I need a cheap computer for the kids!

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My three middle school children do much of their homework on-line and post it all to google drive. Next-year they will be getting iPads at the high school, but until then I have to get them away from my desk. They monopolize the little time I have to get work done at home. I have always been an all Mac house - since 1986! I currently run a 2009ish iMac and a new Mac Mini. I also have an old G5 iMac laying around and an older G4 Powerbook, but they are not capable of accessing google drive. Finally the question:

I was thinking about getting a $300 Chromebook for them to do homework, and to free up my computer? Are there any viable Mac alternatives? If not, has anyone gone this route and found it unsatisfactory?

Thanks.
 

Raz0rEdge

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Welcome to Mac-Forums

If they are doing their homework entirely with Google apps and saving them to GDrive..then the Chromebook is an excellent option (Acer's is $199, Samsung is $249)..

The cheapest (relevant) Mac is going to cost you more than than..
 

RavingMac

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Never used Google Drive and checked out the website but didn't see if this was doable. My thought was setting up server on your Mac Mini or iMac and setting up Google Drive access through that, but don't know if this is a viable option
 

Raz0rEdge

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Never used Google Drive and checked out the website but didn't see if this was doable. My thought was setting up server on your Mac Mini or iMac and setting up Google Drive access through that, but don't know if this is a viable option

Google Drive is like Dropbox..so yes, once the drive is created through the Google Drive app on the iMac or Mac Mini, it can be shared for other computers on the network to use..

But since Chromebooks were essentially meant to work in this manner, it's the cheapest and fastest solution..
 

RavingMac

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Google Drive is like Dropbox..so yes, once the drive is created through the Google Drive app on the iMac or Mac Mini, it can be shared for other computers on the network to use..

But since Chromebooks were essentially meant to work in this manner, it's the cheapest and fastest solution..

Cheaper than $20 for Mt Lion server and using existing G5 iMac for the kids to access?
 

pigoo3

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Just going to throw a thought out there for consideration.:)

If OP's household has been all Mac (since 1986)...the children are obviously Mac proficient...and they will be getting iPads next year...does it make any sense for them to "stay Mac/Apple"?

Questions for "Snowcialist":

1. If you have a 2009 iMac and a new Mac-Mini...couldn't the children use one of them while you are on the other (no additional cost required)? And you can only be on one computer at a time.;)

2. Couldn't the children could still make use of the G5 iMac? Yes it's older...but still good for some things.:)

3. Regarding the Chromebook. Are you talking about getting one Chromebook for the three children...or 3 Chromebooks (1 for each)?

The reason why I asked question #3 is...if the three children have to share one Chromebook...then they would also have to share either the iMac or the Mac-mini. Thus "sharing" would be part of either scenario.

- Nick
 

Raz0rEdge

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Cheaper than $20 for Mt Lion server and using existing G5 iMac for the kids to access?

Well I guess re-reading the original post, there is a G5 iMac and G4 PowerBook that should be able to talk to the Mac Mini server..

The one thing though, unlike Dropbox, Google Drive isn't really just for storage..the files, locally, are really like links to spawn a browser session to the appropriate Google App to edit the file.

So I guess when the OP says that the G4 and G5 machines are incompatible, if that incompatibility is surrounding running the Google Drive application as opposed to accessing Google Drive in a browser..than yes your solution is cheaper..:)
 
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I guess I'm not following the link to a home server approach, and can't envision how that would work. The school has a dedicated google server that they use for email, bulletin board, posting assignments and turning in home work, as well as other things. Its a Google business product/service. To access it, you need to be able to run either Chrome or the google drive app - maybe both. Neither the G5 or G4 can run that software - the latest OS that can load on those machines is Tiger (10.4). The G4 runs so slowly that they can't even do online math assignments (Khan Academy) because the server times out before the G4 can load everything.

And I have three kids that are sharing two computers for 3-4 hours a night which pretty much boxes me out. I used to just stay at the office, but that doesn't work so well anymore. And they are quite proficient on the Mac. My son runs a terminal minecraft server off the iMac - a whole other issue. So I really need to get greater access to the school's system. I am a fan of the closed Mac system, and am loath to wander outside it at home. I work on a windows SBS and exchange system at work, and don't want those problems and complexities at home.

But a Chrome book looks cost efficient and should do the job for very little money - $200-$300.
 

pigoo3

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Neither the G5 or G4 can run that software - the latest OS that can load on those machines is Tiger (10.4). The G4 runs so slowly...

Technically speaking (unless the Powerbook G4 is really old)...both the G4 and G5 can run OS 10.5 (10.5.8) "Leopard". Depending on the Powerbook G4...a ram upgrade could help with speed issues.

But overall...the cost of these upgrades (OS and ram)...wouldn't necessarily be cheap enough to be attractive...so another solution would probably be better.

My son runs a terminal minecraft server off the iMac - a whole other issue.

Yes it is!!!;)

- Nick
 

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