my kid is dying for an ipad

[SAWYER]

I bought one off craigslist for a good deal and I made the mistake of letting my 9 year old see it. He has been bugging me about it since and wants to sell his mac mini to get one since I won't buy him one. I told him it would be mistake since his mini is better but he doesn't care.

 

[wpd7]

Be a parent and say no?

I'm younger myself but kids these days are just spoiled rotten... =P

 

[theeedude]

Did you tell him it doesn't play Flash? Or that its not a standalone computer that will still need to be plugged into a Mac Mini to sync?

 

[Crono]

Get him a cheap, used tablet pc ~ $125 and tell him its a uPad

 

[Bateluer]

Tell them to get jobs and work for it. If they want to piss their hard earned money down the drain, then you have no say. But you shouldn't purchase the overpriced, underpowered iPad tablet for them.

 

[DanDaManJC]

meh it's tough, it's fun to indulge on the whims of your desires every now and again... especially for your kid. ive gotta say though, don't spoil the kid. it hurts a little more right now to learn you can't have the gadget... but later on he'll grow to appreciate the stuff he has so much more later on when he earns it in one way or another

 

[Bl0cks]

Just say no and buy him a video game or something.

 

[corkyg]

9 years old? You gotta be kidding. Echo what wpd7 said.

 

[gorcorps]

9 years old? You gotta be kidding. Echo what wpd7 said.

My thoughts exactly. What would a 9 year old need with an ipad anyway? It's just something he saw that daddy has. Kids want everything, that's what they do. Every commercial during their shows comes with a "OOO I WANT THAT!" Take note of it, and come Christmas or birthdays he may get one of them.

 

[onza]

Just say NO.

Do you want your mac mini or nothing?

 

[dpodblood]

Say no. Or do you want the kid to be spoiled?

 

[AstroManLuca]

Tell him to save his money. Tell him to ask for money instead of presents for Christmas/birthday. And don't give him all of it either! One year I really wanted a telescope that was $500 so I asked for money and I got about $300 from people in my family, saved up the rest myself and bought it and I was very proud!

Don't fall into the Christmas present inflation trap. That $300 one year was the most value I ever got out of Christmas. Normally in my family we only get about $100 of gifts each, sometimes less. We're not poor (not rich either), it's just that it seems like a waste to buy such huge gifts for people.

 

[zerogear]

Don't be an enabler.

 

[SAWYER]

I told him if he wanted it he had to buy it, so he is selling his mac

 

[dpodblood]

Guess he'll be crying when he figures out that his ipad can't do anything a regular computer can.

 

[SAWYER]

I tried telling him that but he doesn't care. I also informed him that we will not be buying him another computer, he will just have to use mine or my other son's laptop

 

[gorcorps]

Look... I'm all for letting kids make their own stupid decisions as a learning experience, but there's no reason to inconvenience his brother your yourself by having him use one of those computers when the ipad doesn't cut it. You're the parent of course and you can raise them as you want, but if it were me I'd let him sell his computer to get the ipad, but then he's computerless. If he truly NEEDS it for homework or something (which I doubt at his age) then he can use it, but I'd have him learn the consequence of his choice and that his dad knows what he's talking about when he says the computer will be better than the ipad.

 

[SAWYER]

Good point I will inform him he will not be allowed on either pc unless needed for work

 

[I Saw OJ]

Wait until he leaves it outside or steps on it then its 500 bucks down the drain.

 

[SAWYER]

well it will be his 500 bucks and tough shit for him

 

[Childs]

Since you already have an iPad in the household couldnt you just share?

 

[alkemyst]

I wanted an Apple //e in 1984, I was like 12ish...showed up under my Christmas tree with a Grappler+ card to print graphics on the DMP I also received.

I am a great son....for hire if you hate you own kids.

 

[KeypoX]

I tried telling him that but he doesn't care.

No shit he is 9. You should really consult the wife. Why dont you just let him use yours? Its not like he can take it to school or anything?

Can you even activate a ipad without a computer?

 

[Phobic9]

No shit he is 9. You should really consult the wife. Why dont you just let him use yours? Its not like he can take it to school or anything?

Can you even activate a ipad without a computer?

Nope. First thing you see when you turn it on is the "Plug me into iTunes" graphic.

You can take it to the Apple store and they can activate it for you (in which case they'll still use a computer).

 

[mooncancook]

Buying your kid an iPad as a rewarding gift because he is well behaved, excels in school, respects people, etc, is one thing. Buying your kid an iPad because he is demanding it and whining about it is quite another. Be a responsible parents, just let your kid play with your iPad after he finishes his homework.