iPad alternatives?

Dcully

So my 9 year old is looking for an iPad off Santa despite having a nice spec gaming PC and xbox 360 but tbh we cant think of anything else for him.
Are there any decent alternatives to the iPad? maybe something not so expensive?

Dymo

For a 9 year old , how about a good book?

Atilathehun

A good recession would do the country a power of good:o

Dcully

Dymo wrote: »

For a 9 year old , how about a good book?

He reads plenty of books thankyou very much.
A book isnt an ipad.

A good recession would do the country a power of good

Thanks for the intelligent input guys :rolleyes:

thewing

Amazon Kindle Fire?

Paulw

Obviously money isn't an issue since the kid has a "nice spec gaming PC" and an xbox. How about a Sony Tablet S?

Jagle

no offense, how about no ipad for your child, just say no lil timmy appears to have loads to play with, i know i know but really, a 9 year old with an ipad, is just going to be doing the same crap as his pc, why not get him an ipod touch if you really wanna get him something

Hogzy

thewing wrote: »

Amazon Kindle Fire?

THey are available in USA only.

You could go the android route but the iPad is probably the simplest to use. Im guessing the only reason your 9yr old wants an iPad because its the done thing and probably because a friend in school has one. Therefore he will probably be dissappointed if its not an actual iPad.

Each to their own but does your 9yr old really need an iPad. €470 (Minimum) is alot of money to pay for something that someone wont be using to its full potential. A laptop might be a better option no?

Dcully

Jagle wrote: »

no offense, how about no ipad for your child, just say no lil timmy appears to have loads to play with, i know i know but really, a 9 year old with an ipad, is just going to be doing the same crap as his pc, why not get him an ipod touch if you really wanna get him something

Im with ya 100%, all im doing is a wee bit of research as asked by the missus

I was thinking about the EasyPad 730 [if indeed we go down that road],its andriod based i believe?
Thanks for input folks.

Jagle

Dcully wrote: »

Im with ya 100%, all im doing is a wee bit of research as asked by the missus

I was thinking about the EasyPad 730 [if indeed we go down that road],its andriod based i believe?
Thanks for input folks.

ya to the people who tell you how to spend your money on your kids, ignore em, but really, coming from someone whos gotten an ipad two recently, its an amazing tool, but im so sorry, its not for a nine year old, its just not.

Ipod touch would be the only ios device he should be given,
if you wanna go the android root i have absolutley no experience what would be the best bang for buck, and suitable for a 9 year old.

can you tell us why he wants it, does he want to do something specific with them, or just wants one cos they are the new thing

Dcully

Jagle wrote: »

can you tell us why he wants it, does he want to do something specific with them, or just wants one cos they are the new thing

To be totally honest mate i just stuck up this thread to see whats out there as requested by herself,quite literally the young lad said he wanted one lastnight as his mates were getting one.
Ive not actually had a chance to think about it fully myself until the last 30 mins or so and to be fair hes not gonna be able to do anything he cant already do on his pc, console or indeed the laptop we have in the house.
Ive just had a chat with him when he got in from school and explained this and hes fully in agreemenet saying "sure Da it would be like me getting a bike to do what i can already do on the bike i have now"
I thought lol fair play son your spot on

So for now thats put that to bed, thanks again for suggestions folks,the ipod touch is a thought however so this post wasnt entirely meaningless.

PogMoThoin

OMG, this place has turned in a horrible place full of "pc-correct do-gooders"

Dcully, don't heed any of them, if the child is technologically advanced then you're right to be encouraging it in every way possible. I built my son a gaming pc when he was that age, he now (13) runs a gameserver and has started learning how to code (not affecting his studies, he just got 97% in midterm maths). There are plenty of cheap android tablets out there to choose from.

Personally I'd recommend the Kindle Fire, we have a Kindle reader here ourselves on which the screen got damaged after a fall, Amazon replaced it without question, for that alone I'd recommend dealing with Amazon, best customer service I've ever experienced. Doubt Apple would be that nice, my one experience with them was horrible, never again

Jagle

Dcully wrote: »

So for now thats put that to bed, thanks again for suggestions folks,the ipod touch is a thought however so this post wasnt entirely meaningless.

good on your son, made me proud, and yes it would of been wasted to a degree.

if this raises its head again, an ipod touch i promise you is better for a child, easier for them to carry and use, plus more of an ipod music player media device as an ipad is more a grown up tool

{^Syntax^}

There's no alternative to the iPad

Hank Scorpio

He`ll stick to his Xbox or whatever and the poor IPAD will be left alone in its box, free for you to use! Cunning Plan OP!

