This comparative examination considers a new era of research on children's learning. How children learn from microcomputers is studied, in light of research on children and television; and such issues are illuminated as how television and computers differ in their historical and economic contexts, how such differences affect their ability to serve children, what some of the developing differences are in research perspectives and emphases given to television and microcomputers, and, given a common research focus on children, what can be applied from knowledge of children as television viewers to their behaviors as computer users. Diffusion patterns for television and microcomputers, and factors affecting their demand and utilization, are compared. A comparison of research on television and microcomputers presents a typology of television research topics and notes that most television studies have emphasized either the effects of television violence on children's aggressive behavior or the relationship between the view of the social world as portrayed on television and children's socialization. Implications for future research and practice are summarized, and 46 references are listed. (LMM)