If you were going to buy a new computer (no extras laying around) for a 5 year old to learn on, what would you get? Obviously there is no need to spend a lot of money here, which is why am not considering a Mac. But, if you get a low end budget computer and it comes with Vista, well that just pisses me right off. The Mac Mini is priced closer to target range, but then you have to get a keyboard/mouse/monitor.

I really need to find an old Apple II with Oregon Trail and Number Munchers and the kid would be set.

Relevant/useful opinions are welcome. Thanks.

9/18/2007 5:03:54 PM

I would not get my 5 year old a computer. Let him be a kid for awhile longer.

9/18/2007 5:05:38 PM

Quote :

"there is no need to spend a lot of money here I don't want to turn him homo, which is why am not considering a Mac"

But seriously, just look in the classifieds for old computers. As for being a kid, I started using computers when I was in the 2nd grade doing basic programming and shit for our AG classes. Probably would have been sooner if 2nd grade for me wasn't 1984.



[Edited on September 18, 2007 at 5:11 PM. Reason : .]

9/18/2007 5:11:11 PM

It's ok to get a kid to use a computer, and it can help learning in some areas ... but set time limits ... like 20 mins a DAY, that's plenty for a 5 year old.

Otherwise, make them read books and play with friends

9/18/2007 5:22:01 PM

9/18/2007 6:45:22 PM

at 5, you don't need anything more than number munchers, oregon trail, and the most basic of text editors

9/18/2007 6:45:27 PM

number munchers ftmfw

9/18/2007 7:51:51 PM

9/18/2007 8:05:07 PM

that last pic kinda thought it was Spongebob for a second

9/18/2007 8:15:08 PM

oh shit, the little professor.

taking it back old skool.

9/18/2007 10:29:51 PM

u can dnl oregon trail and number munchers to any computer now... i have it on my desktop for the hell of it

9/19/2007 1:37:13 AM

http://www.powermax.com - they have some G3 iMacs on there that would work great.

9/19/2007 6:19:58 AM

thanks for the input guys. yeah i'm not sure i'd get my 5 year old a computer either, but this isn't my 5 year old. i don't think its a bad thing at that age but if your kid starts playing WOW 8 hours a day, then maybe we have a problem

9/19/2007 9:57:00 AM

my 2 year old plays with an old crappy Dell Latitude CPx laptop (about 6 years old) that i've have laying around for years. i just put a $5 optical USB mouse and he's set. mostly he just plays games on PBS.ORG and watches videos of rockets and monster trucks

9/19/2007 10:30:16 AM