Advice on Laptop for In-laws.

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3puttssuck

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#239693 30-Jul-2018 19:14

https://www.globalpc.co.nz/Computers/Laptops/Acer/Product-Specification-LP07483.aspx

The In-laws are looking to purchase a new Laptop and I have been tasked to do some research and come up with some possible choices. They are only going to use it for Web Browsing, emails, iPod syncing with iTunes and the odd bit of Word processing etc.
Budget is a little tight. It will spend 95% of it’s life at home, so weight & size is not that important.
Will the A4 chip in the above system be ok for their needs? I’m thinking it will be perfectly fine.
Any input / suggestions would be much appreciated.
TIA.

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#2065413 31-Jul-2018 08:41

Friends don't let friends buy Acer products...

I'm a geek, a gamer, a dad, a Quic user, and an IT Professional. I have a full rack home lab, size 15 feet, an epic beard and Asperger's. I'm a bit of a Cypherpunk, who believes information wants to be free and the Net interprets censorship as damage and routes around it. If you use my Quic signup you can also use the code R570394EKGIZ8 for free setup. Opinions are my own and not the views of my employer.

xpd

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#2065475 31-Jul-2018 09:55

I dont have a lot of love for Acer either, but do know they have improved over the years.

Spec wise, 8GB and SSD is good, but an A4 is a little lacking IMO. Id be looking for minimum i3/a8 - https://www.pbtech.co.nz/product/NBKTOS9203AB/Toshiba-Satellite-U920T-2in1-Hybrid-Ultrabook-125?type=ex-demo

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jonathan18

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#2065548 31-Jul-2018 10:58

Despite the relatively light load they'll put on the computer - going by what you say it'll be used for - I'd say a SSD is a must-have (as the one you link to does have); it's amazing how many still have a standard HDD (I guess it looks impressive that to have a 1TB drive?), but that's nearly a guarantee of a slow-as-heck PC in a year or two (especially if lower-spec CPU as well...).

The other thing I would suggest is seeing if you can find something with a 1080 screen, if that's possible within this budget - it's not only a matter of better quality for VOD etc, but simply a usability of Windows and a number of apps at a lower resolution makes for a not-so-pleasant experience.

wellygary

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#2065566 31-Jul-2018 11:27

+1 on the SSD, it will significantly improve the UX for years to come...

With the proliferation of Tablets etc, the expectation of "instant on" means that waiting for a PC with an HDD to boot seems like forever,

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#2065590 31-Jul-2018 12:42

We got our aging in-laws a laptop a few years back which they used, but often found frustrating and required a fair amount of support from us.

We subsequently bought them a nice iPad pro with a decent keyboard dock and they use that so much and rarely need to ask for help.

Just a thought!

Hammerer

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#2065664 31-Jul-2018 13:47

At this time of the year, I'd be waiting for the better sales at the end of the year.

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blackjack17

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#2065666 31-Jul-2018 13:50

What about something like this

https://www.pbtech.co.nz/product/NBKFUJ5473A/Fujitsu-Lifebook-E547-All-Day-Business-Laptop-14-1

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alasta

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#2065712 31-Jul-2018 15:33

Item:

We got our aging in-laws a laptop a few years back which they used, but often found frustrating and required a fair amount of support from us.

We subsequently bought them a nice iPad pro with a decent keyboard dock and they use that so much and rarely need to ask for help.

This.

My father has a Windows based system and has to pay a couple of hundred bucks several times a year for the repair man to come out and deal with all the weird software failures that randomly pop up. For people who aren't interested in tinkering with computers it's better to buy them something really simple.

gehenna

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#2065753 31-Jul-2018 16:00

My life has been infinitely better since my in-laws and mum got an iPad each.

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#2065758 31-Jul-2018 16:16

Personally, I would get an Intel i3 or i5 based laptop, with SSD and without NVidea graphics(in this case)
That laptop you linked to should be OK, but Ive always preferred Intel for laptops

Brand: the cheap stuff is all pretty much as good/bad as each other :just go for Toshiba, HP, Acer as they have a well established parts & service backing in NZ.

3puttssuck

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#2065835 31-Jul-2018 18:58

xpd:

I dont have a lot of love for Acer either, but do know they have improved over the years.

Spec wise, 8GB and SSD is good, but an A4 is a little lacking IMO. Id be looking for minimum i3/a8 - https://www.pbtech.co.nz/product/NBKTOS9203AB/Toshiba-Satellite-U920T-2in1-Hybrid-Ultrabook-125?type=ex-demo

They won't like the idea of "Ex- Demo"

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3puttssuck

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#2065837 31-Jul-2018 19:00

Item:

We got our aging in-laws a laptop a few years back which they used, but often found frustrating and required a fair amount of support from us.

We subsequently bought them a nice iPad pro with a decent keyboard dock and they use that so much and rarely need to ask for help.

Just a thought!

They do have an iPad but also want a Laptop for '"other" reasons also. I think an iPad is sufficient. But I do as I'm asked.

3puttssuck

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#2065838 31-Jul-2018 19:01

blackjack17:

What about something like this

https://www.pbtech.co.nz/product/NBKFUJ5473A/Fujitsu-Lifebook-E547-All-Day-Business-Laptop-14-1

Thanks for the link. It looks like what they need. I will take a trip tomorrow and check it out.

3puttssuck

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#2065839 31-Jul-2018 19:02

alasta:

Item:

We got our aging in-laws a laptop a few years back which they used, but often found frustrating and required a fair amount of support from us.

We subsequently bought them a nice iPad pro with a decent keyboard dock and they use that so much and rarely need to ask for help.

This.

My father has a Windows based system and has to pay a couple of hundred bucks several times a year for the repair man to come out and deal with all the weird software failures that randomly pop up. For people who aren't interested in tinkering with computers it's better to buy them something really simple.

Yep, that thought is in the back of my mind also.

timmmay

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#2065863 31-Jul-2018 20:26

Lenovo make solid laptops that I've found reliable. Get one with an SSD, or one you can put one in. I put an SSD into an E520 recently, it worked fine. I just reinstalled Windows and it picked up the license.

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