I know you didnt want any snippy remarks however... after getting an iPad and switching to an iPhone, if I had to buy a PC, I would go with a Mac.
Windows 10 isn’t that bad actually.
Newegg (first choice) or Tigerdirect both sell refurbished units for a good price. I have also bought from local refurb dealers. I have had good luck with Dell.
Go with Windows 10 not Windows 7. You can adapt to it quite easily and you won’t have to deal with the eventual hassle to upgrade later.
I like Bestbuy myself. You can go into the store and often see what you are going to buy. Go with a mainstream computer that lots of people are buying. I like HP. Get as much RAM as you can, e.g. 16GB or more.
Go with the “Computers For Dummies” option.
Get a Chromebook. Cheap and virtually maintenance free.
BTW, Windows 10 has a simple option too. It’s called Windows 10 S. It works kinda like Chrome OS, which is the OS behind Chromebooks. So, you could also get a PC with Windows 10 S installed and leave your worries behind.
Here is a complete refurbished system. (I have purchased several computers from this company). I have never had a problem with them.
Complete Windows 7.
Dell 19” Core 2 Duo 8GB 1TB Win7 Pro(64-bit) OptiPlex 745 755 760
https://www.rakuten.com/shop/godwincorp/product/7ffsff1tb8gb/
Both HP and Dell sell new systems running Windows 7. They’re in their “business” sections. I’m planning to get a desktop system for Christmas. We’ve had good luck with Dell for 20 years.
Each of us got a high-end HP laptop with Windows 10 last year, and I’m turning mine to a doorstop ASAP. I hate Windows with the heat of 1,000 burning suns.
I was on a PC from the beginning early 1990s until about 2016.
In 2009 I purchased the iPhone 3GS and then in 2011 the iPad II. Since then I have upgraded to an iPhone 6 and iPad Air a few years ago, and both work fantastic to this day.
I finally decided to get Apple. I purchased an iMac. This is because you get more power with your desk top than laptop computer. Moreover, I rather bring my iPad and iPhone when I travel. It’s lighter and does what I need it to do.
Anyhow, I purchased an iMac 21.5” 4K with Intel i7 chip 6 Generation and 16GB of DDR3 Ram. I have 2TB Fusion Drive too.
The setup was very easy to do. Anyone with an education of a 10 year old child do it. Bringing over my information from my PC to my new iMac important files, email, etc... from Windows worked very smoothly and was quick. All I had to to copy my the files I wanted to bring over onto a portable flash drive (that works with both PC and Apple) with a USB. I copied everything I wanted on to it, and then pasted it into my new machine drive. That was it.
Now I had Microsoft Office and used Outlook, Word and Power Point. I went over to the Microsoft web site and purchased the latest office for Apple on their web site. That way I could look at my files.
BTW, the Apple comes with it’s own version of Office and it’s very good too.
Apple is very simple to operate and the best part is you never have scan for viruses, spyware, etc... It just works as a computer should. Everything is point, click, on or off.
I finally got the Apple TV too. Thus, I am in the Apple ecosystem. It’s nice because all my devices talk to each other. If I do work on my iPhone or iPad it will show up on my iMac and vice versa.
Anyway, I don’t regret it and it’s been a great experience.
Starting over to learn the Mac system is like starting over to learn to make macn cheese in the microwave instead of the stovetop.
I’d give a look at a Chromebook. Much simpler and cheaper than a Windows machine. The newest version of ChromeOS can run android apps.
A little late to the party, but better late than never...
SEARCH AMAZON
WINTEL — $100
You might try downloading Linux Mint Cinnamon 18.2 and burning it to a DVD. Then boot with the DVD and have it install (replace) Windows.
I dumped Windows and installed Linux Mint. The operating system is just as easy to use as Windows. Big plus, I don’t ever have an update take control of my computer.
Don't waste your money on soon-to-be-orphaned Windows 7. Win 10 is quite stable, and Microsoft stands behind it.
DO install Windows updates. They are a PITA but they are there for a reason.
If you don't want Windows, you can install Linux Mint to a hard drive and go with that. There is a learning curve, but it won't be too bad. Mint is designed to look and work like Windows XP. Ask for help setting Mint up here. About two years ago I recommended Mint to a non-tech-savvy guy who was considering replacing his Windows laptop. I helped him set it up, and he has been using Mint ever since without serious problems.
Either way, you can use the Libre Office suite (word processor, spreadsheet, etc.) instead of Microsoft Office.
Classic Shell, Linux Mint, and Libre Office are high quality free programs. Just download and install.
Good Hunting... from Varmint Al