Don't rule out a normal laptop loaded with whatever software you want
Sure, but what is that software?
Ask HN: How can I make a “kid's computer” today as good as an Apple II?
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Re: Ask HN: How can I make a “kid's computer” today as good as an Apple II?
#12I think the problem here is that the world has moved on a lot since some of us kids were amazed at what we could make machines like an AppleII do with basic (and assembler and peek and poke). I remember being amazingly proud of myself for getting an ascii version of Space Invaders working. I could, as a 10 or 12 year old, make something for myself that kinda looked like and was way more fun (for me) to play that _lit…
I agree with this post. Most of the young 6-12 year olds out there aren't going to be really interested in a terminal/basic interpreter. A lot of what that audience wants to do is build mods for the games they play. Minecraft, fortnite, etc. and the like. But programming for these games is a bit more involved than regular programming obviously. I suggest getting them a computer that is capable of playing the game they like and helping them setup the environment for making mods (this is probably something young adults can do on their own but definitely not 6-12 year olds with little experience/patience). And, I think being there as the one learning it with them and understanding what is needed is going to help. I would highly suggest purchasing a book centered on minecraft modding or the like (they seem to be really popular at least the bookstore near me), as this will give you the knowledge to help your child(ren) make mods. I suggest the favorite game modding because it is something both the child and their friends will actually appreciate/use/play with.
Re: Ask HN: How can I make a “kid's computer” today as good as an Apple II?
#13Recommend you look at something like the Raspberry Pi 400: https://www.raspberrypi.com/products/raspberry-pi-400-unit/ These are about USD100 a pop and need a HDMI screen and you're all set. And then configure it to run a Basic or Python REPL on boot, to give that 1970s home PC feel.
Second the suggestion of a raspberry pi.
The book getting started with raspberry pi was the best introduction to computing I’ve ever seen.
Re: Ask HN: How can I make a “kid's computer” today as good as an Apple II?
#14The creators of the Raspberry Pi had a good take on this:
If you make something that doesn't have a website browser and can't play a youtube video young people won't see it as a computer.
It's easy to forget that BBC micros etc were popular for games, and being fully fledged computers, as well as educational devices.
Re: Ask HN: How can I make a “kid's computer” today as good as an Apple II?
#15Re: Ask HN: How can I make a “kid's computer” today as good as an Apple II?
#16This is a good question and something I've been thinking about lately. I can't see my kid getting anywhere near of an explorative and self-learning experience that I had in the 80s with the tech available today.
Re: Ask HN: How can I make a “kid's computer” today as good as an Apple II?
#17Definitely get a few generations old machine. Something that runs modern software but is noticeably slow, your kids will want to google tips and tricks on optimizing it. Like a westmere optiplex, older think stations/thinkpads etc.
That's how a lot of us got into computers, I think.
Re: Ask HN: How can I make a “kid's computer” today as good as an Apple II?
#18Recommend you look at something like the Raspberry Pi 400: https://www.raspberrypi.com/products/raspberry-pi-400-unit/ These are about USD100 a pop and need a HDMI screen and you're all set. And then configure it to run a Basic or Python REPL on boot, to give that 1970s home PC feel.
The hardware is the easy part. It's the software that's the tricky part. That Apple II software was something a 5 year old could have fun with, which a REPL would be hard to do. It had enough rails to be usable but enough user input to be creative.
If it's just software, you could always cheat; Apple II emulators exist - you could have exactly that, if you want. (Granted, with worse boot time and hardware integration)
Re: Ask HN: How can I make a “kid's computer” today as good as an Apple II?
#19Have you tried PICO-8? https://www.lexaloffle.com/pico-8.php
Not a computer but I think embodies a lot of the open-ended creativity of the Apple II.
Re: Ask HN: How can I make a “kid's computer” today as good as an Apple II?
#20MS Word can be lots of fun and is easy to get started with. For sure let them design their own birthday invitations and so on.
I had a lot of fun as a kid playing Minecraft and building Redstone contraptions. Minecraft does invite tinkering with texture packs, mods etc.
So I'd say just go with a basic windows install on a normal PC.