[Mastrap]

My dad, who has just turned 70 and is a technophobe, wants to buy a laptop. Now, a MacBook is not an option for him, for a whole slew of reasons. His main concern is that neither me nor my brother live anywhere near enough to supply tech support. I am not prepared to go the remote access route with his, he knows too little to set it up. On the other hand he is friends with a neighbor who knows all about PCs and will set him up, make sure he uses Firefox and keep his PC virus free. So a PC it is.

Here's what he wants to do:

He wants to get broadband and wireless internet so he can read the news in the living room and do his work in the study. He'll use the machine almost exclusively for email and web access, MS Word and maybe Quicken or similar. My mum will use the machine occasionally to enquire why my wife and I aren't parents yet and to look at our flickr albums.

Dad has told me that he is thinking about a Dell. I know next to nothing about PC laptops and would really appreciate some suggestions. Please don't go the XP on Macbook route, he isn't prepared to go there.

[milhous]

Thinkpad T-series. Dell offers the latest and greatest, but I'd take a Thinkpad over a Dell notebook anyday.

[mitchell_pgh]

Originally Posted by Mastrap

a MacBook is not an option for him, for a whole slew of reasons.

MacBook Pro?

[mduell]

Dell (Latitude line) or Lenovo (ThinkPad line)

[bailey_jatt]

i would put my vote with dell. their tech support has been simply incredible so far. my laptop gets repaired and is back with me frm the depot in 4 days at the most, or if i need a part it reaches in two days straight.. compared to what i have seen from best buy/hp/compaq support/ etc..

[Rumor]

Originally Posted by bailey_jatt

i would put my vote with dell. their tech support has been simply incredible so far.

If you speak Hindi. I have an Inspiron 600m at work. The bluetooth doesn't work anymore and everytime I call, I can't understand a thing they say. I try the online route and it seems like they using cut and paste from a manual.

[bailey_jatt]

thats true.. their tech support reps are the worst i think. i actually think they speak from a manual or something..but the thing is be patient and once your point is across then the thing's take place reall fast..
i normally humour myself by following their instructions for a while and then tell them it didnt work. So they simply say that your laptop has to goto the depot and voila 4 days later a clean, serviced laptop is back with me

[PurpleGiant]

While I too wouldn't know where to start with a PC laptop, my trusted PC-Geek friend highly recommends the Lenovo Thinkpad R Series.

[PurpleGiant]

And here's a link the series on the Canadian site:

http://caipsgws001.can.ibm.com/store...amp;aud=LENOVO

[n8236]

Lenovo

[goMac]

Originally Posted by Mastrap

On the other hand he is friends with a neighbor who knows all about PCs and will set him up, make sure he uses Firefox and keep his PC virus free. So a PC it is.

Here is my frank opinion on converting my far away grandparents to the Mac:

There is no support.

[neverskatewsandles]

Isn't this a mac forum???

[Mastrap]

Originally Posted by neverskatewsandles

Isn't this a mac forum???

This is the lounge. Relax.

[waxcrash]

Originally Posted by Mastrap

My dad, who has just turned 70 and is a technophobe, wants to buy a laptop. Now, a MacBook is not an option for him, for a whole slew of reasons. His main concern is that neither me nor my brother live anywhere near enough to supply tech support. I am not prepared to go the remote access route with his, he knows too little to set it up. On the other hand he is friends with a neighbor who knows all about PCs and will set him up, make sure he uses Firefox and keep his PC virus free. So a PC it is.

I'd get him a MacBook. All those reason are why he should be using a Mac.

1. Dad is a technophobe.

2. Dad knows too little to set it up - Macs are like Ronco's Rotisserie, "Set it and forget it." Setup his e-mail, wireless network, install the software he needs and he's done. No worry about viruses, etc.

3. He has a friend who uses a PC and will set him up. Wouldn't you trust yourself setting up your dad over a neighbor? What happens when your dad's computer is fried from a virus and needs Windows reinstalled and the neighbor is on vacation? If he had a MacBook, this wouldn't be an issue.

4. Your dad's neighbor will make sure he uses Firefox and keep his PC virus free. Unless your dad's neighbor is on your dad's back every time he uses a computer, I highly doubt it.

[tavilach]

Originally Posted by waxcrash

I'd get him a MacBook. All those reason are why he should be using a Mac.

1. Dad is a technophobe.

2. Dad knows too little to set it up - Macs are like Ronco's Rotisserie, "Set it and forget it." Setup his e-mail, wireless network, install the software he needs and he's done. No worry about viruses, etc.

3. He has a friend who uses a PC and will set him up. Wouldn't you trust yourself setting up your dad over a neighbor? What happens when your dad's computer is fried from a virus and needs Windows reinstalled and the neighbor is on vacation? If he had a MacBook, this wouldn't be an issue.

4. Your dad's neighbor will make sure he uses Firefox and keep his PC virus free. Unless your dad's neighbor is on your dad's back every time he uses a computer, I highly doubt it.

You people never give up! People said the same stuff when I was trying to find my sister a laptop, and I too insisted that a Mac was not an option. Mastrap knows how easy Macs are to set up. He's on a Mac forum! He gets it! Why the nauseating promotion?

[Mastrap]

If I'd live anywhere near my dad's house (hint - he's in Europe, I am not) then I'd get him a Macbook today and he'd be happy with it. As it stands that is not an option.

I've spoken to him yesterday and recommended a ThinkPad.

[tkmd]

wait til leopard comes out. The new version of iChat will allow you to control his mouse. This is what I'm waiting for for my dad. I't will save my hair from falling out from giving PC people tech support over the phone. Man the agony and the frustration ....

[Rob van dam]

Have you thought about an asus laptop.