I've gone through this with a number of people in similar situations, and it has always came back to this: buy a model that can be plugged in to an amp.

She may not want it now, she may never need it.
But if she does, she'll have it and won't have to get the guitar she is used to playing, retro-fitted with a pickup et al.

Also, I've bought guitars online before, but I wouldn't advise it in this case, unless you realize you may have to pack it up and send it back.

When buying (cheap or expensive), I always play every note on every string all the way up the neck, to make sure there are no "buzzers". It you do find one, the guitar shop will likely fix it for free before you buy it. Likewise they will make any necessary neck adjustments.

My 2 cents CDN.
Lloyd S