I'd recommend looking at Lenovo (former IBM) ThinkPad X100e. You can buy direct from Lenovo online. We got one for my wife 2 months ago for the same needs as OP listed. As a ThinkPad, it's bulletproof- solid construction, with great keyboard (a thinkpad tradition, and often a weakness in other laptops and netbooks). My wife likes it because it's a good mix of reasonably sized screen (11.6") and light weight- a bit over 3 lbs (plus a classy red exterior). It's a bit over $400, but worth it, IMHO. I have no financial stake in Lenovo (other than having bought 6 Thinkpads for family over the years.
-
-
Hmmm...
I dunno. My mom is far from computer litereate, and we have her with a Asus netbook running Ubuntu.Please like and subscribe to my YouTube channel. Please check out and subscribe to my Workshop Blog.Comment
-
Comment
-
Comment
-
Nice - more options!
As for the Ubuntu - can she get it pre-installed on any off-the-shelf machine, from any of the local shops or online?
I do my own installations, but don't want to take that on for her - I want to keep this to just a one-time advice while purchase, no hand-holding later
!
It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.
- AristotleComment
-
Just a month ago I purchased a Compaq presario 17" wide screen note book at Best buy with Win 7 installed for a whopping $329.00. Intel single core processor and plenty of hard drive space. They also at that time had an Acer same price similar specs.
I've been just thrilled with mine.
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Compaq+-...446_&cp=1&lp=1Donate to my Tour de Cure
marK in WA and Ryobi Fanatic Association State President ©
Head servant of the forum
©
Comment
-
That's a great buy!
Question for the geeks here - looking at her needs, is a Celeron limiting in any way? Assuming the most she might add on in terms of software could be a MS Word/Excel, a celeron should still be able to handle it, right?It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.
- AristotleComment
-
The Celeron won't be an issue.
Plenty of DDR2, 160GB HD, 2.2 Ghz, best of all a 15.6" screen with a ton of video memory.
She stores and displays pictures is one of her main uses.
My Acer netbook with 1.6 Ghz, 160 HD, and upgraded to 2GB RAM is awesome except....
the 10.1" screen blows.
She'll love that Celeron as soon as it fires up in a half minute.Last edited by Mowgli; 03-12-2010, 04:17 PM."I'm quite illiterate, but I read a lot" - Holden CaulfieldComment
-
Nice - more options!
As for the Ubuntu - can she get it pre-installed on any off-the-shelf machine, from any of the local shops or online?
I do my own installations, but don't want to take that on for her - I want to keep this to just a one-time advice while purchase, no hand-holding later!
Dell sells preloaded Ubuntu systems, but I doubt you would find a New laptop in that range. You said she has one of her main uses, for email? What TYPE of email? My mom isn't computer literate (FAR from it), but she is constantly sending and receiving Windows Media files. I like Linux, but unless you want to be banging your head against the wall, trying to explain, most of these JUNK/JOKE things can be found on YouTube, they just expect them to work. (AND too many web programmers, only know how to use the Windows tools they are provided.
I will give you an example, of my mom. She thinks that she should be able to go to her old or new computer, and click on her email button and read all her (downloaded) emails. I can't get her to use Web based, so she could do it (wants them downloaded, and the save to the server setting "makes it take too long", as the other computer is rarely used.)
I had to explain it to her as put something in her trunk, then pull it out of my sisters trunk.
She couldn't tell the difference between the escape pod, and the bathroom. We had to go back for her.........................Twice.Comment
-
Check Woot also, they have been selling one about every 10 days recently.Comment
Comment