Find the Perfect PC for Your Family

My wife and I always knew that at some point, our son would get his own computer. The day just happened to come sooner than we expected. When he was barely one and a half, he discovered the joys of playing with the mouse and pounding the keyboard on my home office computer. It was great fun to watch--until his playtime nearly sent every icon on my desktop to never-never land.

While it's rarely that dramatic, family computing has its own special concerns. It doesn't take long to discover that the technology needs of a 10-year-old are very different from a teenager's, and both are different from the adults'. Will one PC be enough for everyone in your family, or will you have to invest in a second machine? What kind of system does your toddler's software require?

Here are some helpful tips on what to consider before you turn your toddlers and teens into techies.