gdgt

In terms of ease of use, Apple products seem to stand out for those new to the whole personal computer experience. Depending on whether you want it to be portable or not, you can choose.

I'd recommend the Mac Pros (desktop) or MacBook Pros (laptops) depending on which suites your needs. They are easy to use and come with a variety of software to help spark creativity in children (iPhoto, iMovie, Garageband are some bundled software packages).

As far as the whole durable designs and materials, spillproof keyboards, smudgeproof displays, etc. - I don't think any PC worth buying (in terms of features/prices offered) fit this category. I'd recommend just purchasing some of the cleaning material from the Apple Store along with your product and buying the AppleCare+ warranty. This coupled with teaching children how to properly behave when around these products would be the best way to go.

As far as the iPad goes, it's great to have on the side, but for a personal computer usage for kids, I think you should teach the children how to use a real computer instead. The iPad is more for portability - when you are on the go. It's a device that serves best coupled with a PC not standalone.

Amasand's answer, getting an apple is good if you can afford a $1000 computer for kids. Otherwise The Dell Streak 7 is a very good choice. Overall, it is a good computer for anyone especially kids!

I think PC's offer more kids programs than apple (a lot more), and most Windows laptop's have spillproof keyboards out of the box. (it's a common features these days in windows laptops. despite what amasand says)

Either way there's so much on the web (flash games and tools) that it's irrelevant what brand you get ( pc/apple/unix) you need to look more at WHAT you are going to run. Windows Pc's are also more flexible in terms of upgrades and multiple batteries for long road trips. (although you can also get car adaptors)

Kids will learn to use whatever you get, while touch devices like the Galaxy Tab (or ipad) are a novelty item, they have lots of games, but aren't great at all for non-touch use. While android and also apple have a lot on their mobile devices, they have very little on the desktop in comparisson to windows. Windows is also the defacto standard pretty much everywhere. White isn't a great colour for kids, so macs are out.

I'd look at 10-13 inch laptops. I have had a series of 13 inch laptops (HP and Dell) and they have been absolutely fantastic. I've spilt drinks on them and you can clean the screens with baby wipes. They have dvd players and large hard drives if you have digtized their movies. Windows PC's are also pretty easy to plug into the tv with approriate connectors and parts are cheap, unlike apple parts.