Grandson wants an iPad

jtk174

I thought I should add that you want to avoid tablets that are listed as having a "resistive" screen. Quite often they are the cheapest models, but using them is not as good as capacitive screens.
It should state clearly in the description which type of screen is fitted.

Sambucus_Nigra

I know a 42 year old that wanted a pony at age 6 and never got one.

Just because it's what they want doesn't mean it's what they get.

kara7758

I don't know if this is any good?

http://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/blackberry-playbook-tablet-pc-16-gb-10647929-pdt.html

Osarkon

What about getting him an original iPad?

Obviously it would be used, but you might be able to pick one up for £100ish if your lucky.

Gazza1964

Gosh - there seems to be a lot of grumpy people about tonight.

Same as above I think but linked thru hotuk which has other peoples opinions ( valid or not! )

http://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/blackberry-playbook-tablet-pc-64-gb-for-119-32gb-108-97-16gb-98-97-using-10-off-1339785

Unfortunately there is now an abundance of choice - and with new models coming out all the time - ( 7" Ipad or Nexus 32GB ) prices are constantly dropping.

Im sure by Christmas you will have found him a lovely gift.

Better than the slippers I use to get of my Granparents every year - although I do have a cracking job at Clarks now.

BigRonW

To me, this is a no-brainer. You need an Android tablet. The easy choice would be the ASUS Nexus, the more daring one would be something akin to the Ainol Flame. The official RRP of the Nexus is £199 (but it can for found for less if you shop around) and the Ainol Flame can be found for a sum very close to the £100 you gave as your target. Disadvantage? You'd be buying it from a Chinese retailer. Many of us HAVE bought items from China and lived to tell the tale... but there are plenty on this very forum who'll tell you that doing so is almost as dangerous as crossing the road, and is thus something people should - in the interest of their own safety - be strongly discouraged from doing. I own two Ainol tablets, and commend them highly, and I intend to buy one for my (elderly) Mother as an Xmas present.

Many years ago, my own son (who's now a graduate engineer) announced that he want a Playstation for Xmas. Back then, Playstations cost a fortune. I took him aside, and talked it through with him. Turned out that he was using the word "Playstation" as a generic term, meaning "games console". We got him a (much cheaper, and very much more appropriate) SEGA Megadrive instead. Today, you'll still find him nostalgically playing Sonic the hedgehog on his mnobile phone. Could be that your grandson is also using the word "iPad" generically, and will be just as happy with ANY tablet computer, as long as it's not slow, laggy and and unresponsive, with hopelss graphics... A £100 Android tablet should fit the bill admirably, if you're selective.

kramii

Have you considered a Nintendo DS? They're designed for kids, are superb for games and you can surf the web on them (although that isn't their strong point). My son (8-years) has the 3D version, and he absolutely loves it.

System

moneypenny2k wrote: »

It's good to know that so many people have such intimate knowledge of my family. If your children have been brought up to maltreat their gifts then so be it, but don't assume all children are so thoughtless. Yes he's 6, so he needs a simple tablet which is robust that is obvious, hence the wording of my original email.

Yes I could say no, but given the speed of development of technology I want him to have experience from a young age. I did this for my son in the 1980s and he's now a £60k+ programmer in his early 30s.

just get your son to buy it, he must have some cash kicking about

Emy1501

T_T wrote: »

As I said in an equally ill thought out thread, why don't you just say 'no'?

A six year old really really doesn't need an ipad or any other tablet. They will break it and when they do they will be in trouble, even though the reality is that a six year old is not mature enough to be trusted with something that is so easily broken. How about a colouring in book or some lego?

Maybe its your post that is ill thought out? I cant see where the OP has asked for parenting advice and if you do not know anything about the products being asked about then maybe better not to reply.

Mys son was given an Ipad at 4 by his grandparents as he has autism and there was a lot of talk about the benefits of the APP's at the time.

2 years on and it still works fine with lots of use by him and his 3 year brother. Its been dropped a few times and has once been down the stairs. We have a sturdy padded case and screen protector which protects it. I know a few other people with family IPAD's and don;t know anyone who kid has damaged it. I therefore can;t see why with care a 6 year old can't have a tablet.

As for the OP's question, there are various android tablets from about £60 on Amazon which would be suitable and if you want one from the high street then a £100 will get you something like the Archos G3.

At the same time probably worth waiting as there is talk of a cheap nexus coming out before christmas and I suspect with the net IPAD mini coming out prices of other 7 inch tablets may fall even further.

moneypenny2k

mazza111 wrote: »

How about starting him away with an android tablet? I'm with you on this one actually, although maybe not an ipad. I allowed my children to use my pc from an early age, until I upgraded and they got mine. Pretty sure android tablets maybe a lot cheaper than ipads. Sounds like I don't need to teach you the lessons that go with it. When my son got his first laptop, he had to sit at the desk with it, and no running around with it.

This was what I was thinking - I just wasn't clear in the way I phrased the question

BigRonW wrote: »

To me, this is a no-brainer. You need an Android tablet. The easy choice would be the ASUS Nexus, the more daring one would be something akin to the Ainol Flame. The official RRP of the Nexus is £199 (but it can for found for less if you shop around) and the Ainol Flame can be found for a sum very close to the £100 you gave as your target. Disadvantage? You'd be buying it from a Chinese retailer. Many of us HAVE bought items from China and lived to tell the tale... but there are plenty on this very forum who'll tell you that doing so is almost as dangerous as crossing the road, and is thus something people should - in the interest of their own safety - be strongly discouraged from doing. I own two Ainol tablets, and commend them highly, and I intend to buy one for my (elderly) Mother as an Xmas present.

Many years ago, my own son (who's now a graduate engineer) announced that he want a Playstation for Xmas. Back then, Playstations cost a fortune. I took him aside, and talked it through with him. Turned out that he was using the word "Playstation" as a generic term, meaning "games console". We got him a (much cheaper, and very much more appropriate) SEGA Megadrive instead. Today, you'll still find him nostalgically playing Sonic the hedgehog on his mnobile phone. Could be that your grandson is also using the word "iPad" generically, and will be just as happy with ANY tablet computer, as long as it's not slow, laggy and and unresponsive, with hopelss graphics... A £100 Android tablet should fit the bill admirably, if you're selective.

Thanks, just the type of answer I was looking for, I'll have a look and see what I can find.

the_r_sole wrote: »

just get your son to buy it, he must have some cash kicking about

My grandson is actually my daughter's child but thanks for the advice. I'm just a lowly middle management teacher who's paid slightly less than her son but a lot more than her chef daughter AND who wants to buy her grandchildren a present HA BUMHUG to you.

Seriously, thanks for all the support and constructive suggestions people .