Ipod or laptop?

[crusoe2]

Trying to decide which to get DD for her b'day. Our desktop died so she's been using mine or DH's laptop. She only uses a computer for fun right now but will probably need one for school stuff in another year or so. I had hoped to continue our sharing arrangment until she gets a little older and then invest in a good laptop that should last her awhile. But she really wants a computer of her own. She mainly likes websites where she can play games and watch movies - she especially loves to pull up the Pokemon website and watch the cartoons on there.

So I'm wondering if an iPod Touch would work for her. I read the info on the Apple website and it does say that the new ones have I'net capability. But will she be able to watch shows and cartoons from a website or will that sort of thing be limited to downloads from the iTunes store? (It doesn't look as if they have her beloved Pokemon shows available for download.) If she can do those things on an iPod, how well does it work? Will it be really slow? No one at our house has gotten an Ipod yet so I just don't really know that much about them.

 

[CaFeeney]

The iPod touch is pretty small - same size as the iPhone. Did you mean the iPad? My DH works at the Apple store and recommends the iPad. Cost about $500 for the basic model and you can watch movies (not on DVD), connect to the internet, do email, play games, download books, music, etc. Also has the two way camera to Skype.
We have both the iTouch and the iPad and for the extra $200 the iPad is the way to go for us - we have a 5 year old DD that loves to use the iPad - so easy to learn and tons of things for kids to do on it.

 

[timmac]

If the sites she likes to visit and play games are flash-based (almost certainly) then the iPad or an iPod isn't really a good option. Where you're hoping it can eventually be useful for schoolwork, your use case is screaming laptop rather than iPad, in my opinion.

 

[crusoe2]

I gave some consideration to the iPad but didn't want to spend quite that much. I did have an opportunity to watch a movie on someone's iPod about a year or so ago and was actually surprised at how much I enjoyed it. I had thought the small screen would be awful for viewing a full length movie but it was great - didn't have any problem with it and didn't feel like it diminished my enjoyment at all. So I think DD will be fine with that aspect of it. I'm just not sure if we can get the particular shows she wants.

 

[crusoe2]

If the sites she likes to visit and play games are flash-based (almost certainly) then the iPad or an iPod isn't really a good option. Where you're hoping it can eventually be useful for schoolwork, your use case is screaming laptop rather than iPad, in my opinion.

That's kind of what I was thinking initially - that I should just go ahead and buy a laptop. This actually started out with DD asking for a netbook. But a little research on that indicated that she would probably be disappointed and frustrated due to lack of memory and power. But it looks like a good laptop for her is gonna be $$$ and I haven't quite wrapped my head around spending that much on a gadget for an 8 (soon to be 9) year old.

I dunno. Back to the drawing board I guess.

ETA: I guess what I was hoping for was a less expensive alternative till I feel like she's really ready for a laptop. I just keeping thinking that she's a little young for one.

 

[timmac]

That's kind of what I was thinking initially - that I should just go ahead and buy a laptop. This actually started out with DD asking for a netbook. But a little research on that indicated that she would probably be disappointed and frustrated due to lack of memory and power. But it looks like a good laptop for her is gonna be $$$ and I haven't quite wrapped my head around spending that much on a gadget for an 8 (soon to be 9) year old.

I dunno. Back to the drawing board I guess.

How much are you looking to spend, and how long are you hoping it will last her? A decent laptop can pretty easily be had for even less than the cost of an iPad.

 

[crusoe2]

I was thinking between $300 and $400 - about the same as the 32gb iPod by the time you buy a cover and such. The flash-based stuff is exactly what I was worried about - just couldn't think what it was called. I don't know for sure that those websites she likes are flash-based but I'm thinking probably so.

I would appreciate any recommendations for particular laptops in that price range. The ones I've looked at so far didn't sound terribly fast or powerful. Of course, I'm no expert tho - I'm mainly going by what DH and I got on ours. I don't recall all the specs right off the top of my head but I do remember that we spent more to be sure we were getting laptops that had plenty of memory and power so things wouldn't take so long to load. But it's entirely possible that, out of ignorance, we spent more than we had to.

Thanks for all the input so far.

 

[timmac]

Plenty of memory and processing power is always good, but realistically, most of what you do probably doesn't utilize even 50% of the power you've got.

A decent dual-core system with 4GB ram, 15+ inch screen, and 250+GB HD should be possible for about $400. Let me see if I can find an example or two.

ETA: The basic Dell Inspiron 15 model is 3GB Ram, 320GB HD, includes the dvd burner, Dual Core Intel i3, for $399. Even better deals can be found, but this should give you at least an idea of cost.

 

[crusoe2]

Plenty of memory and processing power is always good, but realistically, most of what you do probably doesn't utilize even 50% of the power you've got.

A decent dual-core system with 4GB ram, 15+ inch screen, and 250+GB HD should be possible for about $400. Let me see if I can find an example or two.

