Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is all about budget. In my family, I upgrade my laptop every two years or so; I hand down my old laptops to my kid or wife. Those are usually better than anything they need.
(DD uses a 13" macbook air circa 2012).

On the other hand, all of the work is done through google -- at school they use chrome books. In all probability, a chromebook would be fine.

This kinda. However, wife should get new computer, then husband... then kids.

It depends. I (hubby) require a good computer to do my work. Like a lot of available cpu cycles. Wife does not....

Anonymous wrote:It is all about budget. In my family, I upgrade my laptop every two years or so; I hand down my old laptops to my kid or wife. Those are usually better than anything they need.
(DD uses a 13" macbook air circa 2012).

On the other hand, all of the work is done through google -- at school they use chrome books. In all probability, a chromebook would be fine.

This kinda. However, wife should get new computer, then husband... then kids.

We bought our rising 6th grader a surface. It's light enough to carry to school yet has the powe of a regular computer. We bough a Mac Book for our rising 9th grader. Her preference. Both schools require a laptop be brought every day.

Get a laptop, but not a chromebook unless required. With a laptop your DD can take it everywhere to do homework (library, friend's house for group projects, outside in nice weather, write essays or design PowerPoint in the car on long trips, etc). Plus, she can bring it on vacations/trips, and won't take up all the space of a desktop.

The reason I would say not a chromebook is that seems unnecessarily limiting. There's not much that absolutely needs to be included, as long as it gets Internet and has a basic suite of the Microsoft Office programs (or Apple equivalents I suppose but then you might run into compatibility issues turning in the assignments or sharing with friends for collaborative work). In middle school the things kids need the computer for seem to be fairly basic -- research & creation of reports or presentations.

It is all about budget. In my family, I upgrade my laptop every two years or so; I hand down my old laptops to my kid or wife. Those are usually better than anything they need.
(DD uses a 13" macbook air circa 2012).

On the other hand, all of the work is done through google -- at school they use chrome books. In all probability, a chromebook would be fine.

Where do kids learn to type well DD still types with one hand

Why are desktops horrible? They certainly are more ergonomic than laptops.

Anonymous wrote:I think it's a mistake to get a laptop. Get a desktop, set it up in a public area in your home. That's where homework is done. If they have to sit near you to use the computer, they will spend less time "multitasking" and more working.

The more portable the screens, the more they will use them, for good or ill.

Desktops are horrible. You can get the laptop and set it up in a public area.

Let her build a PC. Great STEM learning experience.

If you have to buy a laptop I'd suggest a MacBook Air. It is light and easy to use. If you get it make sure you get AppleCare warranty. Kids laptops have a way of breaking. I speak from experience. AppleCare saved us on more than one occasion.

You don't have to necessarily buy a desktop. You can buy a second laptop, as well as a laptop lock, and set it up in a family space (kitchen, family room, family office) and that is where your DD can use it. This way it's somewhere visible and you can walk up at any time to make sure it isn't being used irresponsibly. I think 7th grade is too young to just hand over a laptop that can be used in their bedroom or privately, but this way, you have a second laptop and can both do work at the same time.

Not the OP, but our middle school requires the kids bring a laptop (or tablet) to school each day to access Google Classroom. I find it ridiculous, and wish they would just stick to traditional note-taking, but it is what it is. So we have to buy our kid a laptop.

Anonymous wrote:I think it's a mistake to get a laptop. Get a desktop, set it up in a public area in your home. That's where homework is done. If they have to sit near you to use the computer, they will spend less time "multitasking" and more working.

The more portable the screens, the more they will use them, for good or ill.

This.

Set up a desktop at a desk in the kitchen. They'll do their homework and get off the computer. Get them a laptop and they will head straight for their bedroom. You will never see them again, and they probably won't get their homework done.

I think it's a mistake to get a laptop. Get a desktop, set it up in a public area in your home. That's where homework is done. If they have to sit near you to use the computer, they will spend less time "multitasking" and more working.

The more portable the screens, the more they will use them, for good or ill.

I figure now is as good a time as any to get my 7th grade daughter a laptop. Last year we were competing over use of the one that we have, as we both had school/work to do evenings. Any suggestions on what to get? Things to look out for, or to make sure is included.