for your mother whose activity on a pc should categorized as "light casual user" would not be able to take the full advantage of having a board that would support the highest 775 cpu. b/c what works for her isn't a future upgrade, granted Internet, casual gaming, and word dont require all that much at all. what she need is something small, easy to use, maintenance-free and 'green' that's what a mother would like.
I am suggesting an ASUS EEE Box:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16883220011
Something like this would be a great fit wherever that is convenient for her. Comes pre-config w/ XP home, keyboard, mouse, and remote control for her online media entertainments. So she goes online alot, well Wireless N, the latest wireless technology, is built-in, Gigabite ethernet is there too if that's her cup of tea. So she does casual gaming also, well this particular model comes w/ a dedicated video card that will help her enjoy all the little games she's been enjoying. This little device offers multiple options on output as well, it can be connected to a regular monitor but if she's more comfortable w/ her big lcd/plasma you can connect it to her tv via HDMI as well b/c it's supported
🙂 If your mom takes lots photos this box got a multi-card reader for that. If your mom is a 'green' person (like mine), this tiny pc draws about what a 30w-60w light bulb would draw. Imagine that how much energy she will be wasting if she got stuck w/ a oversized computer that would typically draws at least twice if not 3x the power while choking on case full of dust. With that said there are at least 2 things you need to get for a complete setup.
1) speakers:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16836121014 this worked out well for my wife, sound quality is above average and it comes w/ a convenient volume control that has a headset + mic jack built-in, and very cost effective (amazon may offer free shipping)
2) dvd drive:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16827190020 this one is an external slim dvd burner that is good for multiple settings: she could use it w/ the EEE Box or she could take it w/ her if so need to, how cool is that?
🙂 (newegg give you a free 4gb flash drive w/ this purchase-cant turn down good freebies haha)
3 if necessary) monitor:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16824009145 if she doesn't have one get something like this one, good reviews, large size means support for larger fonts for easier reading for 'aged' folks
🙂 price is very good for a 22" lcd as well w/ free ship!
good luck Tempus35
brian
