They're effectively impervious to viruses (though not phishing, so make sure Mom and Dad know what to watch for).(Not school seniors, mind you the elder kind.) These are some of the advantages: Just as Chromebooks can be great systems for students, so do they work well for seniors. The Asus Chromebook Flip is one example of a computer that might be ideal for aging parents. Read more: Tired of dealing with a slow PC? Here are 6 steps to fix it yourselfĪll this adds up to my overwhelming preference: Instead of steering your parents to a new PC, steer them to a Chromebook or tablet-keyboard combo. Meanwhile, if you choose a system with a traditional hard drive rather than a solid-state drive, Windows will still be pretty slow to boot and shut down. And all the little idiosyncrasies that can cause confusion, like the sign-in screen, Windows updates and Microsoft's utterly perplexing OneDrive integration. Blue screens of death, which are rare but still happen.

Maybe throw a simple word processor into that mix. Indeed, most retirees want things like email, Facebook, basic web browsing and - if they're anything like my dad - solitaire. It's overkill, especially considering the relatively modest needs of older users. My advice: Forget the traditional Windows-powered desktop or laptop. The best PC for older parents: Something other than a PC? Whatever the situation, you may find yourself wondering what's the best PC to buy for aging parents, or to recommend they buy for themselves. Or perhaps Mom or Dad never really bothered with a computer, but now wants to look at grandkid photos, participate in family Zoom meetings and all that. So let's say you've got a parent struggling with an older computer, one that 'takes 10 minutes to start up' or won't connect to the printer or maybe even has a virus. Read more: This is hands-down the easiest way to remotely fix a Mac during quarantine That's frustrating for them, of course, but also for me, because it's difficult to offer assistance from afar. Although they've owned and used computers for decades, modern technology seems to cause them more and more confusion. I'm seeing this firsthand with my own parents, who are both in their 80s. These generations simply didn't have the benefit of growing up surrounded by screens, and they may have specific challenges associated with age. What's the best computer for an older person, someone in their 60s, 70s, 80s or beyond? That's a tricky question, and it's not meant to suggest that elderly users are somehow limited in their skills or capabilities.

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