Help me buy my kids a computer

[Anonymous]

I’m looking for a laptop for 11-13 year old kids. Primary uses are homework (google classroom); fiction writing (so good keyboard is helpful); Minecraft, including coding of mods; some other light coding (probably JavaScript?); some limited internet use; and maybe something like LEGO mindsyorms for the future. What should I be looking for as far operating system, memory, storage, etc? Would prefer something in the $200 to &500 range. I think not a Chromebook because of the Minecraft stuff. Thanks!
I’d also like recommendations for software to limit uses, such as time spent on specific apps, blocking of specific websites, etc. thanks!

[Anonymous]

I don't know how many years you expect this to last, but sharing will start to be a problem as school ratchets up

[Anonymous]

definitely not a chromebook if they are programming minecraft mods.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't know how many years you expect this to last, but sharing will start to be a problem as school ratchets up

Agree. My 13 and 11 yr old cannot share. It would not be possible.

[Anonymous]

A laptop is a bad idea. Get a desktop and put it in your kitchen or family room. Much easier to manage both WHO is using it and WHAT they are using it for.

[Anonymous]

I agree that it would be tricky to have two kids share a laptop. Mine are usually doing homework at the same time, at least on weekdays.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A laptop is a bad idea. Get a desktop and put it in your kitchen or family room. Much easier to manage both WHO is using it and WHAT they are using it for.

This is exactly what we do.

If they will be playing online games, and minecraft, you need something with a bit more power, including the screen.

My 13 yr old DS is a computer gamer and did some research on it. He saved up his money and bought a gaming $1300 desktop and $150 monitor (all his money), and yes, he can still use it as a regular computer.

If you don't want to spend that much, you can also buy a decent one for under $500, no name brand. This is what he started with when he was 10 - again, bought with his money.


I would go on to sites like amazon to look at the reviews.

[Anonymous]

^ forgot to mention, the computers have windows OS.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for advice. I don't think the sharing will be too bad until the older hits HS -- they are both in public school and, as it is, each probably do less than an hour of homework a week (really probably less than 1/2 hour homework a week). I expect to have to reassess when the oldest hits high school.

They specifically want a laptop because the older one that does a lot of fiction writing wants to be able to sit in a cozy chair with it and type, and they want to be able to bring it to the basement playroom when friends are over. We already have a desktop in the kitchen which is shared by the whole family (including me, when I'm home) and don't have room to add another, so it really has to be a laptop.

How much memory and stuff would they need for minecraft? I don't allow games like fortnight, and don't forsee allowing any games like that in the near future, so I'm not really into anything with fancy graphics, etc. So I don't think we really need what would be considered a "gamer" computer.

[Anonymous]

Really, no advice on laptop specs?
What do people think of this one (Lenovo with Intel Celeron 2GB memory and 32GB flash memory)?

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/lenovo-14-laptop-intel-celeron-2gb-memory-32gb-emmc-flash-memory-mineral-gray/6061700.p?skuId=6061700&ref=212&loc=1&ds_rl=1260666&ds_rl=1260576&ds_rl=1266837&ref=212&loc=1&ds_rl=1266837&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI5NGlxMSd3wIVyVmGCh2xMQibEAQYBCABEgIU-PD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

[Anonymous]

That one is junk. Minimum build for me would be an i5 processor with 8GB RAM and a terabyte SSD. Anything under that is just terribly slow.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That one is junk. Minimum build for me would be an i5 processor with 8GB RAM and a terabyte SSD. Anything under that is just terribly slow.

That would be quite a bit more expensive. I agree that the linked machine will be frustratingly slow, but to make an affordable kids' machine, an I3 or equivalent AMD processor, 4GB ram and a traditional hard drive rather than an SSD would probably be fine.

[Anonymous]

I trust the Wirecutter for tech reviews (and everything else). Looks like they like Chromebooks for cheap and a $1200 Del for gaming. https://thewirecutter.com/electronics/computers/