I wonder how many people who buy this sort of machine ever *use* even one tenth of its capabilities. Or indeed need them…

We’re trying to find a totally bog-standard PC for Mummy Mr BW at present. No bells and whistles needed. She doesn’t even use the internet (yet). Can we find one below £400? No. Why not? She doesn’t need top-spec anything and a 1GB hard drive would store everything she ever needed, and more.

Really, a typewriter would suffice.

I’m about to buy my husband his first ever computer. It certainly won’t be a Mac. It will be a basic under-£400 laptop because, as BW says, that’s already more than he will need.

When I bought my first Mac, 20 or so years ago, it lasted for years – I replaced it finally because I wanted a new toy, not because there was anything wrong with it. I’ve continued with Macs because I like them and I’m a creature of habit, and also in the fond hope that they are built to last a bit longer. One would need to do a lot of research to find out if this is still so, and I’m not suggesting you do (besides, with a laptop, the way it’s looked after has a lot to do with it so it’s hard to measure), but it would be relevant. For example, if your Mac lasted a year longer than your Dell, it would justify the extra price. If not, it wouldn’t. If it broke earlier, it would be unacceptable.