MacBook or cheaper Notebook for a 10 yr old?

Question

I've taken a close look at MacBook's spec's and in terms of sheer horsepower/$ you get a lot less than a comparable Windows laptop. Since I'm not a Mac user myself, I can't put value on the usability, availability and reliability of the software - especially for my 10 yr old who's just starting to get into computers. I haven't tried Windows Vista and wonder if it makes up for the poorer usability of Windows vis-a-vis Mac.

So the question is - would you recommend I pay the extra 25-40% for the MacBook or buy a laptop. Thanks!

Answer 1

Neither, for a 10 year old, I would suggest a desktop, and place in full view of everyone in the house, unless you are brave to allow your kids to venture around the internet (may be not now, but after they have a laptop, thats normally what they will ask for next).

Answer 2

I'm 18 years old...and when I was 10, I remember not caring too much for things I had. It's not that I was ingrateful, but I wasn't all that mature. I think a MacBook would be great when he/she gets a few years older. Maybe a graduation present. I am about to graduate and I would appreciate one now...but a few years ago I wouldn't know what was so special about it. Plus, not so many programs run on Mac's. The normal Windows PC would be a safe way to go. If he/she doesn't take care of it...it won't matter as much because it was less expensive and that's what to expect when someone 10 years old has something like a laptop. More applications will be able to run on a Windows...so I would choose a normal laptop. You should consider buying a used laptop so that it won't matter if it gets banged up. I hope this helps you.

Answer 3

Get a Mac Mini desktop unit.

Comes with the iLife suite, a much better operating system than windowze, and just add a cheap flatscreen monitor and logitech keyboard and mouse, you're in business.

Might cost you $800.00

Answer 4

attempt Oriental procuring and promoting - they have a gaggle of relaxing stuff it really is for sale in packs of 8 or 10 it really is extremely low fee. you may also pass the "Mythbusters" route and attempt some relaxing youngster- sort experiments. The Mentos & nutrition regimen Coke attempt is messy - yet stunning for a gaggle of little boys. (drop a mint Mentos right into a 2 liter bottle of coke - it creates a tremendous fountain of soda...)

Answer 5

i would not reccomend using a mac for a 10 year old boy. now windows xp would be the best choice for him. everything is compatible with it. i would actulaly reccomend you go on cragislist and find a used desktop pc, and make sure to limit the internet, andd make your password administrator.

Answer 6

Get the MacBook.

Answer 7

computers arent designed for 10 year olds, but if you must, get a 400 dell computer(u can still get XP if u are worried)

Answer 8

You should just get a good used PC and make sure there's no internet connection on it. Just load it with educational games.

Answer 9

Hello Sanjay C,

Of course, I'm biased towards the Macintosh. You may pay a little more now, but you will make up for it farther down the line after actual use. There is added expense with anti-virus software for Windows PCs, as well as other problems inherit with this OS. The Mac, on the other hand, will hold it's value and stay a valuable tool for your child.

OK here's my list of things I like about the Macintosh over Windows. I'm sorry that it is so long, but that's how it goes.

* No computer viruses.
You hear from the Windows people that it's because there are fewer Macs out there, but I think it's because of the Mac OS and it's Unix kernel. That doesn't explain why Vista got viruses before it was officially released. The Macintosh comes out of the box as a closed system. If you want it to be networked and remotely operated, you can make that happen, but you have to change it's settings first. Windows machines come out of the box as a wide open vulnerable system. That's so the IT guy can set up the hardware, attach it to the company's network, and install the software remotely from the comfort of his own desk. ActiveX and InternetExplorer leaves the Windows OS wide open to hacks and viruses. The Macintosh OS simply isn't set up that way.

If you want to install any kind of software onto your Mac, you first need to type in your administrative password. There is no auto-install for a virus to attach itself to your Mac without your Okay. That is the simple answer why there hasn't been any viruses for the Macintosh in the past 6 years. Another is that first year programmers learn how to create simple Windows script viruses their first year of class. Mac programmers simply love their computers and have no desire to create such an abomination. We love our Mac programmers and happily pay what ever they ask for their good, hard work.

