Which Portable For My Daughter?
A Reader Writes In With A good Question..
Q: ” hi, I am trying to buy a tablet/ipod/multimedia machine for my daughter for christmas. She is 7, so usage will be music, games a little surfing on utube and various online games! I am getting such mixed reviews and when i go into a store they are all trying to sell me a note book – this i do not want! (we have laptops etc) So which should I go for? the Samsung galaxy s multimedia player 8g or a ipod touch or a budget tablet such as Arnova10 G2?? Please help! i am not techy and need some advice from someone in the know!
Many Thanks, L”
A: L,
All three would work.
That isn’t what you wanted to hear, I am wagering.. so let me opine a bit.
I think of those 3 choices, the first and last are more “likely” – as the iTouch screen is a bit on the small side, and so use for it is more like the hand-held gaming consoles (PSP, Gameboy) and music players (iPod), and less for Netflix and YouTube watching.
I think all you need is what is sometimes called an “Internet tablet”.
I think you would prefer a 7″ screen, as the 10″ are big enough to be awkward and .. well, less ‘portable’.
You would want Flash (for YouTube).
And Wi-Fi.
8 GB’s holds lots of songs.. but not too many movies.. probably 8 is “big enough”.
So.. something like your 3rd would be my inclination – and I like the idea of cheaper, as your daughter is still rather young and things happen.. less of a loss. But that’s just me. My “logic”.
Unfortunately/Fortunately, almost everybody and their brother is producing a “budget” (or.. “basic”) 7″ tablet, so you’ve many to choose from. Sony has one. Acer. Samsung. Etc., etc..
As to which of those to choose, my own personal drothers is the one that’s on sale. But other people have other criteria.. maybe one has a pink case? (Just a “what if”. I am not presuming your daughter likes pink.)
Perhaps this web page will help: http://tablets.findthebest.com/ at least maybe in a “comparison” way. But if the unit has those things I mentioned: Wi Fi, Flash Player, 8 GB’s it should cover the bill.
Also.. If you are trying to decide between two basically identical units .. I would go with the one that has the recognizable name brand.. or, more RAM.
Hope I helped somewhat. Perhaps folks who have recently made such a decision as the one you are facing will Comment (below) and help out, so check back here..
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• About Tech Paul
I am a Retired computer & network technician. I used to think the machines were pretty cool. Now I don’t.
They’re anything but.
I regularly posted how-to’s and tricks & tips and general computing advice here starting in 2007. (Use the Search tool to find answers. But be aware, many are rather dated.) Sometimes I answered (your) specific questions in an article if I believed the answer was generally helpful to “everyone”. All the writing you see was my own, typos and all. There always is/was an implied “IMHO” in what you see here.
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I saw a PBS show today about Aviators, and they were showcasing the iPad and an app that includes aeronautical mapping. Real interesting to me due to my background.
However, as much as the pilots liked all of the features, they said it was just too big. From my experience I’d have to agree. Those cockpits are packed pretty tight.
I know that doesn’t help your reader much, but I thought I’d toss it out.
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kstinman,
If I was trying to do any kind of “productivity”, I think I would lean toward a 10″. For the “casual” use (surfing, etc.) I do like the 7″ inch size better. (And I think it a size more fitting for the child.)
In my mind, the iPad is much more than this writer was asking about.. I think. Pretty much .. top of the line for tablets.
But.. maybe that’s appropriate for 2nd Graders these days.. I don’t know.
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“Wi Fi, Flash Player, 8 GB’s” Definitely!!! Good advice.
With the age, the cheaper the better. Our 5 yr old niece took out the charger on her netbook(the pin broke off) within a month of having it. They just forget to be careful.
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delenn13,
I am rather intrigued by the Kindle Fire.. but am uncertain if it has Flash Player.
Back in my day.. 5 was about when we ‘graduated’ from crayons to a stubby, 1/2″ thick pencil…
(and I had to walk to school.. 5 miles.. uphill.. both ways..)
