21st Century Babies...

...love the electronics. Charlotte has long been infatuated with remotes, cell phones, and computers.

She would LOVE for her Uncle Brandon to buy her an Apple laptop - that is her VERY favorite thing. She likes the tiny mouse, but likes the specific Apple features as well. She will scroll the mouse over the icons, and if she isn't 'lucky' on her own, she'll lean into the computer and say "cheeeeeese", and wait for us to open Photo Booth. She can then be entertained for the longest time watching herself on the screen.

She's also a gamer; and let me recommend these: for mouse play, there's nothing better than jacksonpollock. Just go crazy with the mouse, and left-click to change colors. (Print the masterpiece, and there's somebody's Christmas present. . .)

For 'banging' on the keyboard , our favorite is here, but there are a ton more at babygamer.

But she's not addicted... if she can't get any computer time, or Grandpa takes away the remotes, she's just as happy finding a secret spot to empty a box of tissues!

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Apple vs. Windows

Two computers.  An Avon rep, Ebayer, two homeschoolers.  Email, online shopping, weather.com, etc.  

We got really tired of sharing............. so last August we decided to get Mary her own computer. Considering this,  we bought an Apple laptop during a tax-free weekend and rebate promotion .  The low-end, least expensive MacBook.

At first, if I had to use it for anything, it annoyed me.  It was like trying to drive in England - everything's on the 'wrong' side.  I liked the fun features that the kids showed me, but I didn't want to use it.

Fast forward (like in LOST !!!), and now three of us (me and the kids) don't want to use anything BUT the little Apple.  So, we actually went from two computers to three to one.  

Once I got used to the differences, I can  barely tolerate being on my own computer - an expensive, less-than-a-year-old loaded HP with a huge monitor. 

 (Hubs hasn't converted:  he declares Apple to be for hippies and nonconformists.  We traced his initial dislike to the fact that the Apple wasn't pre-loaded with a solitaire game). 

What has spoiled us so much is the instantaneousness of the macbook.  Practically instant on, instant anything.  The pc is so  s l o w .  When I turn on the PC in the morning, I start the process, walk away, come back and click through countless security and update boxes, come back later, click some more,  and finally it's ready for 'use'.  Even then, surfing is slower because of the warnings, updates, etc.   Of course there's also something to be said for the laptopness itself, which would apply to any brand:  being able to compute on the couch, in the kitchen, in a chair, where ever, and that may really be as much of a factor in the Apple lovefest as anything.

I know the Windows / PC is good for many things; and I 'need' that computer and that browser (Internet Explorer) for ebay and such.  And I've tried to understand that every system (even Safari +) has its pros and cons, but right now, I am a HAPPY Computer!

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