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| Mac | 40% | 34 votes | Total: 85 votes | |
| PC | 60% | 51 votes |
Mac
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Macintosh computers are the best for kids, hands down.
You can walk into any school in my area and find each one of them, with the exception of one alternative school, furnished with Mac computer labs. Children as young as third grade, and maybe earlier, go to the computer lab, turn on their Mac, plug in the headphones, type in their password, and begin their lesson for the day. The computers have an intuitive interface. When you turn it on, everything you need is in front of you.
As a former full-time teacher and now substitute teacher, I have observed children over a long period of time use the Mac for learning games, typing lessons, and other applications. The children don't have to learn to go to the start menu, programs, or any of the other subfolders. They don't have to find a shortcut folder. The dock is at the bottom of the screen. One click and they are working, A few basic instructions when they first begin using the computers is all that is necessary to get them started.
Schools in my area aren't the only ones that have chosen Mac as their preferred computer for labs. Their use in schools is widespread enough that the Apple company offers education discounts to schools, teachers, and other school employees.
A dyed-in-the-wool Mac user myself, I have progressed over the years from a Performa to the iMac series, and am typing right now on my iBook. When my young granddaughter comes to visit, she always asks if she can play a game on my computer, or wants to check her mail from her friends. If my computer were a PC, I wouldn't let her touch it. Why? Because it is more complicated to resolve problems with a PC, and I would be concerned she would mess something up that would require a repair person. With a Mac, there isn't much that can be messed up that doesn't have a pretty simple solution.
However, if repair or help is needed, the Apple support department is helpful and well trained. If you should have to send a Mac in for repair or to resolve a problem, it is fixed and returned in a very short time. For home use, there are even some things the owner can do to diagnose or fix a problem themselves. Unless you are a computer guru, I don't think that is true of a PC. All computers periodically have problems. I had an I-Mac with a problem, and sought help at the Apple website, where there is a wealth of information, instructions and troubleshooting guides. I determined that my problem was likely the logic board. I didn't have to take it to the repair shop to find out. I took the back off the computer, and followed the instructions from the website. The test showed it was likely the logic board, but the alternative was a processor gone bad. The warranty required that someone come to my house to verify the problem. They sent a PC guy. I had to tell him how to take the back off the computer. Loosen three screws, slide if off.
But I digress. Another good reason for kids to use a Mac is that the potential for viruses is extremely small. So even if they do things that might invite a virus on a PC, it is not likely to cause a problem on a Mac.
For kids, Macintosh is easiest to use. Many educational programs, games, graphic, paint, and word processing programs are available. Most major office programs are available in Mac versions. You can do anything on a Mac you can do on a PC, and usually do it better.
Learn more about this author, P. Payne.
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PC
As a parent, you have decided that the time is right for your child to get a computer. It can help them learn to spell, do math, and much more. But which computer is best for children - a PC or a Mac? As you will see, a PC is a better computer for children.
Do children need a powerful computer?
Will your child be playing the latest 3d first-person-shooter games? Likely not. Will they be creating stunning high quality graphics in Adobe PhotoShop, or calculating the value of pi to the 100th decimal place? Again, likely not. Chances are likely your child will be playing simple games, surfing the Internet to parent approved websites, and maybe writing a letter to grandma. Those are not demanding tasks. A cheap low end computer can meet those needs easily. PC computers start at very cheap systems that are great for surfing the Internet all the way up to expensive systems for the latest games or photo rendering or scientific calculations. Children only need those cheap computers. Mac computers are never cheap, even though you get good computers for the price.
What computer is the child software written for?
Software normally only works on PC or Mac computers, not both. You need to find out which system your child's favorite programs are available in. Can you get Dora the Explorer or Thomas the Train in Mac? More likely they are available for PC. It is typically harder to find programs for Mac systems, although they are getting better. Since most children's software is written for PC computers, that is a win for PCs in this category.
Which computer is easiest for a child to use?
People think Mac computers are easy to use. While that can be right, its not always the case. Children learn what their parents do. If you have a computer, chances are your child has been on your lap while you are using it. They likely know more than you think about how to use your computer. So the answer to this question is - its easiest for your child to use your computer. If thats a PC, they will find a PC easiest. If you use a Mac, your child will work best with a Mac. Not to mention you can help your child if they use the same type of computer you have. Most people own and use PC computers, so nearly all people will answer PC to this question.
To sum up...
PCs are the best choice for a child's computer because they are inexpensive, most of the children's software is written for PCs, and most parents are familiar with PCs already and can help children with them. These reasons show overwhelmingly that PC computers are best for children. But you need to be ready for when your child starts to show you how to do things on your computer! Get ready!
Learn more about this author, David B Hitchcock.
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