Need advice. My aged parents want to buy their first computer.

[enough]

Just for the internet, a little word processing. Some kind of laptop.

I just assume it should be Mac. I've used them for years, never any trouble. In fact, I love all my Macs for work and fun.

But my father pinches pennies, and keeps seeing ads for cheap this-and-thats in the paper. I've tried to tell them that if they go with Mac, I will be able to help them. If they go elsewhere, I won't have much of a clue.

Is my Mac preference just a prejudice, or am I right that the whole thing will be simpler and less aggravating for them with Apple?

All thoughts appreciated.

[TrogL]

1. Get them a Mac

Tell him they will find windows boxes nothing but trouble.

My parents bought a Windoze box and they've run up a huge phone bill with me trying to fix it over the phone. No end of frustration for them.

[leftyandproud]

2. ahem

*cough* macs suck *cough*

excuse me

[Tom Kitten]

19. Macs suck, eh? (cough, choke)

good luck with your little worm going around causing millions of headaches....Me, a Mac user...worm? What worm? Ah Hah Hah !

[liberalmuse]

3. Nope. Macs are a lot easier..

they're more user-friendly, they don't crash as much and the people who create viruses are likely to target Windows, not the Mac OS. My sister bought a Dell after having owned a Mac and she really regrets it. I use Windows XP at work and thus really appreciate my Mac. Windows blows bigtime. Our computers are ALWAYS crashing at work.

[cprise]

4. Windows: Do NOT go there.

Viruses alone would keep aged novices from using the computer as must as they'd want.

I've been through it with my family, and Windows isn't worth it.

[Rick Myers]

5. The little Mac laptop is a great machine for that kind of use

And very inexpensive... (And I'm a Windoze guy!)

[THX1138]

6. I've been running Windows

since the mid 90's and I have never had a virus. Because I have good anti-virus software which I keep up to date and I don't mindlessly double-click strange attachments that arrive in my e-mail. I Hated 95/98 but I love 2000. XP is okay, except for the Barbie Doll interface. A Windows based laptop will cost a lot less in the end, and upgrades will be cheaper. If $$$ is no object, of course theres nothing wrong with a nice shiny Powerbook, but if I were plunking down the cash, you can be sure it would be a Wintel.

That is always the problem I've had with laptops-- expense. If my PC dies I can most likely fix it for $20-$40, $100 for a processer or motherboard max. If a laptop dies you are forced to "take it to the shop" which usually means expensive proprietary parts and labor charges. If you can make it out the door without paying $75 minimum your a lucky dog.

But if they are set on a laptop, for the load you are describing they could get by with a 366+ processor, with 64 megs or more for RAM and at least 8 megs of video RAM. Ideally something running XP is preferable, it won't crash nearly as much as 9.x and your parents might find it a bit easier to use. If its XP based though you are going to want a fast processor 900+ and at least 64 megs of RAM, it runs stable, but its a pig.

[Deja Q]

11. Good post and worth considering!

A good antivirus program will stop anything.

And Win2k is very nice indeed. Much less bloated than XP, doesn't crash, and is too easy to use. (XP is a myopic, convoluted mess to configure and deal with.)

But I am outdated and my experience with Macs pre-OSX is rather grim. If OS X is what it's cracked up to be, I'd reconsider... But Macs are very costly and to my knowledge, many old people like to retire and count their pennies.

I'd build a custom-made unit similar to yours and get Win2k for the OS; heck I still see Win98 and ME in stores so Win2k must surely still be available! (Heck, for $700 I can build a computer that's faster than an Intel P4 running at 2.7GHz, has 1GB RAM, 160GB HD, Geforce 4600 video, SB Audigy sound, and Win2k... it would cremate a $1000 Mac! Just think of how little a machine with the specs you'd said would cost; $300?!)

[TrogL]

17. They don't need that much horsepower or aggravation

You don't need 8 MB of video RAM to display email. They're probably never going to use it beyond 640*480 because they'll never be able to read the screen.

