Solved! Laptop for the mother.

[lobstah]

Please help me with some suggestions. Like most mothers, mine is very hardworking and loving, and just needs a computer to do her banking, and some light surfing/emailing on. All input is welcome and appreciated

-Brand: Preferably Asus or Toshiba. All brands EXCEPT HP acceptable.
-Model: N/A
-Bought From/Price: Preferred price 500-550
-OS: Win7
-CPU: Preferably i3
-GPU: Not important
-Resolution: Preferrably as high as possible. Preferred screen size 13-15 inches
-RAM: 4gb
-Usage (Gaming, Internet, Office Apps, etc…): Emailing, surfing, some banking.
-Real World Battery Life (in your estimation): As long as possible.

Feel free to list things that are slightly over the price mark, I understand deals happen occasionally. Again, thank you for your time!

 

[WR2]

Hello lobstah;

Here is a current deal I like a lot: Dell Vostro 3550 15" Core i3 Sandy Bridge Laptop
Core i3-2310M 2.10 GHz CPU, 2GB RAM, 250GB 7200rpm HDD, DVD burner 15.6" 1366x768 LCD with Intel HD 3000 graphics.

Includes two USB 3.0 ports, HDMI, eSATA, 8-in-1 Card Reader, ExpressCard/34 slot, LED-backlit anti-glare matte LCD, WiFi, Bluetooth 2.1, HD Webcam, Windows 7 OS.
Only 2GB RAM onboard but as you describe the laptop duties it should be plenty.
And it's an easy $25 upgrade to 4GB if you want to do it yourself.

 

[Supermuncher85]

I know this is out of your price range, but I bought my mother an Apple and I can only recommend it. Yes it costs more (1000-1200 depening on which you choose), but it is well worth the price. No more worrying about updates, viruses or usage. It is so easy to use, that the time I don't have to trouble shoot her windows machine was well worth the extra price I paid. Imagine the $$$ of time that you invest in explaining her how to use the machine/function that you could save yourself.

If however your budget is set at $600 I would look at http/www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11657011&whse=BC&Ne=5000000+4000000&eCat=BC|84|56670&N=4047229%204294967277%205000107&Mo=6&pos=1&No=6&Nr=P_CatalogName:BC&Ns=P_Price|1||P_SignDesc1&lang=en-US&Sp=C&ec=BC-EC5-Cat84&topnav= or http/www.bestbuy.com/site/Lenovo+-+ThinkPad+Edge+Laptop+/+Intel%26%23174%3B+Core%26%23153%3B+i5+Processor+/+15.6%22+Display+/+4GB+Memory+/+320GB+Hard+Drive+-+Black/2116138.p?id=1218309777975&skuId=2116138

 

[WR2]

Recent Dell Vostro 3550 Review @ Laptop Mag online