Laptop or desktop for 13yo

[Anonymous]

I need to get a computer for my 7th grader; the primary driver is school work but obviously the screen will be used for a lot beyond that (including inevitably some video games, which is why I'm leaning away from a chromebook.) He has a tablet that he uses incessantly (when permitted) for watching Youtube videos. I'm considering getting a desktop in part because it's less likely to get smashed, also his younger sibling would be able to use it now and then, and as an added bonus it would make monitoring content/usage easier. Is that foolish - does he need portability at this stage?

[Anonymous]

he does not need portability. but why clutter up the desk space with a permanent paper weight. in two years he'll want a laptop for highschool. in which case he can then pass the current laptop onto sibling and he gets a new one as he enters high school

you can still install monitoring software on a laptop and put in place restrictions. you just need to be the administrator on the computer and set him up as a user so you can put the restrictions in place.

[Anonymous]

It is also much easier to move the laptop and tablet to your bedroom every night so your kids aren't tempted to "sleep walk".

[Anonymous]

It depends on the kid. I have a kid in college who I bought a laptop when she entered 9th grade. It worked out great. She mostly did homework on it and she was not a big gamer or even very tech savvy, so we had no issues monitoring her usage. My middle child is in 9th grade and and I would not get her a laptop under any circumstances. She figured out how to manipulate the parental settings on her LeapPad when she was 5 or 6 and I knew I was in trouble. She is a very tech savvy... she knows how to operate EVERYTHING electronic in our house. I have to have her leave her phone in my room in the evenings or she would get nothing done because she plays games, watches videos, chats with her friends, etc. We have a desktop and printer in a designated office area off of the living room. She and my youngest do there homework in there because if she went to her room to do her homework it would never get done. Honestly she rarely uses the physical computer because she has figured out how to do all of the functions of the computer on her phone (how I don't even know). I love that she is so computer literate and interested in technology, but I hate that it makes her almost impossible to parent as far as the technology is concerned. Kids today have SnapChat, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, Kik, and on and on and on. They can get into a lot of trouble if you are not monitoring their usage and being aware of what they are doing.

[Anonymous]

laptop

[Anonymous]

Obviously, almost any computer will be fine for homework. If he's not currently into games, then just him a Chromebook. If you want something that your son can play real games on down the road, then a more powerful desktop might be a better bet. My son researched and picked out components and built his own computer in 8th or 9th grade. He does his homework on the desktop and, even with ADHD, is capable of taking care of his responsibilities while also playing Overwatch, Skyping, watching YouTube, etc. I figured it's a good way to figure out time management. No one is going to come and take his computer away from him when he's in college.

My daughter always used laptops and managed to go through 4 of them between 7th grade and graduation. (Drops, spills, etc.)

[Anonymous]

Laptop

[Anonymous]

Hmm, most votes for laptop... but I do foresee a lot of spills and crashes. Part of the reason a desktop appealed to me is the idea that I'd pass it along to his younger sibling in 18 months when the older one starts HS...

Thanks all - you've given me a lot more to ponder!

[Anonymous]

Are you serious? It's not 1993 anymore, no one buys desktops unless you are a twitch gamer and you want a $1000 graphics card.

[Anonymous]

laptop

[Anonymous]

I don't understand why anyone would buy a desk top for home use. I just can't see any advantage to it unless you're a gamer.

[Anonymous]

I really do not understand your reasons for a computer over a laptop. Why would the younger not be able to use a laptop? Why would the laptop get smashed? And you can set parental controls on a laptop.

[Anonymous]

Desktops are more powerful, last longer, and are easier to repair and upgrade. Why buy a laptop if portability is not needed?

[Anonymous]

I just bought the Mac Mini for my middle school son to use. Primarily for the reasons you state. But he is also a HUGE Minecraft guy. And my laptop, which we shared, was "too laggy."

A Mac Mini was $600. I think it's fabulous. I might steal it back at some point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Desktops are more powerful, last longer, and are easier to repair and upgrade. Why buy a laptop if portability is not needed?

No one repairs a desktop. The cost to buy a new desktop or even a laptop for the needs of a middle school/high school student is relatively inexpensive.