When I was 10, my parents really stretched themselves to buy me a ZX Spectrum for Christmas that year – it had literally just been released (mine was one of the first ever made) and in today’s money it was probably equivalent to an iPad now.
Having a computer really did make a difference to me – it was probably one of my two best presents ever (of course, a bike has to be in there somewhere!) and I built a career on what I learned.
If you want to spend the money – and it’s not just a present – it’s an advantage in life you are giving your daughter – then you go ahead. You have the money – I would do exactly the same. (so long as she let me use it once in a while, too)
Personally, I would go for the iPad over the laptop option, precisely because of the locked-down nature of the operating system. Because Apple exert their control over the devices so effectively, you can be reasonably sure that it does not pick up any undesirable software etc that kids might not care about you you will.
Oh – and iPads are remarkably robust. I would say mor robust than a laptop you can buy at £400 anyway.
Rachel
