iPad2 or 3 Versus laptop

[elcycad]

I am torn between buying an iPad2 or 3 versus a laptop(i7/i5) for my 10yr old.

At the moment she likes to play games and just surf,but later on she may need it to do homework etc

Which do you think is a better buy?

 

[racechick8293]

For use in the next few years, my bet is on the iPad for providing access to the types of things that would be useful. Educationally, as papers would need to be composed, there are several word processing apps, and with a wireless keyboard, the iPad can be quite useful for tasks beyond the norm of playing games/surfing the web. Also, there are a number of educational apps that are amazing, and not available on the laptops.

Some of the decision should be also based on the types of sites that the child likes to use. For instance, if they use games that use Flash, a laptop may be a better bet, as the iPad would require the Skyfire browser to be downloaded/used. Not a really big deal, as I believe it's a $5 download, but the level of comfort in knowing/finding potential workarounds to some issues like this could be a factor in your decision.

Another item to consider is that the laptop would allow for multi-tasking, whereas the iPad is a single task device. For instance, it's not possible to have multiple windows/programs running on the iPad. Each app would need to be started when needed, but IMHO, it would be a minor inconvenience.

For my children (any myself), the iPad gets and keeps our interest, whereas the computer is more "been there, done that".

 

[carebee21]

IMO the iPad is a toy. It's great for apps, watching movies & TV shows, basic internet use (surfing the web, email, facebook, etc). Just things you'd do while playing around or in your free time.

However, I would never use it for school/work projects where you would need to research, write a paper or anything else that would be time intensive. It's difficult to cut & paste on, the screen isn't as big as a computer/laptop and can cause eyestrain when typing on it for long periods of time, and it's not as easy to toggle between the internet screen, word program app etc.

With all that said, I'd think about what items you have in the house and what she'd spend more time using it for. For example, we just bought our 8 year old an iPad 2 for Christmas because we have a desktop and 2 laptops he can use when the need arises for school papers or the odd flash website that can't be seen on the iPad. But he was always on my iPad playing games, doing the reading apps, taking videos of himself, etc. So, in my mind, he's going to get more use out of the iPad, than he would out of a laptop and he has access to a computer when needed, so we went with what he would use most. But if I was buying something for a college student to keep in their dorm room who has no other easy access to a computer, I'd go for the laptop, as they're going to get more use out of that.

 

[Pigeon]

The iPad is fine for entertainment, surfing the web, checking email, etc. As far as a tool for doing school work, I'd get the laptop.

There are no Apple products that I could remotely say are a better buy. I have an iPad 2 from work, and I think it is insanely priced for what it is. You could get a very nice laptop for much less. They are trendy and young people often care about the brand name. They carry premium prices for what is often not superior performance. The fact that you cannot expand the memory makes me insane. Look at the cost between the various capacities of say, an iTouch, and then look at how much it would cost to expand if you could add a memory chip.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I agree that if your daughter needs something for schoolwork, a laptop is the way to go. An iPad is great (yes, I have one), but it is not yet a replacement for a laptop. I could not imagine doing any serious word processing on an iPad.

If you just want this for games, an iPad is a very expensive option.

 

[HM]

Depending on your financial situation, you could get the iPad now and expect to get her a laptop by high school. At that age, my kids only used our desktop (we didn't have the other choices).

My children are HS age and use laptops for writing papers and much of their school work, but lately my DD has taken to using my iPad 1 when she needs quick information about something she's reading or a question she can't find in her reading (it's a lot faster than turning on and waiting for a laptop to load).

 

[timmac]

As others have already suggested, an iPad is a toy. I'm not in agreement with the suggestion that one can add a wireless keyboard, etc, and use some word processing apps on it... at that point you're just adding on to an already expensive proposition, in attempt to make it do the things a laptop does not. Don't get me wrong, the iPad can do some very neat things, and indeed there are some apps it can run that a laptop cannot, but at the end of the day, an ordinary laptop is far more general purpose and useful.

 

[Darcy03231]

DS' laptop was old and slow so we got him a new one for Christmas. He also got a tablet.

When I asked him, he said if the choice were one or the other - get the laptop.

 

[SuzanneSLO]

There have been a couple of people who write for a living who have recently written about how they use the iPad as their primary computer. Both are linked at John Gruber's Daring Fireball here: http://daringfireball.net/linked/2011/12/09/kendrick

I'm personally not ready to thow my computer in the trash heap, but I do use my personal iPad more than my personal computer. I even sometimes sit at my desk with my computer in front of me and type away on the iPad! If I didn't share the iPad with my DH, I woudl us eit even more.

There are definite trade offs between a laptop and an iPad, but it is not clear to me that a laptop is always the better machine for all people at all times.

And if, like me, the OP's 10YO would spend more time on an Ipad than on a laptop, maybe the iPad is the right choice for her. -- Suzanne

 

[Strangeite]

but, for a 10 year old, I would recommend the iPad.

The primary reasoning behind this choice would be that the iPad will be more stable over several years than a low end (sub $700) laptop. I have found that I am doing approximately 95% of my computing on the ipad and only using one of the desktops or laptops when I need to spend some time coding or serious photo manipulation.

The wireless keyboard is going to add $60 if she really needs to write papers on it, but at 10 years old, I would be willing to bet that she has several years before more advanced word processing needs arise (i.e. footnotes, hyperlinked documents, etc.).

Can an iPad do everything that a laptop can do? No. Can a laptop do everything an iPad can do? No.

But for the uses of a 10 year old (I have a 13 year old) the iPad will accomplish almost everything she will need and will necessitate less tech support help from the parents for a longer period of time.

Just my two cents.

Edited to add: I just noticed in your OP that you are considering an i5 or i7 laptop. Then I would double down on my recommendation of the iPad. You simply are going to spend too much on a laptop that will not maintain functionality for as long as the iPad will within the price range of an i5 or i7 laptop.