New Windows Laptop for Older Adult

March 11, 2023 8:58 AM

I would appreciate windows laptop recommendations for a senior relative to use for internet browsing and writing. She only wants a laptop, not a chromebook/tablet. The budget is $1000 for a new machine.

I need to purchase a new windows laptop for a senior relative. She has been using a Dell for the last few years that is now very slow.
She wants a laptop, not a chromebook/tablet. The budget is $1000 and we will only buy new. She uses it for internet browsing and writing word documents. Every now and again she zooms so it should have a built in camera. A 14' or larger is ideal. She is not computer savvy, so nothing complicated. (I will set it up and be able to help her with it for a few days when I visit.)
Any suggestions are appreciated, thank you.

posted by fies to Computers & Internet (4 answers total)

I bought this Lenovo last year and have been really pleased. Well below your $1000 budget. I think I paid ~$750 and it has been great. Not one complaint and more than enough to do the simple tasks you've described.
posted by XtineHutch at 9:26 AM on March 11, 2023

This is not a specific laptop recommendation, but if you happen to be a Costco member, I will say I had a good experience with Costco's "Concierge" tech support that they include with laptop purchases, when setting up a laptop for an older relative. We had an issue and I was stumped, my relative was stumped, the support guy worked it out.
posted by BungaDunga at 9:30 AM on March 11, 2023 [2 favorites]

IMHO, a larger screen would help here, rather than light weight. Dell's Inspiron 16 series has 16 inch screens and should be priced at about $700-800 or so. You can save another 50-150 if you buy a refurbished one from their outlet.
posted by kschang at 11:39 AM on March 11, 2023 [1 favorite]

I will offer the advice that the most reliable laptop winner seems to change every few years. BungaDunga's advice seems really useful. I am getting older and have been intimately obsessed with technology for a while, but am finding that it's not that I'm not smart enough to figure out problems, but that I can't piss away any more time going down tech support rabbit holes.
posted by mecran01 at 12:32 PM on March 11, 2023 [1 favorite]