6 Best Laptops For Seniors in 2021

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give up the foreplay. What is the best laptop for the elderly?

The fact is that there is no one-size-fits-all answer because not all seniors are the same. They have very different needs and requirements that we must meet. While some can’t keep up with technology, others are very good at using it. In fact, some older players are passionate gamers and computer problem solvers.

Of course, there are older people who are used to a simple installation and do not have the patience to deal with technical developments and details or even to change their current operating system.

Some of us also have elderly parents who are not at all familiar with computers and therefore need laptops and other comfortable and easy-to-use devices, while others still have physical disabilities that need to be modified with special accessibility features.

In this article, we’ll discuss how to find the best laptops for seniors, including everything you need to know, and of course, a review of the best options we found.

What to focus on

For safety, use simple, easy-to-use devices. They are best suited for people who have no technical knowledge, don’t want to spend too much time troubleshooting, or have certain physical limitations that come with age.

This is especially true for those who are so used to the status quo that they don’t expect confusing changes, such as switching from Windows to Mac when even simple tasks like searching for files require a whole new learning curve.

Think about it: No one, young or old, wants to make and fix things all day and has the patience to do so. Instead, where possible, we want to get things done quickly. Besides, you don’t want your parents calling you in the middle of the night to fix your computer problems, do you?

How to find the best laptop for seniors

First, don’t make the common mistake of assuming your old computer is illiterate. After all, our elders are the generation that invented the computer in the first place.

Nor should you assume that he or she is able (or willing) to deal with new opportunities, which are often complex and overly focused. Even if your elderly parent seems to be getting along with his or her current device, you can always find ways to make things more user-friendly.

It is important that your purchase decision is based on the needs of those who will use the laptop. You should also keep in mind that you may need to make some modifications and adjustments to make the laptop more suitable for older people. Nevertheless, you should be able to find many suitable options on the market, and some of them are also very affordable.

Key items of note

When it comes to purchasing a laptop or other related device for a retiree, there are a few important factors to consider:

1. Is he computer literate? For example, is your home computer still running Windows XP? Have you ever lent your Mac to an older person – and had a good experience? Is he used to Windows or Mac?
2. What is the laptop used for? Does he only need a laptop for simple daily tasks like sending emails and reading the news? Is it active in online communities? Do they have hobbies, passions, or professions that require heavy use of equipment, such as B. Gaming or video editing?
3. Does the older person have a physical disability such as poor vision, hearing loss or arm movement problems?

Minimum requirements

At a minimum, you should get a basic laptop with the following specifications:

• DISPLAY: At least one 13-inch screen in Full HD resolution. It is preferable to use a larger size (15 to 17 inches), especially for people with visual impairments.
• PROCESSOR: Any modern computer (except Pentium and Atom-based laptops) is suitable for everyday use and basic tasks.
• ROM and DEVICE : 4GB for decent multitasking, 8GB for heavier tasks; 256GB for file, photo and video storage, and even home video editing.
• OPERATING SYSTEM: According to the senior you are used to.
• KEYBOARD: Flawless, responsive, smooth, not spongy; preferably a normal-sized keyboard.

Additional functions

In addition to the above, a good sound system also contributes to a more pleasant experience for users with hearing difficulties. It’s also very handy to have two USB ports and an HDMI port, especially to be able to connect external keyboards and desktop panels if needed. It may also make sense to buy a lightweight laptop with a long-lasting battery if the older person likes to move and travel.

Best laptops for seniors

Here are your opinions on the best 2021 senior laptops:

Apple MacBook Air

When it comes to laptops, in almost every category, MacBooks still come out on top. The Apple MacBook Air is no different than computers for the elderly. It has all the premium features you could want: a high-quality screen and keyboard, a (relatively) user-friendly operating system, and super-fast performance.

We could go on and on about what makes MacBooks so great, but chances are you already know that. Let’s talk about the drawbacks, which are not numerous. If your older employee is used to a Windows-based setup or if all their family, friends and colleagues use Windows, they may feel a little out of place and find the transition difficult. Another obstacle to a deal would be the price.

