Laptop for Kids?

[connorsdad]

Connor's birthday is coming up and he has been bugging me for a latop to use. This must be the new thing because a lot of his friends have laptops. The one he wants is game ready and he wants to be able to take it with him to school, library, friends, etc.

What are your opinions on getting kids laptops? Is he responsible? About as much as any 10 year old will be. Will it be dropped and broke? Probraly. Does anyone know of a "kid-proof" one that might work?

[Fitz1980]

These laptops for kids aren't computers in the same sense as the laptop I'm typing on. They're more like toy laptops, a step up from the old speak & spell or little $10 portable video games that we had when I was a kid. I don't know how sturdy they are.

[MeBNude]

Ahh, heck (actually, I want to say &$&@YUH^%E@!!! but can't in polite company.) I just typed a lengthy, hopefully informative, response and somehow killed it on my last sentence before posting. I HATE THAT!!! I never compose as well the second time around.

So, here is the shortened version. I’ve got a 14 year old brother who has been on a laptop at school since he was 9 - health issues makes his writing illegible, so the folks worked with the school to allow him to use his computer for classwork. I have never heard of him dropping the laptop, but that could be because he has a little computer bag on wheels. I have a big computer bag on wheels and I swear by it. But for kids it’s even better since there is no dropping the backpack off the shoulder, or whatever. It’s already on the ground so no “dropping” involved.

As for durability, I would recommend checking out some online reviews. One good site: http://reviews.cnet.com/laptops/?tag=TOCleftColumn.0. Another: http://www.consumersearch.com/computers-and-internet. Also, try a google search - on the terms - "laptop reviews" kids - there were over 50,000 entries and the first page search page seemed to have many relevant sites.

I’m not a gamer, but I do do extensive graphic work with my photography and photoshop so need heavy computing power. My main PC is a laptop (IBM Thinkpad) which is fully loaded and needs at least as much power as a gamer would want. But it cost $2,500 two plus years ago. However a couple of weeks ago, I bought a $300 Acer Aspire One - I think they call these computers webbooks?. Not quite a full screen, keyboard a little smaller, but only slightly, than a normal keyboard. But this thing screams. I haven’t loaded in photoshop yet, but even if I can’t work with graphics, I love this little thing... light, small and the battery lasts for at least 6 hours (not from marketing materials, from my own experience)

Finally, with regard to games... I would be concerned about having a computer loaded with games at school. First, the school might have some policies on the issue... you know, productivity and learning tools are fine, but games are not allowed (in part, the distraction factor, in part, because other children's parents may not want their kids to be exposed to certain types of games that are allowed by other parents).

I would also, if I had a child, be concerned if he or she was spending her free/exercise/socialization periods (breaks, recess, lunch, etc.) sitting indoors on the computer. We are so glued to our TV and computer screens as adults and it happens at home, but I would hesitate to encourage/enable that same behavior at school. My folks have worked with this with my brother. He has a school laptop with no games, and then a desktop computer at home with the games he likes to play.

Yes, this was shorter than my last e-mail and it still turned out a bit lengthy. Hope this gives you ideas.

[MoonShadow]

I agree, MeBeNude, cnet.com is an excellent source to read up on the technology gadgetry out and about as well as software.

LOL connorsdad, do they make anything kid-proof these days? Actually, my nieces and nephews have had laptops and have been great with them and how to handle them. My sister and brother both gave their kids "how to take care of your laptop" lessons. LOL But, it worked.

[Boreas]

Our school district "gives" kids laptops in grade 6. I believe that parents have to pay a fee or put a deposit down on them, and that there are strict rules about their use. The laptops are MacBooks. This district has been doing this for several years and the program has been a success. As mentioned before, many kids do better when they type instead of write. So this program helps these kids. It is also a way to teach kids to look after something.

Good luck with your search.

