Childs first Computer - iMac or Macbook?

[Dmac77]

I agree. I have 3 children (aged 10 to 15) and while I did monitor there usage for the first few years, they are all now happily interacting with others on the internet and i have no issues with it because I know they are capable. All three are now trusted to have computers in their own rooms. However, since the OPs child is only 5, I would be vigilant for a few more years. My youngest didn't get full, unsupervised internet access until she was 9 (I still check in occasionally).

Exactly. When we got our first computer, it went in the family room. I was five when we got that computer. Then we got our next one and it stayed in the family room. Then when I was eleven, I got a laptop and it went in my bedroom. There were never any parental controls, or anything like that. I was just monitored for the first few years of using computers, I'm now fourteen. Now my iMac sits in my room, and I've never encountered a predator or anything like that. The point is that you can't go gestapo on your kids, or you'll end up with major issues in the future.

My advice to the OP is that you get a previous gen iMac, and put it in a high traffic area in your home. And keep her computers in a high traffic area until she is tenish. And don't go all gestapo on her. Don't be over protective, but don't let her get on facebook or myspace and that kind of crap yet. Then when she is tenish, mover her computer into her bedroom, and let her do her thing on it. But check in occasionally, but don't put key loggers and crap on it, because that just pisses kids off, and will make them turn against you.

Don

 

[animaxcg]

don't waste 1000 dollars on a computer for a five year old, get an old imac g4 or g5 on ebay for under 300 dollars still works great for internet. definetlly don't get her a laptop she won't need it it is also (as mentioned earlier easy to brake) Put the mac in the open

http://computers.shop.ebay.com/item...acatZ111418QQ_sopZ1QQ_trksidZp3286Q2ec0Q2em14


http://computers.shop.ebay.com/item...8QQ_sopZ1QQ_ssovZ1QQ_trksidZp3286Q2ec0Q2em282

 

[wfoster]

Exactly. When we got our first computer, it went in the family room. I was five when we got that computer. Then we got our next one and it stayed in the family room. Then when I was eleven, I got a laptop and it went in my bedroom. There were never any parental controls, or anything like that. I was just monitored for the first few years of using computers, I'm now fourteen. Now my iMac sits in my room, and I've never encountered a predator or anything like that. The point is that you can't go gestapo on your kids, or you'll end up with major issues in the future.

My advice to the OP is that you get a previous gen iMac, and put it in a high traffic area in your home. And keep her computers in a high traffic area until she is tenish. And don't go all gestapo on her. Don't be over protective, but don't let her get on facebook or myspace and that kind of crap yet. Then when she is tenish, mover her computer into her bedroom, and let her do her thing on it. But check in occasionally, but don't put key loggers and crap on it, because that just pisses kids off, and will make them turn against you.

Don

Another post I fully back. Nice to see someone the same age as me on here!

 

[dukebound85]

unless they buy the computer and pay for the internet, my kids will not have a computer in their room

same rules i had back in the day and i dont see how there is any downside to have the computer in a high traffic area of the house

 

[Dmac77]

don't waste 1000 dollars on a computer for a five year old, get an old imac g4 or g5 on ebay for under 300 dollars still works great for internet.

http://computers.shop.ebay.com/item...acatZ111418QQ_sopZ1QQ_trksidZp3286Q2ec0Q2em14


http://computers.shop.ebay.com/item...8QQ_sopZ1QQ_ssovZ1QQ_trksidZp3286Q2ec0Q2em282

I would advise the OP against getting a PPC mac. They're overpriced, and they aren't great for the internet anymore. PPC Macs don't like flash, they don't like it one bit.Most games, videos (youtube), and other websites that kids visit make extensive use of Flash. I would get an Intel Mac. Also keep in mind that you will be unable to keep a PPC Mac up to date, because it appears that Snow Leopard will not support PPCs.

Don

 

[dukebound85]

I would advise the OP against getting a PPC mac. They're overpriced, and they aren't great for the internet anymore. PPC Macs don't like flash, they don't like it one bit.Most games, videos (youtube), and other websites that kids visit make extensive use of Flash. I would get an Intel Mac. Also keep in mind that you will be unable to keep a PPC Mac up to date, because it appears that Snow Leopard will not support PPCs.

Don

not true, i still use ppc macs and for the most part, they are just as capable....esp for a 5 year old....

will a 5 year old even appreciate snow leopard? i think not.
why must people have the latest os again?

 

[Dmac77]

unless they buy the computer and pay for the internet, my kids will not have a computer in their room

same rules i had back in the day and i dont see how there is any downside to have the computer in a high traffic area of the house

This is the kind of attitude that make kids rebel against their parents, and go onto sites that they shouldn't go on. You and any parent that has this attitude will end up regretting it when your children reach 13/14.