That’s about it. MacBook Air is one of the best laptops you can buy for young and old. However, if your senior has vision issues, you can opt for the 13-inch MacBook Pro instead, or better yet, the 16-inch version. Or, if he wants tech features, try the new Apple MacBook Air, which has a slightly better feature set than this machine, but is also more expensive.

• 13-inch retina display
• Intel Core i7 processor
• 8GB RAM, 265GB SSD
• Mac operating system
• 12 hours battery life

ASUS Chromebook C202

If you’re looking for a Chromebook for seniors, the Asus Chromebook C202, a flexible notebook that meets the needs of the budding multitasker, is one of the most affordable and high-quality solutions. Although it is quite small (11.6 inches), it has a 180-degree hinge that allows users to turn the laptop into a book or tablet.

It’s a rugged notebook with impact-resistant components and rubber grips that can withstand accidental drops. The splashproof keyboard is also very thick and because the font size is 15% larger than most competitors, it’s easy to use, even for older users with vision problems.

Additionally, the seamless integration and functionality with Google Docs make this laptop an ideal tool for work (and study) tasks. It even allows the use of 64GB expandable SD memory and has a corresponding memory card slot. And, quite simply, it’s one of the cheapest laptops you can find.

• 11.6 touchscreen
• Intel Celeron N3060
• 4 GB RAM, 16 GB storage
• Operating System Chrome
• 10 hours battery life

Acer Aspire E 15

Another excellent budget option is the Acer Aspire E 15, which is ideal for fast processing. Simple controls and beautiful graphics make it a complete experience for casual users, professionals and all other types of users.

The E15 uses an eighth-generation Intel Core i3 processor that delivers reliable performance for most basic and medium tasks. It also has a long battery life, which is excellent for active users who often forget to charge their devices.

It’s also available in two versions: the cheaper version, with all the basic software for most workstations, or the slightly more expensive version, pre-installed with Windows 10 Pro, the Microsoft Office 365 suite, or expanded storage.

• 15.6 Full HD display
• Intel Core i3-8130U Processor
• DRUM 6GB, 1TB HDD
• Operating system Windows 10 home
• 13.5 hours battery life

ASUS Chromebook Flip C302

Here is an alternative to the Asus C202: The Asus Chromebook Flip C302 is an affordable notebook that stands out for its durability and quality. It’s a robust laptop that delivers fast and reliable performance with Chrome OS.

This is a good choice for basic tasks and simple games or photo editing. It may not have enough space to install programs and applications, but it is sufficient for most daily activities. Again, it’s incredibly cheap.

Indeed, the C302 and other Chromebooks are cheap, fast, portable, and long-lasting. However, this is definitely not for passionate gamers, nor for those with vision problems, as the screens are often small.

• 12.5-inch Full HD touchscreen
• Intel Core M3 processor
• 4 GB RAM, 64 GB storage
• Operating System Chrome
• 10 hours battery life

HP 14 flow

If you’re looking for a lightweight, fast and stylish laptop, we recommend the HP Stream, a 14-inch laptop that comes in a wide range of colors. It is an ideal and affordable choice for older users who only need basic functions like typing, surfing the web or sharing photos.

It has a very bright screen, easy to see in any light. Even the keyboard has volume, multimedia and brightness controls that work perfectly with Internet browsers and Windows Media Player.

And because it uses the Windows 10 operating system, it starts up quickly and runs smoothly. Other amazing features of this notebook include Office 365, a terabyte of cloud storage, a one-year limited warranty with 24/7 online support, and a slim, lightweight profile.

• 14 HD backlit display
• Intel Celeron N3060 Processor
• 4 GB SDRAM, 32 GB memory
• Operating system Windows 10 home

For more information about HP notebooks and desktops, please visit the HP website.

Dell Inspiron 14 5481

The Dell Inspiron 14 is another great laptop for seniors. It is a flexible notebook that guarantees fun and entertainment and also offers many useful applications directly from the Microsoft Store.

This 2-in-1 laptop features a fast processor, bright display and MaxxAudio Pro speakers for a superior CinemaStream experience. You can also turn your laptop into a handy easel or tablet for easy viewing and editing.

Plus, it’s very easy to edit documents and photos with all the free and paid (but cheap) productivity applications, as well as all the cool games that everyone, regardless of age or lifestyle, is sure to enjoy playing.

