Machine for 7 year old

confuseddad_2

Hi Guys.

We have a 7 year old and we want to buy something that she can use for school to browse web, word process and look at school it portal etc.

What would anybody recomend.

Ipad, laptop, netpad or other. Something that is quick and reliable that can poss be used by us all? and not to expensive.

I realise that ipads arent cheap but all family may use this as we already have a laptop for work matters which is crap but functional.

Any advice?

m5rcc

confuseddad wrote: »

Hi Guys.

We have a 7 year old and we want to buy something that she can use for school to browse web, word process and look at school it portal etc.

What would anybody recomend.

Ipad, laptop, netpad or other. Something that is quick and reliable that can poss be used by us all? and not to expensive.

I realise that ipads arent cheap but all family may use this as we already have a laptop for work matters which is crap but functional.

Any advice?

Definitely not a tablet of any sort.

I would get a second hand/refurbished laptop and spend no more than £250

newbutold

I think a netbook would be your best option. It's small and cheaper than a laptop and would do all the things you listed.

harleq1962

my friends grandaughte who is 9 has destroyed several cheap laptops by either carrying them by the screen or by poking the screen pointing at stuff, so i suppose it depends on the kid too, might be better trying with one of the smaller notebooks, another friend bought an old dell base for £20 and flat screen monitor for £30 and her 7 year old is doing fine with that, might be worth considering if you have enough space, easier to monitor what the kids doing too, as the pc would be in a fixed place.

danthemoneysavingman

i would suggest a laptop for a 7 year old is a little indulgent... suggest get one for your needs and let them use that?

[Deleted User]

Well, my 2 1/2 year old has failed to break our family iPad after 6 months of use. It's in a near indestructible case with built-in screen protector though!

You could buy a refurbished one for £289 - http://store.apple.com/uk-edu/product/FC769. This is the case - http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B004SPVZKW/ref=asc_df_B004SPVZKW7055324

When I was 7, i was using a BBC Micro.. Maybe a desktop computer may be more appropriate and less likely to be broken?

Hadrian

danthemoneysavingman wrote: »

i would suggest a laptop for a 7 year old is a little indulgent... suggest get one for your needs and let them use that?

Laptops won't help a 7 year old to read or do maths. Suggest, as well as the above, buy books.

confuseddad_2

Thanks for SOME of the replies.

She can read and do maths and has a number of books, shes even got some big ones.

We arent indulgeing her it is to increase her knowledge as there is a lot of good educational websites out there which are very interactive but our machne we use for work is to slow and the sound has gone on it plus her school has given her a log in to therelearning portal.

cheers.

mazza111

Hadrian wrote: »

Laptops won't help a 7 year old to read or do maths. Suggest, as well as the above, buy books.

That kind of response is not really needed. There are many websites that help children with maths and reading. The bbc web bites one being one of my old favourites when the children were at that age. It allowed me to know the kind of maths they would/should be covering at that age and incorporates learning with fun.

I would agree with the poster who said to get one to your needs and let her use it, and keep it in a family room, so you can keep an eye on what she's doing. The web isn't really a wonderful place for a child to be unsupervised.

Netbooks are fine if they are not used the way a main pc would be. I personally would go for a laptop, but be sure to teach her how to carry it and how to look after it.

Mista_C

Hadrian wrote: »

Laptops won't help a 7 year old to read or do maths. Suggest, as well as the above, buy books.

My 9 year old step-son's teacher reported a vast improvment on his reading and maths since he received his laptop.

Other than that I've not seen many books that allow you to Word Process or view the e-learning I.T. portals required by many schools and colleges these days.

shirlgirl2004

I'd get a cheap laptop. Apple products aren't flash enabled which rules out a number of educational sites my children use. My children are a lot younger than 9 and know how to carry and use a laptop so as long as you show her how to look after it there should be no reason for her to break it.