What computer/laptop should I get for my child?

I'd recommend that you get a desktop. If/when your kid breaks it, it'll be easier to fix.

If your kid plays a lot of games, especially graphically intensive ones, you'll need more than a fast processor to run them. The computer will need a good graphics card, such as one made by AMD or NVIDIA. Most laptops (and a lot of low-end desktops) come with Intel's graphic chips, and they're just horrible for games.

Speaking of processors, forget the i7. Most people get an i7, thinking they'll be able to do everything faster, but the i7 ends up doing nothing 99.9% of the time. Unless you're doing intensive scientific calculations or extremely high-end gaming, you will never need an i7, so save yourself a few hundred bucks and get an i3/i5 or an AMD machine.

Well sorry to say but "genius" and "each laptop he's had have been broken" dont belong in the same sentence lol...

I dont think anyone who knows what they are doing with computers, atleast has the knowledge of how to take care of them... like how do you have dust in your computer? thats like the pre computers-101 basics, you need to keep them clean of dust inside and out.

Well anyway it really depends on your budget, and either where you live or where you are willing to buy from. If you live in the US and are willing to purchase online it would definitely be easier to recommend something given a budget.

Also for gaming, you want to focus more on the graphics rather then the processor. getting an i7 laptop wont do you any good in gaming if you have integrated graphics.

EDIT: well that is a very large budget margin, and ofcourse more expensive tend to be better then less expensive computers.

If he is really into gaming, and you really dont mind spending upwards of 1200

look into the asus g53sx (the sx are the newer models)

http://www.amazon.com/Republic-Gamers-G53SX-DH71-1...

is top of the line in gaming. its actually better then the alienware laptops, as alienware overprices for the same hardware, they up the price for brand name and logo. So an alienware the the exact same specs would probably be like 1600+

Dell is a great laptop for this...my sister had this laptop for a couple of years....she would still have it..but she dropped it and it stopped workiing :P...ok so anyway it has alot of memory space and is very fast i must say..(the wifi also changes this up a little)..but yea ..Dell is a very good laptop to go for.

you like a workstation with extra armor. by skill of which skill paying extra for armor only henceforth lowering the funds for hardware. So the two you tutor you son to maintain gentle issues (which he might have) or you spend money for hardened workstation armor. some militia grade workstation. nicely pondering your funds is very plenty, you acquire yet another selection to purchase workstation and workstation.