Ipad/ipad mini or kindle fire hd?

[amy-momofthree]

Dd8 says she wants an iPad or kindle for Christmas. I don't know much about the kindle, we have mostly apple products. But I do like the price! Is the kindle easy to use for an 8 year old? Can you EASILY put music from iTunes on it?
I know she would mainly use it for Netflix, apps, music and occasional reading.
I'm wondering if I should just get her a refurbished iPad or the iPad mini? I'm familiar with the iPad and iTunes. And she knows how to use mine.

Does anyone know if the refurbished apple products come in a box for gift giving?

Thanks for your help!

 

[wiigirl]

Refurbished Apple products do come in a box.


Personally I would say a Kindle Fire HD 32GB just for the price. It will be a few more steps to get music/videos on it from itunes but nothing more than drag/drop type of stuff.

 

[LJSquishy]

I would go with an Apple product (either the iPad or Mini would be fine), especially if she wants apps. Apple's app store is far superior to any other app store.

 

[su_A_ve]

For a non-tech saavy person, an iOS device is probably the best. Even more if the person already has invested some on Apple products.

Now, between an iPad or iPad mini - The iPad mini I believe is overpriced. Hardware wise is comparable to an iPad 2. And at $329 retail, you are better off looking at an iPad 3rd generation Apple refurbished at $379.

Apple refurbished come with the same one year warranty as a new product. They come with a brand new battery and outer shell. And they come on a new sealed box with a new charger and cable. The box looks almost the same as a new box, except it says Apple certified refurbished. Once you open the product, you cannot tell the product is refurbished.

If a new item is a must (ie a gift) then an iPad mini would be the way to go. It's size is actually very convenient and performance wise, it's a great product, even though it has the processor of a 1.5 year old model.

The Kindle Fire is very tightly integrated with Amazon's eco system. It's main purpose is to consume Amazon services. It's extremely easy to purchase Amazon products or services, and you are limited to their app store, even though it is an android device.

Amazon sells the device at cost - the reason is simple - they expect you to purchase additional content and services from them. Oh, and their advertised price includes 'offers' - Compare it to getting a free app instead of the purchased or pro version. The free app comes with ads at the top. The Kindle fire comes with ads - when the device is idle for example, and ad is display, and there's no way of turning these off unless you pay a fee.

 

[libinatorsmom]

We choose the kindle fire HD for our 8 year old.... we got it at best buy this past weekend. We looked at all the different products and thought the kindle fire HD was the best by for for her - I dont think there is a huge difference in the ipad mini and the kindle fire hd. I was really impressed with it... And cant wait for her to open it... Its actually coming from grandma...

 

[amy-momofthree]

Thanks for all the advice!! I guess I need to look at the kindle fire first and see how easy it is to use. But that ipad mini sounds perfect, just wish it wasn't $329!! Maybe in a few weeks they will have a refurbished one?

 

[katie111]

Anyone have any idea of how much the apps, books, and movies cost for the Kindle? Are there lots of free apps like on the Ipad? Can you share apps between 2 Kindle devices?

 

[lucyem]

The apps available for the iPad are just amazing. I think it is over 250,000 now. While the kindle has only around 10,000 according to an article I read recently. Which product is better I think is determined by your situation and how you will use it. For example like someone who said it you are already using apple products the iPod/ipad would be the best way to go. If you want apps then apple for sure. If just reading and movies then the kindle as the price is great.

My 10 yr old wants his own ipad but we will get him a refurbished itouch this year. I generally buy refurbished items from apple and have never had a problem. The price cannot be beat either. The touch does everything he wants and is much more portable. If he needs to use an ipad for something specific he can use mine. Not to mention we have so many apps and movies so buying something different would cost a lot more in apps etc.

 

[irishsharon]

On the refurb would it be better to spend more for the 32gb or 64gb? Just wondering if this is worth the upgrade and price My ds is 10 and we are going to get an ipad because he uses one in his classroom.

 

[skeettafic]

I'm actually trying to decide between the Kindle HD and the refurbished iPad as a gift for hubby this year. He thinks he's getting the Kindle but I just recently found out about the refurbished iPads and I'm wondering if that might have more longeviety as the kids are getting older and wanting iPods, etc.

 

[Nana2Callie]

Thanks for posting the question.

 

[kalliyan1]

On the refurb would it be better to spend more for the 32gb or 64gb? Just wondering if this is worth the upgrade and price My ds is 10 and we are going to get an ipad because he uses one in his classroom.

I think it's definitely worth the extra $100 to upgrade from the 32 to 64 or 16 to 32. You are basically doubling your memory for only $100. We got our girls the ipad mini and we got the 32g because we will load tons of movies, etc on them. For them, they don't need the next version that comes out in a year and this can last them for a long time so the memory was important for us.

 

[HeatherC]

Just to confuse you even more have you seen the Samsung Galaxy Tab2 tablets? I just bought two today at Best Buy for $199 each.

I tried them out several times before buying and really like them. And I myself have an IPad which I love. I thought the responsiveness was better than a Kindle Fire and like that it has a Micro Sd slot so you can expand the memory if it fills up.

We have several Apple products we love, but it is becoming harder for me to justify the price difference between this and the IPAD mini.

Hope this helps!

 

[helloirishkitty]

DSS is 14 and wanted either/or this christmas. We went for a refurb iPad just because we all have Mac Products (macbookpro, air, 2 other ipads, iphones, etc) and we already have a ton of money invested in Apps. If we didn't, I would have gotten him the fire.

 

[Happiest mommy]

HeatherC nice price on the Samsung I have been looking at those I like that you can add more memory I think this is what i'm getting my DH for xmas I would love a Ipad mini but the price I can't justify it ....

 

[HeatherC]

HappiestMommy...I bought them at Best Buy. They just dropped the price from $249. I think that is because they are releasing a 16gb for the $249 price. But I saved the $50 and got the 8gb since I can buy an SD card for much less than $50.

Also..they had a white one that they kept saying was $249. But I said the price on the display did not say that so they gave me the whiteone for $199 too.

I think your dh will love it. I have an IPAD and really don't see much difference between them. I think Apple's competition might be catching up to them a bit.

 

[Happiest mommy]

HeatherC thanks hopefully they still have them when I go this weekend DH doesnt need much just something to watch movies and the occasional game and surf the internet

 

[irishsharon]

I think it's definitely worth the extra $100 to upgrade from the 32 to 64 or 16 to 32. You are basically doubling your memory for only $100. We got our girls the ipad mini and we got the 32g because we will load tons of movies, etc on them. For them, they don't need the next version that comes out in a year and this can last them for a long time so the memory was important for us.

Thanks

 

[westie22]

What is everyone's recommendation between all of these if you mainly want to use it for Face Book, email and general web surfing??

 

[timmac]

What is everyone's recommendation between all of these if you mainly want to use it for Face Book, email and general web surfing??

Kindle Fire or Nexus 7 easily beats out the iPad/mini on price alone, particularly if you're only looking for very basic functions like that. Why not save $130+?