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Children, computers and advice.
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Exactly what it says on the tin really.
I know NOTHING about computers other than I love my iPad and MacBook. I have an 11 year old grandchild and my daughter wants to buy a PC so that she and her sibs can use it in a fixed location in the house. She's a clever cookie but has a processing disorder which affects her general abilities when it comes to school type work.
We are a family of Apple users so we're leaning towards the use of those but absolutely can't afford a new one.
To put perspective on our family, there are no play stations/boxes or any other sort of fangled gadgets in our houses.
It has to be a recon/used but how can we know if the one we pick is any good? How much would we expect to pay?
Are we barking up the wrong tree, would something else be better?
What spec would we be looking out for?
Your help is much appreciated. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Have you got a C.E.X shop were you live...
If you have they are great, its all second hand laptops phones etc...
The guys that work in it a really knowledgable and will help you choose something that will suit the childrens needs..
These guys are real computer geeks ( not in an offensive sense)
And know what they are talking about, unlike the
people in pc world  |
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"Have you got a C.E.X shop were you live...
If you have they are great, its all second hand laptops phones etc...
The guys that work in it a really knowledgable and will help you choose something that will suit the childrens needs..
These guys are real computer geeks ( not in an offensive sense)
And know what they are talking about, unlike the
people in pc world "
I've been warned about PC World! Thanks. I've never heard of CEX, I'll google it. |
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By *icketysplitsWoman
over a year ago
Way over Yonder, that's where I'm bound |
What do you want to use it for?
A Chromebook is only £149 at the moment but you can't use it for worky things without the getting the Google version of Word etc.
If you want a proper desk top then they are more expensive.
|
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"Have you got a C.E.X shop were you live...
If you have they are great, its all second hand laptops phones etc...
The guys that work in it a really knowledgable and will help you choose something that will suit the childrens needs..
These guys are real computer geeks ( not in an offensive sense)
And know what they are talking about, unlike the
people in pc world
I've been warned about PC World! Thanks. I've never heard of CEX, I'll google it."
its next to the last of the plantangenants on the way up to the train station |
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"What do you want to use it for?
A Chromebook is only £149 at the moment but you can't use it for worky things without the getting the Google version of Word etc.
If you want a proper desk top then they are more expensive.
"
She's now in year 7 so mainly for school work but then again, children are far more knowledgeable about computers and they actually need one.
No laptops, we want it in a fixed location. |
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forget those cheap shops as they sell more old stuff compared to new
try laptops direct for a new but used laptop
within Refurbished Laptops
or if a base unit new is only 200.00 then add a keyboard mouse and screen total cost your looking at about 270.00 depending on the screen that you choose to pick for them
AMD A8 6600K 3.9GHz CPU
4GB DDR3 Memory
Asus A88XM-E Motherboard
AMD Radeon HD 8570D
1000GB Hard Drive
DVD Drive
Built-in Wi-Fi
3 Year Collect & Return Warranty
239.00 for base unit ccl computers
screen lcd tvs work with computers nowadays as long as they have hdmi input or dvi
|
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"Have you got a C.E.X shop were you live...
If you have they are great, its all second hand laptops phones etc...
The guys that work in it a really knowledgable and will help you choose something that will suit the childrens needs..
These guys are real computer geeks ( not in an offensive sense)
And know what they are talking about, unlike the
people in pc world
I've been warned about PC World! Thanks. I've never heard of CEX, I'll google it.its next to the last of the plantangenants on the way up to the train station"
Ooo, ta, that's walking distance for me. |
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By *icketysplitsWoman
over a year ago
Way over Yonder, that's where I'm bound |
"What do you want to use it for?
A Chromebook is only £149 at the moment but you can't use it for worky things without the getting the Google version of Word etc.
If you want a proper desk top then they are more expensive.
She's now in year 7 so mainly for school work but then again, children are far more knowledgeable about computers and they actually need one.
No laptops, we want it in a fixed location."
OK. Our year 10 uses a Chromebook but does also use the big computer for some things.
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Well im from Belfast, do dont know if you guys have it in England 
But surely you must have something similar ...
C.E.X even have guarantee,s for what they sell ..
Hope you have it over there, its great for all the recon |
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"forget those cheap shops as they sell more old stuff compared to new
try laptops direct for a new but used laptop
within Refurbished Laptops
or if a base unit new is only 200.00 then add a keyboard mouse and screen total cost your looking at about 270.00 depending on the screen that you choose to pick for them
AMD A8 6600K 3.9GHz CPU
4GB DDR3 Memory
Asus A88XM-E Motherboard
AMD Radeon HD 8570D
1000GB Hard Drive
DVD Drive
Built-in Wi-Fi
3 Year Collect & Return Warranty
239.00 for base unit ccl computers
screen lcd tvs work with computers nowadays as long as they have hdmi input or dvi
"
Thanks. If I show your message to someone in the know, will they be able to translate it into something for me? |
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"one thing install a firewall and also have the child friendly settings set for that pc via your modem "
This is a good example of how I know bugger all about computers.
What's a Firewall? (Don't answer that though, I won't get it). |
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By *phroditeWoman
over a year ago
(She/ her) in Sensualityland |
"one thing install a firewall and also have the child friendly settings set for that pc via your modem
This is a good example of how I know bugger all about computers.
What's a Firewall? (Don't answer that though, I won't get it)."
Firewall allows you to allow some but not all traffic. You deffo need Antivirus such as Kaspersky (my preferred one) |
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By *ngeluk69Woman
over a year ago
Near enough |
You could always check out Apple for refurbished macs and laptops, they are pretty good on price. My partner got a MacBook from eBay, a couple of years old, so still update able and good spec.
