He hasn't got much space, he wants to surf (safely presumably), download music, burn CDs and doesn't know much about computers. He doesn't want to play games at all. He hasn't listed a budget, from which a reasonable inference might be that money isn't the top priority but as with most people he does care how much things cost.
On the basis of that I'm interested to know if anyone WHO HAS TRIED ONE would not recommend a 17" iMac?
His requirements sound like an advert for iMac for heaven's sake!