Laptop for middle school child??

Christy

Christy

b*tch rocket
Gwydion said:
And please, by the gods, block Myspace. and/or keep her banned from the internet without your supervision.
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My kids have myspace. :shrug: I don't see a problem with it just so long as they keep it private and I'm on their list of friends. :yay: You can say no to myspace all you want, but saying no will not guarantee that they won't have an account. Most kids just create an account on another computer and just don't tell their parents about it. You can always tell those kids, their sites are usually pretty raunchy and full of foul crap.
 
M

Mousebaby

Guest
Christy said:
My kids have myspace. :shrug: I don't see a problem with it just so long as they keep it private and I'm on their list of friends. :yay: You can say no to myspace all you want, but saying no will not guarantee that they won't have an account. Most kids just create an account on another computer and just don't tell their parents about it. You can always tell those kids, their sites are usually pretty raunchy and full of foul crap.
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Although I don't agree with most on the myspace thing, your computers will also be bogged down with spyware. I had a friend of mine get a virus on her computer and it somehow fried the motherboard! She last visited myspace, so one can only assume. :shrug:
 
SouthernMdRocks

SouthernMdRocks

R.I.P. Bobo, We miss you!
sockgirl77 said:
I did within reason. However when we finally got a computer, WE got a computer. It was shared. I see no need in a 12 year old having a laptop. You can get working desktops for free in the classifieds and Freecycle every day.
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But I don't want to share MY computer anymore.....:evil:
Thank you however for sharing your advice with me. I see no need for a laptop either at 12, but she does. I figured I would just try to find the best buy without going overboard.
 
SouthernMdRocks

SouthernMdRocks

R.I.P. Bobo, We miss you!
pcjohnnyb said:
:killingme
I wasn't even going to post in this thread because I'd have basically just have been saying that I completely agree with you and Xaquinn...but that made me laugh and I had to respond.
and now that I did...I have to say...
this should have been nipped in the bud. There is no reason for a 12 yo to have a laptop and you should have explained that they are for big kids, or something like that. :lol: But who am I to tell you how to raise your kid? If you have the money, go for it, but remember that for any bang for your buck is going to be probably halved by you getting a laptop instead of a desktop.
and its harder to keep track of what the kid does on a laptop.
and they have a much higher chance of breaking.

In conclusion...without dragging this on.
If you MUST get a laptop, I'd say try to get the cheapest Dell possible, and get a warranty. There are other options for cheap computers, but I believe out of the choices, you're probably going to get the best customer service with Dell when (I didn't stutter :lol:) this computer breaks. :yay:

Merry Christmas :howdy: :smile:
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Merry Christmas to you Johnboy :buddies:!!
THanks for your unsolicited advice on child rearing!!:dance: I agree that I don't even see the need for her to have a laptop, other then to keep her the hell off mine but if she is willing to get only that due to the expense, I figure don't boohoo to me when her brother has more to open!!:cds:
 
sockgirl77

sockgirl77

Well-Known Member
SouthernMdRocks said:
Merry Christmas to you Johnboy :buddies:!!
THanks for your unsolicited advice on child rearing!!:dance: I agree that I don't even see the need for her to have a laptop, other then to keep her the hell off mine but if she is willing to get only that due to the expense, I figure don't boohoo to me when her brother has more to open!!:cds:
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Tell the little snot that she'll get whatever in the hell Mommy buys her. Just a thought. :shrug:
 
SouthernMdRocks

SouthernMdRocks

R.I.P. Bobo, We miss you!
sockgirl77 said:
Tell the little snot that she'll get whatever in the hell Mommy buys her. Just a tho

Ahh, :gossip: I don't think "snot" really describes her well..I think she is pretty much typical 12 yo from what I see and hear from other parents. I did ask her what she really wanted for Christmas and I guess I got her answer.:whistle:
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LusbyMom

LusbyMom

You're a LOON :)
What is the big deal with her getting one? I guess I just don't see the problem with it. My oldest also has a laptop on the top of her list. Last year it was an IPOD.
 
F

forceofnature

Guest
Kids should not be allowed laptops unless used in the company of parents. Trust me I have experience. Once that instant messaging takes place they stay up all night and hide in their room.

Just my experience.
 
