Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Perhaps my opinion is valid, given that I was recently in high school, and have a brother who is just now a freshman in high school. Given that, I felt at no time during school that my own computer was necessary, and my brother is doing fine without one as well. I'm not trying to say I know how to parent, because I don't yet. I'm just basing this on experience through school. I'm sure if I had asked for a Mac at 11, or even 13-14, my parents would have laughed at me and said buy it yourself. I had access to the household computers, and that was plenty for me.

You realize all schools are different? Curriculums are different. Education styles and educational rankings are different. Im located in one of the highest ranked school districts in the country and i know my nephews need their laptops.
 
To be honest I don't have kids yet, but I'm 30 years and it isn't too far off. My perspective does come from making real money now. It's ridiculous to think back to what amount of money I could live off of when I was 22. I was stupid poor.

I don't have kids either. Just nephews who are young and always over and annoying me. I have taught them office pretty well tho. Im teaching the older one (13) how to run excel and access now. and yeah i hear ya. I think the main thing is that these kids (HS, College, everything in between until ya hit the real world) don't realize that time is $$$$. If $1000 saves me time; etc. ill gladly pay it.
 
I'm sure if I had asked for a Mac at 11, or even 13-14, my parents would have laughed at me and said buy it yourself. I had access to the household computers, and that was plenty for me.

I don't really see what the problem is then? You had a computer growing up just like the rest of us. Sure the family computer wasn't "MINE", but I was the one using it 99% of the time. So the OP's daughter wants one, I really see no difference.
 
Do all you college kid want a cookie b.c you worked and bought your own stuff in High school? Thats all you kids keep mentioning. You guys can think its spoiling his kid. But stop pretending like you guys are like freaking royalty b.c your worked and bought yourself something when you were younger. I know plenty of trust fund babies that grew up with everything they had and turned out to be very successful and wonderful people. Its all in the parenting.

and LIKE I SAID BEFORE. The AVERAGE consumer only do web browsing, videos, youtube; etc. Almost NONE of them need a quad core processor, 240 gb ssd, and 8 gb of ram. If people followed your logic, Apple shouldn't even upgrade their hardware.

woah woah woah,

i was stating my opinion, and first of all i pretty much raised my younger brother cause parents werent there for him, second of all i come from a poor family and now that i am successful because of my hard work proves many things and it all starts from when you are child.

many kids these days are so used to their parents supplying them with free money and (who does the chores around the house?)
these kids dont know to work out in the real world, give them a job at construction or at something that requires muscle and they wont even know where to start...

im not telling him how to raise his children, im just saying that i think that if he wants to get a 2k dollar mac for a child than that will be spoiling it in my OPINION, (if the child worked for it as in grades or chores then i applaud that child for working hard and wont end up in the basement of their 75 year old parents house for the rest of their life cause they dont know what a job is)

thank you have a nice day!
 
many kids these days are so used to their parents supplying them with free money and (who does the chores around the house?)
these kids dont know to work out in the real world, give them a job at construction or at something that requires muscle and they wont even know where to start...

Congrats on your success, but just b.c some kids have more than what you had doesn't make you more likely to become more successful than the next person. I know many people from both ends of the spectrum. Most that i know that "made" it were well off before their success. Its all in the parenting and upbringing not in some material item that may or may not have a value that YOU deem high. While others may not.

I know plenty of kids with loads of family money, got everything they wanted, maids; etc, that turned out pretty well. Theres nothing wrong with it. Some of these kids are arguably more successful than most (hedge fund partners, consulting partners, doctors, lawyers; etc.). And when these kids become successful they have the biggest advantage... Money. They have the money to get into business for themselves, and make their money make more money.
 
these kids dont know to work out in the real world, give them a job at construction or at something that requires muscle and they wont even know where to start...

...so what?

Is that the only 'real world' out there? Get them a job at a tech company, and maybe they'll be the next Woz.

Sure, most kids won't be like that, but for a website full of tech geeks, I'm rather disappointed by the reaction here.
 
...so what?

Is that the only 'real world' out there? Get them a job at a tech company, and maybe they'll be the next Woz.

Sure, most kids won't be like that, but for a website full of tech geeks, I'm rather disappointed by the reaction here.

well i guess im more of a conservative thinker, its just what i believe,

work = money whether you use your brain or muscles but you need to work in order to get somewhere in life...there will be a point where free isnt an option, but if you CAN get something free go ahead and go for it, just dont do something you will regret later.
 
...so what?

Is that the only 'real world' out there? Get them a job at a tech company, and maybe they'll be the next Woz.

Sure, most kids won't be like that, but for a website full of tech geeks, I'm rather disappointed by the reaction here.

Geeks or not, there are timeless principles when it comes to parenting.