Don

 

[Hrududu]

I would advise the OP against getting a PPC mac. They're overpriced, and they aren't great for the internet anymore. PPC Macs don't like flash, they don't like it one bit.Most games, videos (youtube), and other websites that kids visit make extensive use of Flash. I would get an Intel Mac. Also keep in mind that you will be unable to keep a PPC Mac up to date, because it appears that Snow Leopard will not support PPCs.

Don

You really think the kid is going to know the difference between 10.5 and 10.6 much less care? Seriously, PPC's play flash just fine and run ANYTHING a 5 yo could possibly imagine. Hell, I'd say a G3 iMac or old Graphite G4 would be plenty for a kid that age. My 17yo brother is still using a 600MHz iMac G3 for most everything he does and never complains. You guy seriously overestimate how well children understand technology.

 

[dukebound85]

This is the kind of attitude that make kids rebel against their parents, and go onto sites that they shouldn't go on. You and any parent that has this attitude will end up regretting it when your children reach 13/14.

Don

lol riiiiiiiight

why must a kid have a computer in their room or else they will rebel

what business does a 13/14 year old have with having a computer in their room again? none that i can see that couldnt be done in a family room

how many families can even afford having multiple computers in their house for all their kids.... give me a break. most families only have one or two computers anyways

 

[Dmac77]

not true, i still use ppc macs and for the most part, they are just as capable....esp for a 5 year old....

will a 5 year old even appreciate snow leopard? i think not.
why must people have the latest os again?

Really because the PPC macs that I've used beach ball like hell whenever I try to do anything that uses flash. This includes my iBook G3 Dual USB, and a G4 iMac that i've used at a friends house. Also, the OP will not be able to update a PPC to Snow Leopard, so if keeping the computer up to date matters to the OP, get an Intel Mac.

Don

 

[flopticalcube]

I think the impetus for an Intel vs a PPC was this:

I was considering getting one of these as a "family PC"

If it is needed for anything other than a young child, I would recommend an Intel. Note also that some games for even young children can only be played under Windows or on an Intel platform (my 10 year old is pretty good at TF2!).

 

[Dmac77]

lol riiiiiiiight

why must a kid have a computer in their room or else they will rebel

what business does a 13/14 year old have with having a computer in their room again? none that i can see

How about some privacy. By not allowing your child to have their computer in their bedroom at a reasonable age, you are basically saying that you don't trust them. And a lack of trust in a child parent relationship has been proven to be damaging to the child parent relationship.

Don

 

[jmpage2]

lol riiiiiiiight

why must a kid have a computer in their room or else they will rebel

what business does a 13/14 year old have with having a computer in their room again? none that i can see

Well, remember that it is the 14 year olds on here going off about over protective parents.

A parents responsibility is to keep a kid safe, not to be their buddy and let them do whatever the hell they want just because it makes them feel good.

My parents "trusted" me too, and had no idea what the hell I was really up to. Luckily in those days getting into trouble was limited to the smaller stuff, not having sex chats with pervs, or viewing things on the Internet that scar your brain forever.

I regularly run into 4 and 5 year olds online playing first person shooters online with a bunch of loud, swearing, sex talking 20 somethings, and the parents say that it's "cool because I trust my kid and look at how much fun they are having".

Idiots.

 

[techfreak85]

This is the kind of attitude that make kids rebel against their parents, and go onto sites that they shouldn't go on. You and any parent that has this attitude will end up regretting it when your children reach 13/14.

Don

exactly. thats what im trying to say.
Claps.

 

[dukebound85]

Really because the PPC macs that I've used beach ball like hell whenever I try to do anything that uses flash. This includes my iBook G3 Dual USB, and a G4 iMac that i've used at a friends house. Also, the OP will not be able to update a PPC to Snow Leopard,

well my expereince has not been the same and i use ppc still pretty extensively

so if keeping the computer up to date matters to the OP, get an Intel Mac.

Don

well thanks for that obvious statement

is being up to date worth the price increase over a older ppc mac for his kid, i doubt it

 

[Dmac77]

Well, remember that it is the 14 year olds on here going off about over protective parents.

A parents responsibility is to keep a kid safe, not to be their buddy and let them do whatever the hell they want just because it makes them feel good.

My parents "trusted" me too, and had no idea what the hell I was really up to. Luckily in those days getting into trouble was limited to the smaller stuff, not having sex chats with pervs, or viewing things on the Internet that scar your brain forever.

Did I say that parents shouldn't monitor their kids internet habits? No I didn't. I said that kids (at a reasonable age) should be given some privacy. There isn't anything wrong with going into their room, and saying I want to see your internet history, or I want to see your iChat logs, or I want to see your emails.

But there isn't any reason for a parent to always have their head over their kids shoulder, and watch everything they do 24/7.

