Is 16 Too Young For Owning A Laptop?

[Questionack]

As you see above, I am asking the question if I'm too young to own a laptop. I'm asking because I'm in a struggle with my parents, they're saying no (and I have no clue why), but I really want one (and you may even make an argument saying I need one).
Time for some background so you know what type of kid I am. I currently only use my phone (an iPhone 5s), and our family's desktop (a late 2009 iMac [and I hate macs]). I am running around a 96% unweighted average. I'm in 3 AP classes, and the rest are all honors. In addition, I play guitar, and am very busy with scouts (and I mean VERY busy).

The reason why I want a laptop is for a number of reasons including taking notes (I'm one of the few kids in my class who don't take notes on a laptop, can barely read my own writing, and can type extremely fast). It will also help improve my organization. In addition, I essentially need it for scouts at this point. I'm traveling hours just to get to some meetings, camp outs, etc. I need to be able to keep up with my work on the go (I'm camping almost every weekend), and most of my work at this point is on the computer.

You may say that one of the reasons why my parents don't want me to get a laptop is because of trust, but our family mac is in a small room that they don't check on (ever). There is no parental control (unless you consider me changing the settings so often that my parents have no clue how to use it half the time, but that's a bit backwards ;) ), and they know they can leave me with that kind of access without me doing anything stupid. Then you may say that it's because laptops are expensive, but I'm more than willing to pay for it. In fact, I'd prefer if I paid for it because then I can say it's mine.

Can you think of any reasons I haven't thought of that my parents don't want me to get a laptop? Do you think I should be allowed to have a laptop? Do you have any tips as to how to talk my parents into letting me get a laptop (and don't say to just go out and get one because I have no credit card, so I can't buy one online, and they're my only source of transportation. In addition, I looked up the laws, in the US [yes, I'm in the US], they legally can tell me "no" until 18).

[Old_Geezer]

You'd have to ask them their reasons. Maybe they can't justify the cost of buying you one. Or maybe they think your phone let's you take notes. People here can only guess. But whatever the reason, as your parents, I'm sure they have given it due consideration and decided what they think's best.

[Islay]

At the end of the day it is your parents decision and you must abide by that.

[Maydup]

I agree with OG and suggest you ask the parents why, in an interested and considerate manner. Maybe ask them again that if you save up can you have their permission to buy one yourself. It seems a reasonable request to me, and you sound busy and sensible. Or do you have a tendancy to lose things or leave them at camp and school? If so prove to your parents that you are different now and show them how well you have started to look after other belongings.

[tamborine]

Bill Gates (pc wizard) says every kid should have a computer. Second hand laptops are ubiquitous, due to upgrades.

..."When Paul Allen and I started Microsoft over 30 years ago, we had big dreams about software,” recalls Gates. “We had dreams about the impact it could have. We talked about a computer on every desk and in every home....."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/3357701/Bill-Gatess-dream-A-computer-in-every-home.html

[Mosaic]

Like others have said, talk to your parents about this....maybe its the cost, maybe they think it's 'dangerous' but don't understand their foolishness in having an unsecured computer in an isolated room. You could gently point his out to them. In the UK parents are advised to keep computer use in family areas for child protection reasons.
And, you sound like a bright lad, so why not cost up a refurbished or older machine and teach yourself about installing a good, free OS. Then present the folks with your findings.
I believe in some states you can drive at 16. So having your own laptop doesn't seem a big deal set against that.

[ummmm]

No...not too young, imo, although my 17 year old doesn't have one. I wouldn't let him take it out the house if he did so he may as well continue using the PC.

[B00]

I'd also take this lack of laptop time to improve your writing. As tech savvy a world we are becoming, the written word is still very important and necessary.

[Mosaic]

Absolutely agree with Boo regarding writing skills, and with Umm regarding personal security.
If going out and about I take a tatty refurbished netbook that I've pimped up with a Linux OS, and a pendrive with data. I bet you could achieve something similar quite cheaply.
Maybe make a Dear Santa letter?

[cassa333]

My two are in scouts and they would not get time to sit around and either play or Do work on a computer. In fact they are positively discouraged from taking electrical equipment.

