Windows Recommendations Please

Fool Community Help Desk Help with this STUPID computer!
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A neighbor had issues with streaming. He had multiple WiFi issues which have been solved. He now has 500 mps or better over the entire house. This was dealt with over the last month.

Today he asked me to help with his computer which he noticed was slower than his iPad. The issue was bandwidth related – the capacity of his ancient computer. It is Windows 10 has minimal free disk space and has downloads speeds in the single digits.

Back in the dark ages, I dropped Windows 7 for Apple. Wow the Windows world has changed.

He wants some recommendations and I am hoping someone here will help.

My neighbor will browse the WWW, shop at Amazon, send email, exchange texts, use FaceBook and probably watch NetFlix movies. He currently has a desktop and a 27 inch HD display.

I would like to give him two options a display and desktop & display and a laptop. The computer needs to support decent WiFi and 4K. (I may be wrong, but I sense a 25 or 27 inch display plus a desk top cost will be the same range as a 16" laptop.) I don’t know about SSD size and Ram issues on the Windows side. On the Apple side I would say 512 GB for SSD and 8 or 12 GB of RAM.

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Is an Apple computer not acceptable to your friend? The use cases you listed will work just as well with MacOS. So a Mac Mini along with his existing monitor, or the new Mac Neo would suffice I think.

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Well that is an option I really did not consider. It would be a totally new interface and he is used to Outlook, Word and Excel - even if they are not use for more than a holiday address list or recording expenses.

That said - I will certainly add that option to the Windows 11 proposals.

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I’m curious what version of MS Office he’s running and what type of license of. MS Office is available for MacOS so at least that would make the experience more familiar.

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No idea of his software versions. I just saw those icons on his computer desktop. He is organized, so I feel it is reasonable to assume a desktop icon means it has use. He did say his computer is over 12 years old.

I would be very surprised if RC did not have purchased Office Versions. FYI the Mac versions are only subscription and the Family version my wife and I have (which include iOS and One Drive) costs over $100 a year.

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Office 2024 Home is available with no subscription for $179 from Amazon. And you can find it for much less elsewhere. But it’s missing Outlook.

Amazon.com: Microsoft Office Home 2024 | Classic Office Apps: Word, Excel, PowerPoint | One-Time Purchase for a single Windows laptop or Mac | Instant Download ?

And there’s a version with Outlook and Onenote too, for $250:

Googling will find several free or dirt cheap wys to get it, some of questionable legality.

But this thread mentions the older Office 2021 that you can buy legitimately for $100.

And here’s a way to get various versions on the cheap:

This seems legit from what I can see.

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Of course if they go with such an all new experience based on your recommendation you have signed up for providing their support. (As a Windows user I am always pleased when someone I know chooses a Mac, as I know I won’t be called upon for support.)

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