Community Newsletter: Q&A: Laptop recommendation for children
- 6/20/08 12:13 PM
Laptop recommendation for children
by Lee Koo (ADMIN) - 6/20/08 12:13 PM
Question:
I am the father of two sons, ages 9 and 11, in search of
advice in regards to the "right sizing" of laptops for them.
I have tried getting advice from the forums, but the feedback
I have received has been questions on why I want to purchase
laptops, mostly from nonparents. Sure, it might sound like a
large investment for their age, but mobility is the driver
behind the decision as we travel a lot.
Given their age, you would think that the requirements would
be easy to spec, the primary applications being Internet
research, e-mail, light doc processing, and of course gaming
both online (Runescape) and off. I'm looking for something
that can survive the treatment from their age, have enough
horsepower for gaming, and yet still be "reasonable"
price-wise. (Maybe I am being delusional.) Any advice you
could offer would defiantly be appreciated. Thanks!
--Submitted by Bob (Christopher and Willam's Dad)
Here are some helpful answers to get you started, however there are many more great advice that can found throughout this discussion thread. So please read them all.
Thinkpad T-series is childproof; get a hi-spec used model --submitted by ralphclark
http://forums.cnet.com/5208-10149_102-0.html?forumID=7&threadID=295011&messageID=2774793#2774793
I'd get something sturdy with a strong battery --submitted by sircanegiem
http://forums.cnet.com/5208-10149_102-0.html?forumID=7&threadID=295011&messageID=2774828#2774828
Laptops For Children --submitted by waytron
http://forums.cnet.com/5208-10149_102-0.html?forumID=7&threadID=295011&messageID=2775558#2775558
If you have any additional recommedations for Bob, please click on the reply link and post it. In your answer, please provide as many details as possible which can also include links to products.
Gaming laptops for pre-teens?
by glenfotre - 5/16/08 6:13 PM In reply to: Laptop recommendation for children by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Take them out for a hike, instead!
Hiking or L-Tops\
by MrAJ - 5/24/08 11:46 AM In reply to: Gaming laptops for pre-teens? by glenfotreWhy would you give someone advise like that; you don’t know anything about them, and you judge them based on what, your life failures? Do you have disengaged teens? May be they are looking for balance to outwait the over hiking site of the children’s life. If you have nothing to say about computers, the question was about that, right? Further if you cannot give a useful advice on the subject, may be you can move to a hiking forum elsewhere and give your hiking advises to those who hikes. I am sure there are forums for that out there.
To help answer the question what and how, unfortunately there is no black or white in this. You need good specs for the games and stable O/S for everything else. Thus stay away from Vista for another year or so. You will avoid the driver’s issues. Many manufacturers are coming up with the drivers for their peripherals for Vista, but there are many who don’t, so if you already have things at home, you want to work with the new L-Tops, pay attention to this, DRIVERS. Further networking but also overall stability is very important Vista is not quite there yet. Make sure that there is plenty of RAM, and good graphics as well as other stuff you want to do. If you know you will burn CD or DVDs you will need a good drive for that. Make sure you will get the L-Top with it.
For most of the other things I had seen a reasonable answer on this forum.
High end used machines with multiple cells battery the more the better. One thing you need to pay attention to is the price. Compare the prices and chose the highest possible parameters. The other thing , what you need to look for is the battery. 4 cells will do but not as well as 6 or 8 cells. Further look for the specifications. The higher the better but balance it with the price accordingly. Remember the machine you buy today will be low level tomorrow so don’t get too crazy with the specs/price. Don’t buy highest end Toshiba or HP but also don’t go for the lowest priced Acer. The quality of built of the L-tops is pretty much equal among the brands today. Everything else is a matter of preference.
Respectfully AJ
Innappropriate comment
by lemonshark10 - 5/26/08 8:36 PM In reply to: Gaming laptops for pre-teens? by glenfotreThat comment "Take them for a hike" is completely inappropriate. as a personal success story I'll have you know i have been using computers since i was 3 years old and playing games since the age of around 7. Hell i've had a playstation 1, 2 , and now 3. I am now just going into high school so i was gaming well before and through my preteen years. The trick is moderation. I am a total nerd and i'll admit it, i love computers. this is no doubt a result of my using them since such a tender age but i also hold a job, am one of the top students in my grade, and am physically fit. I applied to a job at the age of 13 last spring and have since been working at that nusrey. I am because of that job out side all day every weekend and also after school two days a week. Also while i am not currently on any sports teams it is because it would have conflicted with work and boyscouts. So instead me and my friends play manhunt almost every weekend. and my job involves lifting heavy items and constantly moving. So don't insinuate in your comments that having a computer or playing computer games will lead to a sedentary life style or that it will some how harm the children who do this. if you are going to comment least do so in a constructive manner.
From Father of 3
by JackPeterson - 5/16/08 6:29 PM In reply to: Laptop recommendation for children by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I have 3 kids so this is coming from someone who had to deal with video games and chatting. Yours are 9 and 11. That's an easy one. Forget the idea of laptops and buy them a soccer ball and cleats. Or a basketball, or skateboard. In other words get them outside! You want them to play games or check email they can use yours. Traveling? Buy a portable dvd player and iPods. Better yet, stop once in a while and visit some historical site or the like. Buying a kid their own computer (especially a laptop) is saying, "Go away kid, you bother me". Better yet it gives them the "freedom" to be alone in their room, and encourages them to NOT interact with you. Soon you have teenagers totally disengaged. For their sake wait until they really NEED a computer for school, and buy one you can monitor.
not all children are equal
by maggiedev - 5/16/08 7:01 PM In reply to: From Father of 3 by JackPetersoni have raised 7. 2 girls and 5 boys. not all are interested in the same things and i found early not to force those who were academic onto the soccer field or baseball field. that breeds rebellion in its own form. we do things as a family and we compromise. there is alone time for the computer, games, etc, and there is family time. the secret is the children know who is the boss. you can have the best of both worlds and have happy, well adjusted children. we decide when the computer is used and if the grades fall, the computer goes up. we have network in our home so we can see what is going on. if respect is given, respect will be received. demands and force always meeet with rebellion. works in our home.
