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Rivieraranch
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June 12th, 2006 19:00
Update for 80 year-old('s computer)
My 80 year-old mom has an 1999 vintage HP Pavillion #6736; 667 Mhz., 64MB SD ram, and a 20 GB Ultra DMA Hardrive. She is using Windows ME.
While this seemed adequate for her needs as she still uses dialup service, she is thinking of upgrading to DSL or cable service.
How much would the maximum memory for this machine cost along with a flat panel monitor, and an Windows XP operating system upgrade.
Would it be better for her to buy new equipment?
This is for writing letters, exchanging email, shopping online, etc.
Rivieraranch
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Posted June 12th, 2006 23:00
such as??By the time you spent the effort of time and money to upgrade that system, you would be better served to get one of the lower end Dimension models such as the B110. Right now that machine runs for $299 and there is now way you can upgrade the old machine for that price.
True it does come with a Celeron processor, but that is perfect for your mom with her e-mailing and word processing tasks.
- Rivereraranch (SP?)
Pay the extra $100 and get the 1 GB RAM
After going from 128 MB HP to 1 GB Gateway, when I suggested a computer for my 82-year-old mother I went with $850 system Windows Media Edition plus $150 3-year warranty and my brother bought the 19-inch flat-panel monitor which, last September, was probably another $400 to $500
She is very happy with her system and still uses dial-up.
I would NOT suggest for someone her age a system with 256MB
In my opinion (after several years at the campus I support) 512MB is borderline and, personally, woefully inadequate. I would not run anything less than 1 GB RAM. - I mean 1 GB for the new system, not Windows Me edition.
My own personal experience is that it is not in any program running but in the startup (instant, so to speak)that I advocate a minimum of 1 GB.
I myself am approaching age 62 and can affirm that by the time someone reaches 80 to 82 years of age, the last thing they need to be doing is waiting for Bill Gate$ to wake up the computer. Life is (literally) too very precious for the living.
Of course I am saying that when for almost 14 years I did all my family and personal financial record keeping on a 48K TRS-80 Model III with two 160 KB 5-inch floppy drives for all my operating system, software and data. Of course I would just go off and build a house or something while loading or saving my program (filled with data statements).
bacillus
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Posted June 12th, 2006 21:00