Tablet for tween?

[mommyto2]

My dd10 keeps talking about how her friends have tablets. She really loves my iPad, but she's not getting one, definitely not in the budget. So I thought that maybe a tablet would be a better alternative. She already has a netbook, although we have parental controls on it. What's the difference between a netbook and a tablet? Are there a lot of apps available on tablets? Are certain brands better than others?

 

[plutospup]

Have you considered a "Nook Color"? It's an e-reader that is practically a tablet (not quite a powerful), but at half the price of a tablet.

 

[crazelion]

New Amazon Fire that just came out today. That is what I am getting. I don't have root the darn thing get apps either.

That is what getting for Christmas. Okay I might root the darn as soon someone post on forum with step by step directions on how to do it. LOL

 

[eliza61]

I'm not a big fan of the argument "all my friends have one so I must have one", so that would not be enough of a reason for me to drop 300 bucks on some thing. That's just me.

So with that in mind, does she have use for a tablet? you said she has a netbook what does she use it for? Basically the question is, is this just going to be a 200 dollar toy?

If it is, I would simply go with the cheapest option.

 

[believenfaith]

Subbing to see what sugestions are given.

DS, 12, want an I-Pad also. I'm debating between buying him a less expensive alternative or giving him $$ towards it and letting combine X-mas, B-Day, and his own $$ to buy it himself.

 

[aprilgail2]

Subbing to see what sugestions are given.

DS, 12, want an I-Pad also. I'm debating between buying him a less expensive alternative or giving him $$ towards it and letting combine X-mas, B-Day, and his own $$ to buy it himself.

That is what my 11 year old has been asking for all year too- I am going to get it for her for Christmas but then all she is getting is a few other things, that is the major gift.

 

[jrmasm]

New Amazon Fire that just came out today. That is what I am getting. I don't have root the darn thing get apps either.

That is what getting for Christmas. Okay I might root the darn as soon someone post on forum with step by step directions on how to do it. LOL

This is what my DD7 is gettting for Xmas.

 

[tammymacb]

I'm giving another opinion.

I'd give the money towards, or buy an ipad. My 14 year old has a macbook.

The reasoning behind it is that though DH and I both had macbooks, DD had a windows netbook and a windows home pc. Both of the windows products quickly died at my daughters hand.

So, while I was at work she started using my macbook and I decided instead of being annoyed about it, I'd get her her own. She was warned if anything happened to it, I wasn't replacing it. I bought applecare.

We haven't had a problem.

When we replace the home PC ( we don't have one now ) it will be with apple also.

I have an Ipad I barely use, and if DD ended up "only" wanting a tablet for Christmas. I'd get her an Ipad too.

 

[mrseace711]

The new Kindle Fire looks very comparable to the iPad from the few blurbs Ive read and its $199!! I had planned on getting DD9 and DD7 both iPod touches for Christmas they LOVE Grandmas iPad! I am now going to check the Kindle out Ill probably still end up getting the iPod Touches because I have been very happy with Apple products.

 

[tammymacb]

My DD has a touch too and she loves it. She carries it around all the time.

 

[HM]

I think an iTouch would be a better idea for her age group. Game Apps, music and video storage, Facetime, photos, etc. All the fun stuff a kid wants and portable.

 

[RitaE]

If you are concerned about parental controls then a tablet is not a good option for you daughter.

I'd say the Kindle Fire is much more of a competitor to the Apple iTouches although the media gurus don't seem to be agreeing with me. The biggest difference between the Fire and the iPAD are

Screen sizes - 7" vs 10" I actually prefer the smaller size for most things. The iPADS are too big to take out and around and at home I prefer the laptop. There have been rumors for a long time now that Apple will be introducing a 7" iPAD. Hopefully someday.

Storage Size - Right now the Fire only comes with 8GB of onboard storage and Amazon is highly promoting the cloud service where they store your files for you and you pull them down via the internet as needed. Apple is beginning to move in this direction also, but right now the iPAD offers higher storage options (up to 64GB). It works fine until you are out of WiFi range, then you are stuck with only what is on your device at that time. 8GB will only hold about 3 movies and songs.

