New PC for my 76 yo mother - need opinion on Dell Zino from you tech-types

Ea · 01-01-2010, 10:03 AM

It's been years since I last bothered with hardware specs, but now I'm looking for something for my mother (who's 76) who has a 6-7 year old computer. With a - I think - Celeron processor (I don't know exactly how fast - slow! - it is*), but I know it has only 256 MB RAM. I guess I could add RAM, but at best that would still only be a band-aid until it inevitably would need to be replaced. Anyhow, I don't live in their neighborhood and generally would prefer not to have to mess too much with other people's computer hardware.

So a new computer it should be. My mother's needs are primarily Internet, email, Word and so on. No gaming, no media files - except she sometimes will watch a DVD - a few varied applications (local and Internet).

I've had a look at one of Dell's new mini-desktops; the Inspiron Zino. I've had good experience with Dell so far, and it has a good price tag, too. I just wondered whether or not it's worth it to upgrade from the basic specs of the processor and RAM. The OS will be Windows 7 Home. My own opinion is that, at length, RAM is more important than processor power. I would expect that this computer should last at least the next 6-7 years.

Processor:
AMD Athlon 2650e (512K L2, 1.6GHz)
or
AMD Athlon 2850e (512K, L2, 1.8GHz) - adds 5% to the initial base price (adds 150 DKK to the initial 2990 DKK)
or
AMD X2 3250E, 1,5 GHz, 512 KB - adds 10% to the base price. The next and final option will add 30% to the price (too much).

Memory
2GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 800MHz- 2 DIMM
or
3GB DDR2 SDRAM at 800MHz- 2 DIMM - adds 12% to the initial base price. If I go up to 4GB RAM it'll add almost double of this amount.

Do you think it's worth upgrading any of the options from the base option?

* I actually do know how slow it is - glacial speed.

Mitch G · 01-01-2010, 11:09 AM

Personally, I would upgrade to the X2 processor ($65 more) to get the dual cores. And I agree with your premise that you can never have too much RAM.

Also, if you never set up a computer for a relative before, be sure to set up a way to remotely manage her computer before giving her the machine.
Personally, I find "Crossloop" (google it) to be a useful tool since it doesn't require setting up your mom's firewall or anything. But befsure to install it beforehand (and even test it out a bit so you can see how it works from both ends). Then when she calls with a problem, you can have her start it up and take over from there.
(I assume she'll have some level of broadband connection and not dial up).

Mitch

Ea · 01-01-2010, 01:26 PM

Thank you! I'm leaning towards the dual core processor, too. And then 3 GB RAM (though perhaps I'll gift her one extra GB RAM). It'll be Windows 7 and from its performance on my slightly old Acer Aspire One I'm feeling confident the hardware will be a good choice for the purpose.

Thanks for the suggestion of using remote control. I've been thinking along the lines of it myself, I've just only had little experience using it. I'm probably going to have the PC sent to my home, and then set it up and then visit and bring it with me. It'll be the easiest, I think

Wetdogeared · 01-01-2010, 01:31 PM

I'm not that familiar with this model, but I would agree with the dual core and minimum 3GB ram.

The remote access is a great idea.

Don't forget an easy to use backup and recovery solution if she hasn't already got one.

devilsadvocate · 01-01-2010, 02:06 PM

My own personal experience with Dell is...well, "Dell" is a four-letter word.

That said, in terms of longevity the hard drive will be the weakest link in the chain, as it's the only thing (besides fans) which has any moving parts. 2850e (512K, L2, 1.8GHz) sounds like the best compromise for what will essentially be a Net appliance; there isn't a browser, media player, or email client on this planet that requires 2 or more cores, so even if you're really big on future-proofing a single core would suffice in this case. Win7 runs on 1GB and I personally have had it boot and run on 512MB; Dell runs their RAM with nonstandard voltage so they can extort double the price from you vs commodity RAM. In addition, any more than 3GB will require a 64-bit OS; not a showstopper necessarily, just something to be aware of. On that note, I agree with the 3GB.

Win7 has the same Remote Assistance setup that XP & Vista have; http://adacosta.spaces.live.com/blog...DB!24153.entry has an illustrated howto for just that; I've used it with XP and had no problems with it. Many of the farmed-out support contracts use that same thing and I've seen them charge upwards of US$200 a year for the privilege.

Sorry if this seems to have a negative spin on it, I just hate seeing people spend more money than they have to.

Ea · 01-01-2010, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by devilsadvocate

Sorry if this seems to have a negative spin on it, I just hate seeing people spend more money than they have to.

No problem - I was hoping for diverse comments - so thank you for yours

It's just that 6-7 years (or perhaps even longer - my mother says she'll live to 86 and I hardly dare contradict her - should I replace the PC in 7 years for another 3 years?

) - anyway, my point was that for such a long time it's better to plan for a little software bloat. This Christmas I had to install iTunes as she had bought two audio books and an iPod. It was ... interesting.

I've learned over time that with regards to planning: time for a project, money you need while on vacation, memory and processing power, and any such things like this - at best, multiply your best guess by pi (or at least by 2). It'll be more realistic than any other guess you can come up with

So, I'd rather aim a little higher than I think I should

devilsadvocate · 01-02-2010, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ea

I've learned over time that with regards to planning: time for a project, money you need while on vacation, memory and processing power, and any such things like this - at best, multiply your best guess by pi (or at least by 2). It'll be more realistic than any other guess you can come up with

So, I'd rather aim a little higher than I think I should

Wow, if I did that I'd have a Quadzilla with some 48GB RAM.

