I think if your computer is 5 years old, as mine is, it's getting pretty near it's limits and probably will have to be replaced within a year.

I would give him yours. The technical support you think he will need from the vendor will be little to no help if he has a problem. All they'll do is tell him to reinstall something and that will confuse him more. You'll be his tech support. If he has a problem and is using your old machine, he can call you and you'll know how to help him. And if he does somehow break it or hates using a PC, no huge deal.

And then you can get yourself a nice new powerful machine which you'll know how to take care of. Apple's are as annoying and problem prone as Windows PC's from our experience.

Just my opinion, but that's what I would do.

From what your said;

I think it would be wise to avoid celeron processors which are the least expensive cpu's.

Add a very large 2nd hard drive.

Get one with either a premium graphic card, or any digital graphic card if you go with digital flat panel, as opposed to an analog flat panel or crt.

You'll want the option of the dvd/cd burner.

Above stuff helps you out on your DVD downloads and burnings. 2gb memory is nice, 1gb will work, just not as snappy.

Probably go to dell business and look at those lower end mini towers and find one that fits your wants.

I went to Dell and got an Optiplex 745 Intel Core 2 with 3 gb and a decent hard-drive. Got a good graphic card, 19"flat panel with XP Pro and Office 07. It cost me approx $1,200.00 with 3-yr warranty. I didn't want Vista because of software problems. If you don't need Office, you can save even more.

I would look at their business machines. They don't load them with junk (mine came with nothing)and it seems you get more 'bang for your buck.'

What ever you decide to do,
you mite want to take a look at the software link below.
I haven't used the software and know very little about it.
But it does sound promising.

Pooh Bear

Here is a link that might be useful: Deep Freeze computer protection.

Hee hee, mes is correct in that you will be his tech support. Once you get used to that idea be sure to load Skype on both computers and buy 2 Logitech headsets. Then he can call from the computer and you can walk him through his issues while you check yours for the correct moves. Unless he lives in the same house, then you just walk over and point him in the right direction.

Classes are good if the teacher is good but you only move as fast as the slowest learner. This may be great in his case. But if the class is expensive it can be bypassed and go the hands on route that most folks seem to use. Google can be his friend. Remember too, he or you can always come here asking for help.

If you live anywhere near an Apple Store, go there. They can show you how they work and answer your questions about how they're different from the PC's you're familiar with. Everything they offer is there, up and running, and you can play with it.

You can walk out of the store with a 20" iMac plus modem plus MS Works plus three years of support for about $1,500.00. Easy to learn, stable and proven OS, no bugs, no crap-ware. At home, you'll be up and running and on-line in an hour. If you want mo/betta/fasta, you can spend more but I think you may find this is all you need for your novice's intentions. If you must stay with PC/Windows, please disregard.

FWIW...I switched in June of '06 and have been very pleased compared with more than a decade of PC/Windows hassles with various machines. Machine is as fast/smooth today as the first time I plugged it in. No maintenance. It takes care of itself.

Hi...sorry I took so long to respond. :-)

mes444...Not sure I want to be his 'sole' avenue for tech support. [g] Especially on a machine that I have no warranty on and then I have no where to go if he has a problem I am not able to troubleshoot. Maybe you are more computer confident than I am. Why would you say Apples are annoying and hv problems too? I had not heard that about them.

mikie...yes, we had planned on upgrading out of the celeron processor, having heard in the past they were not so great. Why do you recommend a very large 2nd hard drive? The mini towers are desktops right? We are set on getting a notebook. So evidently on the list of things we plan on using the computer for, downloading DVDs would require more than the lower end computer offers then?

Jane...Sounds like you bought a nice configuration on your machine. We would also go with the extended warranty and already deciding to stay away from Vista. We also don't need Office. We will take a closer look at the business machines.

Thanks for that link poohbear...looks interesting.

owbist...we live in the same house, so I guess we can go with the 'lo tech' way. lol Nice idea about the headphones though, I am going to look into that Skype. Yes, glad to have this forum to ask questions on.

asolo...we do have an Apple store nearby and planning on looking into it. We looked at their website and they are offering $1,000. systems, which I didn't think they had any systems in that price range. Of course that is with one year warranty only. So I am sure it won't end up that price. They do offer tech support at the store too and classes, so we are going to check it out.

I always have steered away from Apple, because people warned me about software compatibility problems..but I thought they had Apple versions of all the software? Plus, I am now on my 4th computer and I rarely add another piece of software once I get my computer, so everything that comes with the original machine should be compatible, right? So what is the drawbacks of going with Apple?