However...

Make a list of the pros and cons of having a lap top or any other tech that fits the bill. Think carefully and not 'just because I want one' or 'all my friends have one' as for me that wouldn't cut it.

Investigate the costs and who and how it would be paid for. Look at parental restrictions that they can set. Do you have resources to buy one yourself with savings, pocket money or a weekend job? Or do you expect them to get it for you? Do you intend to go onto further education?

By doing all that it may show them that you are mature enough to have one.

In all honesty, unless you are a real numpty, at 16 I think you should have one but at the end of the day if they are going to pay for it it is up to them.

[Gromit]

Perhaps you should watch this commercial, and will be cured of this strang desire for a PC laptop.


Only old people buy laptops these days, your parents might e trying to save you from embarrassment. The only exception is software development, but then 90% of developers work on MacBook Pro's.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZoiVGLtnbI

[Mick-the-Miller]

What's 'unweighted average' and 'AP'? Some sort of American gobbledygook presumably!

The only reason I can think of for your Parents not wanting you to have a laptop is if they cannot afford one - most kids have access to PC's, Laptops or IPads from very young ages - well under ten.

They grow up with them nowadays - well here in the UK anyway.

[Gromit]

Mick-the-Miller
He says he is willing to pay for it himself. And that he has an iPhone so the reason cannot be a parenting issue.

[Hypognosis]

@questionack

Most internet service providers would expect you to be over 18 and use either a bank account or credit card to pay for your connection, so you would be cut off from the internet every time you went away from the family connection.

Would this be an obstacle to doing your schoolwork at camp? If yes, then don't buy tech which will be 2 years out of date by the time you get to use it the way you planned.

Find out if your parents' household insurance policy covers electronic equipment taken to places where there are no door locks and risk of damage by dust, rain, horseplay and so on.

[Hypognosis]

@Gromit

I'm not sure you picked the right advert to deter someone from purchasing a PC. It seems to be extolling their virtues, if anything.

Or is the bit about "18 hours battery life" meant to be your punchline?

:o)

[Questionack]

@Old_Geezer, good point in asking them for their reasons, but as far as the cost, as I mentioned above, I personally wanted to buy it. They know for a fact that I can't take notes in school because they actually read the "rules of the school" which specifically says that I can take notes on a laptop but not a phone. But thank you for your answer!

[Questionack]

@cassa333, I understand that, and it really depends on the event. Sometimes, I go as far as 3.5 hours (by car) from my house to go to meetings (yes, the higher rank you are in scouting's honor society, or OA [Order of the Arrow], the farther [generally] you have to go). In addition, it is recommended that you bring laptops there (and most of the people there are either doing scout work, or homework depending on what they need to do). In addition, no matter where I'm going, or what event it is, they don't care if we bring electronics for the trip, and that trip could be 30 minutes, or 8 hours (this past summer, I did an 8 hour one).

I do like the idea of making a list of pros and cons, and while it is true that the majority of my friends have one, that is not the reason why I want one, in fact, I hate it when people say that.

I already have investigated the costs (along with all of the requirements), and have found one that I really want. I already have all of the money for the computer, it already has an OS on it (windows 8, but I can upgrade to windows 10 for free), have the money for Microsoft Office, and extra for unexpected expenses. Yes, I do intend on going to college.

[Questionack]

@Gromit, that is not true (at least where I live). I'd say that about 90% or more of my school has laptops, and I know a lot more people who have them. Now, while that is not my justification to get a laptop, that is just proof that laptops aren't going out of date (at least in my area).

[Questionack]

@Mick-the-Miller, by AP, I mean it counts for college credit. Basically, I was good enough to get into a special class that has extra homework/work in general, and is on a much harder level, and I take a standardized final exam at the end of the year, and if I get a good enough grade (which I would be surprised if I don't), I'll get college credit. By unweighted average, I mean without a curve. So, with the curve, I have around a 104%.

As I have said above, I not only am willing to pay for the laptop, I want to pay for the laptop.

Finally, it's the same here, most kids grow up with them, and in a way I did also, I was allowed on the family computer for as long as I can remember.

[Maydup]

So what do you think their reason is?