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Thinkpad 431s if you are on a low budget. It's the best performing cheap option, IMO. Obviously block access to internet nonsense. I just started using Control

Thinkpad 431s if you are on a low budget. It's the best performing cheap option, IMO. Obviously block access to internet nonsense. I just started using ControlD.com and it works like a charm. Or, if you have the time, make the PiHole and your Home Lab & Network a project that you two build together. Make the command line kid friendly, like using bat instead of cat and LSD instead of ls and so on. Colors are stimulating and fun. Something like the hyper terminal is another idea. I would appreciate someone building a faster alternative to the hyper terminal in C or Rust. And then there's Nand to Tetris, which you should pick up together as well. Regarding unsupervised time on the net: be strict. Regulate screen time. Hold the kid playfully accountable. No, 9 is not too young for anything. It's all about deliberate parenting & discipline. [0] https://controld.com/ https://controld.com/ [1] https://pi-hole.net/ https://pi-hole.net/ [2] https://www.nand2tetris.org/ https://www.nand2tetris.org/

tdlx 2y ago
@ziggyzecat, thank you so much for your super detailed answer. I'm indeed looking for a low budget at first. He is on the spectrum and super smart, but his hands are not his best allies. Despite all his efforts and work with specialists, he remains clumsy and might involuntarily damage his computer. Cheap and fixable is a good thing. Things will get much better with time. I love the idea of building the network as a family project with him!!!
- mikewarot 2y ago
  I've found that wireless keyboards/mice and desktop computers worked out best for my child. Alternatively, you might want to seek out an old heavy mechanical keyboard, those things are built like battleships.
  - tdlx 2y ago
    The other perk of a mechanical keyboard is that it will make his hands work out a bit. And we will be able to hear it should he try to dodge the time limitation...

tdlx 2y ago

@ziggyzecat, thank you so much for your super detailed answer. I'm indeed looking for a low budget at first. He is on the spectrum and super smart, but his hands are not his best allies. Despite all his efforts and work with specialists, he remains clumsy and might involuntarily damage his computer. Cheap and fixable is a good thing. Things will get much better with time. I love the idea of building the network as a family project with him!!!

mikewarot 2y ago
I've found that wireless keyboards/mice and desktop computers worked out best for my child. Alternatively, you might want to seek out an old heavy mechanical keyboard, those things are built like battleships.
- tdlx 2y ago
  The other perk of a mechanical keyboard is that it will make his hands work out a bit. And we will be able to hear it should he try to dodge the time limitation...