How to do a "family home computer" these days? (10 Viewers)

[superchuck500]

My kids are in 5th and 3rd grade. They've been working devices (phones, tablets) most of their lives - and though they don't have their own phone and we don't plan on them having one any time soon, they do have controlled access to tablets. They have their own icloud accounts for messaging and they understand how apps work.

But that's not really the same as understanding how to operate a computer. I think it's important to begin to experience using a proper computer - file systems, internet skill and resources (that aren't apps), managing software, security practices, typing, etc. My wife and I both have Mac books, so we have computers but they're not really set-up to be a generic family computer. At the same time, that means we don't really "need" a family home computer, so my primary objective is to teach the kids that there's more to it than simply opening an app on a tablet.

Does anyone have recommendations on this? I can google it but y'all are usually better anyway.

 

[efil4stnias]

My kids are in 5th and 3rd grade. They've been working devices (phones, tablets) most of their lives - and though they don't have their own phone and we don't plan on them having one any time soon, they do have controlled access to tablets. They have their own icloud accounts for messaging and they understand how apps work.

But that's not really the same as understanding how to operate a computer. I think it's important to begin to experience using a proper computer - file systems, internet skill and resources (that aren't apps), managing software, security practices, typing, etc. My wife and I both have Mac books, so we have computers but they're not really set-up to be a generic family computer. At the same time, that means we don't really "need" a family home computer, so my primary objective is to teach the kids that there's more to it than simply opening an app on a tablet.

Does anyone have recommendations on this? I can google it but y'all are usually better anyway.

My girls are 20 and 15. From 8th grade on, they had school issued computer. If your girls end up at a school that issues them a computer starting in 8th, you will be amazed just how fast they master all the skills you posted.

My 15 yr old came out her room one evening to show me her power point project. First I was pretty amazed she even knew about power point. But then went into it...photos, graphs, bullet points...all of it. She is in 9th.

I think in 8th grade one elective class was "coding". She wasn't keen on it but I think it expanded her understanding what it can do and what she can so with it.

I think kids roll right into computer skills pretty seamlessly coming off tablets/iPad.


One item...they both very proficient with Macs. Older one especially (way more time on and now in college). I do think if they had to go to a different operating system, it would be a bit of a learning curve, but don't doubt they would pick it up pretty fast. (Aka working on say Microsoft Surface vs Mac Book)

 

[nolaspe]

Make 'em start w/ the basics...

 

[0rion]

I feel like the computer is the VCR of this generation. Their time is limited. I can do most things on my phone that I can do on a computer. Our computer got hit by lightning about 5 years ago. I never replaced it and don't really miss it. My wife has a laptop but only because she wants one....not sure she does anything on it she couldn't accomplish with her phone or tablet.

 

[guidomerkinsrules]

Make 'em start w/ the basics...

Nah, bruh

Aesthetics are important

 

[superchuck500]

Make 'em start w/ the basics...

My dad brought home an Apple IIe when I was in like 4th grade. A couple of years later we got a IIGS.

 

[Sun Wukong]

I feel like the computer is the VCR of this generation. Their time is limited. I can do most things on my phone that I can do on a computer. Our computer got hit by lightning about 5 years ago. I never replaced it and don't really miss it. My wife has a laptop but only because she wants one....not sure she does anything on it she couldn't accomplish with her phone or tablet.

For most people this is true because they do nothing but use them for social media or a few other apps. But the VCR comparison doesn't work because there are entire career paths out there thst still very much use computers to do things phones can't do, and Gen Z is wildly tech illiterate due to being raised on smart phones and tablets which require no real understanding to run. Giving kids access to a real computer is important. It promotes actual tech literacy.

 

[Snakehead]

For most people this is true because they do nothing but use them for social media or a few other apps. But the VCR comparison doesn't work because there are entire career paths out there thst still very much use computers to do things phones can't do, and Gen Z is wildly tech illiterate due to being raised on smart phones and tablets which require no real understanding to run. Giving kids access to a real computer is important. It promotes actual tech literacy.

Agreed, I just started a new Masters program and I can access my course on their app, but there's no way I'm writing a 10-20pg paper on a phone or tablet. I don't even like typing anything of length on a laptop, so we'll have a computer for the foreseeable future. I'm even considering upgrading what we already have.

