Cheap computer for kids

MrOneLung

Any recommendations for a cheap tower unit for the kids to use. Only gonna be browsing as eldest is in year 3 in September and will use for homework research and watching the odd film etc so no need for high spec for gaming etc. Don’t wanna spend much just connect to existing monitor and keyboard and printer and we will use occasionally too for printing stuff etc.

Open to non tower units if they are better option but not a tablet.

AddicksAddict

Any reason why not a tablet? For what you've described, one to which an external keyboard can be attached sounds fine.

If it has to be a desktop computer, if you want cheap go to somewhere like PC World, Curry's, Dixons (whatever it's called now) and ask what their best deal is, then go away and read about what they've suggested and decide if it will do the job at the price you want - as it will probably be a Windows machine at that price point, factor in the cost of anti-virus software, etc. Then pay with a credit card so you've got extra protection should it go wrong.

aliwibble

Worth checking out refurbs, as they'll be significantly cheaper, especially if you're not fussed about having the most up to date OS, and are open to upgrading the RAM yourself.
https://www.morgancomputers.co.uk/c/407/Desktop-Tower-PCs-Systems/

cafcfan

Why a tower? Most of that space was only for cooling plus dvd drives, etc, which no one uses anymore. I appreciate you may not want the O/S but for what you describe something like this would be fine. And it's tiny - see picture next to a coffee cup.

https://uk.pcmag.com/news/94070/extremely-compact-mintbox-mini-2-linux-pc-launches-june

eaststandmike

Refurb or second hand from eBay.

My wife & daughter own a children's nursery and I got them a secondhand PC from eBay for the pre-school kids to use care

MrOneLung

Thanks all.
Really want to stick with windows o/s as that’s what comfortable with.
Doesn’t have to be a tower per se, like the look of that mini one but will take a look at refurbs too.

soapy_jones

aliwibble said:

Worth checking out refurbs, as they'll be significantly cheaper, especially if you're not fussed about having the most up to date OS, and are open to upgrading the RAM yourself.
https://www.morgancomputers.co.uk/c/407/Desktop-Tower-PCs-Systems/

Long time user of Morgen. Superb service and quality refurbed products.

AND I am not saying that because I own the company! (I don't BTW)

MrOneLung

Update.

Looking at refurbs.

Would this be ok for basic browsing, watching videos and playing Fortnite, the Sims etc ?

Would be adding Microsoft Office as well.

https://www.expertec.co.uk/cheap-core-i3-gaming-pc-computer-wifi-1tb-8gb-1gb-graphics-windows-7-pro.html

IT_Andy

https://www.ebuyer.com/
Bought computers and laptops from them in the past. Worth a visit.

AddicksAddict

MrOneLung said:

Update.

Looking at refurbs.

Would this be ok for basic browsing, watching videos and playing Fortnite, the Sims etc ?

Would be adding Microsoft Office as well.

https://www.expertec.co.uk/cheap-core-i3-gaming-pc-computer-wifi-1tb-8gb-1gb-graphics-windows-7-pro.html

@MrOneLung 8Gb of memory should be more than OK, but Windows 7 may cause you some problems with newer games as they may have been written for 8 or 10. On-line games played in the browser should be fine unless they make use of newer browser features and MS/Firefox/Google don't keep their browser for Windows 7 up to date.

cafcfan

AddicksAddict said:

MrOneLung said:

Update.

Looking at refurbs.

Would this be ok for basic browsing, watching videos and playing Fortnite, the Sims etc ?

Would be adding Microsoft Office as well.

https://www.expertec.co.uk/cheap-core-i3-gaming-pc-computer-wifi-1tb-8gb-1gb-graphics-windows-7-pro.html

@MrOneLung 8Gb of memory should be more than OK, but Windows 7 may cause you some problems with newer games as they may have been written for 8 or 10. On-line games played in the browser should be fine unless they make use of newer browser features and MS/Firefox/Google don't keep their browser for Windows 7 up to date.

Uum, except when you click on the link it now says Windows 10. Wonder if the web page has been updated? Even on a refurbed machine, no one is going to be buying something for more than £200 with an obsolete OS? Retail sales ended four years ago - you'd surely have to describe something as "knackered second hand" rather than refurbed?
I'd also like to know which gen i3 - odd it doesn't say. Going by the ghz, it looks like maybe a 540, which is what? A Clarkdale generation one - we're now on generation eight! So the processor is maybe four/five years old at least? And with a poor benchmark too.

MrOneLung

Thanks guys.

Will keep looking.

AddicksAddict

cafcfan said:

AddicksAddict said:

MrOneLung said:

Update.

Looking at refurbs.

Would this be ok for basic browsing, watching videos and playing Fortnite, the Sims etc ?

Would be adding Microsoft Office as well.

https://www.expertec.co.uk/cheap-core-i3-gaming-pc-computer-wifi-1tb-8gb-1gb-graphics-windows-7-pro.html

@MrOneLung 8Gb of memory should be more than OK, but Windows 7 may cause you some problems with newer games as they may have been written for 8 or 10. On-line games played in the browser should be fine unless they make use of newer browser features and MS/Firefox/Google don't keep their browser for Windows 7 up to date.

Uum, except when you click on the link it now says Windows 10. Wonder if the web page has been updated? Even on a refurbed machine, no one is going to be buying something for more than £200 with an obsolete OS? Retail sales ended four years ago - you'd surely have to describe something as "knackered second hand" rather than refurbed?
I'd also like to know which gen i3 - odd it doesn't say. Going by the ghz, it looks like maybe a 540, which is what? A Clarkdale generation one - we're now on generation eight! So the processor is maybe four/five years old at least? And with a poor benchmark too.

I hadn't clicked the link so well done for doing so and pointing out all the potential problems, especially that one should take as much notice of the information that isn't there as what is there.