Computer literacy
by dcsmith3 - 5/24/08 5:41 AM In reply to: not all children are equal by maggiedevI have three kids 1,4,8 and I want them to be very proficient with the computer because I did not get a computer until my sophmore year in College and my family did not have one growing up. What is the network you are talking about where you can moniter the household computers and how does it work and how do you get it?
Technology when young =/= nerds!
by Hodgelett - 5/17/08 4:07 AM In reply to: From Father of 3 by JackPetersonThere's nothing wrong with getting kids engaged with technology AND getting them outside. I had my first 'computer' when I was 4, admittedly it was a spelling/word game thing, but I had my own pc by about 7. I probably do spend too much time on my computer, but that's a habit acquired from being a student. That never stopped me from being on most of my school's sports teams, eating my way through books, gardening, spending at least two days a week at archery, photography, sketching, acting and making music. I blame my independence not on computers but the fact I'm an only child.
Sure you have to make sure that they do take an interest in lots of hobbies, and making sure they don't spend too long on computers - especially as RS is a highly addictive game and like most RPGs sucks away time, but that's what parenting's about surely 
Being tech savvy can only help them in the future. Just remember - everything in moderation.
Excellent Advice
by jgurkovi - 5/24/08 4:12 AM In reply to: From Father of 3 by JackPetersonExcellent advice
Building Community for Social Beings
by Jazznme - 5/25/08 8:02 AM In reply to: From Father of 3 by JackPetersonWow! Your suggestion may not be well received, but I applaud you and will read no further, as I agree totally. All these marketed gadgets that have been marketed in the last 10 years have none done much for family values. Children, like their adult parents are learning to become less and less resourceful and phsyically unfit. Take a good look at groups or individuals at the mall or a middle or high school. Thanks for your thoughtful advise, but I doubt it will be considered. But it is the best advice he will get. The children can learn to take turns on the family computer and plenty are available in the schools. And, as I always told my kids, as we loaded the car with more kids, for a ride up to Lost Lake, "I don't care what 'those kids' have, they're not mine."
What are the system requirements for Runescape?
by Doctor Entropy - 5/16/08 6:32 PM In reply to: Laptop recommendation for children by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Or the most resource-intensive game they play? That is your starting point. Find laptops that meet the gaming requirements, then choose the most rugged model. (Don't forget the speed of the wireless internet connection for the online gaming, if the laptops are used "on the road".)
I'm sure that laptop connoisseurs will have their favorite suggestions once the basic requirements are known.
laptops for kids
by maggiedev - 5/16/08 6:36 PM In reply to: Laptop recommendation for children by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
i am one of the minority that thinks laptops rock. i won't have a desktop again. my daughter has one specially built but she is a quadrriplegic and has some very large programs for her use. i like the mobility of the laptop and it does everything i need it to do plus some. my grandson, age 15, has his own laptop and he plays games on it. you can get gaming laptops, but they are very expensive for most people. i know a lot of people probably will not agree with me, but here is what we do. h.p and compaq have great laptops. you can get them with 250 gigs of hard drive that are quite adequate for what you want. wireless internet, built in webcam and the grandson has no problem playing games. you will have to teach the children respect for expensive equipment, but very nice ones can be had for under $1000.00. i take mine on all trips for use with my photography. i download every evening of a trip. i don't game, but i am the only one in the house that doesn't. personally i won't have anything but H.P. i also don't want to be tied to a desktop. check out different stores, but if you have a best buy anywhere near, you can usually find a nice, affordable choice. by the way, with children, if offered a service policy that covers accidental damage, buy it. a lot of people think service policies are not worth it. from personal experience, i won't buy without it. they have paid for themselves in our household. we run 4-6 computers all the time. good luck.
The obvious answer is to buy MacBooks
by FrankWoolf - 5/16/08 6:48 PM In reply to: Laptop recommendation for children by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
The obvious answer is to buy MacBooks. You then have the added bonus of not worrying about them downloading Windoze viruses and I think you could drive a truck over most Mac laptops. My kids have been using iBooks, MacBooks, PowerBooks, etc for years at home and at school.
Yeah, if you want a bloody expensive laptop
by Sasuto Uchiha - 5/17/08 4:05 AM In reply to: The obvious answer is to buy MacBooks by FrankWoolfToo expensive for him i think, and why would a kid need a iMac?
Macs are no more expensive than any quality Windows box
by JohnDCCIU - 5/24/08 1:33 AM In reply to: Yeah, if you want a bloody expensive laptop by Sasuto UchihaMacBooks are $999 for students, which is certainly not "bloody expensive", and the poster never said anything about being constrained by price anyway...perhaps he values quality over lowest price (which would operate even in a Windows-only laptop comparison)
We maintain about 1,000 student laptops, mostly iBooks and MacBooks as a 1:1 laptop program and the Macs hold up extremely well and are a joy to maintain versus Windows laptops, especially for kids, as they tend to get into the Windows malware even more than adults.
Do yourself a favor and check out your local Apple Store before making a decision.
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