LusbyMom

LusbyMom

You're a LOON :)
forceofnature said:
Kids should not be allowed laptops unless used in the company of parents. Trust me I have experience. Once that instant messaging takes place they stay up all night and hide in their room.

Just my experience.
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:shrug: Set boundaries just like you do with other things. Have them turn over the laptops at bedtime. Set parental controls so they can't visit sites you don't want them. Take them away when they break the rules you set.
 
F

forceofnature

Guest
Did that. I had to disconnect cable from the house at night. Now he is in College so he is on his own. My youngest has been a good kid so far.
 
LusbyMom

LusbyMom

You're a LOON :)
Christy said:
My kids have myspace. :shrug: I don't see a problem with it just so long as they keep it private and I'm on their list of friends. :yay: You can say no to myspace all you want, but saying no will not guarantee that they won't have an account. Most kids just create an account on another computer and just don't tell their parents about it. You can always tell those kids, their sites are usually pretty raunchy and full of foul crap.
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:yeahthat: My oldest has myspace, she is still young so she can only access from my laptop in front of me and I have her password and she doesn't :lol: Mostly she uses it to write to her aunts, uncles, grandma etc that live far away. It's a great way for them to share pics with her.
 
M

Mousebaby

Guest
I have Verizon DSL and it has a security suite which includes parental control. The thing goes off at a certain time. No messaging past bedtime. Besides my two youngest kids only have me, dad, and her aunt on their contacts list. :shrug:
 
PrepH4U

PrepH4U

New Member
SouthernMdRocks said:
Thanks for all the info!!:buddies:
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Yep the dell vostro laptop is only 399 online right now for their pre-black friday sale. Sounds like a good deal to me :shrug: Hey if you can afford to buy a laptop for her, who is anyone else to judge. I'm just saying..... :lol: Make her happy!
 
M

Mousebaby

Guest
PrepH4U said:
Yep the dell vostro laptop is only 399 online right now for their pre-black friday sale. Sounds like a good deal to me :shrug: Hey if you can afford to buy a laptop for her, who is anyone else to judge. I'm just saying..... :lol: Make her happy!
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I agree, not to mention at least she can learn from that, no one learns from a stupid gaming system. My son has a desktop in his room, but also has almost every gaming system you can name in his room that he has collected over time. He has taken good care of his things.
 
twinoaks207

twinoaks207

Having Fun!
Just read this entire thread -- where to start....?

You know your child and her habits and maturity level so if you think she's responsible enough, go for it.

Laptops are more convenient that desktops in that they can be used anywhere. My twelve-year-old has been known to watch DVD's on one on long car trips to Pennsylvania.

I just bought an Acer laptop for the house that has a full keyboard (number keys included) and a wonderful feature that has some kind of plastic cover under the keys that protects from "coke spills". Haven't actuallly tried it out yet but hopefully it'll work! I do like the color display on it -- much nicer than my Dell work laptop! Also, with our Dell laptops (Latitutde D620) , at work, we have had a fair number suffer battery failure after one year, conveniently just after the warranty expires. Replacements are quoted as $100 and that's with our major buyer negotiated price. Just an observation here for what it's worth.

This age group will set up a My space account somewhere - if not at your house, then at a friend's house. My son has one and I have his log on and password and monitor it. I only had to block a couple of friends before he passed the word that bad language won't be tolerated. I don't have a schedule for monitoring as being unpredictable is much better (the element of surprise).

Just FYI, there is a new state test on Technology Literacy that is coming down the pike within the next couple of years. Our children will need to demonstrate that they know how to operate computer application programs (right now - Word, Excel & Powerpoint). It will be a mixture of multiple choice & application questions. You might want to check with your school & see what kind of instruction they are getting in this area as it varies from county to county in the state and even from school to school. Using the programs at home offers the kids a chance to learn more about them. The pilot test will be given in 7th grade (not sure which counties are doing pilots, I know PG is one of them). This is all part of Maryland's goal for Technology Literacy by grade 8.

If you are ordering a computer online or going to Office Depot or somewhere like that, ask about the availability of a "student discount" for any software. I'm not sure if they do it for middle school but it won't hurt to ask & would save you a few dollars.

Best of luck!
 
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