ETA: The basic Dell Inspiron 15 model is 3GB Ram, 320GB HD, includes the dvd burner, Dual Core Intel i3, for $399. Even better deals can be found, but this should give you at least an idea of cost.

First of all, thanks so much for taking the time to look that up and get back to me. May be that we've been looking for more computer than she really needs. I'll take another look and see what we come up with. Thanks again.

 

[MrsJackSparrow4Life]

I would look into a netbook. You can usually get them for a couple hundred dollars and they work for everything that she currently does.

 

[timmac]

First of all, thanks so much for taking the time to look that up and get back to me. May be that we've been looking for more computer than she really needs. I'll take another look and see what we come up with. Thanks again.

I also checked Dell Outlet... there you can get a decent system as low as $309

In my own opinion (and only that), I'd advise against Netbooks... though they'd work for now, it won't be long before they can't handle what your DD needs/wants; especially considering it's not much more to have a full size laptop.

 

[thomas998]

I would look into a netbook. You can usually get them for a couple hundred dollars and they work for everything that she currently does.

Perfect advice, unless she is going to be playing serious video games a netbook will do all she needs and also work for school... the Ipad is really not a replacement for a computer, aside from the lack of adobe flash, typing anything beyond a quick text message on a touch screen is a real pain in the backside, I tried to fool myself into thinking I could use one for a conference and not take a laptop... trying to type some notes on the Ipad quickly reminded me of the benefits of a good keyboard.

 

[SookieStackhouse]

A cheap laptop or netbook would be better than an iPod Touch, or iPad for those uses. A lot of video and stuff uses Flash, and AFAIK, iPad won't do Flash. You need a "real" computer for that type of thing.

A netbook can be found in the $200-something range...probably the cheapest option. For school work it would actually work, or cheap enough just to replace in a couple years when she really needs a computer for school.

 

[mickeymaker2003]

I agree with the others. For the things she wants to do, a small laptop or netbook would be appropriate. Unless she is playing the adult level higher end games, she shouldn't need a high end laptop. A low to mid range should work fine.

An iPod Touch is too small for any amount of school work and an iPad is more expensive than a pretty good laptop and the laptop will do more.

 

[MickeyHereWeCome!]

I would recommend going with a laptop. We LOVE our iPads, but they are limited in what they can do. Given what she wants to use it for now, and looking head to more needs in the future, an ipod might not meet her needs. I would also not recommend a netbook. Dd saved all of her money and bought one a couple years ago. It didn't play Webkinz and was very slow. She was so disappointed to have used all of her money for something so frustrating!

 

[luvdisney00]

Double post

 

[luvdisney00]

My dd8 ( 9 in Feb ) loves her iPod touch and watches videos and TV on it all of the time. She can also play games , text and get and send emails. I think it is a great 1st step towards her own computer. This way you can wait a year or so and know what kind of system she will need for school as she gets a little older.
BTW I am typing this on my iPad and use it for taking notes all of the time. I love the virtual keyboard and have no problem using it. To each his own I guess.

 

[mrseace711]

DD9 wanted a laptop of her own mostly to play on. So we decided on the iPod touch for $200 =) If she needs the laptop for homework in the future she can use mine but its very rare. I like the portability of the iPod small enough for her to carry all over. She can watch movies ive downloaded for her, or watch youtube. Play games and listen to music. Perfect for us

 

[prncess674]

There are pros and cons to each.

Itouch Pros
- cheaper than a laptop
- super portable and can be taken anywhere in a pocket (perfect for car trips or even to amuse a 9yr old while waiting in line at the grocery)
- will be useful as just a music player as she gets older

Itouch Cons
- one trick pony, doesn't do word processing, etc.
- unless you listen with earphones, the sound quality for movies is pretty bad

Laptop Pros
- is useful for more than just games
- keeping a kid off of your laptop is always good. You can add parental restrictions on hers and all of her files are quarantined to one spot. Young kids are prone to click on viruses and malware.
- bigger screen to watch movies

Laptop Cons
- don't fool yourself that she will still be using it 5 years from now. Computers come and go.
-Probably more expensive
- virus prone

 

[mrseace711]

There are pros and cons to each.

Itouch Pros
- cheaper than a laptop
- super portable and can be taken anywhere in a pocket (perfect for car trips or even to amuse a 9yr old while waiting in line at the grocery)
- will be useful as just a music player as she gets older

Itouch Cons
- one trick pony, doesn't do word processing, etc.
- unless you listen with earphones, the sound quality for movies is pretty bad

Laptop Pros
- is useful for more than just games
- keeping a kid off of your laptop is always good. You can add parental restrictions on hers and all of her files are quarantined to one spot. Young kids are prone to click on viruses and malware.
- bigger screen to watch movies

Laptop Cons
- don't fool yourself that she will still be using it 5 years from now. Computers come and go.
-Probably more expensive
- virus prone

great pros and cons! Info I got from another thread is that you can set up parental controls on the iPod Touch PRO=)