Looking for a desktop for a 6 year old?

[Herdfan]

I would question your parenting, frankly, if you're considering buying a desktop for a child's exclusive use.

I bought my daughter a cheap eMachines when she was 3. She had been watching Noggin on TV and kept wanting to go to Nogggin.com. She was not going to use my desktop or wife's laptop, so we got her a cheap PC to get online with. I put icons on desktop for her sites like Noggin, PBS Kids and Disney. She was navigating it like a pro within a week.

Now she is 11 and helps her teachers fix their computer issues at school. She also has a 13" MBP.

 

[NutsNGum]

I bought my daughter a cheap eMachines when she was 3. She had been watching Noggin on TV and kept wanting to go to Nogggin.com. She was not going to use my desktop or wife's laptop, so we got her a cheap PC to get online with. I put icons on desktop for her sites like Noggin, PBS Kids and Disney. She was navigating it like a pro within a week.

Now she is 11 and helps her teachers fix their computer issues at school. She also has a 13" MBP.

That's great!

 

[mrskullfreak]

I bought my daughter a cheap eMachines when she was 3. She had been watching Noggin on TV and kept wanting to go to Nogggin.com. She was not going to use my desktop or wife's laptop, so we got her a cheap PC to get online with. I put icons on desktop for her sites like Noggin, PBS Kids and Disney. She was navigating it like a pro within a week.

Now she is 11 and helps her teachers fix their computer issues at school. She also has a 13" MBP.

Very cool.
Definitely is something to be proud of...

 

[bt22]

I have been slowly updating all of my computers to Macs. I setup my old Gateway Pentium D computer in my daughters room about a year ago. Like other posters have stated she started using computers in kindergarten. My daughter is in the third grade now and she takes all of her Advanced Reading test and all of her spelling test on a computer. There are lots of internet sites that promote learning, one example is Cool Math. There is a lot of stratagy involved and problem solving. I do understand I will have to keep a closer eye on her activity as she gets older, but I don't see this as a negative. The only problem I have is she is constantly fussing at me that she has to use Window's instead of OS-X.

 

[mrskullfreak]

I bought my daughter a cheap eMachines when she was 3. She had been watching Noggin on TV and kept wanting to go to Nogggin.com. She was not going to use my desktop or wife's laptop, so we got her a cheap PC to get online with. I put icons on desktop for her sites like Noggin, PBS Kids and Disney. She was navigating it like a pro within a week.

Now she is 11 and helps her teachers fix their computer issues at school. She also has a 13" MBP.

OMG you you mentioned something other then apple?
LOL I was bashed for that

 

[balamw]

FWIW, the 17" white iMac from 2006 was purchased in large part for the kids (when they were 5 and 3 respectively) and remains their main computer to date. I had planned on buying them a mini, but the 17" made more sense as a living room computer and had more bang for the buck.

The lack of wires for the AIO really makes sense for a computer for young children.

If I had to do it today I'd consider a refurb 21.5", which would be about the same as a loaded Mini+display+...

B

 

[Herdfan]

OMG you you mentioned something other then apple?
LOL I was bashed for that

That was back before I saw the light.

On a somewhat related note, she was raised on PC's and can install a printer, download and install updates etc as I made her do that on her computer. She can also do the same on a Mac.

I think it is best that she be familiar with both machines. But she does like to do her presentations in Keynote. All her classmates will do PP's that look basically the same, then she does hers in Keynote and it looks completely different.

 

[balamw]

That was back before I saw the light.

FWIW my boys were using an old Pentium 150 desktop and a Toshiba notebook before we decided to get the iMac. All their school computers have been Macs though, even though they can easily handle Windows as well...

The iBook was my gateway back to the light after 15 years of anything-but-Mac advocacy.

B

 

[Aliascognito]

Quick heads up if you're looking to buy any PPC iMac...
Adobe Flash does not support PPC machines anymore and no browsers with built in flash operate on PPC's...
My advice would be to buy a refurb mini from ...

