WWYD: ipod touch or kindle fire for Teenage girl?

[richmond282]

Are her parents ok with you giving this gift? Have you asked her what SHE would like to get if her parents are ok with it?

Apple is coming out with a new Kindle Fire sized ipad in a few weeks. I don't know the cost of it, but that might be a good alternative to the ipod touch as it will be larger and allow it to double as a reader.

I don't think I'm going to be able to afford the ipad mini. (I have already decided to get each of her younger sisters a Fire.)

As for her parents, I used to worry about what they thought (i.e. it would make them look bad etc.,) but they are mooches to the hilt and don't care. I don't really want this to be a discussion about her parents, though.

I haven't asked her what she wants b/c I want it to be a total surprise. She would never suggest such a gift b/c she knows how much those things cost and tries to give us "cheap" ideas. BTW her b-day is New Year's Eve so I will prob get her art supplies or a gc for art supplies for her b-day.

I have been leaning towards the touch all along. I am a teacher and know how attached to their ipods today's teenagers are. DH thinks I should get the Fire. I don't think he "gets" it at all.

 

[DawnM]

I guess I don't get it either. Sounds like you made up your mind before even asking the question.

I don't think I'm going to be able to afford the ipad mini. (I have already decided to get each of her younger sisters a Fire.)

As for her parents, I used to worry about what they thought (i.e. it would make them look bad etc.,) but they are mooches to the hilt and don't care. I don't really want this to be a discussion about her parents, though.

I haven't asked her what she wants b/c I want it to be a total surprise. She would never suggest such a gift b/c she knows how much those things cost and tries to give us "cheap" ideas. BTW her b-day is New Year's Eve so I will prob get her art supplies or a gc for art supplies for her b-day.

I have been leaning towards the touch all along. I am a teacher and know how attached to their ipods today's teenagers are. DH thinks I should get the Fire. I don't think he "gets" it at all.

 

[cseca]

Don't count on the touch for camera... it stinks seriously.
My question for you would be will she have wifi available where she lives. A lot of the apps/games are really wifi reliant nowadays. Maybe not all but a lot of them are.
I'm afraid she'll have this device and realize that there are many things she won't be able to do with it because she doesn't have any internet connection.

But between those 2, I would lean towards ipod. Just thinking about size/portability convenience factor. Kindle fire is cool but I doubt she'll be using a lot of amazon store offering.

Good luck!

 

[mini22]

What a great Aunt!
I recommend looking at a refurbished model at the online Apple store.It's a great way to save a little money. We have bought most of our iMacs,laptops and iPads refurbished and they all looked brand new. They come with the same warranty as a new one and we have never had a problem with any of them. It's not a big discount but every little bit helps.You could always put the savings toward an iTunes card.

 

[kellia]

My dd is 17 and has used her Ipod touch constantly for the past 3 or 4 years since she got it.

 

[Order66]

my kids have ipod touches and almost all their friends do to. So if she wants to communicate or play games with her friends...go ipod as it's more common.

Itunes doesn't require payment to set up an account. My kids only get GC's to buy anything, but mostly do free apps. They buy a song or game occasionally, but mostly we rip and sync our own music to Itunes.

We don't have the kindle...but the touch has a kindle app and one of mine is happy to read on the smaller touch screen. Amazon also has GC's you can buy, but usually if he wants a book I send him a "gift" from my CC through my amazon account to his rather than go to the store for a physical GC. My credit card # is nowhere in their accounts or ever associated with things my kids download.

regards

 

[richmond282]

I guess I don't get it either. Sounds like you made up your mind before even asking the question.

I guess I was looking for validation really. I don't own an ipod touch so I was basing my leanings towards the touch on what I see others doing. I'm on old fuddy-duddy and could be wrong...

 

[Priorityonecb]

My daughter has both. She uses her Kindle Fire when we travel and off and on around the house. She uses her Ipod touch every. single. day!! I'd go with the Fires for the younger ones, and the Touch for the oldest girl. I think she'd be tickled to get something a little different than her sisters too. Good luck with your decision!

 

[disneymom2003]

The ITouch. She can text her friends. By the way you don't need a credit card for apps or ITunes. You can use ITunes gift cards

 

[momof3ds]

I would not get an 8gb ipod touch. It won't hold much!

 

[DawnM]

I agree. I also would get a case for it as one drop and it could be toast.

