> -----Original Message----- > From: Zaphod Beeblebrox [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Wednesday, August 02, 2006 11:26 AM > To: CF-Community > Subject: Computer for daughters > > I want to set up a computer for my daughters to use. They're 6, 4 and > 4. Mainly it's for the 6 year old. Currently, I have a 2.0Ghz > Windows machine that's sitting around unused. I was about to reload > winxp on it and go from there. Today though, I found this deal on one > of the older iMacs. I haven't owned a Mac since I had a Quadra back > in the day so I don't really know if this would be a better user > experience for my daughters or not. I've always heard how simple it > is to use a Mac, but I remember how hard it was to get the quadra to > access the internet back then. These are the specs of the machine:
Usability between Windows XP and OS X is pretty even at this point. Die-hards will argue to the death but in studies with non-computer users it's a wash. Of course remember that the iMac you're talking about isn't actually capable of using OS X (you'll be stuck on OS 9). In general, especially for kids, I'd stick with what you're most comfortable with. They will find a way to break it (and at the most inopportune time for you). You're goal is to get it up and running as quickly as possible and get back to the real work. My son got his first PC (XP) when he was four and picked it up pretty quick: remember that they're not (at that age) actually in the desktop: they're in the software. Kids software generally sucks big time - it doesn't matter how good the OS is. Watch out tho: my son's computer is a pretty capable machine (a 2.4 GHz P4, 2 Gig of RAM, etc) but is stuffed in a Shuttle SFF-case with onboard video. That onboard video is a killer: a good number of the games he's buying can't be played on his because of it. We've got a "Family Room" PC (my old work/play station) which has a geForce 6800 Ultra in it so he can play there, but watch those specs even on seemingly higher-end machines. ;^) The older iMacs (first generation) will have serious problems keeping up with recent kids games. I'm not talking "Oblivion" or "Quake IV" here - his machine can't play the new "Cars" game or many of the "Harry Potter" games. And that machine is substantially better (hardware-wise) that the first generation iMac. All that said however the iMac is cheap (the price you quoted is cheaper than most new games) so why not give it a try? It'll play the online games pretty well (although even they're starting to push the envelope) and many older games. But you're not going to be able to play all those games based on the latest movies... and I warn you, that's what they're going to want. ;^) Jim Davis ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| Introducing the Fusion Authority Quarterly Update. 80 pages of hard-hitting, up-to-date ColdFusion information by your peers, delivered to your door four times a year. http://www.fusionauthority.com/quarterly Archive: http://www.houseoffusion.com/groups/CF-Community/message.cfm/messageid:212263 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/groups/CF-Community/subscribe.cfm Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=89.70.5
