parent. Would be for light use for emails and general web browsing.
Interested in what others would see as important for an older person, I imagine a larger screen size, full size keyboard and lightweight are important? Maybe touchscreen?
Given the limited requirements I'd expect this would likely be low budget with refurbs etc being on the table?
TIA!
My mother is 70+ and is fine with just her phone and iPad. Does email and web browsing just fine.
She does have a Samsung S7FE tablet, wonder if this could sufficently replace a laptop? Unsure about functionality of keyboard/mouse/apps
For a while, I supported budget laptops in a high school.
Low budget are low budget because they scrimp on part quality. For example, frames are not as strong; hinges are not as robust, etc.
My own laptop was a fraction >$1k, bought two years ago. It performs OK, but keys are losing precision. Next time, I'll probably step up the price.
Yes, they'll want a large screen. I doubt differences in weight would be a major concern.
Touchpad and touchscreen are personal preferences. You'd need to ask. I find a touchpad annoying when my hand occasionally touches while typing. You can turn off the touchpad if they want a touchscreen. Alternatively, wireless mouse.
You get what you pay for. The last recommendation I gave was ignored and the person (with similar needs) ended up with a POC because they thought a $400 was a better price to pay than $1k. I don't recommend now, apart from grunt. They won't need much grunt or the latest bells & whistles. A refurb is an option to consider, but I wouldn't buy one with someone else's cash. Everything is not refurbished, just what is necessary. Quality depends on the previous user. That's a variable I'm not prepared to risk. Do your comparisons and buy new on Black Friday Cyber Monday.
70 should be up with technology heck my 85 yearly non tech father can use a iPhone and iPad.
Whatever you get, make sure you clear all the bloatware and unwanted features off first like news widgets etc.
If the machine is too slow to use it won't be enjoyed at all.
I spent hours cleaning up someone's barely used laptop once and the speed difference was ridiculous.
Good shout, the existing laptop (which does need an upgrade to something with a SSD regardless) was loaded with random shit that an older person unknowingly installed too. Barely functional
Then why not replace the spinning disc for solid state and do a clean install
It's an old POS
@JimNZ: To you, probably. But would an SSD bring it back to life to a point where it's usable for the olds?
Just make sure they have reading glasses of the correct strength for the viewing distance.
Not multi-focals.
Used 17" laptop with Linux, open office and chrome would be a good option.
An older family member found much more freedom by switching from a 'slow' PC in a back room to a tablet that they could carry anywhere. The zoom of the screen made up for size when looking at small images.
My really old parents also enjoy the ability to just pop the pad into their handbag or scooter basket etc if they want to take it to shops, doctors, banks, hospital, Genius Bar type assistance etc.
Mum will oft use the pad as a proxy baby sitter for dad if they go out shopping or somewhere together to keep dad occupied/entertained whilst he waits for whatever mum is doing.
They take it grocery shopping to check which supermarket has what at the best price kind of thing.
The portability and convenience can't be emphasised enough for older folk.
Even caught mum wanting to do stuff in private/away from dad (online shopping? I doubt it's anything too dodgy lol) - was just so easy for her to pick up the pad and move elsewhere in the house if dad was being a bit too nosey or maybe noisy lol.
My brother caught dad secretly watching Netflix at a funeral ffs.
Also, in the last few months, dad (103), has been using a walker thingy around the house sometimes and a walking stick at times when further afield and the pad is easier for him to cart around and still hold onto stuff for balance and stability iykwim.
We did set them up with a keyboard, mouse & pencil, but never seen them use those, both seem to manage just fine with the touchscreen keyboard etc
Another thing mum loves is how easy the pad is to clean - quick wipe (still into the Covid anti bacterial wiping surface stuff too, so the pad works well for that as well as crumb leftovers or greasy finger prints etc.
Loves the photo taking and filming ability - likes to snap all sorts of random stuff on their travels from a plant to buy at the nursery, neighbourhood watch sticky beak HOA activities, some object to think about if it will look good in their house? Idk - takes pictures to send peeps to ask all sorts of advice and opinions both on the go and later on, flowers at a funeral? Packaging of a product they liked? Some paint chip or handyman task dad wants to ask Bunnings about?
The pads and phones just seem so much more useful for them than a laptop or PC.
First stick to a os/system that you can support. Is it Mac/PC/Linux/Chrome - or tablet -IOS/Android
Then clearly define what they are using it for.
As suggested above, look at a Tablet if just browsing and emails
And as further above, can you remove any bloatware etc as Kali suggests. Loading random news items each time can slow it down, if this isnt required. Likewise automatic security updates, if you can assist, by setting these up at regular times when you visit.
Then budget
You should ask parent if they want touch screen, and take them to see some. But I would suggest a used machine would be fine.