3G/WiFi Only. The Fire only comes with a WiFI option while with the iPAD you can purchase data plans for 3G.

I'd put the Fire as very comparable to the nook color device wise, although the nook color does have an SD Card slot which pretty much eliminates the storage problem. HOwever Amazon has ..... Amazon. With the Cloud Storage, music service, video streaming service and an infinitely larger App store.

I have my nook color hacked to where it can connect to all the Amazon's services, but if you aren't technical enough to do that then you are walled into what Barnes and Noble provides. Make sure you carefully look that over to decide if it is adequate for you.

Oh I forgot to mention, no camera or microphone on the Fire and nook color. I never use those options so I always forget them. Others really want them though.

 

[mommyto2]

I'm not a big fan of the argument "all my friends have one so I must have one", so that would not be enough of a reason for me to drop 300 bucks on some thing. That's just me.

So with that in mind, does she have use for a tablet? you said she has a netbook what does she use it for? Basically the question is, is this just going to be a 200 dollar toy?

If it is, I would simply go with the cheapest option.

She uses her netbook to surf the web, email friends and family, and more so now, to do some school work. (She's in 5th grade and her classroom has a blog that her teacher encourages them to write on daily.) I should also mention that she uses my husband's old droid, like an itouch. It's her mp3 player and her (free) texting device. She downloads free game apps on that too. It's everything but a cell phone, to her.

I guess with a netbook and her non-cellular droid, is there a benefit to having a tablet?

I'm only asking because her grandparents are asking about ideas for her and I don't have anything else. What big gift do your children get from their grandparents?

 

[bpesch]

Granted both my kids are in their 20's now, but Wow, I guess I'm really out of touch. Wouldn't even consider that much money for an 11 year old.

 

[mello]

Granted both my kids are in their 20's now, but Wow, I guess I'm really out of touch. Wouldn't even consider that much money for an 11 year old.

LOL. I feel out of touch too! Of course everyone has their own budget and it's not up to me to judge or decide for others. But anyway, our 18yo ds who's a senior in high school is working to earn his first laptop now (if he gets a 3.5 gpa or higher, he'll get one for Christmas, and if not, he'll get it for the next occasion after he gets 3.5). That's how stingy and non-techy we are!

I'm intrigued by these pads, but I do so much typing and photo editing on my laptop, that I just can't see that I'd use a pad with no keyboard, no sd card slots and no way to install adobe photoshop. Yeah, I could websurf and listen to music, but I can do that on my laptop, and dh can do that on his phone. So just not sold yet on the whole idea... they seem sort of redundant to me, but maybe I'm missing something?

 

[RitaE]

What you are missing is that these tablet devices are largely meant to be portable - and largely entertainment devices, not productivity. Even more portable than our laptops.

Portable media players (books, movies, music)
Portable browsing (web, web based email)

Some communication ... email, skype etc if the hardware is present (camera and microphone), instant messaging

Yes, you can do these things on a phone but these have larger screens. Each has advantages and disadvantages. You wouldn't be the first to refer to an iPAD as a large iPHONE that doesn't make phone calls though.

They really aren't meant for laptop type work (photo editing or word processing etc)

 

[Judique]

What you are missing is that these tablet devices are largely meant to be portable - and largely entertainment devices, not productivity. Even more portable than our laptops.

Portable media players (books, movies, music)
Portable browsing (web, web based email)

Some communication ... email, skype etc if the hardware is present (camera and microphone), instant messaging

Yes, you can do these things on a phone but these have larger screens. Each has advantages and disadvantages. You wouldn't be the first to refer to an iPAD as a large iPHONE that doesn't make phone calls though.

They really aren't meant for laptop type work (photo editing or word processing etc)

Thank you for clarifying this!

I have come to the conclusion that a tablet is my most sensible purchase.

Entertainment value is what I have a laptop for, not work.
I browse the web and message boards and do email. My phone is too small....I don't enjoy web searches on it when I'm out and about or on vacation.

So, my laptop is getting older and more obsolete.

A tablet will be it's replacement.

I have plenty of access to desktop and laptop when at home or at work.

Looks like I can enhance my experience and save money.