Wow... you guys are as bad with computers as you are with skimmers! :lol_large
What are the specs on the machine and what does he use it for? If it's got enough memory to run Windows XP it's a useable machine if all he's doing is email and web browsing.
When my clients ask me if they should buy a new computer, I ask them... does the machine you have do what you need it to? If it does... there's no need to upgrade. While I know some of you would put a bubble king on a pico tank... it's not usually necessary.