• 14 Ultra Live HD screen
• Intel Core i3-8145U Processor
• 4GB DRUM, 128GB SSD
• Main operating system Windows 10 S

Laptop buying guide for retirees

When buying a laptop for the elderly, it is important to realize that one person’s needs and preferences may be quite different from another’s. But there are some pretty common reasons to start.

For example, everyone (including you or me) wants to use the easiest laptop because it’s convenient and doesn’t have to deal with regular, annoying problems.

Again: Convenience and performance don’t always go hand in hand, and your elderly parents may have certain requirements for their laptop that should take precedence over ease of use in the usual sense.

First: Ask him

There is no better way to begin this journey than to ask your seniors what they want or need from a laptop, or at least what is not working or could be improved in their current or former facility.

You can’t be fooled by the misconception that older people are less tech-savvy, especially since many of them spend a lot of time in front of their computers and smartphones to stay connected to society and away from loneliness.

What is used for?

Most people, regardless of age, do the same activities and perform the same tasks on their laptops and mobile devices to keep up with their daily lives and stay in touch with their social circles.

This includes surfing the web, heavy use of email, managing banking, Facebook and other social media, participating in niche online communities, Skype and other related programs, and sharing, storing and printing photos.

Any modern laptop can easily handle all of these tasks; many can even do them simultaneously. However, if your line manager has special needs or requirements, for example B. video editing or gaming, you should be able to take these into account.

Maintain confidentiality; leave same frame

Like most of us, most seniors prefer to continue using what currently works for them and gives them comfort. For laptops, this means staying familiar by buying a laptop with the same configuration as your old device.

For example, if your elderly parents use Windows, don’t switch to a Mac laptop. If they like to move around the house and take their devices with them, get a tablet like the Fire HD 8 Tablet with Alexa instead of a laptop. Also, if you want large screens for watching videos, choose a laptop or desktop computer with the largest screen, like the Telikin 18 home office.

Don’t forget to save.

One important thing you should do is make sure that the existing installation used by your executive has a reliable backup, so that files and other important items are not lost during the transition.

Check and download the full installation or install the same copy on your new laptop, including software, settings and files. It is best to choose the same operating system and configure everything in the same way as on the old computer.

Processor and RAM

Unless your executive is a gamer, programmer, engineer or video editor, you don’t have to worry about speed and performance, which means you don’t have to spend a lot of money on the latest hardware. For example, make sure you meet the minimum requirements. B. Intel or AMD processors and 4 to 8 GB of RAM.

However, if the intended user is one of the above users, you should look for suitable laptops. Here’s a list of the best laptops for engineers, for starters.

Storage

Older people generally like to keep family photos and other treasured memories, so it’s best to provide them with plenty of storage options. It should be at least 256 GB, but if your senior likes to store videos and other large files on his computer, consider a larger storage of 512 GB.

Anyway, if 1TB is good, in this case it would probably be a waste of space. The same goes for investments in SSDs.

Weight

While your elderly parents probably stay home most of the time and use their devices all over the house, it’s always best to choose a lightweight laptop that they can use more comfortably. The less weight the better, but even a 3 pound laptop will do.

Control panel

For users who suffer from vision, joint and hand movement problems, the typical keyboards of compact laptops are not the best option, let alone the on-screen keyboards of smartphones and touchscreen laptops.

Besides the fact that the letters are hard to see, they usually press several keys at once. So keep these tips in mind:

• For older people with hand or joint problems, avoid tactile keyboards, tablets, iPads, small laptops and other devices with cluttered keyboards that are difficult to type on, even for ambulatory people. It is preferable to use full-size keyboards. If your laptop does not have one, buy an external keyboard to overcome these problems.
• For older people with vision problems, you can even buy special keyboards that can be customized with large stickers, big keys and bright colors. He may be hard to find, but he’s definitely worth it.
• Another option is to just buy big stickers, for example. B. Big Letters USA English keyboard stickers in black and yellow, and stick them on your senior’s current external keyboard or on the keyboard of a new laptop you’re buying.

