laptop for non tech person?

If your wife is use to the WIndows XP interface, then I would stick with a MS Operating System. Purchase a Windows 8 computer and have the seller update it to Windows 8.1. W8.1 is the newest MS Windows OS and is easier to navigate than W8.

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Windows is for advanced users and some features may seem alien for regular users. I too recommend apple (if you can afford) because its more simple and user friendly. It will be difficult if you are a new user to get familiar with the interface, but trust me, you can learn it in a couple of hours. If you prefer Windows then go for Lenovo.

Apple would be great if you can afford it. But as you said, your wife will not use it for any high performance applications, it would be not wisely used with respect to the hardware configuration it has.

Why not try something new like a "Google Chromebook"

http://www.google.com/intl/en/chrome/devices/#fore...

Or a basic laptop with a Windows 8 OS which has good user interface and specific apps which help for all the requirements mentioned by your wife.

All the best for your buy.

A Chromebook would be the right laptop for your wife, you can pick one up for as cheap as £199.