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Is that the new one that just came out? I never buy FIRST releases. Let someone else be the guinea pig and spend the money.
“(and I had to walk to school.. 5 miles.. uphill.. both ways..)”.. Not barefoot in the snow????
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delenn13,
Ha! I am trying to count how many times I have said that here.. I’m up to a dozen already..
(Except, I phrase it: “I NEVER touch first releases (aka version 1.0). Let others find the bugz.”)
(No.. that was my Pa. 10 miles. I had some ratty old Keds..)
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If I may, The iPod/iBrand is the most child-friendly in terms of interaction.
HOWEVER, it is the most fragile and will likely cause some head aches. They claim to be making screens now as hard as ruby, well that’s cool and all, but it does NOT contribute to strength, in fact, it means its more brittle.
I have younger sisters with these kinds of devices, you either need an over-sized safety case, like an otterbox, or have them experience cracking a $200+ device firsthand and let them cry about it(but that doesn’t indefinitely stop it from happening again).
For this reason, I would suggest, L, that you get an item that uses Gorilla Glass.
Demonstration video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elKxgsrJFhw
I’m not saying buy a phone, I’m just showing a demonstration about how important it is to choose something that isn’t fragile, especially for a youth.
I’m not affiliated with the company that makes any of these products, but I am amazed at the quality that their glass provides
http://www.corninggorillaglass.com/products-with-gorilla/full-products-list is a list of products which utilize their glass.
Familiar items like the Samsung Galaxy Tab, (Cheaper)Dell Streak 7 show up on that list.
If I were a parent, getting a nifty toy for my youth, I would get something that could stand some unintentional abusement. The Android market has plenty of games and media applications, so I wouldn’t worry for Android devices.
I prefer quality and longer life than cost. Apple products serve the quality and the cost, but not the longer life. Choose what is important to you. I warn though, once something substantial like that kind of device is in someone’s life, and it is unexpectedly taken out, there’s going to be a void.
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kloplop321,
Thank you.
Not only for taking the time to share with us some excellent points, but for teaching me about “gorilla glass”.
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Not sure if you are interested in refurbished or not..but this is a great price and it has all the awesome requirements….Not sure about the “gorillia glass” or not. If interested, don’t wait!
Refurbished Nook Color down to $139 shipped | The Cheapskate – CNET News With COUPON CODE!
Full-featured email
Enhanced Web
Access to Barnes & Noble App Store
Video via Adobe Flash player
Main display: 7-inch color touchscreen 1024 x 600 LCD
Capacity: 8GB
File format: EPUB, PDF, DOC, TXT
Graphics format: PNG, JPEG, BMP, GIF
Audio format: MP3, AAC
Video format: MPEG-4
Wireless interface: Wi-fi 802.11b/g/n
Interface: 1 x USB, 1 x micro SD card reader, 1 x 3.5mm headphones audio-out
Power: Rechargeable lithium polymer battery
Dimensions: 5 inches wide x 8.1 inches high x 0.48 inches deep
Weight: 15.8 ounces
“Will the Fire and Nook Color 2 be more capable tablets? Probably. But I’m finding the Nook Color to be great for books, games, Web browsing, Facebook/Twitter activity, e-mail, and other everyday tasks. And for $139.57 out the door, how can you go wrong?
Certainly not with the warranty: B&N backs its refurbs with a full one year, same as new. Gotta love that.”
Can also root it…and…”half (or perhaps three-quarters) the fun of owning a Nook Color is transforming it into a full-bore Android tablet, which you can do on your own or with an N2ACard or Root My Nook Color card.”
Nook Color by Barnes & Noble Digital eBook Reader (Certified Pre-Owned) | Overstock.com
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delenn13,
I agree that the Nook may be a good choice for the gift, and .. I myself came withing mere inches of buying a Nook Color (with the intention of root-ing it) a few months back..
I don’t know that a refurb, purchased online, makes the best gift choice, but us bargain seekers are looking too..
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