Once you do, you might like it. The ‘upkeep’ cost that Apple imposes is the variable here.
Sounds like he’d do fine with an Ipad, and wifi. You can adjust the font size readability.
No reason to get a Macbook Pro, at that price. The Macbook itself would be overkill, but if you must, stick to the smaller 13” and at a more reasonable price, and once again, make the print bigger. 17” laptops are cumbersome and meant for professional work, graphics, etc. Oh, and with a laptop, it’s a great idea to get Applecare via Ebay. Normally a rip off, you need the extended warranty on a mac laptop.
I’ve been in your shoes though, and couldn’t talk someone out of overspending because they had fantasies of building spaceships on their laptop.