Are Ipads really worth it?

[rentayenta]

Worth. Every. Penny!

 

[luvdisney00]

I love my iPad (I have the 1) and think it was worth every penny. DH has an iPhone and he got the iPad for Christmas (also a 1 refurbed) and he is amazed by all it can do and the size and clarity of the screen vs the iPhone. To the OP I think the iPad would be an amazing gift, and if you kids have iPhones they would probably love them.

As far as it being a toy, I disagree. I mostly use mine as a toy (best toy I ever had!!) but lots of businesses use them and I could definitely see a student using it for note taking and writing. With the iCloud, it can sync everything with the iPhone and home computer. I have a droid and cannot wait for my contract to end so I can get the iPhone. Hopefully the 5 will be out by then.

 

[DawnM]

I LOVE my ipad2. However, it was given to me, or rather a $550 Best Buy gift card was given to me. I used it towards a 32gb iPad 2. So, I paid the extra $100 for the additional memory. I also bought a keyboard ($50) and a case ($50) for it.

So, my "free" iPad was still $200 OOP for me. But paying to protect it and for added memory was worth it to me. And I have to say I LOVE the keyboard as it really turns it more into a mini-computer for me to surf the web, view and change documents, etc....

However, I really think OP, that you need to know they really WANT them before buying them. If they will indeed use them and want them, it is worth it, but if they are thinking $1,000 could be better spent on something else, I would find out what they might want/need.

Dawn

 

[Missy29]

We bought the 32 gb iPad 2 for our family Christmas present and we love it, I'm actually posting on it right now. I am hoping it will be a nice distraction on the plane for my kids. We did buy a cover and screen protected for it which can get pricey but I think it was worth it.

 

[princessmom29]

We got a 32gb ipad 2 with our christmas money. Best gift ever. It gets pretty much constant use between the 3 of us. Dh has the nook color with the s upgrade that gives it tablet functionality, but prefers the ipad. It is less limited as far as apps, ect.

 

[monkey30]

To the second point. They have iPhones already. Every app they already have will work on it. No additional charge. It is the OS they are familiar with. So that should cover the concern of app costs, etc. as others have said, you don't need a dock, it comes with the chargers. Personally, I don't think that screen protectors are needed on the iPad. Especially since they don't have kids. A smart cover is enough.

This is the bonus for us! Kids have iPods, there are 2 iPads and Dha nd I have iPhones, so we buy the app once and thats it.

Also keep in mind a lot for them are FREE!!! Try them out and then you can buy the full version for a couple of bucks. Its not huge money unless they want it to be.

I've been researching, but haven't made any decisions yet, so appreciate this thread. Several of my friends have iPads for their kids with autism and really love them. My son loves his ipod, but mostly watches youtube, and takes videos and pictures with it. Its always full and he never wants to delete his videos. I am torn. If I get an ipad I know there are a lot of autism related education apps available (and not sure if he is more high functioning and wouldn't really benefit as much from them). If I get something smaller like a Fire or android based tablet it might be easier to add more storage and transfer between computer and tablet. That said, I have an android based phone that doesn't run as smoothly as the ipod.

As you can see I can't make a decision either! LOL

Which apps are these I would love to see them and recommend them to my boss (she is OT Peds)


For us the iPad is amazing, we bought a mount for the truck ($15 on ebay) and we use it as a DVD player for the kids on long trips, it was a life saver on the plane on the last trip. I hate to say it but even the 2yr old can motor around on it. He is non-verbal so we are using the flash card apps to help him learn the words better and work with him! Maybe talk to your kids and flat out say look this is what I am thinking are you interested, or should I just not bother! I would hate to spend all that money and them not want it,

 

[mdsouth]

However, I really think OP, that you need to know they really WANT them before buying them. If they will indeed use them and want them, it is worth it, but if they are thinking $1,000 could be better spent on something else, I would find out what they might want/need.

Dawn

I agree! I think giving the kids the money instead of the IPad would be best. !,000 is a lot of money that could be spent on a lot of things. If the OP gives the kids a prepaid Visa card with 10the kids can decide for,ooo in it, then they can decide for themselves what they would want. Some might not care to have the IPad and would not want to make the OP feel bad and return it. The prepaid Visa can be used most anywhere.

 

[starbird]

While I agree wholeheartedly with the sentiments about the cash/visa would be useful so the kids can do with it what they want, the OP is looking for something she feels is thoughtful, and perhaps something her adult children would not, for whatever reason, buy for themselves at this time. I know that is what I like to think of as gifts for and from myself.

The OP I am sure would know if the kids were in such a finical hardship that the money would be better than a gift.

I love all things Apple. In my house, we have two Macs, my iPhone, a few iPod touches, an AppleTV, and even my wireless routers are Apple. The one product line I do not yet have is an iPad. The reason is that, for me now, the cost to purchase is not justifiable. I am currently paying a few things off much sooner than the "plans" allow, so I make some "sacrifices" to do so.

However, if my mom bought me an iPad? I would be thrilled. Not that I wouldn't be thrilled with a check or gift card for $1000, even if the intent was for me to purchase the iPad. I just know I would put it toward something else I was going to pay anyway.

 

[eliza61]

We are doing Christmas late and I was thinking about getting all four kids Ipads. I looked at the tonight at the store and they were $588 for 32GB. But then they had chargers, docking stations and about two other things to go with them. That start to add up! The kids are all single adults between the ages of 22 and 30.
DH and I have Touchpads so I really am questioning if they are worth the price or will they continue to cost them money with apps and such?

What will they use them for.

Me, I went with the kindle fire. Primarily I wanted some thing to read with. I don't do a lot of web searching, I have an ipod for music and I have a dslr for picture taking, so for me the Ipad would not really be worth it.

Has any of your kids mentioned they wanted an Ipad. My oldest son is 21 and we did ask him if he wanted one. while he thought they were cool, he's currently driving a 10 year old car, so for him a better gift would be a gift card so he can stay up on the maintence issues for his card.