How do I convince my parents...

[tristan]

Yeah, let's be honest - you don't need a MBP. I mean c'mon.

Of course you want a MBP - who doesn't? I have a relatively new 15" Powerbook and I still want an MBP. It's the latest and greatest toy, and owning one sounds like a lot of fun. Dual core, baby! Sure I want one. And without getting into my finances, last week I billed enough to buy one for me, you and your little dog toto too. So why don't I get one?

It's because I don't really need it. My current Powerbook isn't just great - it's awesome. I love it. And right now, the MBP is probably more trouble than its worth. It would take a while to ship. Most apps aren't native, so I'd need new software, and some of it isn't even out yet. (Like Office.) And it doesn't have a reliable track record yet - its an unknown. I almost ended up with a screen with lines in my last purchase, so I know the dangers. And also, several years ago, I just got out of the habit of buying things I want but don't need.

So let's get serious. I saw guys get through a top MBA program with 14" iBooks. You could pick up a refurb one of those for $999. The MBP is too bleeding edge for you in terms of cost, availability, software support, and reliability. It's not what you want to hear, because I know you have your heart set on the MBP, but its true. Get a cheap mac now and save the MBP, or whatever the hot machine is in 2007, for after you graduate college and get your first paycheck. Because the MBP seems cool right now, but in two years it'll be about as cool as a 1.25ghz PBG4 - which was the hot machine two years ago.

 

[asherman13]

News!

Alright, we just had our second discussion.

We basically agreed (I'm going to write these up, and then we'll have a final review of everything) that I can buy it, provided that, until graduation:

-I only use it downstairs in their view.
-I only use it for homework.
-My parents will know the login password, and will keep the MacBook Pro in their closet/room or whatever when I'm not using it.
-If they find that I'm misusing it or whatever, they can take it away until they say I can have it back; until then I have to use the Dell.

They said that if I get straight A's third quarter (which I think I'm on track to do), they might be willing to be more lenient, but no promises. Also, my mom said that if I get straight A's second semester (third and fourth quarters combined), she'll pay for the MacBook Pro, meaning she'll give me $1,800 plus tax.

All in all, I'm satisfied. I think that my parents provided very good reasons for their modifications to the restrictions, and I plan on abiding my them and getting the good grades.

Apple store, here I come!

 

[powerbook911]

Wow. That is fantastic. Well done.

You're getting the education discount? Do you have some kind of proof of college acceptance or enrollment, to show them? Or are you ordering online because they never seem to ask about the education requirement online?


Work hard on those grades, so that you don't have to pay for that Mac Book Pro. Then you can use some of your own money, to buy some memory upgrade for it. The intel machines really sing with more memory.

I think you deserve the computer, and it is going to be so beneficial to you in the coming months.

 

[annk]

Congratulations to you all! Sounds like you've got great communication - hope it lasts for the rest of your lives!!

 

[asherman13]

Wow. That is fantastic. Well done.

You're getting the education discount? Do you have some kind of proof of college acceptance or enrollment, to show them? Or are you ordering online because they never seem to ask about the education requirement online?


Work hard on those grades, so that you don't have to pay for that Mac Book Pro. Then you can use some of your own money, to buy some memory upgrade for it. The intel machines really sing with more memory.

I think you deserve the computer, and it is going to be so beneficial to you in the coming months.

I was recently accepted to Cal Poly SLO for a major in Computer Engineering. I called my local Apple Store, and looked at the online "agreement" and what I'm going to do is go to the Store and navigate to the Cal Poly website on one of their computers and show them that I've been accepted. That way, everything should be great.

I appreciate the support. I definately agree with you that this is going to be really helpful to me, both in the short and long run. It's nice to have somebody who agrees with me; lots of people have posted about how I should just wait until summer, or even later! This way, I have plenty of time to "break it in" (not break!) and benefit from it while still in school.

 

[adk]

This is proof of what every child knows - You can get whatever you want if you whine long enough.


All I have to say is work hard, Just think how many hours it takes at your job to earn $1800.

 

[iEdd]

-I only use it downstairs in their view.
-I only use it for homework.
-My parents will know the login password, and will keep the MacBook Pro in their closet/room or whatever when I'm not using it.
-If they find that I'm misusing it or whatever, they can take it away until they say I can have it back; until then I have to use the Dell.

