I love it. When I was visiting a grad school, I was able to type that I was at 1st ave & main (for example), and I need to go to the University, and it gave me directions how to walk there. It’s been very useful, and it was free! SCORE!
No one has a TV in their bedroom, except the parents. We have 2 other TVs, both in centrally located areas.
My kids go to high school 12 miles away. There is not a single pay phone in the building. They are all involved in various activities, plus they now drive to school. They each have a cell phone, so I know where they are, when they are done, and what time they are expected home.
My kids go to a private Catholic Collge Prep High School. There is no “giving” away. It’s part of the tuition - it is required. To succeed in today’s world, one needs access to the Internet. Much of their homework is online. That is a fact.
This is kind of what this is. Each student pays $125 per year for the brand new laptop. Obviously, a laptop in much more than that. A student’s parent is an executive for a well known big box retailer who made a ‘deal’ with Apple and the school. So everybody “wins”. The students get to use Apple laptops for $125 a year, I’m sure the exec. made big points with the school, and Apple sucks yet more kids in to their products (which admittedly are pretty darn good).
*I agree about needing the internet for school. My kids have teachers that expect the kids to download their assignments onto this little chip looking thing (I can’t recall what it’s named) and carry that to school…they hand it in, and the teacher pulls those up at night on his/her computer. Or they need to go onto the teacher’s ‘‘blog’’ site, and pull up the assignments as they are posted. Times have changed…A LOT. I think it’s wrong for teachers to ‘‘expect’’ kids to have computers and access to the net, but many of the assignments require such. It’s become a necessity, I guess?
*LOL! It gave you walking directions…love it.I love it. When I was visiting a grad school, I was able to type that I was at 1st ave & main (for example), and I need to go to the University, and it gave me directions how to walk there. It’s been very useful, and it was free! SCORE!
Now if only it could find missing socks in the house? 
*Otherwise, I would still be walking around downtown looking for sushi! There is a website that can find your cell phone for you by calling it, does that count?*LOL! It gave you walking directions…love it.
Would you care to share what your monthy bill is?
Similar here:Okay, let’s see…
Verizon FIOS for the TV, Telephone and Internet.
Five computers and another on the way
Three non-HD TVs
Four cell phones and one Blackberry (unlimited texting)
Did I mention I had teens?
For my parents and inlaws, it has allowed them to be MORE connected with us and everyone else. Both sets of grandparents have computers - one has satellite Internet and the other broadband. They are on the computer daily, checking email, reading news, etc. All 4 have cell phones. Because of the free mobile to mobile minutes, we call frequently and talk much more than we would otherwise (and talk at times we would not be able to - for example, when I have to pick up my kids, I often will call either my parents or the inlaws quickly from my cell phone to theirs just to check in and say hi). Without the cells and the free mobile to mobile, those calls would not get made.
Not necessarily. When our oldest daughter turned 17 and got a car last year, I bought her a cell phone to go in the car. I don’t think it’s ever even been out of her car. She never asked for one and she never bought one on her own.
Not very. Between my wife, my children, and I, we own several businesses, so computers are a must, and we have a couple of laptops, and we have a family movie night, where we’ll show movies, using a laptop and a projector, but that’s about it.
i had asserted that a kid shouldn’t have a cell phone if a parent thought the kid didn’t need a cell phone.