mysid: the name mysid on a black and white photo of two children with a tricycle (tricycle)
[personal profile] mysid
Back at Christmas, Hubby asked if I wanted an e-reader, or possibly even an iPad. At the time, I said no for various reasons. Now, in honor of my birthday, he's asking again. I played with the idea of an e-reader, but I think if I'm going to get something, I'd like the iPad more, as I can use it as an e-reader, plus more. (Of course, since the iPad costs more, I may have to wait until next Christmas.)

But if I get such a thing, I am going to want to use it for most of the same things I now use my laptop. I am definitely going to want word processing capability. It doesn't come with any built in, but when I started researching available apps for word processing, a few came up. Apple has something called Pages, and Google Docs also popped up.

If any of you have an iPad, could you advise me as to what you use, and what you like/dislike about it? The same goes for anyone who uses Google Docs on any computer. I have Microsoft Word on our other two computers, so I need to be able to transfer documents between them.

Also, I need to get an inexpensive laptop for my eleven year old son. He recently got an IEP (individualized education plan) that allows him to use a keyboard to write instead of handwriting his work. He will be in junior high next year, so he will change classrooms each period. I can't count on a computer being available to him in every classroom, so I need to get him something he can take to class.

Our primary requirement is that it not cost too much. He's eleven. There's a good chance that he'll lose it or break it, and I don't want it to have been expensive when that happens. Our other requirement it that he be able to do word processing on it-- preferably with Word-- as that it the reason he's allowed to bring it to class. Anything else is just extras.

(no subject)

Date: 2011-07-01 07:30 pm (UTC)
independence1776: Drawing of Maglor with a harp on right, words "sing of honor lost" and "Noldolantë" on the left and bottom, respectively (Default)
From: [personal profile] independence1776
(Here via Latest Things, so I hope you don't mind me commenting.)

While I don't know your son's situation, you may not need an actual laptop.

http://www.neo-direct.com/default.aspx

It's pretty much a near-indestructible word processing machine, and runs for about 700 hours on three AA batteries. It was designed for kids to use. (I have an earlier model, instead of a laptop because I just wanted a word processor, and I love it to pieces.)

(no subject)

Date: 2011-07-02 12:06 am (UTC)
greenwitch: (Default)
From: [personal profile] greenwitch
For your son, maybe a refurbished netbook? Mine cost under $200 when I bought it, with WinXP and a 160gb HD (I only ever use it for web browsing while traveling or while watching TV, but have Open Office installed on it just in case.)

(no subject)

Date: 2011-07-04 01:49 am (UTC)
greenwitch: (Default)
From: [personal profile] greenwitch
The only problem I've had is with battery life (mine seems to die at 40%), but that's not too much of an issue for me personally (nor is it worth the $$ to fix, since the whole thing only cost me $200). The keyboard is also very small, but for a kid I can't imagine that being much of an issue.

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mysid: the name mysid on a black and white photo of two children with a tricycle (Default)
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