i pad or laptop for 15 yr old

phebe3

Youngest daughter has announced she wants an i pad for xmas (!!!!) She will have to have money off everyone and put towards it too..and then some no doubt. My question is...not really being a massive techie, would she be better off just having a laptop. she doens't have one of her own cos I have a laptop, as does hubby and there is a desk top pc she uses downstairs. We generally buy laptops when they are 16/17..dpending (ie:eldest had one earlier cos of fights over pc, middle one wasn't bothered and waited til 17 or so)

Reason she says she want one is she wants to play her music and have the internet (yes..I know..told her has to be off and outside room by 9pm) She has the internet downstairs anyway but has started to skype quite a bit. I think I trust her..as far as you can trust any teenager tho would rather she was using pc downstairs...we have had our reasons for this but hopeflly won't happen again. I think it's also prob peer pressure...EVERYONE has one (not..I am sure) Her cousins age 11 and 13 also have their own laptops.

Any advice appreciated cos I am a bit at sea with it all.....

[Deleted User]

A laptop is far, far more suitable.

Put it this way - you can't do your homework on an ipad. It's generally not suitable for 'content creation' such as writing essays (before everyone jumps in - yes, i know it *can* be done, but a 15" laptop screen, mouse + keyboard trumps an iccle ipad with no built in keyboard)

I have a laptop and an ipad. I use the ipad for most 'surfing' and the laptop for 'working'.

If you're happy buying a laptop in a years time or so for schoolwork.. go for it. She'll probably love the ipad for the moment - they are pretty great and very fun. Put it in a good case and it's also more durable than a laptop. No viruses or spyware is a nice perk of an ipad.

smithers1981

I am sure an Ipad is top of most teenage wishlists, cannot see why it would be any more unsuitable than a laptop, £399 buys latest 4th gen ipad, if you regularly check apple website they do get 'refurbs' for sale.

Ipad 2 £259, ipad 3 £315 but they sell out very quicky.

macman

What is your budget?
Doers she specifically want an iPad, or just a tablet?
What size?
A tablet is not really a substitute for an laptop.

Chorlie

If she doesn't have a Laptop, then a Laptop would be far better.

If it must be an iPad, then consider the New iPad Mini; it does the same as an iPad just a couple of inches small and cheaper.

GunJack

Laptop far more productive for studies, and can do all the other stuff an iPad can do as well.... laptop wins hands-down

phebe3

Wd don't usually spend a huge amount at xmas as we have 3 kids..normally £100-£150 each which i think is enough. We put towards uni fees and help out with that, and towards driving lessons. sYoungest has around £26 a week spent on her extra curriculars (altho one is a GCSE help) and also is going to Holland in August with her singing group, so I don't think we are too mean? although from what she says her mates are getting for xmas we are. will look at i pad mini, and laptop,altho would rather in a way she waited for laptop..and ofcourse her sisters, even at their age, will be on the "Why has she had a laptop at a younger age than us" comments!

flea72

I would say iPad. If she wants something to do schoolwork on she has access to your desktop (better to be sitting at a desk rather than laying on bed, if doing proper work)

But if you are thinking long term, alot of college/unis are using Apps for additional lesson content. Also iPad is smaller to carry around and less noisy in class (no tappy keys like a laptop)

I personally can't remember the last time i used my laptop, but I use my iPad in class every day. With access to, googledocs, Dropbox etc I don't need harddrive storage

F

grizzly1911

Laptop will do more as gunjack says and it is better for keyboard use.

As another thread said tablet = toy to some extent.

Does it have to be ipad if a tablet is a must.

My dd has just had a Nexus 7 32gb for £199 (she brought it herself working P/T).

The Nexus gets good reviews and my daughter is more than happy and yes she is brand driven.

Nexus is android equivelant IMO.

phebe3

Am not sure...to be honest I bet the i pad requirement as opposed to any tablet came cos of advertising and friends. She did mention i pad mini (?) too. All I use is my lap top and my phone doesn't have apps..never felt the need... so am quite at sea with all this! Will perhaps look at other tablets too....omg it's all a lot more complicated than when they were younger and just wanted a bike or a pair of roller skates! She is a lot more "techy" than her sisters..think the most they have aspired to are various types of i pod..and one doesn't even bother with that, used her phone!

nathand_2

Go for the 4th gen iPad.

If she wants an iPad then a laptop or any other tablet will be a disappointment. I don't mean to sound harsh and I'm sure everyone posting had good suggestions but there's a difference between asking for a tablet and asking for an iPad.

Plus this is a christmas present so I'm sure she'll want the current generation rather than outdated (2nd / 3rd gen).