Don

 

[techfreak85]

Well, remember that it is the 14 year olds on here going off about over protective parents.

maybe they are the ones who are closes to the situation and see the effects of what can happen from those kinds of actions. im not saying that parents shouldn't be involved with kids computer stuff, but it needs to be more of teaching kids to make the right choices.

 

[Dmac77]

well my expereince has not been the same and i use ppc still pretty extensively

well thanks for that obvious statement

is being up to date worth the price increase over a older ppc mac for his kid, i doubt it

Hopefully some of you who have kids can provide me with some advice. My daughter is 5 years old is using Macs at her pre-school. I am actually very impressed as to what she has been able to learn in navigating a computer. I see Microcenter has nice rebates on both the white Macbook as well as the base iMac. I was considering getting one of these as a "family PC" and was wondering what people with children prefer. I live in a small apartment so I was initially attracted to the Macbook, however, my gut tells me I would be better able to control her usage with an iMac and it would be less likely to be damaged from dropping or spills.

Thanks for your advice.

Did you even read the OP's post?

Don

 

[techfreak85]

...kids (at a reasonable age) should be given some privacy....
Don

yes and after they have shown how to make the right choices.

 

[md63]

Thanks for all the comments. I appreciate and agree with most of your thoughts. I will probably hold off for now on buying a new computer. The wife and I have 2 kids (oldest is 5) and we live in a 2 bedroom apartment (1,200 sq ft.) in New York so there is not a lot of room to hide. I agree about not putting a computer in the bedroom. My wife will only allow one TV in the apartment since she believes its a mistake to have TV's in bedrooms. She's also against having a computer in the girls room. Our living room is very well supervised since that is where we spend most of our time. I was initially attracted to a Macbook just because of space considerations, however, I agree its probably not good for a younger child. I didn't mention that I also have a Mini hooked up to the TV as a HTPC. I will probably just allow my daughter to use that as her computer. Hopefully she doesn't delete all my movies.

Thanks

 

[jmpage2]

Did I say that parents shouldn't monitor their kids internet habits? No I didn't. I said that kids (at a reasonable age) should be given some privacy. There isn't anything wrong with going into their room, and saying I want to see your internet history, or I want to see your iChat logs, or I want to see your emails.

But there isn't any reason for a parent to always have their head over their kids shoulder, and watch everything they do 24/7.

Don

Now you are talking out of both sides of your mouth. Let them have privacy but come into their room and want to look over their chat logs, etc? That's like walking into their room and demanding to read their diary.

That's sooo much better than just keeping things on the level and having the kid do their stuff in an area of the home that's a bit more public.

It's also the reason not to put a TV in a 12 year olds room, give them a cable box with access to all of the R and X rated stuff and "trust them" not to watch that stuff.

I hope you don't have kids, because you don't sound like you know what the heck you're talking about.

 

[dukebound85]

How about some privacy. By not allowing your child to have their computer in their bedroom at a reasonable age, you are basically saying that you don't trust them. And a lack of trust in a child parent relationship has been proven to be damaging to the child parent relationship.

Don

that redicoulous. you are really showing your age

privacy? from what exactly? please

any buisness that needs to be done on a computer at that age can be done in a family room

the only reason for privacy is so you are able to do things your parents dont approve from time to time

like porn, downloading music, movies, chatting with strangers, etc

im only 23 and guess what, i nor my friends really had a personal computer till we hit college and we never rebeled

 

[techfreak85]

like porn, downloading music, movies, chatting with strangers, etc

humm. ur a stranger. so im not going to talk to u and im going to go tell my mommy now.

 

[jmpage2]

maybe they are the ones who are closes to the situation and see the effects of what can happen from those kinds of actions. im not saying that parents shouldn't be involved with kids computer stuff, but it needs to be more of teaching kids to make the right choices.

Yes, because 14 year olds have fully developed cognitive function and know what's best for them.

Maybe you aren't aware of the recent research that definitively proves that the decision making areas of the brain aren't fully developed until an individual is in their late teens to early twenties.

You can think you're all grown up and capable of making good choices all you want, but science proves otherwise.

 

[flopticalcube]

Thanks for all the comments. I appreciate and agree with most of your thoughts. I will probably hold off for now on buying a new computer. The wife and I have 2 kids (oldest is 5) and we live in a 2 bedroom apartment (1,200 sq ft.) in New York so there is not a lot of room to hide. I agree about not putting a computer in the bedroom. My wife will only allow one TV in the apartment since she believes its a mistake to have TV's in bedrooms. She's also against having a computer in the girls room. Our living room is very well supervised since that is where we spend most of our time. I was initially attracted to a Macbook just because of space considerations, however, I agree its probably not good for a younger child. I didn't mention that I also have a Mini hooked up to the TV as a HTPC. I will probably just allow my daughter to use that as her computer. Hopefully she doesn't delete all my movies.

Thanks

You could always give her a separate account and teach her how to log in. The mini should be fine for several years. It was my daughter's first computer as well.