Toy laptop or basic real laptop for a 5 year-old, or don't bother?

[OldieMum]

DD will be five shortly. She has asked us for a laptop, inspired, I think, by one of her classmates. I'm not sure whether she means a toy one or a very basic real one. She has always been very modest and un-grabby in her requests for presents, so I think we should at least think about taking this seriously. I was a bit taken aback, as I didn't think she would be interested in something like this yet, but she has enjoyed playing about a little on our PC (typing names and playing games on the CBeebies site), so perhaps she would enjoy it. My question is whether anyone has bought either a toy or basic real laptop for a child of this age and, if so, what their experience has been. Advice on whether to consider a toy or a real one would also be very welcome. Thanks.

I would buy a proper laptop - doesn't she use them at school?

My DS2 has had his own PC since he was 4, but we had an advantage that DH was comp/techie and got the parts cheap. He has Learning difficulties and we found that it helped him to follow school work at home.

iota - She does use them at school and likes them. I wondered whether she might have just as much fun with our home PC, but am also nervous about shelling out a few hundred pounds for something she doesn't use much, too. What functions do these laptops aimed at children have? Are the toy ones too basic to do much?

I think I misunderstood your question - I was focusing more on whether dd would be able to use it, not thinking about the cost.

I wouldn't bother with a toy one I would either give her more access to your pc or get her one of her own - it should last her for years.

dh bought a macmini for our 2 when they were quite small, but ds1 (8) now has one of dh's cast off pcs in his room.

both kids used pcs at day nursery before the started school

sorry forgot to answer your qu re software - the nursery had a load of special educational software on cd rom

You would be able to get a more reliable, cheaper PC than the cost of a half decent laptop.
Laptops tend to go wrong more IME, especially when used by children - if space in your house is at a premium then I would understand the laptop but if you have room for a PC then it would last longer I think

sorry that reads terribly; what I mean is that you will get far more for your money with a PC.

I prefer to sit at a desk with a pc but I thought that was because I'm behind the times.

Laptops are OK if they are in a docking station IMHO

We got the Beanstalk one from Argos for DD this Xmas. She knows her letters and numbers but can't read or do sums yet. This one has games to suit her now and also for later on. Plus it has a Qwerty keyboard which I think is important. V cheap too.

5yo DD has a proper laptop. DH got it from work as no one wanted it as the wireless bit insdie doesn't work and couldn't be repaired at all. So he brought it home and it suits DD well. She has a mouse attched to it though as she didn't like the touchpad bit. At present it is upstairs in the playroom and not attached to the internet - she uses my computer for the internet.

I am hoping to get a new laptop soon and will then move my desktop into the playroom for DD instead and allow her supervised/limited access internet.

DD's laptop is on a table, she doesn't use it on her knee.

It's true that most of the problems associated with laptops are from people using them in bed, on knees etc.

We've recently bought a laptop for my dd1 and a new PC for me; mine was cheaper by far than dds and a far better spec.