To think that a 12 year old should NOT have a MacBook

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It's her birthday soon and she will be 13 all she wants is a MacBook I've said she can have a Windows laptop... It's only for farting around on, what's the point?

Whoever was selling a pp a new laptop every year must have been laughing all the way to the bank. A slow running, buggy, virusy laptop needs some tlc not binning.

We're living in a world where a hell of a lot of people don't know what 'format then reinstall Windows' means. That blank look when you ask if they have recovery media...

Yes it was in response to pp saying about how it would be hard for a home Mac user to use a Windows machine in the workplace.

It isn't hard to partition the Mac with boot camp for the non tech person.
The process guides you through it. The
Process also allows the machine to decide
How much is needed to partition. The only expense (other than the original purchase) could be the license. I say could be because I do know people who have used their old windows license to do this.

If all she's going to be doing is 'farting round' on a MacBook, couldn't you compromise and get her an iPad Mini? They're about £300/400!

More developers now use OS X than any other desktop operating system Primal Lass.
9to5mac.com/2016/03/18/os-x-versus-linux-developers/

Songbird If you are a Mac user, yet believe the equipment is very expensive and still purchased despite thinking they are adult indulgences, may I suggest you take a course to fully understand the capability of the equipment you have purchased.

Wow PoppyFleur what a condescending post, to assume that I would buy a computer for no real reason without knowing why I had need for it.

I apologise for living in a world where a £1000 + is a lot of money to me especially to spend on a childs birthday gift.

OP has said she cannot afford it and her child only wants it for the brand name and not a legitimate usage reason.

Therefore she would be being indulgent and is not being unreasonable.

I would rather have a good second hand or refurbished macbook than a brand new windows laptop. And same for DC once they get onto that age.

In response to the OP's title - in my state all 12 year olds and older who attend state schools are provided with computers paid for by the state (except for one slightly odd school). Most schools have chosen to buy Macbooks although a few went with iPads. Every four years they buy new Macbooks, and the old ones are passed down to the elementary school. The parents pay $49 a year for insurance to repair any damages.

I bought my kids a Windows laptops to share, so that they know how to use both machines.

I used Windows till recently but since I got a Mac my job as a coder and designer has got exponentially easier. But I think Windows machines are more useful in office situations (Excel is a piece of crap on the Mac for example).

I've had two windows laptops in 10 years, both have had their problems but I'd probably get another one next time. My first laptop was £810 and the second was about £600 but obviously tech has improved and prices come down.

A 12 year old will not take advantage of what an apple has to offer tbh. What does she actually want/need it for? Would a tablet be better? An iPad as a compromise?

Though honestly? Her attitude is despicable, there's no way I'd have even considered to speak to my parents like that. She'd be not getting one from me if she thought it was ok to speak to me like that.

I would rather have a good second hand or refurbished macbook than a brand new windows laptop

Totally agree. The ease of use and lack of viruses compared to Windows laptops, and compatibility with my other Apple devices make it a no-brainer for me. I struggled with my PC for seven years wasting time with updates, crashes and going to get it fixed and wish I'd got a Mac from the beginning.

Yeah, my iPad is a refurbished one- you'd never know, all the screen and boxing is brand new , only the inside bits you don't see which are used. You still have a guarantee too. Our iMac was a refurbished one as well .

Washediris official refurbs

If the model you're looking for isn't in stock try refurb me. They send alerts when it's back in stock.

From the Apple website. Worth checking over a period of a couple of weeks as they constantly update refurburbs as and when they come in.

Yeah, what Living said

Refurb me is brilliant btw. Sometimes you have to be really quick, particularly for the BTO MacBooks.

Yes you do.

Same warranty as new models bought from Apple. You can also still get AppleCare for them. They look brand new, the box they come in just says certified refurbished but is shrink wrapped and everything. You didn't always get nice packaging on refurbs & I love that you do now. I love unboxing things though

We buy either Apple refurbs or open-box items. For work I use a high-end iMac I bought as an open-box item for about $1600 which is about £1100.

I bought a 13" Macbook Air less than a year ago for one of my daughters for $835 which is about £580.

More developers now use OS X than any other desktop operating system Primal Lass.

Ha ha. Good - I'll make sure I drop that one in when we are having our usual 'Apple is/is not shite' argument (I like Apple stuff, he doesn't).

I wouldn't get her any if that is her attitude. Ungrateful scrote