[MeredithMan]

...if you want to be totally hands-off in trying to determine what to get and to set it up, then the Best Buy Geek Squad is a good option, as mentioned above. Go to them with your needs/wants, and they will guide you accordingly.

If you want to go the DIY route, then the decision becomes an Apple system or a Windows PC system. I've had both, and quite honestly, I've never seen the magic in a Macbook.

My personal favorites are a Dell Inspiron or Lenovo Thinkpad or X1 Carbon laptop. You can buy them on line at Dell.com or lenovo.com. Both units are fine for homeowner/personal use and should last a number of years, (my current Dell is 5 yrs old and fine, and my former Lenovo Thinkpad lasted about 8 years I think). I would couple either unit with a Microsoft 365 subscription, which gives you Outlook for email and calendar, as well as Word, Excel, and Powerpoint. For a printer/scanner, an HP at Staples for one or two hundred bucks is more than sufficient for the typical homeowner use.

The above is what works for me; your mileage may vary; and I'm sure there will be many more opinions to follow. Good luck!