I'm starting to like this line of thinking...

01-01-2010, 10:03 AM	#1
Ea Wizard Posts: 3,490 Karma: 5239563 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Denmark Device: Kindle 3\|iPad air\|iPhone 4S	New PC for my 76 yo mother - need opinion on Dell Zino from you tech-types It's been years since I last bothered with hardware specs, but now I'm looking for something for my mother (who's 76) who has a 6-7 year old computer. With a - I think - Celeron processor (I don't know exactly how fast - slow! - it is), but I know it has only 256 MB RAM. I guess I could add RAM, but at best that would still only be a band-aid until it inevitably would need to be replaced. Anyhow, I don't live in their neighborhood and generally would prefer not to have to mess too much with other people's computer hardware. So a new computer it should be. My mother's needs are primarily Internet, email, Word and so on. No gaming, no media files - except she sometimes will watch a DVD - a few varied applications (local and Internet). I've had a look at one of Dell's new mini-desktops; the Inspiron Zino. I've had good experience with Dell so far, and it has a good price tag, too. I just wondered whether or not it's worth it to upgrade from the basic specs of the processor and RAM. The OS will be Windows 7 Home. My own opinion is that, at length, RAM is more important than processor power. I would expect that this computer should last at least the next 6-7 years. Processor: AMD Athlon 2650e (512K L2, 1.6GHz) or AMD Athlon 2850e (512K, L2, 1.8GHz) - adds 5% to the initial base price (adds 150 DKK to the initial 2990 DKK) or AMD X2 3250E, 1,5 GHz, 512 KB - adds 10% to the base price. The next and final option will add 30% to the price (too much). Memory 2GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 800MHz- 2 DIMM or 3GB DDR2 SDRAM at 800MHz- 2 DIMM - adds 12% to the initial base price. If I go up to 4GB RAM it'll add almost double of this amount. Do you think it's worth upgrading any of the options from the base option? I actually do know how slow it is - glacial speed.

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01-01-2010, 11:09 AM	#2
Mitch G Connoisseur Posts: 54 Karma: 742 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Naperville, IL USA Device: kindle	Personally, I would upgrade to the X2 processor ($65 more) to get the dual cores. And I agree with your premise that you can never have too much RAM. Also, if you never set up a computer for a relative before, be sure to set up a way to remotely manage her computer before giving her the machine. Personally, I find "Crossloop" (google it) to be a useful tool since it doesn't require setting up your mom's firewall or anything. But befsure to install it beforehand (and even test it out a bit so you can see how it works from both ends). Then when she calls with a problem, you can have her start it up and take over from there. (I assume she'll have some level of broadband connection and not dial up). Mitch

01-01-2010, 01:26 PM	#3
Ea Wizard Posts: 3,490 Karma: 5239563 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Denmark Device: Kindle 3\|iPad air\|iPhone 4S	Thank you! I'm leaning towards the dual core processor, too. And then 3 GB RAM (though perhaps I'll gift her one extra GB RAM). It'll be Windows 7 and from its performance on my slightly old Acer Aspire One I'm feeling confident the hardware will be a good choice for the purpose. Thanks for the suggestion of using remote control. I've been thinking along the lines of it myself, I've just only had little experience using it. I'm probably going to have the PC sent to my home, and then set it up and then visit and bring it with me. It'll be the easiest, I think

01-01-2010, 01:31 PM	#4
Wetdogeared Storm Surge'n Posts: 5,780 Karma: 8213195 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Polar Vortex Device: S0ny PRS-300/350/505/700/T1	I'm not that familiar with this model, but I would agree with the dual core and minimum 3GB ram. The remote access is a great idea. Don't forget an easy to use backup and recovery solution if she hasn't already got one.

01-01-2010, 02:06 PM	#5
devilsadvocate Complicated Warlock Posts: 677 Karma: 160970 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Madiganistan Device: HP Mini 1101, Droid X rooted, GTab rooted/VEGAnTAB Ginger Edition/CM7	My own personal experience with Dell is...well, "Dell" is a four-letter word. That said, in terms of longevity the hard drive will be the weakest link in the chain, as it's the only thing (besides fans) which has any moving parts. 2850e (512K, L2, 1.8GHz) sounds like the best compromise for what will essentially be a Net appliance; there isn't a browser, media player, or email client on this planet that requires 2 or more cores, so even if you're really big on future-proofing a single core would suffice in this case. Win7 runs on 1GB and I personally have had it boot and run on 512MB; Dell runs their RAM with nonstandard voltage so they can extort double the price from you vs commodity RAM. In addition, any more than 3GB will require a 64-bit OS; not a showstopper necessarily, just something to be aware of. On that note, I agree with the 3GB. Win7 has the same Remote Assistance setup that XP & Vista have; http://adacosta.spaces.live.com/blog...DB!24153.entry has an illustrated howto for just that; I've used it with XP and had no problems with it. Many of the farmed-out support contracts use that same thing and I've seen them charge upwards of US$200 a year for the privilege. Sorry if this seems to have a negative spin on it, I just hate seeing people spend more money than they have to.

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