Kids should become computer literate as early as possible, they're tools for success in many fields these days. A laptop for a young child is not as silly of an idea as it used to be.

If it were me in the OP's situation, I'd get something fairly cheap like a 300 or $400 laptop and of course make sure it was used in a public space and used responsibly.
 
well i guess im more of a conservative thinker, its just what i believe,

work = money whether you use your brain or muscles but you need to work in order to get somewhere in life...there will be a point where free isnt an option, but if you CAN get something free go ahead and go for it, just dont do something you will regret later.

Sorry, I kind of replied viscerally without reading the rest of your reply. Primarily the part where you supposed other kinds of work. I certainly agree that no prize (like a very nice computer) should come without some degree of work or effort put into obtaining it; times have changed, of course, and the kinds of things kids might have done in the past to earn something are no longer the same things they might do today. And the kinds of requirements and work schools impose upon today's generation are especially no longer the same as in the past. I just think these are things to keep in mind before judging.
 
Sorry, I kind of replied viscerally without reading the rest of your reply. Primarily the part where you supposed other kinds of work. I certainly agree that no prize (like a very nice computer) should come without some degree of work or effort put into obtaining it; times have changed, of course, and the kinds of things kids might have done in the past to earn something are no longer the same things they might do today. And the kinds of requirements and work schools impose upon today's generation are especially no longer the same as in the past. I just think these are things to keep in mind before judging.

very true, and i am also trying to get my little brother technically involved, the middle one is too busy trying to be "cool" in middle school so he doesnt wanna look like a geek (shame on him) lol

MESSAGE TO OP: but i do certainly believe that if you want your child/ brother/ cousin/ friend (whomever) to learn technology and you rightfully believe that a mac will do it then go right ahead and spend the money (but with a good cause)

just remember if they misbehave or bring their grades down you can enjoy an extra mac for a while until they bring their grades up...:D
 
I am 15 now. When I was in 6th grade (when I was 12), my teacher required me to bring a laptop in to class to do homework (well, she didn't require me to, but it was either I wrote the assignment[I was and still am a slow writer and a fast typist] and then go home and use the family computer to type it. That meant I had to do it twice.). My brother had a Rev.A MacBook and I loved using it. My mom had a Slowny :)cool:) Vaio and I temporarily used that to take to school. My local CompUSA was going out of business and they had everything on clearance. We got my 2.2GHz White MacBook (superdrive model) for $1200 (on sale from $1300) with AppleCare for $200. I was ecstatic! I could finally have a computer to call my own. It was my pride and joy. On April 24, 2010 I got my 13" 2.4GHz MBP. I absolutely LOVE it. Beware; if you buy your 11 year-old a MacBook, he/she will want the newest thing. Well, maybe that's just me.. I follow Apple tech and knew that my MacBook was so outdated.

If your child is responsible and can be trusted not to drop it or mistreat the MacBook, I would recommend getting him/her a 13" MBP. If (s)he can't be trusted to keep it in good condition, then you should just find an old Rev A or B (2006 models) or an iBook for under $500 and buy it for him/her.

I love the enthusiasm from the kids who have added their comments! Very refreshing to hear these kinds of comments from someone who is 15, and obviously appreciates and understands the technology.
 
Well, here's my 2 cents...

First, I have a 15 year old. He got my 2007 MB about 2 years ago, going on 3. That made him around the same age as the OP's child. He had been using Mac's in his school since age 8. He still uses the same system, and we're getting close to cleaning it up, selling it, and putting the cash towards a new system for him. Not sure what yet, but another Mac. That all said, there's NOTHING wrong with getting a kid a Mac, or any PC for that matter. Face it, we're in a technical, online age. Kids are FB'ing, Twittering, SMS'ing, etc. all the time; whether it's on a phone or computer. When I was his age computers weren't around, so how could I get one!? Unless my folks wanted to spring for a Cray..LOL...

Those condemning the OP need to mind their own business. If you don't have a constructive reply, then go away. No one wants to hear how kids need to think more, or don't really need a computer. Nor does anyone care that you walked to school in the blinding snow, barefoot, up hill, both ways...go cry a river someplace else.

To the OP: If you're looking at Mac's, and want to save a few bucks, check out Craigslist or eBay. However, beware! If you can, go local and look at it first. Make sure it's okay, make sure it works, etc. Otherwise, go for a refurb. They're like brand new, and are great systems. The one I mentioned above is a refurb, and it runs as good now as it did the day we received it!
 
I'd look for deals on Craigslist from a Macbook user who " just has to have the latest and greatest. ".

Chances are his will be less than a year old, and have some warranty left on it -OR- maybe over a year old and has remainder of Applecare on it.

All of my children are using Macs, none of them were given new ones by me. All have used ones. Of course now they are older and want new, they bought their own.




.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.