Budget laptop for kids | FerrariChat

Budget laptop for kids

Discussion in 'Technology' started by forgeahead, Mar 23, 2014.

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

  1. forgeahead

    forgeahead F1 Rookie
    Owner

    Sep 16, 2008
    4,408
    Rocky Mount, NC
    Full Name:
    Ray
    #1 forgeahead, Mar 23, 2014
    I promised my daughters their own laptops (primarily so they stop messing with mine!). I really want to keep them below $500 each. Does anybody have opinions on chromebooks? They'll use them for simple games, writing stories, music, and video chatting. I was pondering a surface with a keyboard (they have 1st gen I pads), which is somewhat over budget. I have perused some of the cheaper laptops but there is a dizzying array of options as you can imagine. I considered a refurb apple (obviously over budget) as we have many apple products and the transition would be smooth as well as less hassle with the operations. Any opinions?
     
  2. thecarreaper

    thecarreaper F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Sep 30, 2003
    17,585
    Savannah
    #2 thecarreaper, Mar 23, 2014
    Honestly if you want new, go to Newegg or Amazon.

    If used is OK and you can tweak them to protect your kids, buy some used ones locally, and wipe them clean.

    Then you can choose what the parental controls are.

    Be sure to set them up separate accounts, on each laptop, assuming they may swap and share. This way it will contain the malware to one account, and you can see what is going on " if" you or your wife have to.

    NEVER use the ADMIN account and let them loose online. Best.
     
  3. cockrill

    cockrill Formula 3
    Silver Subscribed

    Jan 23, 2008
    1,086
    Columbia, MO
    Full Name:
    Jeremy Cockrill
    #3 cockrill, Mar 24, 2014
    I bought a cheap (<$300) laptop (Asus, I think) for my 9-year old son at Best Buy. The specs aren't the best, but it's not too bad and the price was right. Looking on Best Buy's website, it looks like this is a really good deal:

    http://www.bestbuy.com/site/satellite-15-6-laptop-4gb-memory-750gb-hard-drive/4114013.p?id=1219095669893&skuId=4114013&st=categoryid$abcat0502000&cp=1&lp=2

    $299.99 for a quad-core laptop with 750 GB hard drive.

    I bought my last laptop from Newegg. It arrived damaged (due to improper packaging). They replaced it, but did not refund the next-day shipping that I had paid, which ticked me off. I ended up having to eat the next-day shipping, but had to wait over a week and a half to get a working laptop.
     
  4. Wade

    Wade Three Time F1 World Champ
    Owner

    Mar 31, 2006
    32,793
    East Central, FL
    Full Name:
    Wade O.
    #4 Wade, Mar 24, 2014
    Nowadays, is a laptop really the way to go for kids? Or maybe an Android tablet is better suited?
     
  5. Innovativethinker

    Innovativethinker F1 Veteran
    Silver Subscribed

    Aug 8, 2009
    8,668
    So Cal
    Full Name:
    Mark Smith
    #5 Innovativethinker, Mar 24, 2014
    Buy used Mac airs, not sure it will fit your budget but they will be trouble free
     
  6. forgeahead

    forgeahead F1 Rookie
    Owner

    Sep 16, 2008
    4,408
    Rocky Mount, NC
    Full Name:
    Ray
    #6 forgeahead, Mar 24, 2014
    Good info here. Thanks guys.
     
  7. futureowner

    futureowner Formula 3

    Mar 24, 2006
    1,469
    Brookfield, WI
    Full Name:
    Thad
    #7 futureowner, Mar 24, 2014
    I bought an HP Pavilion G7 a little over a year ago, right in the $400-$500 range iirc and have been very happy with it.
     
  8. ProRallyCodriver

    ProRallyCodriver Formula 3

    Oct 25, 2005
    1,250
    Alexandria, VA
    Full Name:
    Dave Shindle
    #8 ProRallyCodriver, Mar 24, 2014
    Etch-a-sketch.
     
  9. motorcitycars

    motorcitycars Rookie

    Feb 4, 2014
    33
    Michigan
    Full Name:
    Jake
    #9 motorcitycars, Apr 3, 2014
    I don't have a link, but the Acer Aspire One is a pretty good netbook for the price.
     
  10. bobzdar

    bobzdar F1 Veteran

    Sep 22, 2008
    6,398
    Richmond
    Full Name:
    Pete
    #10 bobzdar, Apr 3, 2014
    Asus transformer t100ta, full windows, converts to tablet, has full version of office home, 11 hour battery life, can find it for between $299 and $349. Can't beat it bang for the buck imo. I bought my wife one for Christmas and she loves it. I'm debating buying one for myself.
     

Share This Page