[Pumpkinpie]

My son have 2 laptops he just bought the second one he's in college, the first one is very expensive and for the same reason, he don't want it drop on the floor, the second one he brought is a ( Acer Notebook) for school with a case that fits perfect in his back pack, it have parental control everything, else on it the only thing it don't have is a (CD DRIVE) you can go to Best Buy,Target, you can also check on line or when you go to the stores ask the sales person which one is good for his age, there are laptops that are break proof that constructions workers use but they are very expensive, for a 10 year old you also can talk with him how to take care of his laptop hope everything work out for you.

[connorsdad]

Thanks all for the responses. I think I have a solution; I found a Panasonic Toughbook on a discount site that is a refurb and they want around $1100 for it. Yes I know it is expensive and he might look like Connor-schwarzenegger with a rugged laptop, but it can still the beating and abuse a kid might give it.

The fact it wont have a CD drive is even better because he won't be able to install games etc. without me doing it (if I am able to!).

Thanks all for the input!

[Croydon]

Thanks all for the responses. I think I have a solution; I found a Panasonic Toughbook on a discount site that is a refurb and they want around $1100 for it. Yes I know it is expensive and he might look like Connor-schwarzenegger with a rugged laptop, but it can still the beating and abuse a kid might give it.

The fact it wont have a CD drive is even better because he won't be able to install games etc. without me doing it (if I am able to!).

Thanks all for the input!

Before you buy, I have to ask, what will Connor use it for? Personally, I think 10yrs is too young for a laptop. I have always believed that parents should keep an eye on their kid when they go online. With a laptop Connor has a lot of privacy and you will not be able to supervise his online activities.

That aside, I think $1100 for a refurbished is too expensive, especially when you can buy a macbook for few hundred more. Dell & Gateway both sell brand new laptops, even with gaming capabilities, for less than 800$

[New Found Comfort]

Buy an HP or Acer Netbook. They're just as fast as a regular sized laptop, no cd drive, they will run all programs, AND cost under $300.

[richo]

I grew up with computers: we had an old Apple ][ by the time I was 5, and my dad had me programming on it at 6. I used to play all sorts of games on it, mostly old arcade-style "run around jumping to get the coins/stars/whatever while avoiding the ghosts/bombs/jellies/whatever", but a few that were fairly educational.

By the time I was 10, I had my own computer in my own room (dad worked in an electronics shop, so we got a lot of "test" equipment; I tended to get the model that the new test equipment was replacing). Now, granted, this was a little before all the online stuff became really popular, but even then I was using AOL and Prodigy (with my parents' permission).

My statement on computers for kids would be this: at home, the big gaming/online machines are great. Get a desktop and geek it out if you want. For a laptop, however, unless the student needs power computing for something at school (e.g., graphics design classes, movie editing, etc.), I'd stick to the smaller netbooks or maybe even something like a tablet PC: something that is functional but not "sexy".

The idea is to both grant access to tools that need to be used - office, calculators, maybe even basic online access - but at the same time keep the price cheap in case it gets lost/stolen/broken and keep the functionality limited so that the child isn't doing anything *too* extreme without some kind of oversight (at least until the teenage years, by which point you've lost the war anyway :D).

I'm not one of these people who believes in "protecting" kids from things like online predators or violent video games: if your child is one who is going to exhibit risky behaviors, they'll do it in the real world as well as online. Education, not censorship, is the key, else you're liable to need ankle bracelets and chastity belts instead of content filters. That being said, until a child is old enough to understand, certain protections or limits are logical; the age at which an individual child is capable of making those decisions is, obviously, different for each child, so your mileage may vary.

This is just the opinion of someone who grew up using the technology. Computers can be extremely educational, entertaining, and useful - just like any other tool or technology. Early use, acclimation, and understanding of both their advantages and risks can lead to major benefits to an individual; I'm making almost 6 figures without a college degree based entirely on my familiarity and adeptness with computers, and that started with silly little arcade games at the age of 5.