BostonB

Hogzy wrote: »

...Each to their own but does your 9yr old really need an iPad. €470 (Minimum) is alot of money to pay for something that someone wont be using to its full potential. A laptop might be a better option no?

I'd suggest "need" doesn't come into it.

I know kids at that age and younger who can use iPads and iPod Touch's no problem, so for some kids it not an issue. In fact I've had to password protect them to keep them off the dang things. Ditto the laptops.

PogMoThoin

{^Syntax^} wrote: »

There's no alternative to the iPad

Baa!!!

There are lots, half the price................. which come with SD card readers, have usb ports, do flash in the browser, don't force you use iTunes, aren't picky about what they play and don't have the battery glued in place in a sealed unit.

Dcully

I must admit i like the look of the kindle fire myself, do i have to pay for streaming songs,books and movies?
Im guessing its subscription based?

PogMoThoin

Dcully wrote: »

I must admit i like the look of the kindle fire myself, do i have to pay for streaming songs,books and movies?
Im guessing its subscription based?

Yes, and I'm not sure if these services are available here yet. It does have access to the Android Market meaning there's lots of other stuff available for it.
http://www.techradar.com/news/mobile-computing/tablets/amazon-kindle-fire-what-you-need-to-know-1030069

The big advantage of the Fire is the price (unlike Apple, Amazon absorb most of the cost of it meaning its affordable). It should also be hackable by the Android community, bet you'll find Ice Cream Sandwich roms for it shortly

Whitehawk

If hes got all the kit so far get him a ipad, he will love it and may as well start useing one now! i know lots of schools that have/are bring them in to replace books so good to know how to use it.
if price is your worry then go with a Android one, still lots to do on them and still great fun!

Hogzy

Whitehawk wrote: »

i know lots of schools that have/are bring them in to replace books so good to know how to use it.

I bet you cant name one!!!

Whitehawk

well im not going to go list them off... take it or dont believe me I don’t care - i was shocked when i first heard, and said it was a waste of time as they would just brake them batteries would be ****ed etc but so far seems to work ok! Should point out they got ipad1 not the new ones but still there fine!

Overheal

Dcully wrote: »

So my 9 year old is looking for an iPad off Santa despite having a nice spec gaming PC and xbox 360 but tbh we cant think of anything else for him.
Are there any decent alternatives to the iPad? maybe something not so expensive?

iPod Touch, €199 and still does apps, games, learning, etc.

Not as big as an iPad no but plenty useful.

leggit

you can get a great laptop for the price of an iPad. I'm sure your kid (like alot of adults actually) just wants an iPad because it's an iPad.

"Look mommy, a laptop that you can't stand up!"

Khannie

Bit of moderation: Nobody bang on about the 9 year old getting an iPad please. Technical question, technical responses, thanks.

I'd recommend having a look at the Hannspree Hannspad. Comes in at under 200 euro and has a very good spec (dual core, 6 hours battery life, capacitive screen, can run Android honeycomb (3.0), etc.). Perfect for a 9 year old IMO.

vandriver

Khannie wrote: »

Bit of moderation: Nobody bang on about the 9 year old getting an iPad please. Technical question, technical responses, thanks.

I'd recommend having a look at the Hannspree Hannspad. Comes in at under 200 euro and has a very good spec (dual core, 6 hours battery life, capacitive screen, can run Android honeycomb (3.0), etc.). Perfect for a 9 year old IMO.

Do you have a link to that price,as I too have a 9 year old!

leggit

http://www.laptopsdirect.ie/Acer_Aspire_One_522_Windows_7_Netbook_LU.SES0D.206/version.asp#maindesc

This netbook would be my alternative (with a RAM upgrade which wouldn't cost that much extra) but it has to be a tablet-like device then I can't help.

vex

The motorola xoom is good. Ive seen it going for 280 euro in the dixons at dublin airport.

Discodog

The Fire will not be on sale in time for Christmas - it might not even be available in Europe till mid 2012. Also it is bound to be a lot more that the $199 US price.

There are already rumours that Amazon may wait & introduce a Fire 2 or Kindle Pad which will offer 3g etc & be more expensive in Europe.

OP Take a look at the Archos 7. You can get them new on ebay for under €100 & there are lots of "as new" used ones on ebay & Amazon.