Laptop for children for xmas - recommendations appreciated

[PURPLESWAN]

My son would really like a laptop for xmas but I am blinded by the amount of info out there.

He wants to go on the internet - along with large chunks of time looking at things he wants to buy on amazon & ebay (!), he plays games both educational recommended by school and usual "boy stuff"

I guess I would like it to be useful for homework too.

What am I looking for does anyone have any recommendations?

He is 10

I've been looking at netbooks for my dd also 10 for christmas but i'm totally lost as well. I don't even know how it would work. Do I need to get a wireless router so it can connect to the internet? Not very technical as you can tell!!!

marking spot with interest.

still watching this!

I assume you need a wireless router or you can only use the laptop near a phone socket.

Verity I looked at the MSI but like most Argos deals it didnt seem to be available in any shop in my area!

Local Asda Living had the Compaq CQ10 101SA 'netbook' (10" screen) at 197 quid (1 GB RAM, Windows XP, 160 GB hard drive, webcam, and wireless built in).

Yes, your router would need to be wireless, but you'd also want to consider monitoring use (esp when many of these machines have webcams on) so as to avoid some DC sat up in a bedroom arranging meetings with persons unknown.

Clearly "family room" use has many benefits! I'd also recommend using USB mouse and keyboard ([a] reduces temptation to remove machine to bedroom, and [b] better for learning regular keyboard and keeps chance of [expensive] fruit juice spills into laptop/netbook down to a minimum).

Also consider free AVG (anti virus) - visit free.grisoft.com/ to download it.

Cannot suggest suitable 'anti adult content' software, sorry, none of my clients have teenagers these days, let alone youngsters.

PURPLESWAN - I suspect when Verity wrote "on Argos" she may have meant www.argos.co.uk which shows the following MSI U100 models with the following prices, Argos code numbers, colours:

164.99 508/1880 Black
161.99 508/1897 White
161.99 508/1907 Pink

Rats - just started looking to buy and see they are all shown as out of stock...

Worth checking Google Shopping (which should find results from Argos, Comet, Amazon, etc). Sorry if I built up hopes too soon on an end to your quest!

If you find some prices that seem too low, worth searching for comments about the firm, and checking their domain name registration (for .co.uk you can see what details are known at www.keepyour.co.uk and see it matches the company 'contact us' details.

If a website has no contact details apart from a phone number and web form or e-mail address, I'd be a little concerned they were operating a scam.

I just started searching on Google and found a variety of machines. Some of the cheaper ones are refurbished so would normally have the full 12 month guarantee, while others are brand new so have the standard guarantee anyway.

Check the links (I searched in the price range 150 to 225 pounds).

* Be Warned * BestHDelectronics (which may be listed with the lowest price) seems not to be a legit web firm - I've only seen negative comments about this one, and suggestions that the address (Belgrave House, London, SW1W 9TQ) is some sort of post box service and not that of an actual shop...