Question:
Advice - Notebook for 12 year old
My 12 year old is saving allowancemoney and working to earn extra moneyfor a laptop. She already has $425.65 USD and thinks she can have $800.00 by mid July so she has begun the shopping process. Please help with thoughts
General Questions
1) What is your budget?
$500-$900
2) What size notebook would you prefer?
b. Thin and Light; 13" - 14" screen
c. Mainstream; 15" - 16" screen
3) What tasks will you be performing with the notebook?
Productivity ( Word, Excel, Powerpoint) Internet surfing and gaming ( Sims 2)
4) Will you be taking the notebook with you to different places or leaving it on your desk?
Not usually
5) Will you be playing games on it; if so, which games?
Sims 2, Harry Potter
6) Are there any brands that you prefer or any you really don't like?
No
7) How many hours of battery life do you need?
3 or so would be nice
8) Do you mind buying online without seeing the notebook in person?
She would probably like to try out the keyboard. I am comfortable buying online
9) What country are you buying this in?
USA
Screen Specifics
10) From the choices below, what screen resolutions would you prefer?
I'm not sure I care but here goes
b. SXGA = Super eXtended Graphics Array; 1400x1050; This resolution offers a middle ground between XGA and UXGA.
c. UXGA = Ultra eXtended Graphics Array; 1600x1200; This resolution will give you the smallest viewable text and images while offering the greatest amount of screen real estate.
d. WXGA = Widescreen eXtended Graphics Array; 1280x768 or 1280x800; This resolution offers the same as XGA except that there is more horizontal real estate; 1280 versus 1024. Popular for movie viewing due to support for widescreen.
11) Do you want a glossy/reflective screen or a matte/non-glossy screen?
Doesn't matter
Build Quality and Design
12) Are the notebook's looks and stylishness important to you?
No
13) How long do you want this laptop to last?
3-4 years
Notebook Components
14) How much hard drive space do you want; 40GB to 120GB?
Minimum 60GB
15) Do you need a DVD, DVD-CD/RW or DVD-R drive?
Yes
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Answer:
Re: Advice - Notebook for 12 year old
I dont think you mentioned a specific processor. This one is a Celeron 15.4" display, 80Gig HD, 512RAM.
http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/HP-Pa...oductDetail.do
You might want to try using Best Buy's and Circut City's websites if you wanted to go see the laptop in person.
Answer:
Re: Advice - Notebook for 12 year old
Think your going to have to wait till you get closer. By then most Pentium's M may be gone in favor of the Solo chips. AMD will probaby have less exspensive chips as well.
Being so far away I think all you can really do is look into reputation, warranty, etc. Sorry.
For a 12 year old, maybe a Dell with a CompleteCare package? Thier CompleteCare covers drops and things spilled on them.
Answer:
Re: Advice - Notebook for 12 year old
Wow, you've gotta be a proud Parent! When I was 12, I think I spent all my pennies on Pokemon cards :D
I second a Dell, paired with a CompleteCare and warranty, An i6000d with a coupon should do well!
Answer:
Re: Advice - Notebook for 12 year old
Yep definetly a dell with a warranty and completecare! Kids will damage these machines alot. My brother is in jr high and the kid has gone through two keyboards and two rebuilds from coke spillings!
Answer:
Re: Advice - Notebook for 12 year old
Wow, you've gotta be a proud Parent! When I was 12, I think I spent all my pennies on Pokemon cards :D
I second a Dell, paired with a CompleteCare and warranty, An i6000d with a coupon should do well!
LOL... for me, it was Magic: The Gathering! ;)
I agree with what everyone has said... definitely go with Dell in your situation.
Answer:
Re: Advice - Notebook for 12 year old
LOL... for me, it was Magic: The Gathering! ;)
I agree with what everyone has said... definitely go with Dell in your situation.
LoL. same here. waste tons of money on Magic the gathering. I still have whole bunch of old cards. They are no used to me right now. I am thinking selling all of them on ebay or something.
anyway, for a 12 year old, get a dell. Don't need to be too good.
Answer:
Re: Advice - Notebook for 12 year old
Possibly a used or refurbished machine without a protection plan. Considering the legitimate needs of a 12-year-old, the inability to discriminate between differences not addressed by peers and popular culture, and the high likelihood of problems occurring, there's no reason to spend over $300 on the machine. Even then, I'd buy a lock and lock it to the kid's desk.
To address objections in advance, I am making only reasonable assumptions about the kid in question, none of which involve the child's intelligence (I have to mention this because people ride me when I dare question the judgment of another person - such as a pre-teen).
Answer:
Re: Advice - Notebook for 12 year old
Wow, thats one determines 12 year old. I had trouble saving up for a pack of gum when I was 12. I'm really not sure if you can get the 6000 all the way for to $900 with the X300 but it fits well. I have one and dare I say like it. I have the little ol' X300 and it runs Sim2 like cake. Smack a good coupon onto the order and try to bring the price down as far as possible.