Fool proof laptop

[Lentebriesje]

Hi everyone,

Before you move on to the request list. I think it's actually more clear if you just read the following paragraph to paint you a picture:

• 
  ■ The computer is for my dad.
  ■ He has no computer skills and I've given up trying to teach him computer skills because he does not care.
  ■ He's the kind of person to put all possible vista widgets on his homescreen. And i fully expect him to add them on the new laptop as well.
  ■ He needs at least a 15,6 inch screen because he'll have to do some web based graphics stuff.
  ■ I'd like to prolong the time required before a full system wipe due to all the nasty toolbars and stuff he will install.

He currently has a Dell vostro V131 (nice machine but underpowered). The vostro is great because it has none of that flashy dust attracting high gloss bullshit because it's a business laptop. That's highly appreciated.

1. What is your budget?

As much as is necessary, up to €800 probably

2. What is the size of the notebook that you are considering?

15.6

3. What screen resolution do you want?

720p (1080p if possible?)

4. Do you need a portable or desktop replacement laptop?

Portable

5. How much battery life do you need?

4 hours?

6. Do you want to play games with your laptop? If so then please list the games that you want to with the settings that you want for these games. (Low,Medium or High)?

None

7. What other tasks do you want to do with your laptop? (Photo/Video editing, Etc.)

Web based applications, text processing, excel.

8. How much storage (Hard Drive capacity) do you need?

250GB min

9. If you are considering specific sites to buy from, please post their links.

10. How long do you want to keep your laptop?

3 years?

11. What kind of Optical drive do you need? DVD ROM/Writer,Bluray ROM/Writer,Etc ?

DVD preferable, not necessary

12. Please tell us about the brands that you prefer to buy from them and the brands that you don't like and explain the reasons.

No acer.

13. What country do you live in?

The Netherlands.

14. Please tell us any additional information if needed.

Easy to maintain. Sturdy. "Brick"

 

[USAFRet]

There is no 'foolproof'.
However....

1. Once it is built and running, create a full disk image. Any of the current imaging/cloning tools can do this easily
Store this somewhere offline in case of future need.
2. Don't give him an admin account! Standard user, and he does not know the admin account password.

 

[Supporter]

^^^

 

[jaguarskx]

There is no such thing as a fool proof Windows or Mac OS laptop.

Probably the closest will be a ChromeBook since the operating system is basically a web browser.

 

[hang-the-9]

ChromeBook is a good idea although I don't know if they come in larger sizes, and will prevent most spyware from being installed. The need to do graphics work on it may hamper things a bit.

Tell him not to install anything unless he asks you first and make sure he knows how to do web searches and look for things he need properly. 90% of the issues I see is people trying to install simple stuff like Flash or Adobe Reader and instead of heading directly to Adobe's web site they do a web search and click on 10 different wrong links that install spyware.

 

[jaguarskx]

There are a few 15.6" Chromebooks like the following Acer. There is even a model with a Core i5-5200u CPU.

http://www.amazon.com/Acer-Chromebook-CB5-571-C09S-15-6-Inch-Full/dp/B00T03KQ34


The thing about parents (especially when they are over 60 years old) is that they generally tend to ignore you if you tell them not to do something which they have always done before.

 

[USAFRet]

The thing about parents (especially when they are over 60 years old) is that they generally tend to ignore you if you tell them not to do something which they have always done before.

Hey...I (almost) resemble that remark.

 

[jaguarskx]

So assuming you have children, would you ignore them if they tell you not to do something that you have always done in the past?

 

[USAFRet]

So assuming you have children, would you ignore them if they tell you not to do something that you have always done in the past?

I'd just give them the stink eye, and say 'yeah, right'.
However, in my family/extended family, I am the technonerd. It is always me saying "don't do that, bad things will happen".
And then they go do it, and the bad thing happens, and I have to fix it...lol.