Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Ask HN: Is there a modern “power on to basic” computer, for kids to learn on?

news.ycombinator.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

81–90 of 340 posts

Re: Ask HN: Is there a modern “power on to basic” computer, for kids to learn on?

#81

Post by blihp »

For those of us who grew up in the 8-bit era, this has a lot of appeal since that's how we got engaged. But for most kids today, is this sort of ab initio approach really the right way to go about it? Based on my experience with a few different types of kids/personalities, I'm skeptical.

Dropping them into the command line / IDE of any language / environment is likely to leave them both unimpressed and lost. Neither the Raspberry Pi (more software oriented) or Arduino (more hardware oriented) is going to be terribly impressive from a standalone point of view compared to the PC/iPhone/XBox they're used to. But the thing they've got going for them are a lot of cool projects other people have done with them, step-by-step tutorials, and pre-built stuff that's relatively easy to re-create and/or integrate. Will the 8-bit recreation you have in mind have any of that?

Re: Ask HN: Is there a modern “power on to basic” computer, for kids to learn on?

#82

Post by squarefoot »

"Plug it into the TV" as a requirement would restrict the choice. Why not something that can be programmed through a PC, fun enough to attract the kids attention, with great instructional value, powerful enough to be used for serious tasks (LCD+wifi+bluetooth+buttons+battery=IoT terminal) and cheap?

Take a look at this:

https://www.hardkernel.com/main/products/prdt_info.php?g_cod...

Re: Ask HN: Is there a modern “power on to basic” computer, for kids to learn on?

#83

Post by jnurmine »

joeberon wrote: post #64
reubeniv wrote: post #61

An actual commodore64 is still an option https://www.amazon.co.uk/Koch-International-242390-THEC64-Mi... The mini boots straight to basic still I understand Otherwise I'd recommend some free software and some tutorials, Udemy has a very good C# Unity course for example that can often be found at ~$/£10

This thing reviews terribly. I think it's more meant for nostalgia for the older generation. Also the keyboard is just for show which is quite sad

I think it will help once they release the new firmware that lets you more easily access disks stored on a USB stick. Doing LOAD "$",8,1 etc. is rather tedious with the virtual keyboard.

Also, they have promised a bigger version with a fully functional keyboard. That will be awesome once it's out. I'm waiting for it since it was actually the thing that made me join their crowdfunding campaign.

Re: Ask HN: Is there a modern “power on to basic” computer, for kids to learn on?

#84

Post by mixmastamyk »

linsomniac wrote: post #60
kipchak wrote: post #28

The Kano kits come to mind in spirit, Though it's more of a guided cushier approach than just getting into basic. The basic idea is a Pi and it's accessories that you "build yourself" and then some optional add ons like a light grid display. I think the actual coding Python and Javascript with a block formatting kind of like lego Mindstorms. Come to think of it you can use Small Basic on Mindstorms which might be int…

I really like the Kano, but my son was able to figure out how to get into youtube with it and it's become a "all youtube all the time" environment. Been using repl.it and the "Python with Turtle" flavor this week and he's been having fun with it.

Yep, my daughter plays minecraft with it about 98% of the time. Not what I had in mind, haha.

Re: Ask HN: Is there a modern “power on to basic” computer, for kids to learn on?

#85

Post by ziaddotcom »

gowld wrote: post #19

What's the point? "Power on to BASIC" is running an app on an old small OS. What's wrong with running any programming environment app fullscreen on a modern computer?

Nothing wrong with it. However, I think an 8 year old seeing a 30 year old computer turn on instantly to the same thing a supposed "better computer" takes 10 minutes to boot to might surprise and teach them something.

I think your question, although sincere, is a variation of "why not give a child a 4 wheel drive suv instead of a silly old go cart?"

Re: Ask HN: Is there a modern “power on to basic” computer, for kids to learn on?

#87

Post by simion314 »

Kim_Bruning wrote: post #18

Raspberry PI cab be said to be evolved from a ~ power-on-to-BASIC computer; to wit: the (BBC) Acorn Archimedes. You can still get RISC OS for it even. Basically, you power on; hit F12; *BASIC >_ and bob's your uncle: you get a nice BBC BASIC prompt at the bottom of your screen. https://www.riscosopen.org/content/downloads/raspberry-pi (that said, why not use pi + python? It's the new BASIC. And it supports turtle gra…

>why not use pi + python?

Do you have experience with teaching python to kids? I am afraid to try it with my son because white space is important, I tried only Scratch and making him think as "a machine" is hard enough adding syntax errors on top would make the job much harder, let me know if you have experience with this and if you think I am wrong.

Re: Ask HN: Is there a modern “power on to basic” computer, for kids to learn on?

#88

Post by PyroLagus »

reificator wrote: post #48

> Like in ye olde computer days when you brought home your Commodore 64 and turned it on you were in basic. Why not try, you know, a Commodore 64? https://thec64.com Hooks up via HDMI, powered by micro USB, and has two USB ports for keyboards and joysticks. No longer boots straight into BASIC, but scroll to the right and hit enter and you're there.

There's also going to be the http://mega65.org/ which is a spiritual successor to the C64. It's completely open source, even the FPGA code implementing the 6502 (although the FPGA is most likely not going to be open source), and it has better specs than the C64, but it should still be compatible with the original C64 and its games from what I understand.

Re: Ask HN: Is there a modern “power on to basic” computer, for kids to learn on?

#89

Post by mixmastamyk »

blihp wrote: post #81

For those of us who grew up in the 8-bit era, this has a lot of appeal since that's how we got engaged. But for most kids today, is this sort of ab initio approach really the right way to go about it? Based on my experience with a few different types of kids/personalities, I'm skeptical. Dropping them into the command line / IDE of any language / environment is likely to leave them both unimpressed and lost. Neither…

> they're used to

Maybe they're not used to them, because we haven't given them one? Or largely restrict their use? Necessity is the mother of invention for kids.

Re: Ask HN: Is there a modern “power on to basic” computer, for kids to learn on?

#90

Post by mdhughes »

While that's what I grew up with, too, it's probably too isolated anymore.

Find a cheap laptop or desktop, or a pi, install Python3, and make IDLE easy to reach. For graphics, "import turtle" and later "import tkinter".

Grab any learning Python book. It's not that far from how we learned back in the day.

Post reply on HN