[Tutor] Which computer operating system is best for Python

[spir]

On 02/06/2014 12:13 AM, Alan Gauld wrote:
> On 05/02/14 18:34, Colin Chinsammy wrote:
>> I am considering purchasing the Acer c720 chromebook for my 13yo to
>> begin learning Python for Kids. Obviously I am on a budget.
>
> I wouldn't consider a Chromebpook for anyone learning programming.
> They are fine for folks who are happy to do everything "in the cloud" but
> programming is not one of the things that works well there IMHO.
>
> A netbook or basic laptop is a little more expensive but
> much more powerful and flexible. It doesn't need to be state
> of the art or even a latest generation model but the ability
> to install and run programs locally is crucial.
>
> I don't know about prices in the US but the difference in
> price between a Chromebook and a basic laptop/netbook in
> the UK is less than 25%. The Chromebook may look sexier
> but it's far less useful to a wannabe programmer.

I second Alan's advice. For programming, especially learning, you don't need 
power (memory including, CPU freq, etc). In fact, you need very very few. (On 
the other hand, as user, *running* some rare progs may require much power.)

I would put the price in the screen: as programmers, people spend all their time 
*reading*, this for very long periods of time. We read our code, other people's 
code (much more than you'd think), tutorials, docs, articles... This, in editors 
or IDE's, web browsers, email readers, terminals... We need comfort. Display 
quality. And also space to have several windows open constantly (possibly 
overlapping).

[I'd recommend at least 21''. And rather 16/10 or even 4/3 if you can find one, 
than hypish 16/9 which are only good for pirating films ;-). What we miss in 
programming and reading is rather vertical space; we would be better at 
embracing more at once vertically; we're constantly moving up & down, because 
screens are wide and not high.]

d