 

[Mr. Blue Sky]

For most people this is true because they do nothing but use them for social media or a few other apps. But the VCR comparison doesn't work because there are entire career paths out there thst still very much use computers to do things phones can't do, and Gen Z is wildly tech illiterate due to being raised on smart phones and tablets which require no real understanding to run. Giving kids access to a real computer is important. It promotes actual tech literacy.

Interesting.. i was inclined to agree with Orion’s VCR analogy upthread.. i was going to suggest that using tablets/apps vs learning how to use an actual computer was akin to how we had to learn math in school, when now all i pretty much use is a calculator- or more accurately, the calculator app on my phone.. i suppose there is a case to be made for learning the ins and outs of an actual computer, but as someone else mentioned- i think the need for that would be mostly if you have some type of specialized job that requires it .. also, if you did have some sort of ‘family computer’ setup Chuck, i feel like it wouldnt get utilized much since their default for 95% of things would be to use their phones and apps .

 

[Mr. Blue Sky]

Agreed, I just started a new Masters program and I can access my course on their app, but there's no way I'm writing a 10-20pg paper on a phone or tablet. I don't even like typing anything of length on a laptop, so we'll have a computer for the foreseeable future. I'm even considering upgrading what we already have.

I have for probably over 10 yrs now had a Logitech Bluetooth keyboard attached to all my iPads and it’s perfect.. it makes the iPad into just like a smallish, very light and portable computer and the keyboard functionality is great .

 

[buzd]

I’d start them with a cheap Windows laptop they can share and maybe get a shared iMac or Mac mini for the household they can use after a while. That will expose them to both interfaces and they can later choose which they prefer.

 

[porculator]

For most people this is true because they do nothing but use them for social media or a few other apps. But the VCR comparison doesn't work because there are entire career paths out there thst still very much use computers to do things phones can't do, and Gen Z is wildly tech illiterate due to being raised on smart phones and tablets which require no real understanding to run. Giving kids access to a real computer is important. It promotes actual tech literacy.

Anything in engineering or construction will be done on "real" computers for a very long time. And yes our new hires sometimes struggle with using them, especially "legacy" software like Autocad and Revit which seem to have a permanent foothold in the profession despite being extremely flawed- but they are the "industry standard" and every contract ever will require them for the foreseeable future. I can only assume that most professions have their own version of this. It's pretty much a whole different world than the intuitive touch pad voice controlled world that gen Z grew up in. Dealing with those sheetty computers in the 90's built character I tell ya.

I got a Geekom mini-desktop at home. Its basically just a hub with all the specs you would expect out of an actual desktop. I currently have 2 monitors, keyboard/mouse and a camera/speaker/mic combo plugged into it. Depending on what kind of monitors you get it could be relatively portable.

 

[SystemShock]

My kids are in 5th and 3rd grade. They've been working devices (phones, tablets) most of their lives - and though they don't have their own phone and we don't plan on them having one any time soon, they do have controlled access to tablets. They have their own icloud accounts for messaging and they understand how apps work.

But that's not really the same as understanding how to operate a computer. I think it's important to begin to experience using a proper computer - file systems, internet skill and resources (that aren't apps), managing software, security practices, typing, etc. My wife and I both have Mac books, so we have computers but they're not really set-up to be a generic family computer. At the same time, that means we don't really "need" a family home computer, so my primary objective is to teach the kids that there's more to it than simply opening an app on a tablet.

Does anyone have recommendations on this? I can google it but y'all are usually better anyway.

Do you want them to learn how to use a computer, or how computers work?

Using a tablet or phone is not that different from using a computer; after all, you also open "apps" to use a computer, just with the added keyboard, mouse, and a bigger screen.

I'd think iOS would do just as well as Windows or any of the Windows-like Linux based flavors. About the only recommendation I'd have is, if you are going to teach them, then get an OS you are familiar with.

 

[SystemShock]

I feel like the computer is the VCR of this generation. Their time is limited. I can do most things on my phone that I can do on a computer. Our computer got hit by lightning about 5 years ago. I never replaced it and don't really miss it. My wife has a laptop but only because she wants one....not sure she does anything on it she couldn't accomplish with her phone or tablet.

Your phone and your tablet are computers.

 

[0rion]

Your phone and your tablet are computers.

I understand that but for this conversation they've kinda been separated. I mean for that matter my toaster is a computer.