Suggestions for a transceiver please
 

Hi folks,

I'm a long time SWL but don't know much practical stuff about Amateur
Radio other than what I've learnt reading the Australian Foundation
Licence Manual (which was pretty straightforward).

My semi-retired father has been interested in Amateur Radio for some
time, but hesitant to take the plunge, so last year I bought him an
Icom R75 receiver and big sloper antenna to whet his appetite. He has
been using this set-up for a while now, and has gradually learnt how to
operate the Icom, but his grasp of radio theory, and of technology
generally, is pretty poor. He passed the Australian Foundation Licence
tests, but only just, and his grasp of such concepts as SSB is no more
than "try pressing the button and see if it sounds any better".
However, he is an eminently practical man, and will have no trouble
constructing and erecting antennas etc. He has a large block of land in
a low noise country area, with a shed for a base station.

Now that he has his Foundation Licence, I'm looking at what transceiver
might be appropriate for him, and here is where I seek your
suggestions. My criteria are as follows:
- New rather than second hand
- Ease of use essential
- Knobs and single-function buttons important
- Multi-function buttons not attractive
- Computer-style hierarchical menus a no-no
- Large and easy-to-read display useful
- Portability, compact size and battery operation not important
- HF essential, 2m useful but not essential
- Computer control of no benefit
- Advanced features (eg notch filters) which require more than a
button press or knob twirl of little benefit

The Icom IC-718 has a similar physical front panel layout to the R75
which he is already used to, which is a slight advantage, but I'm
open to your suggestions as to what transceivers I should be
considering.

Thanks in advance,
Carson