The latest CReports shows the Apple to need more repairs then all other manufacturers, did you see that? I was surprised by that. But their tech support is supposed to be very good.

The reason I felt Apple was overrated and not really any better than Win computers is because we bought our daughter a top of the line Mac Book Pro about one year ago. First the keys started falling off the keyboard, then the DVD player quit. The lid squeaked whenever opened. She has the extended warranty and they have been very nice about repairing everything, but for the excessive price they charge, the concurrent quality is not there.

Then we had the problems of transferring Win. things onto it. Had to download all sorts of programs to have the Apple use old Win documents, etc. And there are a number of sites and programs not available to the mac.

And yes, I am a tech head and know my Win machines well enuf to keep them running. But the Apple is different, and if you plan to help him, and you will even tho you don't want to, having a whole different operating system to deal with will annoy you greatly.

That is why I said what I did about Apple. They're pretty and cool, but if you don't need the cool factor, stay with Windows.

mes444...thanks so much. I really appreciate your thoughtful response. It helps to hear what happened with the machine your daughter just bought last year.

Then you pointed out two things I would not have thought of...
Not being able to use Window documents without hassles..wow, that is a big one to me. Plus you are so right, I will end up trying to help him and then I won't know his operating system. I didn't think of that at all.

Glad I asked here, you all have given us lots of great information that helps to decide. More work to do I can see. Guess this isn't going to be as quick a decision as we were hoping for.

Thanks
pm2

FWIW...moving between to OS's can, indeed, be a nuisance. Agree should be a factor.

I've yet to encounter a Windows document that wouldn't move across quite intact. My 15+-year accumulation of them from three different Windows OS's transferred quickly and easily when I got the new iMac. Don't know what "all sorts of programs" MES444 was referring to as beging required to do this. MS Office handles everything for me. Seamless. And I swap documents with my PC friends all the time.

For me "cool factor" has nothing to do with it. It's the first computer I've ever owned (number 7, as I recall) that does what is supposed to ALL the time, doesn't break, and doesn't require regular maintenance. No regristry. No bugs. Nothing. Just sits here and runs.

asolo...So are you saying that you can transfer files/documents/photos/programs from a Windows based PC to your iMac and you don't have to do anything special to do it? No other program or download necessary to do it? Is it only in the Office program that this is true?

If that is true, than what about viruses, trojans, spyware? Does it make any difference if you are wireless? Does your computer have to have a firewall?

You have had 7 different computers? Just out of curiosity, does that mean you buy new every couple of years? Which brands have you tried over the years?

Prairiemoon perhaps you should start at the other end of the spectrum. Rather than check all makes why not select a model or two and then Google them to see if there are other forums where this has been discussed because of problems. Many vendors web sites allow the opportunity to grade and/or review computers, you might look for those also.

All manufacturers have gone through periods of building good and not so good computers. Right now HP and Toshiba have good products. Acer have improved their monitors and possibly computers in recent times. Lenovo, previously IBM but now owned by a Chinese company, seem to build better computers. Dell seems high on the list of better companies of late, the complaints there seem to be with tech support after a purchase.

Settle for the fact that you probably will not buy exactly what you want because you do not really know at this point. Only some time after your purchase will you perhaps think there might have been a couple of things that could have been different. We have all been there and done that. LOL, it is called 'gaining experience'

"....transfer files/documents/photos/programs from a Windows based PC to your iMac..."

File/documents/photos....yes. Programs...no. Programs are written for specific OS's. Windows programs won't run on Macs nor Macs on Windows. Macs come with iLife suite of programs included. To that I added MS Works for Mac for $100.00 that handles all the windows documents. There are programs for Windows that aren't available for Macs. And they're not competitve machines for serious gaming.

"...viruses, trojans, spyware..."

Macs don't get them. Firewall comes with the system. I've been up and running for 16 months and I'm on the net all the time. No bugs of any kind. My PC's required multiple programs to prevent infection and each to those programs themselves had to be regularly maintained and updated.

I've had one computer or another for almost twenty years, now. Custom-builts, AST, Toshiba, Dell, Gateway, HP.....but all MS-based based machines running Dos, Win95, Win98, WinXP until present iMac. Business and personal use. Except for present iMac each and every machine has been a pain to maintain and keep operating. Even without bugs the registry clogs itself up over time as does the HD. My iMac doesn't even have a registry. The HD maintains itself.