Mouse

One of the things that young people are likely to benefit from is the ease with which we can use touchpads for laptops. A regular mouse is generally much easier to use for older users, especially those with physical limitations.

Touchpads make it easy to navigate the screen and move the cursor in the right direction. For some users, even a mouse can cause certain problems, such as hand tremors and a lack of fine motor skills. In this case, a ball mouse or a trackpad like the BIGtrack 2.0 trackball would be a more suitable option.

Pen or digital pen

If you’re not sure if your senior employee wants to (and can) use a pen or digital pen, forget about buying it, because it’s even harder to use and requires much more hand-eye coordination.

Smart assistants

Voice commands seem like a good and easy alternative, since all your senior employee has to do is say what they need instead of physically pointing them out, but you should be careful about investing in intelligent assistive technology. Many of these speech robots tend to speak quickly and require quick responses, which can be a problem for many.

Instead, consider a real assistant with exceptional help in Hometouch’s life.

Screen size

A bigger screen doesn’t necessarily mean the things on the screen get bigger; it just means more things fit on a screen. So it may be necessary to manually increase the size, especially for windows, fonts, etc.

1. Open the control panel, click the Adjust IPS button, then zoom in to a comfortable size.
2. You can also press the Windows and U keys simultaneously, then click on the magnifying glass and use the Windows and + keys to zoom in. This results in an increase of 25%.

Here’s an article on other ways to prepare a laptop for grandparents.

You might also consider buying larger display systems that don’t limit what you can see, even if you see more things on the screen. Or consider special magnification software for better management of specific or severe visual conditions.

Resolution

If your grandparents wear thick glasses the size of the bottom of a bottle or work in an area where pixel size and image detail are particularly important, they don’t need more HD, so in extreme cases, investing in a full HD display is more than enough. Moreover, for people with vision problems, the magnification and size of the screen are more important than the resolution.

Done

Notebook displays are currently available in a matte or glossy finish. Keep in mind that bright screens are worst in brightly lit areas, as they reflect too much sun and tire the eyes. On the other hand, matte displays are easier to view because they minimize glare.

Some useful tips:

• If your grandparents prefer large screens, out of preference or personal necessity, it may be better to purchase a computer for the elderly, as desktops with large screens are more useful and installing external monitors on small laptops eliminates the need for a laptop.
• Listen to your senior on his favorite operating system. The goal is to make it as easy as possible for them. There is an online forum where this topic is discussed, but it is best to ask your elderly parents what they prefer.
• Laptop speakers are generally not as powerful as desktop speakers. Therefore, it is important to invest in a laptop that offers good sound quality (which usually means a large laptop that can install a decent sound system), especially if your elderly person has hearing problems.
• Don’t compromise or solve the problem by buying the best headphones, because not everyone likes to wear something around their neck and ears all day. Not only can this be inconvenient, but it can also make using the device more difficult and cumbersome.

Ease of use

Contrary to what you may think, older people can easily absorb technology or learn anything as long as it is within their physical limitations and the technology is accessible.

The problem here is mainly the lack of patience to tackle supposedly complex tasks and problems, such as going through multiple steps and making tons of clicks to, say, send an email, create an account or solve a small problem.

A simple system will help. A streamlined layout and a simpler interface are important characteristics of user-friendliness. So when you buy a laptop for the elderly, it should not be packed with too many programs and features that they do not need and that will only complicate their lives.

Customer service

That said, it’s more than likely and completely normal for your grandparents to experience problems along the way, and unless you’re an IT professional, you’ll need a laptop from a brand that offers exceptional technical support, whether it’s live chat, phone calls, emails, etc.

In this case, Apple has the best customer service of any notebook brand on the market in most cases. Others are pretty good too; just look around, read customer reviews and check out forums on the internet to get a better idea.

Overview

Whatever laptop you choose, make sure it’s easy to use, comfortable, affordable and meets your senior’s needs, requirements and preferences. And of course, don’t forget a good internet connection.

After all, this is one of the great advantages of modern technology. In addition, older people who stay connected to family, friends and loved ones live longer and healthier lives. Here’s an article from the New York Times that elaborates on this.

You already found the best laptop for the elderly? Let us know in the comments so we can help others make their best choice too!

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