OK, but at $300-$400 or so we are out of "here you go, don't think about it" gift territory:D

Jeez...Craigs list for a older PC or Mac...put a shortcut on the desktop to browse and be done. If all he's doing is web surfing and email than $100 tops will do it. 17"-19" CRT monitors are usually free these days.

Moses, as usual, is spot on. Best way to go.

OK, I passed on the iMac, mini search in progress. Thanks guys.

Yes, but that will change. I promise you. Old junky computers are just that. Ask me how I know. :D

If he just wants to browse the internet, there is really no need for OS X; I have an old 9600 (pre-G3) that runs OS 8.6 and it can handle most of the web just fine.

If you get an iMac running the latest 9.2 version it can handle (all the updates on OS 9 are free), he'll probably do just fine.

What's his connection going to be, dial-up? If he is just going to be on dial-up I would think there is really no need for OS X. (My 9600 running 8.6 handles the cable internet connection just fine, so even a higher speed connection shouldn't require OS X.)

I always thought those were really cool, looks-wise. Never used one much but I absolutely LOVE macs, esp the iMac G5s. I'm stuck with a Windows laptop now that's getting on in age...4 years this year...:rollseyes:

I still run 9.2 on on the two computers I have, a big quicksilver and my pismo laptop. It is what I am using now.