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<p>Yes, you are reading this right. We have only one computer in our house. There are many likeus out there. In fact, for one 14-month stretch, we had only one car, too. </p>
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<p>What’s the reasoning for only having one? </p>
<p>My kids got new computers when entering middle school and thereafter when needed. Both got new computers for college. They’ve had phones since middle school, but only got iphones as a gift when graduating from high school (and both kids’ old cell phones were dying). I pay the monthly fee (on the family plan). They got calculators when required for school. I paid for all of it except a small netbook computer which my son bought for himself in high school to use when he was traveling for meets with his club swimming team. The majority were gifts for Christmas, birthday or graduation. We don’t have tablets. I wouldn’t consider any of this luxury items, they were all essential at the time</p>
<p>we pay for phones when upgrades are possible, but they pay the deductible if they break them. We have paid for all computers because they were either for high school or college. the last ones were grad gifts for grad and med school.</p>
<p>@ vladenschlutte - it’s simply not a necessity nor a priority for us.</p>
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<p>Sounds like some clients or clients’ kids I’ve had. </p>
<p>Cracked laptop LCD screens, water damage, hard drive damage because of heavy drops/impacts in hard drive area, etc. </p>
<p>Worst thing I’ve had happen with my own laptops was one where the LCD backled died right after the one year warranty ran out and another laptop which burned out due to overheating during a work project. </p>
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<p>This question is very interesting and shows how times have changed from just 15-20 years ago. Back then, there were still plenty of families who had just one computer or none whatsoever. </p>
<p>Not only was it due to lack of priorities for some families, computers were also so much more expensive back then…even used ones. </p>
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<p>Sorry, this is just different than how I grew up so this is a bit foreign to me. When did you get the first computer? Were you early adopters or late adopters or what? How about internet?</p>
<p>DS graduated from HS in 2003, and DD in 2006. At that time, we had on,y one family computer, and it was on the desk in our kitchen. That’s where the internet connection was. Everyone shared that machine, and it worked out just fine. </p>
<p>When the kids went to college, they got their own computers. DS actually took a desktop with him (a perfectly good used one my DH had). He got his MacBook at the start of his junior year. DD got a laptop as a college freshman.</p>
<p>They survived.</p>
<p>I know plenty of families with just one desktop computer for the family to share. Heck, one family with six kids not only shares one computer, but also have a shared car and a shared cell phone. Their kids have survived so far.</p>
<p>We had a desktop computer for the family until maybe two years ago. Now it’s relegated to the basement and we each have a laptop. It took us a long time to give up the desktop.</p>
<p>Sharing a car is one thing, cars are expensive, you can’t just make a spontaneous car purchase. But for a family, today (not 10 years ago), why not spring the $300-$400 for another computer?</p>
<p>Vlad this might be a shock but forn some families that’s more than theycan spend when tthe family already has a computer. That is thecase for many families I know.</p>
<p>The only electronic I’ve bought myself was my second computer - a customized Macbook Air. </p>
<p>My mom bought me my first laptop, my previous iPhones, my previous cameras, she got me my TI-89, my TVs, everything electronic. </p>
<p>She cuts me off when they become a luxury. My laptop was a luxury. It was expensive and I had the money to buy my own. I’m looking to purchase a replacement laptop for my older laptop - that is a luxury. I’m paying for that. Additionally, I want an iMac - that is a luxury. I am paying for that. </p>
<p>She no longer buys my electronics (unless it’s a present) because I have the money to buy my own things. I don’t think she need to either. Phones are a different thing, though. </p>
<p>We are not technophobes nor “late adopters.” One computer is adequate for our family’s needs. What is “foreign” to me is people who buy all the technology they can get their hands on just because it’s there.