Amazon has the ipod touch 8gb for $179 and the 16gb for $199. I think for $20 more I would opt for the higher one if you are going to get one.

I will say what some others have said though......unless she has wifi, it won't do much at all. She will also have to connect it to itunes to get apps (even free ones) and music. If her parents won't allow her to do that or they don't have wifi, you have a very expensive present that won't get used.

I know you said you don't care what her parents think, but they may care a great deal about this gift. IMO this could potentially make the parents embarrassed that they can't afford such a gift and it will make them look bad OR they may not want their child to have the gift at all and may not let her use it if they are that conservative.

Dawn

I would not get an 8gb ipod touch. It won't hold much!

 

[DawnM]

This is my oldest son as well. I offered to get him a touch or an iphone and he said he didn't want one. He prefers to get strategy games....you know, those games that you can buy 10000 expansion sets for and cost a fortune and take weeks to play!

Right now he wants Warhammer.

He is also very into art and drawing.

My teen is more artistic and homeschooled. He does have a mp3 player but when we offered to get a newer type thing he refused (and he uses it a lot) He is more interested in art supplies and books. His Christmas list is 1 video game (that I think his younger brother talked him into asking for), clothes, books and art supplies. And that is what he wants. He gets on the computer but he spends a lot of time on reading and art just because he likes to do it. And good art supplies are not cheap.

I would try and find out if she even wants a fire or touch, maybe she really wants charcoals.

 

[Cindy B]

My son hasa touch and he really doesn't use itt all. He wouldn't like a Kindle Fire.

He would prefere computer based items. (for example the $200 gaming keyboard, a new large flat panel monitor)

 

[luvmy3]

I agree. I also would get a case for it as one drop and it could be toast.

Amazon has the ipod touch 8gb for $179 and the 16gb for $199. I think for $20 more I would opt for the higher one if you are going to get one.

I will say what some others have said though......unless she has wifi, it won't do much at all. She will also have to connect it to itunes to get apps (even free ones) and music. If her parents won't allow her to do that or they don't have wifi, you have a very expensive present that won't get used.

I know you said you don't care what her parents think, but they may care a great deal about this gift. IMO this could potentially make the parents embarrassed that they can't afford such a gift and it will make them look bad OR they may not want their child to have the gift at all and may not let her use it if they are that conservative.

Dawn

Apple has a refurbished 4th gen 32GB for $209.00.

OP, definitely check out the refurbs on Apple's site. They come looking brand new, and have Apple's 1 year warranty

 

[disney is my life]

I would definatly go with the I Pod. DD14 has an Ipod Touch 8GB and loves it and has never even shown interest in a kindle. The I Pod is well worth the money because she uses it for absolutly everything.

 

[bellaally]

If she is not a big reader I would get her the iPod, libraries in Philly let you borrow books and download them into your e reader.

 

[kdwashere]

I'd go with an Ipod Touch! I've had mine for 5 years and it still works. Get her a hard case and a screen protector(thats what I did and its in perfect condition except for some rust under the hard case). I have to admit I drop it every other day, get it wet rincess:, sometimes my cat sleeps on it, I bring it to the gym....it gets more use then my cell phone does and is in better condition!

btw I'm 23 if that helps.

 

[jenndisney]

Walmart just lowered the price of the 8g and 16g (bigger one is only $20 more).... great time to buy before they sell out.

 

[richmond282]

Walmart just lowered the price of the 8g and 16g (bigger one is only $20 more).... great time to buy before they sell out.

Thanks for the info. I will be purchasing off amazon for sure though. I have saved up my amazon gift cards from doing swagbucks all year and have almost enough credit to buy 2 Kindle Fires, an 8 gb ipod touch (might check into the 16 gb though,) and several gifts for my DH and DD. I love free stuff.

 

[timzagain]

I'd go with the iPod touch or iPad mini.

DD14 received an iPod touch for Christmas 2 years ago. She has used it constantly since then - well worth the money we spent. She had an iPod nano before which didn't get used nearly as much. I wish I had skipped the nano and bought the iPod touch from the get-go!

DD is also into art. Her laptop is dying and we are considering getting her a tablet for Christmas. If we get the tablet, I might buy the Sketchbook Pro software as well.

She has had the opportunity to experiment with her friend's Kindle Fire and has no interest in them whatsoever. Definitely wouldn't buy one for her.