My clients often ask me about which brand they should buy or avoid. Here's what I answer them:
The first thing is to determine how the laptop is going to be used. You already did that. For the purposes you mentioned,
any new laptop will perform well, even the cheapest one. You won't be buying a spare rig for AH anyway.
Now that we know the price range being at the low end, let's try to fulfill your other needs. You mentioned aging eyes, or in case of the better half of your family, the diminishing size of text. I'd recommend doing some research in big stores with large variety where you can compare laptops side by side. First decide, if it would be 15 or 17 inches. Then, look at the resolutions. A lower native resolution on equally sized screens will produce bigger text due to bigger pixel size, but smaller pixels might produce a crisper picture. Text size can be changed in Windows, if necessary. So look for the picture that appeals you(r wife).
Another thing to compare is the keyboard. If your wife uses all ten fingers and can type blind, make her test them. There's big differences both in button spacing and touch. Also check the feel of the touchpad.
Also, test the hinges. If she's going to fold the laptop away often, she certainly wouldn't like the hinges pop through the lid. And the lid itself should be stiff enough not to bend when you close or open it from one edge only.
A card reader is nice for transfering photos and an optical drive for burning backup copies of them, but their necessarity depends.
Last but not least, the looks is an important factor. You might like a military proof looking design, but she might be more into Ultrabook sleekness in colour
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