My gparents had a crappy laptop and they were getting another one but I asked do they use portability and they don't so I recommended a desktop and they were very happy of it. Moreover, if they don't move it a lot, ask if they wanted a desktop e.g. In addition, because they are that old, 13' screen would likely be too small for them so bigger the better IMO.

Don't push them too much to buy a Mac though. I would ask them what they want and maybe show them your Mac as well (how it works etc). It's very light and easy to use and free. I downloaded AVG free for my gparents and it's okay if they just surf (no need for anti-virus actually if you surf on well-known sites). Windows 7 is great OS as well, very simple and fast. Even though OS X is VERY easy to use, they may find it hard if they've never used it. Components cost 320€ and it runs W7 flawlessly. I built my grandparents (68 and 74 years old) a desktop PC with Windows 7 and they absolutely love it and have no problems with it. Thanks for any advice or similar tales of woe. The overhead of virus guards etc is a bit of a pain in the neck - does Windows 7 make that easier for non-techy folk to maintain?Īny one got a recommendation for what an 65yr+ parent would be able to get their head around? The Picasa thing isn't a deal breaker, I assume they'd be able to use iPhoto easy enough. If it's marginal, I'd likely go with the cheaper Windows option. Price isn't a major consideration if the Macbook is an easy winner.

They are pretty computer illiterate, but not totally daft. Am torn between which upgrade path to take for them. I use Macs, and find them pretty straight-forward for the basics they would use. Options I guess are Macbooks, or Windows 7 laptop. They just surf, use iTunes, and organise photos (currently with Picasa). I'd like to upgrade them to something a bit more speedy - and EASY to use. They've both got pretty clunky 5yr old Acer laptops, XP, grinding to a halt each time I tried to tidy up their iTunes libraries, get album art or just clear some space of the HDD. Just spent a torrid weekend with my parents who have both recently got iPod Touches.

Download picasa for macbook pro