a computer for 75YO setup?

[HeyKitty]

So a tad back story.  I now teach private computer lessons, and one of the people I teach is my old piano teacher, who still teaches some people I know FOR FREE, she is super sweet (blah blah blah) and her computer is an old 2004ish desktop. talking 2gigs DDR2, single core intel CPU, got a big ole box monitor, and the cheap $15 keyboard that comes with the bundle. it takes her internet 30 minutes to load (28 timed for facebook) though I can load it on my laptop using her internet in under 5 seconds.  or more relelvent I guess, MSword takes 2 minutes to start...  ive already cleaned and uninstalled pretty much everything from the computer that isnt needed.  It's just old.

 

 

I'd like to keep prices under $200 total. I'm all over craigslist, but would like some ideas.

So things Id like to get her:

a larger monitor, doesnt need to be high-res or pretty, just need fonts larger without making everything all messed up.

She already wants a mechanical keyboard (she likes the type-writer feel (I brought my cherry MXblues keyboard one week))

and then the actual computer with 4GB+ and at least a dual core... though prices may not allow that..

 

so yeah,  any help with building a super cheap computer (or getting a pre-built) would be absolutly great, I've built 3 custom PCs, but those were $600, 800, 2,000. just for the tower, so this is a little rougher for me.

[Aniallation]

I'd like to keep prices under $200 total. I'm all over craigslist, but would like some ideas.

So things Id like to get her:

a larger monitor, doesnt need to be high-res or pretty, just need fonts larger without making everything all messed up.

She already wants a mechanical keyboard (she likes the type-writer feel (I brought my cherry MXblues keyboard one week))

and then the actual computer with 4GB+ and at least a dual core... though prices may not allow that..

 

An AMD 5350 system with an SSD.

[Fate]

Just get a super cheap pre-built PC and throw a 60/128GB ssd in there.

[HeyKitty]

An AMD 5350 system with an SSD.

thank ya, I'm %100 intel, so AMD is a tad confusing, but for this particular build, I feel AMD is the way to go simply because price is such a big deal.

 

Just get a super cheap pre-built PC and throw a 60/128GB ssd in there.

I am hoping to get an SSD in the build, she has no use for 128GB, her current computer, after being hand-me-downed from her daughter still has less than 80GB used! (oh, feel I should mention its running win7) so 64GBish would probably be a good one!

 

 

Im still having a bloody hard time finding a super cheap-o mechanical keyboard. any suggestions on how to acquire that?

[Aniallation]

thank ya, I'm %100 intel, so AMD is a tad confusing, but for this particular build, I feel AMD is the way to go simply because price is such a big deal

Fanboys 

 

The PC alone could be done for $200, but keyboard and monitor added on will bring up cost by a lot.

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU: Intel Celeron G1820 2.7GHz Dual-Core Processor  ($47.98 @ OutletPC) 

Motherboard: MSI H81M-P33 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($27.99 @ Newegg) 

Memory: Team Elite 4GB (1 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($31.99 @ Newegg) 

Storage: A-Data Premier Pro SP600 128GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($59.99 @ Amazon) 

Case: Topower TP-1687BB-300 (Black/White) MicroATX Desktop Case w/300W Power Supply  ($29.98 @ OutletPC) 

Total: $197.93

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-11-22 11:17 EST-0500

 

I am hoping to get an SSD in the build, she has no use for 128GB, her current computer, after being hand-me-downed from her daughter still has less than 80GB used! (oh, feel I should mention its running win7) so 64GBish would probably be a good one!

But the price gap between 64GB and 128GB SSDs is very small.

[WereCat]

I think that this new HP notebook with Windows 8.1 for around $200 would be best option.

HP Stream 11 it is called I believe.

[HeyKitty]

I think that this new HP notebook with Windows 8.1 for around $200 would be best option.

HP Stream 11 it is called I believe.

I like it, though she doesnt like her rubber dome keyboard, and I highly doubt she'll like a laptop keyboard.  and im worried that the screen is to small.  I was looking into getting one for myself though!

 

Fanboys 

 

The PC alone could be done for $200, but keyboard and monitor added on will bring up cost by a lot.

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU: Intel Celeron G1820 2.7GHz Dual-Core Processor  ($47.98 @ OutletPC) 

Motherboard: MSI H81M-P33 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($27.99 @ Newegg) 

Memory: Team Elite 4GB (1 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($31.99 @ Newegg) 

Storage: A-Data Premier Pro SP600 128GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($59.99 @ Amazon) 

Case: Topower TP-1687BB-300 (Black/White) MicroATX Desktop Case w/300W Power Supply  ($29.98 @ OutletPC) 

Total: $197.93

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-11-22 11:17 EST-0500

 

But the price gap between 64GB and 128GB SSDs is very small.

 

yes, I am an intel fanboy though not the point.

 

thanks for that build, I'll have to look into it!  I didnt think the whole thing would be possible under $200, but was hoping that someone here could prove me wrong. because I often am

[WereCat]

I like it, though she doesnt like her rubber dome keyboard, and I highly doubt she'll like a laptop keyboard.  and im worried that the screen is to small.  I was looking into getting one for myself though!

I'm afraid that for $200 she is expecting too much. PC alone can be done but keyboard, mouse, monitor will be at least another $100-$150

[HeyKitty]

I'm afraid that for $200 she is expecting too much. PC alone can be done but keyboard, mouse, monitor will be at least another $100-$150

well I was hoping $200 (its a gift to her)  I just want something she can use for email/facebook/her churches videos/she wants to write piano music on it too.  (she cant always make it.)