Ipod for 10 yr. old

[BabyFu18]

My niece is 10 and has a nano (christmas gift last year) and she is more than thrilled with it. It is just the right size for her and a good starting out ipod (not as expensive or as sensitive as the ipod touch). Plus, the new nanos now have video recording capabilities which might be something your 10 year old would like to play around with.

I think if you see that the nano is being taken care of and is getting a lot of use, then you can upgrade to a different ipod within the coming years. Remember ipods are updated and improved so often if you have a fickle child you'll be replacing the ipods constantly, so why not start with the mid-range and move up from there?

Good luck with your decision!

 

[rfl]

No matter which version of the ipod you chose, I highly recommend getting a refurbished one from the Apple store. We have had great luck. In fact the only time we have had problems with ipods was with new ones. And apple was great about replacements.

 

[mamalle]

we bought dd a refub nano 2 years ago and it still works great. I will be buying ds who is turning 8 most likely a shuffle for christmas this year. Im waiting to see if they drop to $29.99. I seem to recall them dropping to that price last year. He is a boy and doesnt need 1000 songs, etc.. Just some of his favorite tunes to listen to. It will be a great one to start out with and to see if he is responsible.. Most likely we will upgrade dd to one with movies, etc if that is what she wants for her 10th bday in Feb.

 

[MineMail]

If you're sure you want/need an iPod, get a refurbished one from Apple and ask about a warranty. Buy it on a credit card so you have some loss/damage protection.

I have an iPod Nano that I won in a raffle. I like it, but I wish it had an FM tuner because I could use it to listen to the televisions at the gym when I work out. I like the Nano better than my friend's Shuffle because of the on-screen menus and the ability to choose a particular song from the library. I prefer the size of the Nano more than the Video or Shuffle iPod. It fits in my wallet, so that's my preference. My kids would take any iPod, they're not picky; just status-conscious. *laughs* I think the Shuffle would get lost (like the missing DS cartridges) and the video would get banged up.

My kids all asked for iPods, but three of them didn't fit my budget. I can't buy one an iPod and the others something else, so I bought really good Samsung MP3 players at Radio Shack for far less money. The Samsungs had more features: voice recording, FM tuner, memory card slot plus more internal storage. It's worked out really well, although acquiring music from iTunes takes effort since I have to convert the songs to MP3's for their players.

 

[FutrImagineer]

One thing that I don't think anybody has mentioned is the battery life of the iPods. Usually, the "shelf life" of the iPod battery is only from 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 years- sometimes more, sometimes less. Granted, some companies now sell replacement batteries in DIY kits for around $15 (you used to have pay almost what the device was worth to get Apple to replace the battery), but the original battery is not going to last for ages. You should think about this too when purchasing. If you're hands-on and comfortable taking apart electronics, you'll do fine with DIY kits, but if you feel uneasy doing that, whatever iPod you purchase is not going to last forever.

Some people on this thread expressed the opinion that they will pay more for something that lasts forever. ITA, but an iPod is not one of the things that falls into this category. I think it's better to start out small for the the first iPod and then you can upgrade when that one dies.

 

[Donald'sGirl]

My son got a Sanyo MP3 (2GB) for his 11th b-day last year and LOVES it! It was the perfect size for him and he brings it everywhere with him.

I would go with a what you feel your son can handle. He is still young enought and much more newer ones will be coming out by the time he is 12 and 13 I wouldn't go crazy spending money on a higher price model just because its the newest thing right now. JMHO

 

[mamalle]

I have a 1st generation Ipod nano for years and never replaced the battery. dd's is a refub from 2007 and never had a issue either. dh has the more advanced Ipods and the same goes for his..

 

[ljcrochet]

My DH has a 2nd generation IPOD that is about 5 years old. The battery seems to be pretty good once we get the IPOD turned on. I use it in the car with the out the charger alot.

 

[luvmy3]

My ipod is just over 3 years old and I have never had an issue with the battery. I do agree that it does stink that if you need to replace it you have to send it to apple, or just get another ipod.

 

[Eeyore1928]

Just got my 7 yr old DD a ipod classic for movies and music. I hope she likes it!

 

[Kitzka]

One thing that I don't think anybody has mentioned is the battery life of the iPods. Usually, the "shelf life" of the iPod battery is only from 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 years- sometimes more, sometimes less. Granted, some companies now sell replacement batteries in DIY kits for around $15 (you used to have pay almost what the device was worth to get Apple to replace the battery), but the original battery is not going to last for ages. You should think about this too when purchasing. If you're hands-on and comfortable taking apart electronics, you'll do fine with DIY kits, but if you feel uneasy doing that, whatever iPod you purchase is not going to last forever.

Some people on this thread expressed the opinion that they will pay more for something that lasts forever. ITA, but an iPod is not one of the things that falls into this category. I think it's better to start out small for the the first iPod and then you can upgrade when that one dies.

I have had my ipod video (the calssic before it was rebranded teh classic) for 4 or 5 years. still works fine. no battery issues at all. I upgraded to an iphone but i passed it to my father and he uses it no problem.

Lara

 

[kinntj]

My DD will be 8 in May and she'll be getting her 1st Ipod then. We'll start her off with the shuffle and in 2 years, she'll upgrade to the Nano and so on.

Since your child is 10, I would start out with the Nano. In this technology age, I think it's important to stay current and the Nano is great middle ground. If they prove to take good care of that, you can always upgrade.

 

[Praying Colonel]

I bought a 30gb 5g iPod from the Apple Store as a refurb in 2005. 4+ years later it was still going strong and 0 battery problems whatsoever. Just sold it after getting an iPhone.

 

[tinkmom2]

I bought my Ipod Nano off ebay plus I bought a square trade warranty which protects it for a few years. I personally won't buy my daughter a IPod yet until she is older. I can see her loosing it! When she wants to listen to music she can borrow mine as we have the same taste in music.