...it won't crash nearly as much...

How do you think they're going to react to a crash? A virus? Windoze's idiotic menu system?

[iluvchicago86]

7. If they are sort of elderly

It is best to buy a Mac. No need for them to fuss about and get stressed out from a lame PC. Unless your father and mother will be in the business of playing many computer games, the general consensus is that Macs are easier, cuter, friendlier , and less prone to viruses and crashing. I have an Apple laptop , and despite this I dont think its the bias speaking lol. Macs rule , PC's drool.

[elfin]

8. Go Mac!

I have an elderly friend (80) who ws talked into a cheapo PC and she never uses it - feels inept and confused - even though she is very sharp and "with it."

Another friend in her 70's listened to me and got a Mac - loves it and really uses it alot.

Make up the price difference for them. If they live anywhere near an Apple Store - get them there and have them get the lessons - they will be charged up by the whole thing.

Good luck - go mac.

[salin]

9. I am a mac to PC convert... BUT

Mac is so much easier to learn - in terms of interface. Were I not so tired of the pain of working across platforms on projects I would still be a Mac user. But I have grown fond of my dear PCs (now have desk and lap top) - and learning them wasn't THAT difficult... because I already knew mac.

Am about to set my best friend's mother up with her first computer - she will probably use it exclusively for internet/email. We are going to get her a mac.

[Deja Q]

10. It's up to you, but here is a handful of silly observations

If you want to spend $1200 on something that a $500 machine can do just as well, that's none of my business. Buf before you stop reading thinking I'm just a cynical drama queen, please continue reading on:

On the other hand, what's wrong in learning something that could help you out elsewhere? Heck, I'm tempted to learn Macs despite the cost so when it comes time for me to open my own support store, I can also support Macs and Linux and get more customers. (do you know of any good mac emulators for Linux or even Winbloat?)

On the third hand, there's product loyalty. I can't blame Mac users for being loyal. We all have our loyalties.

Given our economy alone, I'd be inclined to tell you to go with option #1. Your folks could easily spend that $500 (or more!) elsewhere.

[Upfront]

12. Made In America?

Should know this but I don't. Which computers, if any, are made in America?

[blm]

13. go eMac...they'll love it.

.

[tsipple]

14. I Got It! I Got It!

The Apple Store has a factory refurbished iBook (800 MHz, 128 MB RAM, 30 GB hard disk, CD-ROM, ethernet, 56K modem, 12 inch TFT active matrix display) for $899. Click on "Special Deals" on the lower left of the page. While you can get a new budget Windows notebook for around $650 if you shop aggressively, I think I'd agree that this is the better deal. A RAM upgrade (as with the PC) would be highly recommended for performance. Max it out (one 512 MB memory module for 640 MB total) if you can afford it ($82 to do that, currently, if you check DealRAM.com). You can get a free office suite that reads/writes Microsoft Office files, and free anti-virus software.

(On edit: Also check here for iBook prices. For example, SmallDog.com has the very same system mentioned above except with a 700 MHz processor and 20 GB hard disk, brand new, for $799.)

[billbuckhead]

15. eMac is the way to go, 17" screen and it's very competitive pricewise.

$799 for the base model with an easy viewing big screen. This price includes a bunch of easily usable software such as iTunes, iPhoto, iDVD, iCal and the pop-up defeating Safari browser. The ease of use and the way the software works together is worth slight cost difference. It's virtually crashproof with OS X and doesn't scare the user with "fatal exceptions" and" illegal operations" Another good feature is the all-in-one design without so many wires and connections.

[enough]

16. All you dear DUers -- Thank you!

I knew DU would be the perfect place to ask this question. It's going to take a while to digest all this -- good leads here to follow up.

I really appreciate you all taking the time to focus on this human/techno question.

[TrogL]

18. The problem with laptops

Older people find the screens really hard to read and have trouble with the surfacy keyboards.