I want to buy a computer for my parents. They're both in their 70s. Most of what they do is spend time on the internet. I don't even know whether to go with Windows or Mac. I've found that there are many advantages to using the internet on Windows. Plus, Macs are more expensive. Same old debate.

On the other hand, I don't know anything about the latest Windows OS. My folks were running Windows XP on a HP laptop that my brother gave them free, his old one, about four years ago. I learned it because of the many times I had to go to their house to fix their computer.

I thought that Windows PCs are sooo much cheaper, but when I looked, those budget PCs are cheap for a reason.

Any ideas?

I cannot comment whether or not the Windows machine is better as an internet machine as I have never owned one. When the Mac came out in 1984 I got my first one and the rest is history. However, I can say that I can't imagine what more it would need it to do for me on the internet.

That may be the same for your parents. Make sure you don't insert into the equation your idea of internet performance if it may not make any difference to your parents. It seems to me the trade-offs may be too great.



You may have addressed your own concern. It's not like you're going to be buying a lot of Macs. This may be the only one you need to buy....so that's a consideration.

Also, if I were you, I'd look to an Apple refurbished machine which will be less expensive. They're as good as new and come with the same warranties. I have bought many and have never been disappointed.


And just how much is it worth to avoid having that headache? I believe this is where I get to use the old saw "The defense rests."

If it's only for the browsing (eg, no intimate financial stuff), then you could go for economical solutions. A PC doesn't have to run Internet Explorer, just as a Mac doesn't have to use Safari. [Note subtle plug for Firefox.]

However, if your folks decide they like futzing around on the Internet and want to become more adventuresome (eg, do shopping or online banking), then a Mac running Firefox (or Safari) would probably be in their best interests, not to mention far more intuitive in operation.

Edit: And I concur with all of ryck's comments.

If surfing is the primary mission, then I would consider getting them each an iPad; easy-peasy. I presume you can set up the wifi (with a range extender or two if required) and install the few requisite apps.

After that, all is on autopilot.

Of course they would have to be(come) comfortable with all the hand/finger contortions required to make the thing do their bidding (without freaking them out or frustrating their attempts to use it).

I still find the iPad exasperating to use, even more so the iPhone: even on simple tasks I manage inadvertently to quit/switch apps, make things disappear, etc etc. However, I'm using someone else's iPs and then only intermittently.
I have no need or desire for such devices — certainly not given their initial price and then the outrageous costs to use/maintain them, not to mention having to shlep around a bunch of cables/chargers. Why should I be a Sherpa to something which is supposed to do my bidding?
(Keep in mind that I am also an aficionado of tin cans and a taut connecting string over the telephone. )

I thought about the ipad and ruled it out. I'm flabbergasted that so many people like them. I find them awkward and frustrating to use. I don't like the closed system. I don't like the tradeoff between privacy and convenience. I don't like the OS.

I've used Firefox on Windows XP. It seems faster than on my Mac. And that's wifi. For whatever reason, it seems like the PC is better for internet use.

I want to get something local from a store, not online. There aren't many options. I'm looking at the Dell Inspiron 3000 Intel Core i3 w/Windows 8.1 from Best Buy. They'll always have someone to call for help. They won't have to return anything through the mail. It's cheap and fast.

Assuming that this is the machine, it's well-reviewed, but the OS takes a hit in the one-star reviews, and, indeed, Windows 8 and 8.1 are among the step-children of the MS line with only about a 14% share.

And you posed your original question because………?

Just looking for responses. I'm not certain about any of these, if there are good reasons to be swayed.

I've read about people being unhappy with 8/8.1, but it looks like the kind of thing Mac users complain about. I'm on 10.6 and I love it. I've only used XP, so I can't judge the other Windows systems. I thought maybe someone here had an idea.

Most of all I want a solid Wifi connection. Some PCs have Wifi built in; others you need to add an adapter that looks like a flash drive. Mom calls me to tell me the connection is down, but by the time I get there, it has mysteriously connected again. I've done everything I know. It just looks like voodoo to me.

That has almost everything to do with your parent's internet service provider and their modem. It has very little to do with the manufacturer of the hardware or the operating system in use other than Windows well known vulnerability to viruses which can can mess things up or slow things way down because the PC is being used to distribute spam, viruses, or porn without their knowledge.

And that is probably the best reason NOT to get a PC and to opt for a Mac!

Yep. For people not knowledgable about computer security and who might be duped by emails that say "Your credit card order for $2,245 for two round trip tickets from New York to Hawaii has been approved, TO CONTEST THIS CHARGE CLICK HERE" or "Your Amazon account has been locked, to verify your information download and run the attached file," I would recommend a Mac.

One consideration only just hinted at in your discussion so far.....remote IT service by phone from afar. You talked about having to go to their house and physically intervene with the Windows laptop, just think about having to continue to do the same function with an iMac and software that you already know intimately instead.

You know they are going to have issues, so why not make it simpler and easier for all parties.

FWIW, I "road-tested" this concept with my wife's Mom in Kingman, Arizona a number of years ago (when we still lived in San Diego, only 7 hours' drive away)....started her with an XP laptop, and could NOT keep her running remotely when she had issues. Gave her an iMac nearly five years ago (shortly after we moved to the central Oregon Coast) and have been able to successfully keep her up and running through all issues encountered, both hardware and software, from as far away as Afghanistan via Skype. The only physical trip to fix an issue was when her internal hard drive got corrupted....I mailed her a new external drive complete with OS to tide her over until the following month when I could get there from Oregon to recover her files and resurrect the internal hard drive. Now she has a Time Machine external backup for next time.....

Just a thought for your consideration.

Interesting. Great idea.

I'll move this to another forum soon: the biggest problem has been Wifi dropouts. I don't think that's solvable.

What do you think about a Chromebox? I've never heard of one.

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2454797,00.asp

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2459361,00.asp

Caveat emptor. And the PC Mag review says it all.

It looks snazzy and the price is a grabber, but it's still pretty much an unknown entity, especially the security history of its Chrome-based OS.

The Chrome browser likewise is sketchy from various accounts.

Most important and negative, you're locked into whatever Google dictates you can use, which eliminates most apps you're familiar with in systems using Mac OS or Windows.

I'm not a big fan of these closed systems.

Oh, for the days of my drawbridge blue and white…

I chose a Dell Inspiron 3000 with an Intel i5 for $500 from Officemax. Looks like a good choice. Going from XP to 8.1 was a huge improvement.