- #BEST COMPUTER SOFTWARE FOR KIDS HOW TO#
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Most laptops in this category with screen sizes from 11 inches to 13 inches weigh about 2.5 pounds. Portability is another key concern, especially for middle- and high-schoolers who walk to school with backpacks laden with heavy textbooks. Likewise, it's relatively easy to find reinforced lids or cases made of rubber to help absorb drops from a few feet, but you just won't find fully ruggedized machines anywhere close to this price range. It's much rarer to find entire laptops that are waterproof the rugged ones that are (models like Panasonic's Toughbook line or Dell's Latitude Rugged Extremes) typically cost several thousand dollars and aren't geared toward kids at all, but rather workers in outdoors or shop-floor professions. Arguably the most important, though, is how rugged the case is.īuilt for Backpacks: Rugged Laptops for KidsĪ few Chromebooks and inexpensive Windows laptops have spill-resistant keyboards, which means that they should survive splashing with an ounce or so of water unscathed. Again, check out our Chromebooks-for-kids guide and best Chromebooks for gaming for more on the specifics around this OS.įeatures like these are what transforms an ordinary cheap laptop into a school-friendly machine that kids won't outgrow or wreck in a few months. If not, you'll want to take a close look at Chrome OS, since a few Chromebooks include decidedly kid-friendly features (such as easy-grip coatings, or display lids that double as whiteboards).
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If your child's school has specific software that runs only on Windows, your operating system choice will be decided for you. If you've decided against buying a smartphone for your kids but they talk your ear off about wanting to play mobile games, buying a Chromebook might be a good compromise.
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In addition to running web apps within the Chrome browser, Chrome OS can also run apps from the Google Play store (Opens in a new window) designed for Android smartphones and tablets, including Microsoft Office. Reused Macs aside, most parents will choose between Windows and Chrome OS, the operating system from Google.
#BEST COMPUTER SOFTWARE FOR KIDS PRO#
If you're an Apple fan and want to raise your son or daughter to be one too, you're best off giving them a hand-me-down and buying a new MacBook or MacBook Pro for yourself. The MacBook Air, Apple's least-expensive notebook, starts at $999 and is still overkill for an elementary- or middle-school student. New Apple laptops aren't available for less than $500-not even close. Which Operating System Is Best in a Kid PC?īefore you begin to evaluate features, you'll start with the essential question that has plagued PC shoppers for decades: Which operating system should I choose? We'll address that in a section near the end of this article, but know that gaming machines cost more than our other picks here. If your child is also of the age that they may be looking to play PC games on the same machine that they'll use for schoolwork, that is a whole other set of considerations. Lenovo Ideapad 3i Intel i5 256GB SSD 17.3" Laptop
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The Best Laptop Deals for Kids This Week*Īcer Aspire 5 Intel i3 128GB SSD 1080p 15.6" Laptopĭell InspiIntel i3 256GB SSD 15.6" LaptopĪcer Aspire 3 Intel i5 256GB SSD 8GB RAM 15.6" Laptop Regardless, they will almost certainly want to use that computer at home, too, both for fun (messaging their friends, watching videos, playing Fortnite) and homework (looking up information, typing book reports). The upshot is that your kid might need to use a laptop at school or for school whether you like it or not, especially in these uncertain times that may mandate distance learning. Other schools require parents to purchase laptops, offering a selection of recommended models. The same goes for buying a laptop, except for one very important difference: Many elementary and middle schools consider them essential educational tools, and equip classrooms with machines for their students. The question of whether (and when) to buy your son or daughter a smartphone is fraught with concerns over responsibility, online safety, and much more. Since 1982, PCMag has tested and rated thousands of products to help you make better buying decisions. ( See how we test everything we review (Opens in a new window).)
#BEST COMPUTER SOFTWARE FOR KIDS HOW TO#