* Games.
I enjoy the games that I play on my Mac, but It's true that there simply aren't as many games out there for the Mac as Windows. Hopefully, with the Mac now using an Intel processor, we will start to see more games being developed for the Mac. But, honestly, don't most people get their gaming fix by playing with video game consoles (such as NES, PS, Wii, or XBox), rather than playing games on their computers?

* Software.
There's a lot more software for the Macintosh now, than before Mac OS X arrived. Much of the Mac's new software is simply Unix ports. There is also a large open source and public domain/shareware development community that has been supporting the Mac OS.

http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/

You can run Unix X-windows on your Macintosh now too. Apple has been designated as the largest distributor of Unix in the world. If you have one of the new Intel-based Macs you can now run Windows programs natively using a program called Boot Camp and/or Parallel. There is also a Java Virtual Machine for the Mac too.

There's still a ton of programs made specifically for the Mac. Most of these are programmed in machine language, so they're lightening fast. Apple watches over their developers closely, to make sure everything runs like it's supposed to; that it runs the Macintosh way. There's also a lot of Windows ports too. I use Microsoft Office on my Mac at work all the time. Although the Macintosh versions of Windows software are way behind in features than their Windows brethren, the Macintosh programs seem to run better, faster and are not as susceptible to problems as the Windows ports. Go figure!

Where the Macintosh really shines is in the creative software area. I'm a printer, so I know that the Macintosh pioneered desktop publishing. I think that most structured drawing, paint/graphics, and music programs got their start here too. Video and film editing and production is now very big on the Mac. Many people complain about how expensive some of these programs are, but frankly, professional programs are always more expensive than the cheaper consumer-level programs that are out there. Stuff like iTunes, iPhoto, iMovie, iDVD, etc. come free with your Macintosh, while other programs are quite affordable.

http://www.versiontracker.com/macosx

* Less problems
The Macintosh simply works. There really isn't very many problems using a Mac compared to a Windows PC. Check out the computer questions here on Yahoo! Answers. There are a lot of Windows, "Why can't I get this to work?" questions here. Even though there are a lot of Mac users here, there doesn't seem to be very many Mac questions. The Mac simply works. Naturally, there are a few problems with any kind of computer hardware, but these are few and far between on a Mac.

* Hardware Power -vrs- Expense

Right, the Macintosh is a little more proprietary and you really need to buy hardware that tells you that it's Macintosh compatible. You can't just buy some cheap hardware, piece it together, and make a Mac, like you can with some PCs. But, then, you don't have Plug-and-Pray either. Again, the Mac simply works.

We also hear from Windows users that Windows PCs are cheaper than Macs. True, you can buy hardware with the barest of graphics cards, hard drives, and other components, or you can buy the best and end up spending the same amount as a Mac. It's your choice, but that's why you see Macs holding up and being used a lot longer than these Window PCs.

Oh, and since we're talking about hardware, yes, you can get yourself a USB multiple-buttoned mouse, plug it into your Mac, and use it just fine, thank you. Don't worry about it.

* Mac OS X
It's a very simple, basic, easy-to-use OS. It's highly graphic, so your kids or your grandmother could learn to use it, and it's also got a terminal, so the geekiest guy can enjoy using it to it's fullest extent. Windows users will recognize many of the same features that they use on their OS, but there are a few things that are strictly Macintosh.

http://www.apple.com/support/switch101/
http://www.apple.com/support/mac101/
http://switchtoamac.com/guides/

I have loved it because it's always responsive. You throw in a CD and the icon for it pops up on the desktop along with a dialog box asking if you want a specific program to use with it. There's no need to search for drives. If it's a music CD, iTunes launches to play it. If you plug in your digital camera iPhoto launches to import the pictures. If you're looking for a file buried deep inside your Mac's file structure, you can use Spotlight and it might find the file before you're done typing the first three letters of the name.

Again, I'm sorry that this is so long, but I get tired of the misinformation that the Windows guys are spreading about the Macintosh, and I wanted to be sure to respond to all of their rants with the facts. Go into your local Macintosh dealer and play with the Macintosh yourself, and see what you think. Best of luck with your final decision. Take care.

--Rick