Stay away from Chrome Books. They're just awful. Better off getting a real laptop. The $500 price tag being quoted by everyone sounds about right. Might try to save a little and get used, but that's up to you.
They can't use tech.
Might as well buy a $300 Chomebook for someone that can't use tech than try to make a pig fly. They are very cheap and simple to use, and it doesn't sound like anything Windows based is even needed. Cutting out the threat of viruses too which is a big boon for tech illiterate people.
They aren't awful anyway, but just for $179 you can't expect much.
That being said they run very light on resources which is why they can have that lower price tag from cheaper hardware.