Family tech updates help?

[basil]

I'm realizing that our tech as a family needs a bit of an overhaul.

DH and I have phones, obviously. I just ordered the new iPhone 11 pro, DH has a 7+ and doesn't have any interest in upgrading currently.

We have a very old iPad...I bought it in 2013. It's becoming so slow it's almost unusable, but the kids use it for Youtube sometimes.

I also have a similar aged Macbook (2014 I think) that I only use occasionally, if I need to send a longer email from home (or post here!) but 90% of the time I'm on my phone.

I've been thinking about buying a new Ipad for myself...one with the detachable keyboard to take notes in meetings, but also as a web surfing tool, emailing tool, and e-reader. Maybe some light word processing if I am traveling, but I don't travel all that frequently (3-4x/year).

DH is thinking about buying a laptop for DS for Christmas...he's been using mine pretty frequently to write stories, and he has some homework apps that don't work very well on the old iPad.

I'm wondering if there is some way to combine all this so that we end up with something current and versatile. I guess I could give DS my Macbook and only use an iPad but I still may occasionally need a home computer. I think if DS gets his own computer, DD will expect something equal but I think she's really too young to use a computer, so I wonder if I should get two iPads with keyboards? That way I could have one, DS could have one, and DD could still use the old one for Youtube. Or would it be better to get a Chromebook type of thing for DS?

I'm so confused. I used to be pretty tech savvy and now feel so old and out of touch!

[georgiegirl]

Both of your kids are too young for computers. Even my 8th grade doesn’t have one.

[MSWR0319]

Both of your kids are too young for computers. Even my 8th grade doesn’t have one.

I just let me 5th grader use my laptop if needed to look something up or type.

[basil]

Both of your kids are too young for computers. Even my 8th grade doesn’t have one.

What do they do when they need to type a report, etc.? Or if they need to do a math facts app or whatnot? I was typing reports in 2nd-3rd grade on a shared family computer, and that was many many many moons ago...we currently don't really have anything he can really use for that.

[mmsmom]

I’d get a new iPad and laptop for family use. Agree that kids don’t need their own. DC used my laptop until middle school. If you want your own iPad then get one for yourself and one for kids to share.

[basil]

I think the difference between a "family laptop" and "DS's laptop" is sort of semantic, but not a bad point.

I guess the choices would be:
1) get a new laptop for me; pass down old macbook as "family" computer; new "family" iPad
2) keep macbook for me, buy myself a new iPad, buy a new "family" iPad and hope DS can do all of his work on this
3) keep macbook for me, buy myself a new iPad, buy a new "family" Chromebook for DS to do his work

Chromebook is cheaper, but I am just so unfamiliar with them.
I think iPad would be better for traveling and can double as an e-reader and I don't know if Chromebook can do that.

[SnuggleBuggles]

What do they do when they need to type a report, etc.? Or if they need to do a math facts app or whatnot? I was typing reports in 2nd-3rd grade on a shared family computer, and that was many many many moons ago...we currently don't really have anything he can really use for that.

A family computer is a worthwhile investment. Kids that age don’t need their own computer. But, something like a desktop is handy for everyone. I much prefer it to my laptop.

If you get something for your ds, try a Chromebook.


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[MSWR0319]

What do they do when they need to type a report, etc.? Or if they need to do a math facts app or whatnot? I was typing reports in 2nd-3rd grade on a shared family computer, and that was many many many moons ago...we currently don't really have anything he can really use for that.

My 5th grader has only had to type a report maybe 3 or 4 times at most. I just let him use my computer, as he logs into his google account and types it in google docs. If he wants to play a game, he just uses my computer as well. They don't have homework required on app though. All of his homework is on paper for the most part, unless it's looking something up. Currently in our house we have my MacBook, DH's iPad, and DS has a phone that has all internet and most ads blocked. We've done just fine so far. We do have an older iPad but the kids don't really use it.

[georgiegirl]

What do they do when they need to type a report, etc.? Or if they need to do a math facts app or whatnot? I was typing reports in 2nd-3rd grade on a shared family computer, and that was many many many moons ago...we currently don't really have anything he can really use for that.

My 8th grader usually uses an iPad for school work. She has her math textbooks on the iPad. On a rare occasion, she will use the iMac we have. My 5th grader hasn’t ever needed to use the computer. They have time in school (school has two computer labs with iMacs in them). Kids use google docs. Our district (top performing) has very little homework, and a second grader having to type up a report at home is unheard of (we have students who don’t have home computers.)


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[basil]

My 8th grader usually uses an iPad for school work. She has her math textbooks on the iPad. On a rare occasion, she will use the iMac we have. My 5th grader hasn’t ever needed to use the computer. They have time in school (school has two computer labs with iMacs in them). Kids use google docs. Our district (top performing) has very little homework, and a second grader having to type up a report at home is unheard of (we have students who don’t have home computers.)


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That's interesting (and awesome for the kids that don't have computers!).

DS doesn't have a LOT of homework or anything, but they are strongly encouraged particularly to do online math games, Greg Tang math or Xtramath or whatever. He has do presentations every few months which it seems most kids will print out stuff for. He also really enjoys writing on a word processing program, which isn't for school, he just thinks he's the next J.K. Rowling..and printing out coloring pages or puzzle pages or whatever from online.

When I was in 2nd and 3rd grade I definitely typed up my reports...my dad would bring home his work computer for me to do it. This would have been 1987-88! Of course, my mom still has them, and my dad still has this computer

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