Have you by any chance gotten in trouble looking at bad sites in the past? Give them a guest password, they won't know the difference

They said that if I get straight A's third quarter (which I think I'm on track to do), they might be willing to be more lenient, but no promises. Also, my mom said that if I get straight A's second semester (third and fourth quarters combined), she'll pay for the MacBook Pro, meaning she'll give me $1,800 plus tax.

Awesome.. If that's not motivation for studying and working harder, I don't know what is.

All in all, congratulations!

 

[designed]

Congrats, for both the MBP and that you discussed the matter with your parents in a such adult fashion. Just go for the A's now and "save" yourself the MBP money and prove to your parents (and yourself) something.

 

[Mord]

Alright, we just had our second discussion.

We basically agreed (I'm going to write these up, and then we'll have a final review of everything) that I can buy it, provided that, until graduation:

-I only use it downstairs in their view.
-I only use it for homework.
-My parents will know the login password, and will keep the MacBook Pro in their closet/room or whatever when I'm not using it.
-If they find that I'm misusing it or whatever, they can take it away until they say I can have it back; until then I have to use the Dell.

They said that if I get straight A's third quarter (which I think I'm on track to do), they might be willing to be more lenient, but no promises. Also, my mom said that if I get straight A's second semester (third and fourth quarters combined), she'll pay for the MacBook Pro, meaning she'll give me $1,800 plus tax.

All in all, I'm satisfied. I think that my parents provided very good reasons for their modifications to the restrictions, and I plan on abiding my them and getting the good grades.

Apple store, here I come!

you've got some tight ass parents dude, when i got my ibook it was mine and mine only, heck my dad told me not to let anyone use it casually.

how can they expect you to live sensibly if they are so controlling, you need to be able to control yourself and balance work and play without being told what to do, heck if you cant do that i wouldn't trust you with a macbook pro seeing as your not worthy of it's awesomeness.

parents are too ****ing strict, and then their kids go and joy ride cars mug people and beat geeks up hold them down and spit in their faces (btw this has never happened to me), and then punish them more, then they rebel and then when they leave home without limits they live like an idiot get themselves in debt get some girl pregnant, get married get divorced then commit suicide, just because their parents did not let them be independent and learn their own lessons.

besides who the **** sits in their room and watches dvd's again and again.

 

[asherman13]

you've got some tight ass parents dude, when i got my ibook it was mine and mine only, heck my dad told me not to let anyone use it casually.

how can they expect you to live sensibly if they are so controlling, you need to be able to control yourself and balance work and play without being told what to do, heck if you cant do that i wouldn't trust you with a macbook pro seeing as your not worthy of it's awesomeness.

My parents aren't going to be using it; if that was the case I wouldn't be buying it. Also, these are mostly my provisions, and my parents have been kind enough (from one point of view) to give me a hand in making sure I follow through. They also felt that I should follow these provisions for a longer amount of time, and that if I outperform myself they might be willing to reconsider.

 

[Mord]

thats not the point i was trying to make, nothing you can do about it, it just sucks.

 

[California]

My parents aren't going to be using it; if that was the case I wouldn't be buying it. Also, these are mostly my provisions, and my parents have been kind enough (from one point of view) to give me a hand in making sure I follow through. They also felt that I should follow these provisions for a longer amount of time, and that if I outperform myself they might be willing to reconsider.

While I was in grad school I was also a prof at another university and I want to say that you sound like an outstanding young man. The true standard of our parents love for us is how well they discipline us. If we haven't been loved/disciplined as a child, we won't know how to discipline/love others, much less ourselves. And it is through love of some goal and disciplining ourselves to get to our goals that makes us winners in life. (Apple is a good example of that!) Get straight A's and go for your goals at Cal Poly -- be the next Jobs, okay?

 

[asherman13]

While I was in grad school I was also a prof at another university and I want to say that you sound like an outstanding young man. The true standard of our parents love for us is how well they discipline us. If we haven't been loved/disciplined as a child, we won't know how to discipline/love others, much less ourselves. And it is through love of some goal and disciplining ourselves to get to our goals that makes us winners in life. (Apple is a good example of that!) Get straight A's and go for your goals at Cal Poly -- be the next Jobs, okay?

Question: Are you saying that love is comparable do discipline in general, or of certain types of discipline, such as those that are based on what's good for us rather than something we've done wrong.

That aside, I don't really want to go to Cal Poly; my sights are on GW, Northwestern, or one of the UC's I applied to.

