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Offline tipo33

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Computer for my Mum
« on: Fri, 21 February 2014, 15:49:23 »
So every 2 years or so I build a computer for my mum.  Every time I struggle, because I stopped using Windows around XPSP2 and I have no clue about the requirements, and what runs well.  I'm not on a budget, but my mum just needs Office, Skype, and a web browser.  Will the following run Windows 7 comfortably?
 
Antec ISK 300-150
ASRock FM2A78M-ITX+
AMD A4-5300
4 gigs of DDR3 I have lying around
a spare hard drive from a broken lappy ~500gigs

Thank you.
« Last Edit: Sat, 22 February 2014, 10:02:58 by tipo33 »
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Offline berserkfan

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Re: Computer for my Mum
« Reply #1 on: Fri, 21 February 2014, 16:19:17 »
If you are using a mac, get her a mac also. Everything solved.

I most certainly do not think Windows8 is an improvement on Windows7 or even WinXP.
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Offline user 18

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Re: Computer for my Mum
« Reply #2 on: Fri, 21 February 2014, 17:42:47 »
It ought to do just fine for running Win 7 -- but if all she's doing is web browsing, skype and office, you'd probably be better served by just reformatting the drive on the old machine, and reinstalling the OS -- makes everything fresh and snappy, clears out junk, and is much cheaper -- particularly if you'd be going to a new machine anyway.

What I would maybe recommend beyond even that is adding a SSD using the money you'd save from not doing a hardware upgrade. For the low-stress tasks, an SSD can make everything seem much smoother.

What's your reason for upgrading, other than the simple fact of it being 2 years later?
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Offline tricheboars

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Re: Computer for my Mum
« Reply #3 on: Fri, 21 February 2014, 18:26:17 »
Quote from: berserkfan on Fri, 21 February 2014, 16:19:17
If you are using a mac, get her a mac also. Everything solved.

I most certainly do not think Windows8 is an improvement on Windows7 or even WinXP.

Well apple machines are way way more expensive. So if it fits your budget do it if not... Nah.

As far as Windows 8 I really disagree. Windows 8 is fantastic for older folks if configured. I have it on my folks machine and they both really like it once they adjusted. Windows 8.1 is even better.

Your specs can run win 7 or win 8.1.  I have installed Windows 8.1 on 6 year old HP business boxes at work and they run perfectly fine.
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Offline fohat.digs

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Re: Computer for my Mum
« Reply #4 on: Fri, 21 February 2014, 18:29:05 »
I would say that your hardware looks entirely adequate.

Are you not specifying what keyboard you are providing? Shame!
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Offline tricheboars

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Re: Computer for my Mum
« Reply #5 on: Fri, 21 February 2014, 19:38:46 »
Clearly your mom also needs a realforce 87u or an ergodox!
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Offline rowdy

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Re: Computer for my Mum
« Reply #6 on: Sat, 22 February 2014, 04:23:03 »
Would a tablet of some sort, say an iPad, suffice?

Pages, Numbers and Keynote all run on iPad.  Also rumours of MS Office for iPad soonish.
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Offline tipo33

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Re: Computer for my Mum
« Reply #7 on: Sat, 22 February 2014, 09:44:12 »
I don't want to get her a Mac, I'm not a Mac user, I use *nix.  I guess I should have made that clear.  lol.  Thank you for all the answers, as far as reformatting her current machine, the last one I built her was a barebones Shuttle, and the 40mm PSU fan after 2 years service, drives my Mum CRAZY...  She complains about it ALL THE TIME.  She already owns a Rosewill with browns, so the KB issue is solved.  :D
Thank you for all the answers,  I will go ahead with this build and see how long it lasts.....
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Offline IvanIvanovich

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Re: Computer for my Mum
« Reply #8 on: Sun, 23 February 2014, 07:57:06 »
I would go with something like one of the new Atom Bay Trail quad ITX motherboard, with an ssd and a pico psu if the board dosen't have integrated power. Nothing nicer than a totally passive build with zero moving parts.
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Offline vun

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Re: Computer for my Mum
« Reply #9 on: Sun, 23 February 2014, 08:01:51 »
What I do these days when relatives and computer illiterate people ask for computer advice is to just tell them to buy an AIO system, or a laptop if they need something more mobile. No complaints so far.
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Offline IvanIvanovich

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Re: Computer for my Mum
« Reply #10 on: Sun, 23 February 2014, 08:09:31 »
I do similar, but not AIO... go for those little nettop boxes instead. That way they can keep the display through at least 2 iterations of systems typically and save some money. Since most of them can vesa mount you end up with a very similar foot print too. Most of them are barebones so you can at least pick the memory and ssd/hdd used as well which is nice, and often end up with better components for far less money.
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