Wedding Woes
tawillers
member
Who has a tablet?
in Wedding Woes
We were toying with the idea of getting Son a tablet or netbook for xmas. However, we do not want to spend crazy money on one (or we'd just buy him a laptop). We just can't afford it right now (a laptop) and he's only 11 so he doesn't need anything super fancy.
We found a few no-name brands that are less than $100 and one in that price range is a 10in screen. It's got terrible reviews, but most of them are complaining that it's nothing like an ipad. We know going into it that it's not going to be the greatest and we don't care that it's not an ipad for an 11yo.
We thought he'd like to have one for games, movies, and maybe typing some stuff for school (we'd get him a keyboard attachment we found on amazon), even though he's got full access to the computers at school as well as my laptop if he needs it.
Today, Walmart has a Blackberry tablet for $150, $100 off normal price. And it's a 7in. The reviews of this tablet are waaaaaaay better than the other one we've been thinking about.
So WWYD? Buy the bigger screen no-namer because it's so cheap ($80) and considering it's for an 11yo? Or spend almost double to get a name-brand tablet (that's smaller) because it's probably going to work better?
I see it from both sides. I'm worried that if we go with the cheaper one, it'll be so slow he'll get frustrated and never use it. But would you spend $150 for a tablet for an 11yo? We can afford the $150 for his Santa gift, but that doesn't mean we have to spend it, you know?
I guess I'm looking for advice because I know nothing about tablets and apps and speed and what's good for all of it.
We found a few no-name brands that are less than $100 and one in that price range is a 10in screen. It's got terrible reviews, but most of them are complaining that it's nothing like an ipad. We know going into it that it's not going to be the greatest and we don't care that it's not an ipad for an 11yo.
We thought he'd like to have one for games, movies, and maybe typing some stuff for school (we'd get him a keyboard attachment we found on amazon), even though he's got full access to the computers at school as well as my laptop if he needs it.
Today, Walmart has a Blackberry tablet for $150, $100 off normal price. And it's a 7in. The reviews of this tablet are waaaaaaay better than the other one we've been thinking about.
So WWYD? Buy the bigger screen no-namer because it's so cheap ($80) and considering it's for an 11yo? Or spend almost double to get a name-brand tablet (that's smaller) because it's probably going to work better?
I see it from both sides. I'm worried that if we go with the cheaper one, it'll be so slow he'll get frustrated and never use it. But would you spend $150 for a tablet for an 11yo? We can afford the $150 for his Santa gift, but that doesn't mean we have to spend it, you know?
I guess I'm looking for advice because I know nothing about tablets and apps and speed and what's good for all of it.
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Who has a tablet?
We were wondering about the Kindles. We know they're going to be good, but again, we're hesitant about the money.
But, if we get the cheapie and he can't use it - we've wasted $80.
ETA: maybe you can find a used/refurbished Kindle Fire.
Thanks for the warning against Blackberry. I had no idea they weren't so popular anymore.
[QUOTE]And, honestly, what's he going to use it for? Would something like an iPod touch (refurbished) be more suitable?
Posted by DG1[/QUOTE]
We thought he'd like it for long car rides and just playing with it in general - games, music, movies, using the internet (he likes youtube). And if he needs to type something up for school, he could do that, too, though like I said above, he could do that AT school or on my laptop.
We're not worried about him abusing it - he's pretty good with his things. We were just thinking that he didn't need something so fancy because when it comes to tablets, he doesn't know any better, if that makes sense. But he definitely knows that if he breaks something (his phone, video games, etc) he doesn't get another one.
6- he doesn't believe in Santa, but we did let him know he'd continue to get Santa gifts like always.
I had major reservations about the no-namer being non-functional so this is what I needed to hear, I think.
We do know that he won't have internet access everywhere, and that's fine with us. We have wi-fi at home and that's all he really needs. The car rides comment was more about games and movies that have already been downloaded.
We assumed that all tablets are also e-readers so we didn't think it was a big deal. Are we wrong in assuming that? He would use it for books and we thought the e-reader component was a given.
[QUOTE]<strong>Another thing - a cover. A cover is absolutely essential, no matter what you get</strong>. At the very least, you want something to prevent scratches, especially if he's going to sometimes be carrying it around in a backpack. With an 11yo boy, you might also want something a little rugged to give it more protection from abuse. They exist at several price points (and maybe you can suggest it as a gift from grandma or another family member, or a GC for one so he can pick the design or whatever). But the more rugged ones are more expensive. If you do get the Kindle Fire, though, at least it's been out a while, and you can probably find a quality cover at a reasonable price on amazon.
Posted by DG1[/QUOTE]
Definitely on the list. Along with screen protectors. There seems to be a large selection - 14 pages - on amazon.
[QUOTE](That probably didn't make much sense... Basically, if you are looking for an e-reader that you can occasionally do other stuff on, the Nook and Kindle are pretty comparable. If you're looking for a tablet for apps that you occasionally read on, the Kindle is a little better than the Nook.)
Posted by DG1[/QUOTE]
This makes complete sense. I'd say the Kindle would be better for us, then.
However, they don't make it anymore, and there's not that much in terms of free apps your son would enjoy.
H has the iPad, and he uses it constantly, but that's his job, so there's that.
I say go with the Kindle.