Recommendations for a church data storage system

The B&W group of the local Priory has been becoming increasingly aware of the loss of experience and knowledge as the volunteers age and leave without new blood coming in. In the past new volunteers ensured this "racial memory" was sustained. Now we feel that we will need to start putting what we have on paper and what is created new from reports and meeting is stored in a digital form. So what should we use?
Finance is limited, maybe up to £450/500 , computer literacy is very limited, so no complicated cloud based systems. I am by far the most competent in this respect, but I am one of the oldest!
So options are a second hand one salvaged from someone - as a storage option possibly OK but needs to be able to run some apps - mail, web, WP - so probably too slow.
A refurbished laptop from Amazon is certainly a possibility. A PC refurbished or new is also an option. And of course a new laptop.

To reasonably future proof I am thinking along the lines of a reasonably fast machine, with a good sized storage, preferably SSD. For apps LibreOffice saves money, though Office 365 might be better as most people will use that at home.

Any suggestions re CPU, or anything else that is relevant? I've been landed with making the recommendation to the B&W group.

A choir of Angels?



Selection - Amazon UK




Maybe, these two items...

ASUS Vivobook

I'd recommend a 15-16" screen, 16-32GB of RAM, approx. 500GB SSD... and about 2TB external hard drive.
And I would get a NEW one.

If you absolutely insist on refurbished laptops.... get a DELL that was refurbished by DELL... aim for one with the specs listed just above... minimum.

DELL - Refurbished

Hello Sigurd,

I would keep in mind the following:

Windows 11 has very specific hardware requirements. But, at this time, even computers that do not meet those specifications can still install Windows 11. And from what I see, many that are being sold as used, refurbished, etc., are older pc's that do not fully meet those specs but have Windows 11 installed. When they are sold, they never say, "This computer meets all the Microsoft hardware specifications for Windows 11." So if one of those is bought, there is the risk that, at some point in time, Windows 11 upgrades/updates will no longer work on them. That is the situation that many of us find ourselves in.

I would go with a new pc that specifically meets the hardware requirements. Possibly, if the refurbishing stated that it met all the requirements, then I would consider it.

I agree with what's been said regarding hardware. More difficult is your dilemma of not having anyone other than you who knows what to do with it after you are no longer around. Lack of new blood seems to be so common these days in small religious organizations everywhere. Where I live small country churches also struggle to keep their doors open as congregations have aged or passed. Many, many have reached the point where they can't.

I have read your posts about your efforts on behalf of your priory and I commend you, Sir. You will be rewarded. I pray your priory remains sustainable. God Bless you all.