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My 11 y/o wants a Mac..??
- Thread starter Hube01
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Seriously? Way to completely take everything out of my post and skew it.@Alaerian, you may think all kids are dumb. You may even think none of them are capable of much but frankly, I think your way of thinking is inane and more importantly, not believing a child can do good things is your prerogative but children and can do great things. You may not be saying children are dumb, you're not exactly showing anyone that you don't really think that. But did you ever stop to think that children have made amazing things happen with their computers? I know that an 11 year old today is far more advanced than many 11 year olds in my time. I have an 11 year old nephew who blows me away quite often. Or a better example that you can see is what this 12 year old did ... https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1128178/ . Go figure, right?
Perhaps next time you might read it before commenting.Your example is the exception, not the rule. If a situation warrants a particular solution, then that solution is obviously fitting. For the norm and until other potential or interest is shown, there is absolutely no reason to provide a complex solution with factors that will remain unused.
Let me guess - the first time your child shows interest in riding a bike, you'll be running right to your neighborhood cycling shop to have him custom fit for a super lightweight racing bike, right? I mean, he MIGHT use it eventually, right?
I don't think it's fair for you to judge how intelligent this child is. Being able to use a computer fluently is becoming more and more important pretty soon they're probably going to be required even before college
Then nor is it fair for you.
Jesus Christ, you people think I am saying children in general are slobbering idiots who couldn't tell the difference between their own asses and a spoon. I am simply saying that for the normal child, they don't need anything more than a family computer or a secondhand basic MacBook. For the exceptional whiz kid that shows a proficiency with final cut in the womb, sure - get the ankle biter a mac pro. But until you show me that the average child today has a a proficiency that requires anything more, I'm sticking to my guns.
I personally think that an 11 year old has no business having a laptop. But hey, in an age where 4 year olds have their own cell phones, go figure. Honestly, don't blow your money on a computer for her. Invest in a desktop for the kid instead. It'll cost less and you'll not have to worry as much about it breaking. Besides, kids these days seem to be the type that think that their stuff is crap because one of their friends has a better version of it and if they don't get it then they aren't cool. Just my two cents.
Sorry that your thread turned into this *****torm of a debate, but I guess that is what happens on MR forums
I would honestly go with a 13" MBP for her. The 13" MBP is affordable new, will last her through middle school and high school easily until she needs a new computer for college.
I would also really not be too overbearing with the child controls. I'm 21 now, and I've been obsessed with computers since I was in 1st grade, when my dad brought home his work laptop for the first time. Me and my 3 siblings would fight over it all the time, and my parents eventually bought a desktop computer to supplement it, so 2 family members could be using a computer at a time. By the start of 4th grade, I was into MUDding and coding in LPC, HTML, java, php, mysql.. I was really into it.
Sure, your kids may look at things they're not supposed to, G-d knows I did... but they're going to have access to look at these things eventually anyways. I was in 3rd grade the first time I saw porn, because I went to my friend's house and his computer didn't have parental controls and I was just like :O. Haha, but really, unless you homeschool your child, never let them leave, and always watch what they do, they will eventually have access to things you don't want them having access to. I would prefer to let my child make decisions because believe it or not, your child is probably a lot more mature than you all think.
I would honestly go with a 13" MBP for her. The 13" MBP is affordable new, will last her through middle school and high school easily until she needs a new computer for college.
I would also really not be too overbearing with the child controls. I'm 21 now, and I've been obsessed with computers since I was in 1st grade, when my dad brought home his work laptop for the first time. Me and my 3 siblings would fight over it all the time, and my parents eventually bought a desktop computer to supplement it, so 2 family members could be using a computer at a time. By the start of 4th grade, I was into MUDding and coding in LPC, HTML, java, php, mysql.. I was really into it.
