Will my kid need a chrome book for middle school?

[Anonymous]

Yes, check Best Buy too. Like the site linked to above, they also have pre-owned/refurbished for <$100.

We got a new one for $100 around the holidays. The kids said it's the same one they have in school.

[Anonymous]

You can get cheap ones, no issue. My question is can we buy one and send it to school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You can get cheap ones, no issue. My question is can we buy one and send it to school?

I think it depends on the school. At ours, yes. But my kid doesn't.

She already has too much to take each day....lunchbox, instrument, and ridiculously large binder.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can get cheap ones, no issue. My question is can we buy one and send it to school?

I think it depends on the school. At ours, yes. But my kid doesn't.

She already has too much to take each day....lunchbox, instrument, and ridiculously large binder.

I'd rather get mine a faster, lighter weight one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You can get cheap ones, no issue. My question is can we buy one and send it to school?

I wouldn't do that in middle school. I think most don't allow backpacks to carry it in, and even if they did, there's a high likelihood of the backpack getting stepped on. Even my very responsible HS student couldn't prevent a friend sitting on his backpack and cracking the screen of his personal chrome book.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can get cheap ones, no issue. My question is can we buy one and send it to school?

I wouldn't do that in middle school. I think most don't allow backpacks to carry it in, and even if they did, there's a high likelihood of the backpack getting stepped on. Even my very responsible HS student couldn't prevent a friend sitting on his backpack and cracking the screen of his personal chrome book.

Thanks, good point. Why can't they have backpacks? How do they carry their stuff around? If that happens to a school computer, who is responsible? I looked on one middle school website and it looked like it was $100 or so for a screen repair so a that point it seemed better to buy your own with a warranty.

[Anonymous]

The school Chromebooks stay in each classroom on a cart. The kids return them to the cart at the end of class....limits the likelihood of breakage.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can get cheap ones, no issue. My question is can we buy one and send it to school?

I wouldn't do that in middle school. I think most don't allow backpacks to carry it in, and even if they did, there's a high likelihood of the backpack getting stepped on. Even my very responsible HS student couldn't prevent a friend sitting on his backpack and cracking the screen of his personal chrome book.

Thanks, good point. Why can't they have backpacks? How do they carry their stuff around? If that happens to a school computer, who is responsible? I looked on one middle school website and it looked like it was $100 or so for a screen repair so a that point it seemed better to buy your own with a warranty.

The no backpacks rule is for basic safety. Not just to reduce weapons and drugs/alcohol, but in most overcrowded classrooms, it’s an additional trip hazard.

The MCPS issued ones come with certain pinned programs for testing and other features.

They don’t charge kids for unforeseeable accidents. There has to be malice (intentionally prying keys up) or actually breaking a rule, not just clumsiness. For example, most teachers will say to keep water bottles on the floor and Chromebooks on the desk. If a water bottle is on the desk and spills on the Chromebook, the child broke the rule. If the Chromebook was set on the floor and stepped upon, the child broke the rule. But mostly, it is klutziness and no one is billed.

[Anonymous]

No. Mcps will not allow you to bring your own computer and connect to the network. You may be able to jump through some hoops to gain this privilege but why would you do this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They have them for use at the school.

Yes I know that but you can’t take them home.

You don't have a computer at home that your child can use?

No. Wow. There sure is some privilege on this board!

If the OP doesn't even have a computer for herself at home, why is she thinking of buying one for a child?? My point was a child doesn't need their own computer at home, they can use the family computer. If the family can't afford a computer, they shouldn't be buying one just for an 11 year old. As other PPs have mentioned,vthry all get Chromebooks to use at school so there is no reason to buy one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No. Mcps will not allow you to bring your own computer and connect to the network. You may be able to jump through some hoops to gain this privilege but why would you do this?

So, we can monitor and control how it is used and what goes on it as parents. Ours has a check out in the AM and return in the PM which seems like a huge hassle. I don't get how they carry their notebooks, chrome books, water bottle and not get them all lost plus a phone.

[Anonymous]

I find it convenient for each of my kids to have one at home. I’ve bought refurbished ones on Groupon for the $100 range. I saw a PP found the. At Walmart for $88. I’m going to look for that deal tonight because I want a new one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No. Mcps will not allow you to bring your own computer and connect to the network. You may be able to jump through some hoops to gain this privilege but why would you do this?

So, we can monitor and control how it is used and what goes on it as parents. Ours has a check out in the AM and return in the PM which seems like a huge hassle. I don't get how they carry their notebooks, chrome books, water bottle and not get them all lost plus a phone.

The students already connect their cell phones and tablets to the MCPS wifi. A home Chromebook would be able to connect with no difficulty.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They have them for use at the school.

Yes I know that but you can’t take them home.

You don't have a computer at home that your child can use?

No. Wow. There sure is some privilege on this board!

If the OP doesn't even have a computer for herself at home, why is she thinking of buying one for a child?? My point was a child doesn't need their own computer at home, they can use the family computer. If the family can't afford a computer, they shouldn't be buying one just for an 11 year old. As other PPs have mentioned,vthry all get Chromebooks to use at school so there is no reason to buy one.

The parents might not need a computer at home, but the child will definitely need one for homework and projects. I assumed public libraries were a solution, but we had horrible luck when our router broke. I ended up spending $40 at FedEx Office so FD could finish her project.

[Anonymous]

Be aware that Google stops releasing updates after 5 years on each hardware generation. The chromebook will still work but will not get any security updates. Always buy the newest model of chromebook. I recommend getting one that has a nicer screen and a good keyboard. Try to find one with an IPS screen. Check out slickdeals.net for deals.