Ipod for 10 yr. old

[castleview]

DD10 wants an Ipod. I started shopping around regular MP3 players, but after research (including on these boards ), I decided to look for an Ipod shuffle or a refurbished Nano. After telling DH what I was looking into, he thinks we should go for the Ipod Touch because it's the "way of the future" and he's a tech lover. It seems very unnecessary to me.

Please tell me if ten is too young or fine for the tough. And if anyone has experience with refurbished Ipods, please let me know if they are a good find or not.

 

[beccasmom]

I love my iPod Classic and iPod Touch (the Touch was a gift). I think I paid about $200 for the Classic approximately 3-4 years ago. I know the Touch is pricey, although it probably has come down in price in the last year or so. I love that I can watch tv/movies on the screen. The Touch has many other great capabilities like WiFi. It is as cool as it gets and I get the biggest kick out of it. The Classic is pretty basic (although it has a screen), but that is actually one of its charms. Easy to use and ingeniously engineered, IMHO. You can't go wrong with either one.

I have purchased two Shuffles as gifts for about $59 on the Apple site. I did not purchase refurbished although I briefly considered it. They are so small it is almost unbelievable. But the sound is fabulous. The size can be seen as both an advantage and a disadvantage (easy to lose/can clip easily anywhere and be pretty inconspicuous). The do not have screens, so music is the main deal here.

For a child, I would start with the Shuffle or maybe the Nano (although I have no experience with that). The price of the Shuffle is reasonable. Only you can assess your child's responsibility level....but I'd start small and go from there. The two adults I have purchased Shuffles for are thinking of moving to Nanos because they need more music space. Neither are all that interested in watching videos.

 

[Skatermom23]

I would not buy a 10 year old a shuffle...not enough room. I would go with either a Nano or the touch. Personally, I would get the touch. The prices just dropped and he will think it is really cool to get a device that is current.

 

[StephMK]

Hi, I'm in the same spot w/DD9. I am planning to look for the ones you mentioned - a refurb nano or just a shuffle. *I* would love an itouch & DD15 still only has a nano so I'm not ready for DD9 to be that advanced yet. I think she would like the tech but not sure she needs the bells & whistles and I don't want to to worry as much about her breaking or losing it.

 

[Poohbug]

If you buy the refurb from apple you still get the warranty. I have never heard of anyone getting a bad reburb from Apple. I guess it could happen but unlikely.

However, I would never buy a touch for my almost 10 yr old. He is just not that responsible with his things. You know you can shatter the glass by dropping it.(See Australia blog) Your daughter may be responsible-use your best judgement.

The new Nanos are very nice.

The new Nanos have a video camera built in that she may like or you can find the older models on clearance right now(I just saw the 8Nano for $113). I think I will get the new one for myself. I think for a first Ipod I would go with the shuffle or Nano.

 

[robinb]

Refurbished iPods can be found here:
http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/specialdeals/ipod?mco=NzcwNjg3NA

This is a good time to buy a nano since the new one just came out. The 2009 version is only $99. I bought my DD's 2008 version nano last year when the 2009 version came out and I got a really good price on it ... probably $99 when the 2009 was $149.. It looked brand new when it came and she loves it. She is now 10 and takes very good care of it. She really wants an iTouch (I have an iPhone) but I think it's too big and expensive for her.

 

[msmayor]

In my opinion, 10 is too young for an iTouch.

When my kids were that age, their internet usage was strictly limited and monitored in the open. With an iTouch, the internet is merely a WiFi spot away, wherever he is.

I disagree with a previous poster who thinks the Nano is 'too small'. At the age of 10, a kid simply doesn't need a huge music library. A kid that age doesn't need to be walking around with expensive electronics like that.

 

[dawson5]

If you do decide on the touch, like one of the PP's said, it can access the internet. I've seen things on my son's facebook pages where other kids are updating at 2am, on a school night. Make sure if you do go this route, to set a password on the router, check and see if your neighbors have one running without a password on it. They are nice little toys. My son has two of them, 1st and 2nd gen, and is saving to buy the 3rd gen.

 

[luvmy3]

I gave my dd a nano last year when she was 10, I thought it was a good starter iPod, and quess what she wants this year- a touch If you know your dd would be responsible with it I would go for it. Apple is selling a refurb 8GB for $149. All refurbes purchased from apple have brand new batteries, casings, and screens. The only thing refurbished is the internal computer parts. It will also come with a standard 1 year warranty. Unfortunately that does not cover accidental damage like a broken screen caused by a drop. That is definitely something to consider when getting one for a 10 year old. I got dd a refurbed touch from Overstock, and for $35 more I bought their 2 year protection plan, because it does cover accidents. I do not believe the touch is refurbed by apple, and the back did have some scratches on it. The screen is perfect but I am debating on whether or not to keep it and go with the one from apple. I think they offer accidental insurance for $60 but I'm not positive.

ETA- The new generation nano has a video camera. Thats a pretty cool feature that the touch doesn't have.

 

[PHXscuba]

I am also of the opinion that 10 is too young to have unrestricted unsupervised Internet access. Too many ways to get in trouble or waste time.

I would get her something like a nano or one of the new shuffles. If/when she wants an upgrade, it's a great reason to earn extra money to buy it herself. I think kids take much better care of things they have plunked down their own money for.