Sure, your kids may look at things they're not supposed to, G-d knows I did... but they're going to have access to look at these things eventually anyways. I was in 3rd grade the first time I saw porn, because I went to my friend's house and his computer didn't have parental controls and I was just like :O. Haha, but really, unless you homeschool your child, never let them leave, and always watch what they do, they will eventually have access to things you don't want them having access to. I would prefer to let my child make decisions because believe it or not, your child is probably a lot more mature than you all think.
I think it comes down to two factors:
1) What's your budget
2) How good is your child at treating expensive items with care - not getting lost or used aggressively
If you've got plenty of money and your child is really good at treating things with care, then practically any device is OK.
If budget isn't an issue but your kid is fairly normal and lets things get thrown around in book bags, etc., then I'd consider an entry-level MacBook or a used Intel Core2-based MacBook. Get a sleeve, and if you're handy, replace the drive with an SSD, which won't have issues with shock.
If budget is a major issue, get a used MacBook. I'd avoid eBay, but you should have no problems finding something with eBay or online from PowerMax or Small Dog.
1) What's your budget
2) How good is your child at treating expensive items with care - not getting lost or used aggressively
If you've got plenty of money and your child is really good at treating things with care, then practically any device is OK.
If budget isn't an issue but your kid is fairly normal and lets things get thrown around in book bags, etc., then I'd consider an entry-level MacBook or a used Intel Core2-based MacBook. Get a sleeve, and if you're handy, replace the drive with an SSD, which won't have issues with shock.
If budget is a major issue, get a used MacBook. I'd avoid eBay, but you should have no problems finding something with eBay or online from PowerMax or Small Dog.
In the end, it really comes down to parenting. I'm 31 now and have also started messing with computers at a very young age. Of course, the internet did not exist on a broad scale when I was younger, in fact, it didn't really become mainstream until I was about a junior in high school and it didn't become fast (high speed) till I was in college.
I can attest kids will find ways to access anything they are not supposed to. Luckily, my parents never dealt with parental controls on TV or on the computer so whatever problems I got the computer into, I also had to learn to fix as well. However, technology today is very advanced and very easy to use with just a few clicks. With my first kid coming in a few months, I'm now debating whether I should expose her to technology in the same way I learned, or do so with a bit more caution.
At this day and age, I'm not really scared that she may be able to access things that she's not supposed to. What I'm worried about is if she will create inappropriate content that gets passed around online without fully understanding the repercussions of it all. Again, I believe it comes down to the parenting and education but I can't help but wonder what I would have done back in the day if high speed internet and webcams were readily available to me and all my friends.
I've noticed that no one has said anything about the Air - that would be my suggestion. Get a used external superdrive for the few times that you will need that.
My business friend has an air, and he tosses it in what ever to carry it around - sturdy as heck. Also being light it is not difficult carting it around for whatever. And if you get one of the more recent ones, it should be fine for at least several years. The 11 inch one would be perfect - small, sturdy, and functional.
That all being said, there are a lot of parenting issues also being discussed in the thread, and they all have to do with people's own point of view on what is proper for what ages. I still think it is possible to "spoil" a kid - I have 3 and am fortunate to make a good living - and my kids have "expectations" that sometimes I have to reel them back from - but some of that is my own doing due to times of being extravagant. But, whatever, my only advice is to be aware that having expensive things does have consequences and only time will tell if they turn out to be good, neutral or bad...
My business friend has an air, and he tosses it in what ever to carry it around - sturdy as heck. Also being light it is not difficult carting it around for whatever. And if you get one of the more recent ones, it should be fine for at least several years. The 11 inch one would be perfect - small, sturdy, and functional.
That all being said, there are a lot of parenting issues also being discussed in the thread, and they all have to do with people's own point of view on what is proper for what ages. I still think it is possible to "spoil" a kid - I have 3 and am fortunate to make a good living - and my kids have "expectations" that sometimes I have to reel them back from - but some of that is my own doing due to times of being extravagant. But, whatever, my only advice is to be aware that having expensive things does have consequences and only time will tell if they turn out to be good, neutral or bad...
Honestly, I think education is a much better idea than parental controls. Parental controls will just make children want to know what they can't see even more, but education can make them not WANT to.