 

[Mord]

I've never been disciplined because i've never done wrong.... i never cried as a child (for attention), I never had tantrums, I get straight A's and I'm completely independent, their is not enough school work for me to do at lunch break and free lessons let alone do work at home, heck i stopped posting at macrumors for a while because of exactly how little work i did compared (time wise) to how much I was meant to do, I just ended up playing more games and reading more /. this was because of my parents ethical values they taught me, not branded me with like most do with their morals, and letting me make my own mistakes, i dont go out with my friends and get stoned because my parents gave me the scientific background to know the true effect of THC on the brain, nor do I spend all evening watching tv because it bored the hell out of me because I'm able to see through the tripe.

The notion that discipline is the measure of a good parent is absurd, discipline can beat you down a average path until your 18 then you'll go astray as your "finally free" you may think you'll stick to your parents rules when you leave home but you wont, you'll cut corners, you'll have a beer for breakfast, you'll get addicted to a MMORPG, heck in allot of cases you'll start smoking if your parents are required to keep you in check once they are out of the picture you will fall from grace in a second.


I'm just sick and tired of people promoting the idea when it obviously does not work, look at your countries demographic, totalitarianism just pushes your vices be they watching dvd's when you should be working or having a back street abortion, out of the view of the ruler, be they a parent or a fundamentalist christian.

maybe this needs a new thread.....

 

[GimmeSlack12]

That aside, I don't really want to go to Cal Poly; my sights are on GW, Northwestern, or one of the UC's I applied to.

I'm telling you man, getting into CS at Cal Poly SLO is no little feat. That school has a better reputation than most UC's. But whatever.

Those rules you agreed to don't sound too much fun. I'm not talking about the discipline and stuff, but talk about restricting.

-Only for HW?
-Only downstairs where they can see you??
-Will keep the MBP in their room or closet???? hahaha

LAME.
Just get another Dell if that is the deal. I agree to wait until closer to school time. Learn the lesson of patience.

And Hector, chill out man. Go talk about 'our country's demographic' in another forum.

 

[asherman13]

I'm telling you man, getting into CS at Cal Poly SLO is no little feat. That school has a better reputation than most UC's. But whatever.

Those rules you agreed to don't sound too much fun. I'm not talking about the discipline and stuff, but talk about restricting.

-Only for HW?
-Only downstairs where they can see you??
-Will keep the MBP in their room or closet????

Thanks for the complement; I figured Cal Poly would be harder to get into but only due to the fact that I couldn't say anything (like in an essay or whatever), which I could (and did) do in my UC application.

The "only for homework" is so that I don't get distracted while doing other things; I have a tendency to, either while I'm doing my homework or afterwards when I could be doing something else, mess around on my computer and generally enjoy it. My parents think I have to earn that the privilage of enjoying it; I generally agree. If I do it downstairs where they can see me, then the know that I'm working. Since the MacBook Pro will be in their possession, I won't be able to take it out and mess around with it (even though it's password protected). I don't understand why they wanted me to by doubly stopped from using it for anything but homework when either one of those things would work fine, but there you go. I'm willing to live with it, just so long as I can have it!

Plus, since the Apple Store gives me a free data transfer with any new Mac I buy, they'll copy all my stuff (or try to; dead HDD) from my iBook and I won't have to worry/waste time with setting it up!

 

[DeeJay Dan]

Hi Asher,

I've been following this thread, it's pretty cool I think this is my first post. I'm a wannabe mac'er. The mini will probably be my first mac after I save this summer.

I'm 21 and my mother bought me my first computer when I was 14, my second one I bought at 18 on my own. My mother never put any restrictions on except when I was in school. I had to to my homework before I could email, IM or do "what ever it is you kids do on the internet" (as she says) and the computer had to be shut down by 10 on week nights.

I'm glad my mother purchased my first computer for me, it seems weird but I valued it because I see she spent most of her income tax refund on a computer for me. While the first computer was pretty much an off the shelf, no frills type deal I was happy with it and felt I don't know what the word is "honored" that she would spend all that on me.

My second computer which I'm still chugging a long with I spent close to $3k for because I had to buy top of the line, at the time it was pretty much top of the line, I could've added a little more RAM. But to make a long story a little shorter, I spent all that money, even put off buying a car for another year to get this computer when really I could still get buy with my old computer.

I'm glad things worked out for you, I think it's wonderful that you were able to come up with compromises. If I was 17 again and my parents told me how to spent my own money, I'd probably be putting a deposit down on my own apartment.

