My 12 yr old son really wants a laptop as his only present for Christmas. When my daughter got one for Christmas the grandparents also chipped in. In the three subsequent years grandpa passed away, and both grandmas have gone into a nursing home and are no longer in a position to chip in. Bummer for my son. We can afford up to the very basic computer of about $325-ish - which is still more than we want to spend but it will free up our family computer and we won't have to worry about viruses & malware.
But now that I've done some research I've discovered that the "gaming" computers are $1,000 - $1,800... !!!!! They call a cheap gaming laptop $900. No wonder this generation is broke! Seems that all my nieces & nephews have smartphones, gaming computers, ipads and the girls have coach bags! We are still using our 6 yr old desktop computer that cost about $400. We don't have the internet on our cellphones because we don't feel like spending another $100 monthly for our 4 phones - and I won't spend more than $40 for a leather pocketbook at Marshalls. ;o)
Enough of my rant - can anyone advise me about what is needed for a decent laptop computer if my son wants to play some basic online games? Is it possible to spend less than $350 on a laptop that he'll be able to use for online games?
thank you to those of you who are more knowledgable about this stuff than I am. My son likes to play minecraft - which doesn't work well on our desktop or my daughter's laptop. And yes, we do plan that he'll be doing homework on this computer too - but that doesn't require fast graphics capabilites - that only requires access to the school's homework website (which my older daughter uses extensively) or the ability to copy the homework to a flashdrive - which both kids have and use for various types of classes (it's on the supply list for my daughter's engineering classes).
Just to answer a post abaout internet access - we have wireless internet in the house - we don't have it on our cellphones - just an expense that we don't need to add.
It depends on the online games he wants to play. There are websites that have games on them that he can play in a browser, and be just fine with a $300 laptop. If, however, he wants to play games that he installs on the laptop and then plays on the internet, they generally require much higher graphics resolution and, therefore, one of the pricier laptops.
You may also consider getting a used laptop from a computer repair place. Sometime people can't return to pick up their repaired machine. Their loss could be your gain. Those machines will come with warranties from the seller and would be worth looking into I think.
The reason why they are so expensive is because they have better graphics cards and faster processors.
That being said there's nothing out there a 12 yr old can be playing that can't played on an under 500$ laptop.
We are gamers, yes I spent a grand on my laptop a couple of years ago ,I am also an adult that payed for it myself. We just bought DH a new laptop for 429 that will beable to handle the most graphic intensive game that is coming out next year. There isn't anything available online to play that you NEED a "gaming laptop" for. Just look at reviews for laptops, toshiba makes a good solid laptop that will last.
ps there is no way he got an alienware laptop for $600 , they START at $900
The only time you need a true "gaming" computer is if you are playing graphic intense games such as Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, Star Wars, etc. The reason gaming computers are more expensive is because they have a dedicated graphics card that helps render the images correctly. They also have a more powerful processor and usually a bigger hard drive. For a kid I would never spend that kind of money on his/her own computer. Now for a family computer then sure - the extra power helps with video editing, bigger hard drive for pictures/videos, music, etc.
Just my opinion - I would think about saving for a family computer and just designate hours that your LO can play on it for two reasons: 1) the whole family can benefit; 2) your LO won't spend hours upon hours sitting in front of a computer =)
Also, I'm confused - if you don't have the internet at home where is he going to play his online games? Most places will charge you unless you are comfortable leaving him somewhere where they have free internet.
Hi NY metro mom - forgive me for past posts that weren't nice.
No, they don't have to cost that much, but you probably won't get a good one for $350 either. My gaming son bought an Alienware laptop (with his own money), and I think it was somewhere around $600. The guy's a genius, and is going into computer science, so I would totally trust his judgment on what is a good laptop for gaming. It's very cool-looking too -- it has a lit-up green alien on the top.
If you want to know the specific type of laptop, pm me and I will ask him. But no way do you need to spend a thousand or $1,800 for a good gaming computer.
you can buy used on ebay or craigslist!
Is it possible? Yes. Will he like it? I don't know.
At 12 years old? Sorry - not spending that kinda money on a kid for a computer. He wants one that bad? He can earn it by doing jobs....raking leaves, plowing snow....
I'm not teaching my kids to keep up with the Jones'. It's wonderful that ALL the cousins have every electronic gadget out there....but that's ME. I don't care if all their friends have Coach purses and the latest and greatest electronics....same could be said if they were going to jump off a bridge - would you join them?
"Gaming" computers are costly because of the RAM (random access memory) and graphics that are involved. A good one should cost about $1K. A REALLY good one? $2K. Alienware gaming computers start at $900. You might be able to find a factory rebuilt/refurbished computer for less.
If you want him to be able to play - then to save money - get an Android phone and pay for internet on his phone only or have him pay for it monthly if he wants it that bad...you don't have to pay for internet service for all phones. You can pick and chose. Call your cell phone provider and find out if the "NOTEBOOKS" they have which would have internet access - might be OKAY...I got my husband's HP Notebook through Verizon two years ago for Christmas for $100 (yeah - 2 year agreement) but he loves it.
Is he going to use the laptop, ONLY for gaming????
Wouldn't he be using it for school too?????????????????????
My daughter is 9, and at home per homework, she has to go and do assignments online too. In school type programs.
Tell your son, he can earn a portion of the cost of the laptop.
Doing chores for others/neighbors etc.
A computer is essential nowadays... especially for kids who are in school.
Not for gaming though.
My priority, would be getting him a Mac laptop or a Mac computer, that has everything on it, that will be useful for school.
So what, if all those other relatives have Coach bags and iPads and smartphones and trendy 'adult' accouterments. So what.
got my dau the cheapest lap top from dell when she was young now has an apple no difference to me You should shop around staples best buy all running sales as long as its for fun and not school it doesnt matter
Check into refurbished or open box laptops. They are generally cheaper. Also try to speak to someone like the Geek Squad at Best Buy and tell them what games your son plays so they can recommend a computer that will support your son's needs.
You CAN find a computer very reasonable priced. At 12 years old, he does not NEED a gaming computer. He needs something basic that he can play games and do homework on.
Just talk to the computer guy at the store. The speed of the processor(?) or how fast it loads pages with tons of information on them is the most important thing in my opinion. I have a laptop but it takes 5-10 minutes to load some of my FB games. But the desk top has a faster brain and it takes seconds to load the same pages.
So I say go with one that has the fastest brain and leave out some of the other stuff.
My boys got their own laptops before I did. They needed them for school. Once they were in high school, they were doing power point presentations, internet research. I had to get wireless here at our house. They are on their computers all evening, mostly doing homework, also some gaming.
One teen has a pc, one has a mac. They were about $600 and $900. There is one game they play that only works on the mac because it has better graphic capability or something like that. But the $600 computer runs most of the online games they play.
So if you know your son will need a laptop in the next year or two for school, you might figure that into the price you pay, and make sure it's powerful enough to play the games your son likes now.
I would look at the Android pads if you think he would be able to enjoy the games. My 11 year old is fine with it. But we are using an old playstation 2 and have very few games. She's not THAT into games.
Look up Kyros Coby 8024 and see what you think. I LOVE mine and several of the Angry bird games are free and lots of games I've never seen are free. It's a tablet. It's not a computer. But it's awesome.