I would get an iMac or Mac mini; no need for a portable; too easy to break; if your 11 yo spills anything, it's usually a non-issue for a desktop, but a bigger issue for laptop computers. It's unlikely to drop a desktop, etc.
Desktops also allow for offer better ergonomics, something folks should get into a good habit of. Plus it's a lot easier to monitor your child.
Finally a desktop can be more powerful than a similarly price laptop computer, so your child can use it for a much longer time before having to buy a new machine. Maybe when your 11 yo has shown responsibility on the computer and extensive ability, purchase a laptop computer for high school in a couple years.
Desktops also allow for offer better ergonomics, something folks should get into a good habit of. Plus it's a lot easier to monitor your child.
Finally a desktop can be more powerful than a similarly price laptop computer, so your child can use it for a much longer time before having to buy a new machine. Maybe when your 11 yo has shown responsibility on the computer and extensive ability, purchase a laptop computer for high school in a couple years.
This lol.
Get her a desktop off Craigslist or build her one for a couple hundred bucks.
Actually, it's usually not the kids. It's the parents who insist on shoving their children in front of the tv to entertain them or spend inordinate amounts of money on stupid crap.
Op, not directed at you in any sense of the word, nor at anyone in this thread. Speaking in a general sense ONLY.
It is true some parents do that, but of course, it is impossible to know the intent of each parent. My son has been on me for two years, yes since he was 8 to get him a cell phone because all his friends have one. I said and still say no, because he doesn't need one.
With children it is a matter of balance and education with everything, there is no one right decision.
I think that the issue of unsupervised internet use is a serious consideration, and you should not take this lightly.
Laptops are harder to control by parents.
If room is limited, get a mac mini and a monitor, or a smaller imac but whatever you get, you need to supervise what the kid is doing on it or it may come back to haunt you.
I say get them a desk-based computer, not a laptop.
Laptops are harder to control by parents.
If room is limited, get a mac mini and a monitor, or a smaller imac but whatever you get, you need to supervise what the kid is doing on it or it may come back to haunt you.
I say get them a desk-based computer, not a laptop.
do you currently own a macbook? my advice would be YOU getting a new one, and giving your 11 y/o the one you have been using. im surprised i haven't seen this answer anywhere. this way your child gets a computer and so do you
When I was 11, I had edited a 5 minute movie in FCP, could easily navigate around Photoshop and made some stuff in it, organised my iPhoto library into Aperture and stored the RAW files on an external HD and made (purely in HTML) and hosted a website on my own server.
Granted, most children aren't as lucky to have all these resources or are creative enough (talented?
), but children shouldn't just be associated with Facebook, Word and YouTube. (I'm not even on FB)haha - my parents too. Though I'm not convinced that is necessarily the way I would parent.
But in all seriousness - what you decide to get her depends on your budget and/or the personality and capabilities of your kid.
If the reason your kid wants a mac is because all the other kids in the school have one - I'm not sure that's a good reason to get her a $1k+ laptop. You can teach a good lesson on humility by not spoiling the kid.
BUT if she really is a prodigal child and will really put the mac to good use and appreciate it, then perhaps a macbook pro isn't too far fetched. There are some kids that are truly extraordinary - and if they really needed something to help them move forward - I'm all for it.
Not sure which your child is? Just get her something small to start with - like a low end macbook and just upgrade as you see fit.
I got a Performa 630 when I was six, by the time I was 11 I was teaching my dad things instead of the other way round...
However, I agree a second hand something or other is the way forward here.
However, I agree a second hand something or other is the way forward here.
So when your 16 year old daughter wants a new car, will you be buying her a new car? I wouldn't think so. You start them off with a beater. Let then drive it for a few years until they can afford something better..
Id start them off with a netbook $200 can get you one from WALMART. Install a good antivirus malware program. Set your parental controls and your good to go..
Id start them off with a netbook $200 can get you one from WALMART. Install a good antivirus malware program. Set your parental controls and your good to go..