Good Luck with your grades,

Dan

 

[adk]

a

LAME.
Just get another Dell if that is the deal. I agree to wait until closer to school time. Learn the lesson of patience.

It may be lame, but if he follows these rules and gets good grades for a few months he gets a $2000 computer free. I'd do his deal in a heartbeat.

 

[asherman13]

"what ever it is you kids do on the internet"

Hahahahaha

Thanks for the good wishes; my situation has definately been similar, with the iBook and now the MacBook Pro. While I'm getting the lower-end model due to cost restrictions, I'm hoping that it will last me through college, if not a little longer.

Good luck with the mini, and welcome to MR (this is your first post, so I think a welcome is in order).

 

[ieani]

I've never been disciplined because i've never done wrong.... i never cried as a child (for attention), I never had tantrums, I get straight A's and I'm completely independent, their is not enough school work for me to do at lunch break and free lessons let alone do work at home, heck i stopped posting at macrumors for a while because of exactly how little work i did compared (time wise) to how much I was meant to do, I just ended up playing more games and reading more /. this was because of my parents ethical values they taught me, not branded me with like most do with their morals, and letting me make my own mistakes, i dont go out with my friends and get stoned because my parents gave me the scientific background to know the true effect of THC on the brain, nor do I spend all evening watching tv because it bored the hell out of me because I'm able to see through the tripe.

The notion that discipline is the measure of a good parent is absurd, discipline can beat you down a average path until your 18 then you'll go astray as your "finally free" you may think you'll stick to your parents rules when you leave home but you wont, you'll cut corners, you'll have a beer for breakfast, you'll get addicted to a MMORPG, heck in allot of cases you'll start smoking if your parents are required to keep you in check once they are out of the picture you will fall from grace in a second.


I'm just sick and tired of people promoting the idea when it obviously does not work, look at your countries demographic, totalitarianism just pushes your vices be they watching dvd's when you should be working or having a back street abortion, out of the view of the ruler, be they a parent or a fundamentalist christian.

maybe this needs a new thread.....

Although, you are coming across quite pretentious and elitist here I have to say i agree and its similar to the way my parents raised me. Of course I was a little bastard when I was younger but I was never given curfew or any strict rules at all when I was a teenager.

 

[Mord]

I'm not perfect, just in the gauge of parental goodness i've always done better than those i know with strict parents.

and yes i'm pretty damn elitist, but only in the decency scale, i don't suffer a malicious person very well, it has nothing to do with intelligence, i hate most of the straight a students in my school because they all act superior and treat everyone like crap, including me partially because they are all english freaks and i'm quite badly dyslexic.

also i'm notoriously honest which tends to make people skeptical of me.

 

[annk]

This is proof of what every child knows - You can get whatever you want if you whine long enough.

Don't think I'd put the discussions this guy and his folks have been having, in the same category as whining.

 

[GimmeSlack12]

I remember getting into college. It is going to be nearly April by the time you get the machine (maybe). You know the last quarter of Senior grades don't really matter too much.

I went to UC Riverside with a degree in Physics, what UC's you looking at?

 

[Coheebuzz]

When i was 12 i wanted a Mac LC really bad and finally convinced my parents to get me one after saying that my grades would get better. I also have ADD and i was also hyperactive so they figured that if something would grab my attention for so long then it must be good. Keep in mind that back then it costed us about $4000 to get it in my country.

But - not only my grades didn't get any better, but i was close to being suspended from school. I was spending most of my life painting in KidPix which was something magical back then. Now you could say that this proves the concerns that your parents have. Well at some point yes - but they are not really helping you out with your ADD and with your future as they think. What happens when you get a job? Will they be there to tell you when and what and why and the who?? And if they try to do that, will you let them? For example, i turned out to be a graphic designer (coincidence?) - by 'exploration' i found what i wanted to do with my life and managed to keep my attention focused on that all these years. You said that there isn't much going in your life right now and i think your parents are the cause. MBP only for homework???? A textpad and a pen cost under $1!

There is a line and your parents are crossing it a bit. They have basically taken your right to explore in their effort to help you. Really, if i had a son which came to me and asked for a MBP with the way you did and not whine and beg even for one time, i would buy you 2 of them! Just tell them to have a look at the neighbors kids and appreciate what an honest, fair and responsible son they got!

 

[Mord]

i got an lc475 when i was like 6, mmm shufflepuck.