| Are your kids starting to become more and more | | | | themselves in these days as we do our best to |
| interested in the computer? Are they spending more | | | | whether this economic down turn, $800 becomes a |
| and more time on the internet? Does this mean you | | | | LOT of money. |
| get to spend less and less time on your own home | | | | There is the option of looking at used computers. |
| computer? Is the battle for time on the home | | | | You'll definitely save a lot of money there. But unless |
| computer causing tension and cries of 'I want my | | | | you're very comfortable with computers, or know |
| own computer!' from the kids? (remember when the | | | | someone who is (or are willing to pay someone who |
| big deal was to have your own phone! Not a cell | | | | is), I think that route might make some people a little |
| phone, but just a phone in your room! And your own | | | | nervous. Are you sure the battery is going to last? |
| phone line was a REALLY big deal! That was oh so | | | | Are you sure the software installed on it is legit? |
| long ago...) | | | | There are myriad reasons why this isn't the first |
| If you find yourself in this increasingly common | | | | choice for many people. |
| situation at home, you may be starting to look | | | | The good news is there is an alternative, and in my |
| around at options for your child's first computer. | | | | opinion, very attractive option. And that is mini |
| There is the desk top option, which will be less | | | | laptops. Mini laptops have been stripped of all |
| expensive than going the lap top route, but wouldn't | | | | unnecessary hard ware and software. You won't find |
| it be nice to have something that is portable? Or at | | | | a CD/DVD burner or any fancy graphics cards on |
| the very least something that will fit easily in your | | | | these things. It is loaded with only the most basic |
| kids' room? | | | | software (one of the nice things is that oftentimes |
| If you start looking at laptops, even though the price | | | | these will come with Windows XP rather than the |
| has come down quite a bit in the last few years, | | | | resource hogging Vista OS. But let's not get started |
| you're still probably looking at about $800. That's a lot | | | | on that...) Leaving all these things off the computer |
| of money in any situation, but considering the | | | | also allows them to be built quite small and light, |
| situation that more and more American's find | | | | often weighing less than 2 pounds. |