Final answer:
A high-powered processor is not necessary for basic tasks like email and web browsing.
Step-by-step explanation:
A high-powered processor is not necessary for a computer that will be used primarily to check email and browse the web. Basic tasks like email and web browsing do not require a lot of processing power. A low to mid-range processor will be sufficient for these activities.
For example, a dual-core processor with a clock speed of around 2 GHz would be more than enough to handle email and web browsing. These types of processors are commonly found in budget laptops.
Investing in a high-powered processor would be unnecessary and could be seen as wasteful for these specific use cases because the extra processing power would go unused.