PHXscuba

 

[Kitzka]

I think it depends on the kid. DD is 11 and her friends range in age from 9-12. every single one of her freinds has an itouch with the exception of 1 and she has an iphone. The itouch can do much more and none of these girls have broken theirs. theya re all very careful with them.

DD does not ahve an itouch but she has an nano from 2 or 3 years ago and it's neon green and matches her speaker system. she likes that it matches and does not want one that doesn't lol

lara

 

[Ishy]

My son really wanted an Ipod 4 years ago. MP3 player prices had dropped to 40$ for 256 or a 1/4 gig - the Ipod were 149$ for 1 gig players. I too hesitated, and then took the 40$ and bought an MP3 and said - take care of this for a year, show me you take good care of it and I will get you an IPOD.

I was so impressed with his care, I purchased a refurbished 1 gig IPOD on a special for 79$ from the apple store.

This next part is important -> When I saw how easy it charged up, and how easy it was to fill with music (cd's and purchase) and NO BATTERIES to constantly change, I really liked the Ipod... a few months after I got it for him, I went and gathered up his laundry and grabbed the jeans he had take off the night before. I put up a load of teenageboy jeans in the heavy duty wash and then stuck them in the dryer - and took off to work.... I got a phone call about an hour later. His Ipod was in the jeans pocket - wash, dryed and probably died.

I was so upset. But when I got home - it was working - no harm.
It still works EVERYDAY.
I was stupid to put 40$ out for a cheezy mp3 player that took probably 40$ in batteries and was a total pain in the you know what when it came to loading music.

I have my own 8 gig nano and LOVE it. I dont know how I ever lived without it. My daughter has an IPOD touch and loves it, and is never without it. Good Luck.

 

[castleview]

Thanks everyone! So the Touch is off the list - now the question is Shuffle, refurbished Nano or new Nano with the video camera (is that something 10 yr olds need?).

 

[luvmy3]

Thanks everyone! So the Touch is off the list - now the question is Shuffle, refurbished Nano or new Nano with the video camera (is that something 10 yr olds need?).

I would skip the shuffle all together. There is no screen so she wouldn't be able to watch movies, TV shows or video's on it. I know my dd would pick the one with the camera but thats because she loves to take pics and is just getting interested in making videos for youtube. If your dd isn't interested in that stuff I guess it wouldn't make much difference.

 

[Skatermom23]

Nano new!!

 

[Blue.Fairy2]

I think it depends on the kid. DD is 11 and her friends range in age from 9-12. every single one of her freinds has an itouch with the exception of 1 and she has an iphone. The itouch can do much more and none of these girls have broken theirs. theya re all very careful with them.

DD does not ahve an itouch but she has an nano from 2 or 3 years ago and it's neon green and matches her speaker system. she likes that it matches and does not want one that doesn't lol

lara

where did you get the green speakers ( green is my favorite but was considerng the blue but if I can get green speakers! well )

Thanks everyone! So the Touch is off the list - now the question is Shuffle, refurbished Nano or new Nano with the video camera (is that something 10 yr olds need?).

I was going to suggest the Touch because of the games and the ability to watch movies etc. It would be great for trips. Your DS would have to be responsible though as that is a major purchase at $200. My next vote would go for the new Nano at $149 a refurb older model one is $99 and for the new features I would pay the $50 more. The new Nano has Video recording and an FM radio with live pause.
It also has a pedometer.

Here is a link for you:

http://www.apple.com/ipodnano/

 

[StephMK]

I would skip the shuffle all together. There is no screen so she wouldn't be able to watch movies, TV shows or video's on it. I know my dd would pick the one with the camera but thats because she loves to take pics and is just getting interested in making videos for youtube. If your dd isn't interested in that stuff I guess it wouldn't make much difference.

Ok, my first thought would be that would be a reason to pick the shuffle - I don't want her to be able to watch movies, TV, whenever. DD15 only uses her ipod for tunes. When is it handy for your kids to be able to watch stuff on the go? Trying to see if it's worth it. I do think taking pics would be great, she loves using my camera & that is another of her wish list items.

 

[Ephany]

DD uses her dad's old 32gb Ipod video classic. The screen is big enough to watch her Phineas & Ferb episodes and it holds all our children's music with room to spare. I wouldn't go for an Itouch for a 10 year old, but the new nano seems like a good fit for that age group.

 

[Blue.Fairy2]

Ok, my first thought would be that would be a reason to pick the shuffle - I don't want her to be able to watch movies, TV, whenever. DD15 only uses her ipod for tunes. When is it handy for your kids to be able to watch stuff on the go? Trying to see if it's worth it. I do think taking pics would be great, she loves using my camera & that is another of her wish list items.

I do not beleive it takes Pictures, it takes video.

 

[jaminmd]

I do not beleive it takes Pictures, it takes video.

I have two Nano's. I just got a new one so DD 12 got my old 8gb one. She has a shuffle, too. Honestly, she uses her shuffle the most. The nano is nice & she has some TV shows on it but she won't part with her shuffle. DH prefers his shuffle as well because it is so small & easy to use, as well as light as a feather.

I almost bought the touch for myself but I use my iPod when I work out so I prefer something light instead.