FS: Calling all geeks, laptop help please..... - Page 4

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As you know Ed, I'm a computer ignoramous and basically illiterate in the ways of tech (I struggled to learn to double click before we hit the millenium). We're looking at schools for our boys now and I'm blown away by level of technological sophistication kids in kindergarten(!) are exposed to. I wouldn't worry about 'obsolete' - it's the underlying skills that will reap future benefits. Get him something good!

Oh, my mistake. I thought you actually were critiqueing the computer itself--




All those other things you listed above are indeed worries. But ed was asking about computers, so a few of us gave 'alternative' ideas that happened to not coincide with his main concerns. Besides, just because one charity program focuses on literacy and technological literacy doesn't mean those who focus on it ignore those other things. Nowadays, the growing gap in literacy and technology in the world is a very real concern. Cell phones have really created a great leapfrog effect in development in allowing poorer countries to get their populations better integrated into a globalized society and economy. I think computers have the same potential effect.

Oh, and the charity part of this program is 'buy 2, get 1': one goes to a kid in a developing country, one goes to you. I'm considering it because I like the charity idea, yes, but more because I'm intrigued by the computer itself. I simply disagree that it's a stupid idea. And if you want to take issue with the charity bit of the program, consider that the cost-to-donation ratio is very low, meaning that for every dollar a person gives, a high portion of that dollar is actually going to directly benefit the donee. That's the primary form of measurement for the effectiveness of a non-profit organization or NGO.

Anyway, I'm preaching, sorry. Ed, I'm sure the gift will be great. Just make sure he learns how to virus scan.

Yes, and I hope I'm wrong, because if technical literacy solves the world's problems, then that's a really easy problem.

--Andre

Sartorian, I don't see how you can say When you are a Mac user. I seriously don't understand. On one hand, you're telling Ed he should be going the charity route - purchase a poor computer & a child in a poor country receives a computer. It is true that the design is genious. However, the laptops are made to perform slowly b/c it saves energy = less time pumping. I don't think Ed's child wants to do that. Unless Ed's kid is a genius and likes to take apart computer (DESKTOPS, not laptops), he's not going to learn how to build computer through laptops. Laptops are not the same as desktops of the past. Your notion that Ed's kid doesn't need a laptop and the money could be properly spent by allocating some to charity seems to contradict the fact that you're a Mac user & Macs are overpriced. That's given. Some people enjoy that, some people don't, but everyone knows that Macs are overpriced for their performance/value. There's nothing wrong with that (I mean, some people buy $1000 shoes and $20,000 suits) EXCEPT when people start preaching about charity. If you really felt charitable, why not purchase the same computer specs at a lower price and use the money saved (and this would be more than enough) to donate to charities? Can you reconcile this philosophies? Last point: there's a low chance Ed's kid will get a virus. I've been using computers for as long as they've been out and I've had 1 virus from porn. Viruses are for the technologically deficient and not dependent on OS. Just because Macs don't have default anti-virus doesn't mean they don't get viruses. Ed, any laptop will last as long as your son takes care of it. Don't drop the laptop, don't leave it on the carpeted floor or floor (dust will get in), don't touch the screen or scratch the screen, don't drop it, don't hibernate it, don't leave it on for days+ and it will last years. I've had my desktop for 8 years old and I still use it for Bittorrents and printing downstairs.

Technical literacy would go along way in regards to information distribution and education (social networking and clothing fora aside) which I do think would contribute to the resolution of whatever the world's "problems" are.

I'm still trying to figure out why people are saying to avoid vista; the only real complaints about vista at launch were that it's graphics card drivers were complete and utter shit, which has long since been remedied. It's just as secure as XP (though security has a lot to do with the user of said computer) and my copy of vista has not crashed once yet. Granted it has those annoying messages to confirm nearly EVERYTHING you try to do, but they can be turned off in a matter of SECONDS.
There's no reason NOT to upgrade to Vista at this point in time, except maybe fear of change or terrible machine specs, which even a cheap laptop can overcome with 2gig of ram.

The problem with Vista is, unless you have a relatively fast processor, at least 1 Gb of ram, and a decent graphics card, you will want to take a sledge hammer to your computer within a day. I have a pretty decent home built desktop (Core 2 Duo @ 3.0Ghz, 7600GT, 4Gb of 800Mhz ram, good cooling) and it still feels sluggish. As of now, there is absolutely no compelling reason to switch to Vista.

You have me confused. I didn't actually tell him he should not spend the money on a laptop, I just was wondering why spend so much, but his reasoning made sense, and I said that. But the person who told him not to do it at all and only spend on charity was another poster (Blue...someone). (BTW, the charity program, as I said before, is buy 2, get 1--you buy one for yourself, and one for the charity's beneficiaries. No one actually said, "Don't buy him anything and give the money to charity.") As far as owning a Mac and saying you don't need to spend money on a laptop for a 9-yr-old, I'm a student, I'm 35 years old, I had to purchase my computer with my own money. I think it's fine that ed's getting his kid a laptop for school/education, but when it sounded like it was just a toy, I posted my comments about kids just being kids. But think about what you're saying to me: even 10 years ago, parents would look at you like you were an idiot if you suggested spending a grand on a piece of electronics for a 9-yr-old kid. It's not so strange some people might still wonder that. I am probably the last remaining one of my friends without kids. I love kids and I have a great time with them. I'm not one of those types of dudes that has no idea how to interact with children. In fact, I seriously considered becoming an elementary school teacher. However, I'm continually shocked at how materialistically spoiled kids are nowadays. I think that generally-speaking, people of my generation are spoilers: they take the credit-card purchasing mentality of their own lives and internalize that and feel like they should be spending gobs of money on their kids. Other parents also make them feel that way--parental peer pressure to spend on kids, who really don't understand the worth of money or the value of things and gifts. NONE of this is to say I think ed's spoiling his nephew, especially considering the necessity of using/having a computer nowadays. I only tried to point out the XO might actually be a more interesting toy/learning device for a 9-yr-old; but since it's for school, I don't think that's relevant. As I said, my own experience with computers was at age 9/10/11 when I learned to program in BASIC on a Tandy computer. What stimulates a child's mind is not necessarily the most expensive or flashiest prize, that's all.

It was not my intention, I think that is how everybody took my response, however. I merely questioned the need of a notebook over a desktop when the initial post gave no indication of a need for portability.

In any case, to the OP, if you're looking for a laptop that will last 4-5 years then buying something for $600-$800 now probably won't cut it.