 

[Roller]

I think that a desktop computer for a 6-year-old is a good idea, especially if they need it for school. Even if they don't, it's a good idea for them to get used to using it, which they'll have to do in a year or two no matter what. Just make sure that you set it up in an area where you can keep an eye on their online activities.

 

[Acorn]

you can get the base mac mini 2011 from amazon for like 568 bucks. it fluctuates but its not a bad price for what you get. it would last for years for a kid that young. you can upgrade the memory easily yourself also which is a nice thing.

 

[Medic278]

Couple of things. I agree that a Mac Mini is a great idea for a child. Its a great starter Mac and decent displays can be had for cheap or even better you may have a monitor keyboard and mouse lying around from an old computer that would make the purchase even better. I would not sell my MacBook for 2 iPads I have both the iPad 1 and 2 and while they are both great machines and tools and I will occasionally use it to take notes in class sometimes when my MacBook is charging or whatever, however iPads WILL NOT replace your MacBook. They are great for entertainment use and are super portable however they are not full blown computers and are not capable of replacing a notebook yet. So I would hold on to my MacBook and buy and iPad 3 and then maybe a refurb iPad 2 for your son/daughter. When I purchased my iMac I looked at the Mac mini but decided against it because I want to convert to a complete Mac house and the iMac was better for needs but from what I know of the product and what I have researched the Mac mini is an excellent entry level Mac especially for a child.

 

[Mr Rogers]

iMac for kids

Really,

Its a 'no brainer', get your daughter a used iMac with AppleCare if possible - my kid is 4 and uses both the 21.5in iMac, 27in iMac and Mac Mini - loves her iTouch too and will have a iPad 3 at years end.

Depending on requirements, a Mac Mini with TV USB connected to a Dell 24in monitor is a good setup, particularly if you have xBox or PS3 - if no games consuls, go for regular iMac's and add TV ability - it becomes a good media centre and learning tool.

Having just sold my top end 2010 21.5in iMac, now need a i5/i7 2011 model - waiting until I can get a good price and have APP already in bag to apply to a used machine.

Again, though, how is child using computer, do you wish also to use with games consul, this means purchasing a Kanek for a 2010 iMac, not too sure on 2011 model.

Hope this helps, but kids love Apple and the OS and mine started using my iMac's at three, so never too soon to get them used to the technology - if only I could say the same about my parents!!!!!

 

[tom vilsack]

I love older ppc macs...but don't buy your daughter one! She is gonna want to go online to sites that use flash (trust me on this one!!!) and ppc macs don't cut it!

Second she is 6 so she is gonna be a walking wreaking ball lol so that puts $$$ mac laptops and Imac in big trouble!

The mini might be good idea...but im betting she would like to move computer around...playroom,bedroom (bedtime stories daddy!) ect...also there a chance that some computer games,barbie ect will come with dvd's and mini no longer has.

This leave a good choice as being a cheap and thick windows 7 laptop...something like a lenova on sale at bb this week for $329 that has a amd dual core e-450 with amd hd 6320 a 6 cell battery,dvd,320 gig jhd ect...would be perfect

good luck

 

[chrono1081]

Its so nice to see everyone teaching their kids multiple operating systems. I wish my parents would have done that with me (of course computers were $2500+ when I was a kid).

 

[Dopeyman]

I have a 20" iMac Core Duo that I'm thinking of selling...

Let me know if you're interested....

 

[0000757]

You must not have kids in school.
They use them daily.

And that requires you to get her an exclusive brand new computer? Get her some old Windows XP Netbook or go find a cheap old computer on eBay. Buying a 6-year-old a 1k+ All-in-one is dumb. When I was 7 I *really* wanted my own computer, so my mom gave me her old tray-loading iMac G3, with OS 9. It lasted me up until I was about 11, when I got enough money (and annoyed my mom enough), to get me a laptop.

Seriously, buying young kids brand-new expensive computers is a bad idea. I'm not against getting her one, but get her a crappy used one. She does not need nor will probably ever need anything like a TouchSmart for a while. (Maybe when she's older she'll need a more powerful computer depending on what she wants to do in life, but seriously, not needed)