I bought an iMac 2 years ago and it was worth every penny, I know some say they are overpriced and shit, but I always say if you find something that works for you then stick with it.
There's always options |
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"Thanks. If I show your message to someone in the know, will they be able to translate it into something for me? "
yes and no
ccl are pre built systems where ever you go you will get that they might not have the pc parts that is requested
you will also get but this system is much better I like amd some like intel pcs both are just as good as each other it all depends on what cash you have and how powerful that you want it to do
us gamers prefer a powerful pc to play games on the one im using is just a net pc simple onboard graphics enough to play games on the net and do other things
at moment its downloading a film and also playing music as well as being on here all at the same time and thats a basic pc with a 32" lcd screen |
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"Thanks. If I show your message to someone in the know, will they be able to translate it into something for me?
yes and no
ccl are pre built systems where ever you go you will get that they might not have the pc parts that is requested
you will also get but this system is much better I like amd some like intel pcs both are just as good as each other it all depends on what cash you have and how powerful that you want it to do
us gamers prefer a powerful pc to play games on the one im using is just a net pc simple onboard graphics enough to play games on the net and do other things
at moment its downloading a film and also playing music as well as being on here all at the same time and thats a basic pc with a 32" lcd screen "
This is why I need help. I've absolutely no idea what all that means! I'm not expecting you to explain, just giving forumites an idea of how clueless I am. |
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your not clueless pc,s have changed alot over the years and change every 6 months with new improvements to there systems
keeping up with it and having the money isnt worth it
you have a pm asking you some questions about the pc that your after |
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Sorry, no advice here, but you have an 11 year old grand child? 
You don't look old enough. Having met you and just looking at your profile, I hadn't realised how old you was.
Damn girl, I hope I look half as good as you when I'm in my 50s.
Kudos to you for looking a lot younger. |
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"Sorry, no advice here, but you have an 11 year old grand child?
You don't look old enough. Having met you and just looking at your profile, I hadn't realised how old you was.
Damn girl, I hope I look half as good as you when I'm in my 50s.
Kudos to you for looking a lot younger."
You flatter me but thank you, compliments are always much appreciated.
It's all the shagging! |
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IMO Topsy any modern desktop box is going to be able to do what a non gaming child or teen needs to do. Therefore my suggestion would be to look at Tescos. The have some base units etc in their double up deal where you can convert clubcard points at 2-4-1
Access to the full set of Microsoft Office programmes is a real help though and the best deal going at the moment is the university bundle. You need to get it bought by somebody with a university e-mail address but at £60 for 4 years its a bargain |
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Desktop computers tend to have better specs for the money than laptops, and it sounds like you only need a fixed location desktop.
I'd list what activities you'd expect them to want to do and then go out ad review your options. Writing, internet research and use as well as some children's general stuff tends not to need very high specs, so second hand can be perfect.
Quite a few places now sell reconditioned pcs, so shop around. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
|
"one thing install a firewall and also have the child friendly settings set for that pc via your modem
This is a good example of how I know bugger all about computers.
What's a Firewall? (Don't answer that though, I won't get it).
Firewall allows you to allow some but not all traffic. You deffo need Antivirus such as Kaspersky (my preferred one) "
On the note of antivirus, according to which a couple of years ago, the most comprehensive and updated antivirus was none other than the Microsoft preinstalled one which comes free with Windows.
The worst being Norton which, funnily enough, is the one PC world tries to sell with every PC or laptop.
The firewall I don't know about, I have mine switched off because most of my onlineness is via mobile because the security parameters are better through 3g than down the phone lines, however, sky and virgin provide the most secure home Internet.
On a more opinionated note, I highly recommend Toshiba computers for the average user. Toshiba are always keeping free backups of drivers up to date on their website and are generally low maintenance (from what I've seen). Fairly reasonably priced too.
I noticed some mentions of cex, they are really good and transparent, they provide the amounts they buy and sell goods for on their website, so you get a rough idea of their markup rates. I used it when volunteering in a charity shop to assess rough prices for bits and pieces.
Whilst we're on the subject of computers, Dell and HP are the most popular PCs, but they outdate quickly, are less reliable, and are the main source of issues (behind Apple) although (unlike Apple which is mainly charger and heating issues) Dell and HP are more commonly software, most of the incompatibility issues with Windows 10 have been Dell and HP (as far as I know) and, spookily enough, they're PC world favourites.
Don't get me wrong, PC world offer very competitive prices and a decent variety of products, but don't go in without a clue, otherwise you'll hemorrhage money |
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In my personal opinion, (as an IT professional) your kids will be better off with a proper desktop computer. If they don't need the portability of a laptop then there's no point in accepting the compromises that a laptop requires.
There are many suppliers of PC's out there including several who sell refurbished (with warranty).
Personally, I would recommend that you look for something with an intel "i3" or "i5" processor, 4 gig of ram and at least 250gb hard disk. The brand of PC is not really an important factor as the majority are well made and don't suffer from the same reliability issues as laptops.
Something like this would be ideal - http://www.refurbthat.com/refurbished-desktop-pcs/refurbished-lenovo-thinkcentre-m91p-pc-intel-core-i5-2400-3-10ghz-4gb-memory-500gb-hdd-dvd-rw-with-windows-7-professional-657
But budget for a monitor another £10 for keyboard and mouse & £50 for a monitor (look under peripherals).
Cal
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