if they don't need a lot of storage, consider the intel NUC.
It's tiny, doesn't get hot, has no moving parts (except a tiny fan depending on model), can have 8GB RAM, and tiny SSD.
The CPU already comes in it, but you need to buy the RAM and SSD. The CPU can be from i3 to i7, so this thing can pretty much be as powerful as a decent laptop.
http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/nuc/overview.html

you can get them on places like newegg or amazon.

Quote from Osayidan;1214886:

if they don't need a lot of storage, consider the intel NUC.
It's tiny, doesn't get hot, has no moving parts (except a tiny fan depending on model), can have 8GB RAM, and tiny SSD.
The CPU already comes in it, but you need to buy the RAM and SSD. The CPU can be from i3 to i7, so this thing can pretty much be as powerful as a decent laptop.
http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/nuc/overview.html

you can get them on places like newegg or amazon.

I was actually heavily considering this! Though I've read that overheating becomes an issue... Do you think this would be the case since I know that they're going to leave it on non-stop.

Edit: Also, how does one hook up both a mouse and a keyboard to this thing without compromising a spot for a flash drive >_>

Double Edit: Do these work for an SSD and RAM?

http://www.amazon.com/Crucial-PC3-12800-204-Pin-Notebook-CT2KIT51264BF160B/dp/B005LDLVAO/ref=pd_cp_pc_1

http://www.amazon.com/MyDigitalSSD-256GB-240GB-Bullet-Proof/dp/B00B3X73EE/ref=pd_cp_pc_3

In my experience they don't really heat up. Just make sure the fan settings are OK in the BIOS. It would overheat if you stick it somewhere with no ventilation, toss things on top of it and that type of thing.

The SSD looks fine.
The RAM is the right size but I would need to check the exact specs when I get more time, or you can just look at what board is in the model you want and see what RAM it supports.

For USB ports it depends on the model you take, I have one here with 2 USB on the back and 1 on the front. You can also grab a USB hub (I suggest a powered one).

Also make sure you have the right cables or adapters since the video output is only HDMI.

Quote from Osayidan;1214904:

In my experience they don't really heat up. Just make sure the fan settings are OK in the BIOS. It would overheat if you stick it somewhere with no ventilation, toss things on top of it and that type of thing.

The SSD looks fine.
The RAM is the right size but I would need to check the exact specs when I get more time, or you can just look at what board is in the model you want and see what RAM it supports.

For USB ports it depends on the model you take, I have one here with 2 USB on the back and 1 on the front. You can also grab a USB hub (I suggest a powered one).

Also make sure you have the right cables or adapters since the video output is only HDMI.

Fairly certain that the monitor I bought them had an HDMI cable. Will definitely double check with them though. As for the USB hub, I had no idea these existed so YAY I learned something already LOL...

http://www.amazon.com/D-Link-Hi-Speed-7-Port-Powered-DUB-H7/dp/B00008VFAF/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&qid=1397498206&sr=8-12&keywords=usb+hub

Hopefully I'll convince them to buy a better computer desk because the one they currently have is ridiculously impractical.

Depending on the type of monitor you might be able to mount the NUC behind it (using the area you would normally use to mount the mnitor to a wall mount).
Keeps it all neat and out of the way.

Quote from Osayidan;1214912:

Depending on the type of monitor you might be able to mount the NUC behind it (using the area you would normally use to mount the mnitor to a wall mount).
Keeps it all neat and out of the way.

Oho, that would be quite slick. Maybe I'll give that a go!

Thinking of this buying the following model:

http://www.amazon.com/Intel-Next-Computing-Thunderbolt-i3-3217UDC3217BY/dp/B0093LINT2/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1397494645&sr=8-3&keywords=nuc

Lastly, do you recommend installing Windows 7 or Windows 8?

Quote from Yuuki Asuna;1214914:

Oho, that would be quite slick. Maybe I'll give that a go!

Thinking of this buying the following model:

http://www.amazon.com/Intel-Next-Computing-Thunderbolt-i3-3217UDC3217BY/dp/B0093LINT2/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1397494645&sr=8-3&keywords=nuc

Lastly, do you recommend installing Windows 7 or Windows 8?

All preference if they prefer the more tablet app style kinda thing go with 8, imo 7 has the easier feel to it and just easier to get around, again imo

I'd personally say 8, but 8 might not be parent-friendly depending on their level of technological competence/willingness to learn things.
8.1 is slowly getting updates that make the interface behave more like windows 7 though, so I would recommend that anyways.
It'll be ridiculously fast for them too so you can actually tell them to shut it down and they can't say it takes long to turn on.

Quote from Osayidan;1214929:

I'd personally say 8, but 8 might not be parent-friendly depending on their level of technological competence/willingness to learn things.
8.1 is slowly getting updates that make the interface behave more like windows 7 though, so I would recommend that anyways.
It'll be ridiculously fast for them too so you can actually tell them to shut it down and they can't say it takes long to turn on.

Alright, I'll buy 8 for them then since they're pretty competent at learning. And yeah, SSDs are more OP than firebolt spam so I'll do my best to tell them to turn it off at night or something.

Make sure to get an 8.1 license. I think they still sell both for some reason and it's Messing people up.

Sent from my SGH-I337M using Tapatalk

Thank you Osay!

Quote from TJP121;1214925:

All preference if they prefer the more tablet app style kinda thing go with 8, imo 7 has the easier feel to it and just easier to get around, again imo

7 isn't really easier. It's just different. If 8.1 is set up right that difference is absolutely negligible.

Quote from Campylobacter jejuni;1215208:

7 isn't really easier. It's just different. If 8.1 is set up right that difference is absolutely negligible.

Especially with the updates MS are rolling out.
In the past few weeks they made some minor tweaks to the interface to make things easier for mouse/keyboard users (update just called "windows 8.1 update 1", and they're supposed to be adding a traditional style start menu in another update in the Fall.

Just a minor update for closure! The computer ended up working great and the most annoying part was having to download the drivers from another computer... I actually ending up using the bloody tele as the monitor because the original monitor kept giving these vibrant display screw ups. With that out of the way though, the NUC worked smashingly and my parents were very, very happy.

A special thanks to Osay for all the help! [S]TakethoseblueupgradesTAKETHEM[/S]