ETA: To many families, $300 - $400 is a lot of money.</p>
<p>We bought his laptop and iphone (2nd smart phone we bought him since going to college.) He wanted an ipad and paid for that himself. Then when we got him the iphone, he decided he didn’t need the ipad and I inherited it. Since we paid for the phone he just gave the the ipad. His regular laptop is still going strong after 3+years. </p>
<p>In high school he used our family desk top (both H and had laptops so he was the only one who used the desk top.) Then he wanted a netbook so paid for that himself. He left it at home when he went to college and it’s somewhere in bedroom, I guess. </p>
<p>We view each other computer as something completely private. We wouldn’t think of using another person’s computer without asking first. </p>
<p>Our family is very into laptops and desktops. We have bought all the family cell phones since they were in high school. Originally, H & both kids had pre-paid T-Mobile phones. I then put us on a T-mobile family plan but one summer NONE of the 5 apartments they rented had coverage in the apartment so we switched to Verizon. About 1.5 years ago, S got us to switch everyone to Sprint. I paid for the new iPhone5s (it was $129 apiece but we got $100 rebate per phone and free activation). S is supposed to figure out what we will do once the plan we’re on expires. We like that there is NO data limitation, but the coverage isn’t as good as Verizon. All the other phones we got were “free” with the 2 year contract; if the kids broke or damaged their phone or lost it, it was their issue to figure out what to do (often we had a family member who would loan an old phone).</p>
<p>For laptops, we bought each kid a new laptop for them to begin college. Both laptops broke under the CC Extended Warranty, so the full amount was refunded to our CCard. Our kids each independently chose to replace their laptops with netbooks and desktops (cheaper than the laptop was alone).</p>
<p>S has since purchased a Kindle Fire for himself and each of us with his own funds. He likes tech. He also bought himself a new laptop and other electronic toys. I’m ambivalent about electronics–enjoy the iPad mini but haven’t played much with the Kindle FIre he sent for Mother’s Day yet. </p>
<p>In our case, we considered the laptop part of their graduation gift from HS and school supplies. We were fortunate it didn’t put a huge dent in the family budget. If it was a huge problem in the family budget, I’m sure our kids would have been fine paying for the laptops out of their own funds (both have savings accounts that we allowed them to leave intact – these accounts are STILL intact). Our kids are now in their 20s and have gotten their degrees.</p>
<p>At last count: 3 desktops, 2 laptops, 2 iPads, 1 iPhone, 2 Android phones, 1 non-smart phone (5th grader), 3 Kindles. We need more WiFi, especially when relatives visit. I did make S17 pay the price of the TI Nspire he lost at school; having one is a requirement for school math and physics classes.</p>
<p>In 1977, Ken Olsen, founder of DEC (I used their computers for years), said, “There is no reason for any individual to have a computer in his home.” I guess times have changed.</p>
<p>When we shared a desktop, each user had a password protected log in, and their own desktop when logged in. No privacy issues at all.</p>
<p>I do think times have changed since my kids were in HS. Now, almost everyone has a laptop or a tablet…and/or a smartphone.</p>
<p>I had the luxury of working for a PC manufacturer, so our family has always had multiple systems. Many of them were on an employee discount, so it cost very little.</p>
<p>Family member bought S1 a laptop to take to college as a graduation present. As we have upgrade old systems over the years, they have remained as tools for the younger ones to use (sans internet access).</p>
<p>We just got our first family smart phones as that was our gift to S1 for graduation and I wasn’t about to have him have better technology that I had myself! LOL. OU uses Apple apps for some things on campus, so he got an Apple phone. The rest of them are Galaxies. The younger kids will have to survive with ‘flip-phones’ until they graduate or the money-fairy leaves a pile for them.</p>
<p>As I mentioned in other threads, in our house personal property is virtually unheard of. Great policy in the public domain, not so great in a family. Sharing is required for any non-personal item (read: security blanket, underwear, etc.)</p>
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<p>The very first first computer I had which was a Christmas gift in HS ended up being the family computer during the '90s and part of the early '00s. Since it wasn’t running a multi-user capable operating system(DOS 4.01/Windows 3.0 -> Dos 6.22/Win 3.1), any documents or items which were private or liable to fill up the small hard drive was saved to 5.25 or 3.5" floppies. </p>
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<p>And one trend I’ve noticed due to increasing ubiquity of notebooks and small electronics on HS and younger aged kids and lower retail prices…especially for consumer-line notebooks is greater likelihood of notebooks wearing out/going bad sooner and/or what is to me inexplicable examples of user carelessness. </p>
<p>Such as spilling liquids on laptops or cracked LCD screens and there being more insurance options for accidental coverage. Just a decade ago, such accidental coverage was few and far between and standard warranties wouldn’t cover them in most cases. </p>
<p>As a result, most college students were supercareful with their notebook computers and if there was user-inflicted damage, the parents almost always forced the student to foot the full cost of repair/replacement. </p>
<p>Considering the average decent consumer-line notebook back then was $1200-1500+, that was a major financial hit to even the upper-middle class students/families. </p>
<p>Also, if a given student was known to be extremely careless and/or the family couldn’t afford a notebook back then, they’d send their student up with a desktop computer or expected him/her to rely on campus computer labs. </p>