I previously asked about the Nintendo DS XL. After reading all the responses and doing some research, I am hoping my daughter changes her mind on what she would like for her birthday and/or Christmas. I would like to get her something she can read books and play games/apps on that can grow with her. For those that have experience with these, what would you suggest Kindle Fire, Nook, or Ipod Touch? If so, which version? Or something else?
She currently has the Leapster (ages 4-8 but she's almost 7 and a bit advanced) so I know she wants something different. I think she said the DS because a few of the older kids at summer camp had them.
Thanks ladies. I appreciate all your input and I have a lot to think about. I am all about getting her what she wants for her day; however, I am not sure she wants it because SHE wants it or because the kids at camp have it. She LOVES to read and is always wanting to play games on my computer so I thought that the ereader option w/ games would be a good choice for her. Still thinking.
It is kind of ironic though because when I asked about the options for DS, I was directed to the ereaders or ipads. Now that I am leaning in that direction, I am now pointed to the DS.
Kindle Fire is great, i have one. I've also had the Nook one, but prefer the Kindle cause it has more app's.
However, the systems are very different. If she wants a Nintendo, she may not be up to any sort of tablet.
Kindle Fire, without a doubt! My kids (same age as yours) have both the DS XL and the Fire and they will only touch the DS if we are on Kindle restriction or if the charger has gone missing.
On another note, Kindle Free Time, through Amazon, has FREE apps, games, books, and videos! If you are giving a child a kindle Free Time is a must in my opinion. There are no ads in the games and the children are unable to brows internet or buy anything accidentally.
Note: get the 16MB!
I have a Kindle. I like it. I can't play games on it. Just read.
I know people who have Kindle Fire's and love them.
I don't know anything about "i" stuff!! Sorry!!
What about a "tablet"?
We did all the rest and we finally broke down and bought each kiddo a DSI and I can honestly say they play games on it more than all the rest together. They love playing them. When we travel we hardly hear a peep from the backseat. It's truly one of our best purchases.
I put off buying them because of the cost of the games and how limited I felt the kids would be. But I was wrong. They liked their tablets and played some stuff but honestly, they use their DSI's tons more and are much happier playing on them.
Save the hassle and heartbreak, if she truly wants a DSI for her day then you need to do that. She knows what she wants and the other stuff is just filler until she gets what she really wants.
Something to consider *if* you decide to go with a tablet is the options that will be helpful to her later. Our school went one to one with iPads over a year ago (and I know you didn't specifically mention the regular iPad), and one of the biggest complaints that I have about it is that it is so incredibly difficult to get information off of it (unless you sync it to other machines). Our students are all full on their memory on their iPads, and they only get an additional 5GB free through their apple accounts.
Another one of our faculty members has his own personal Asus tablet, and loves it...plus he has a USB port and SD port. He is able to easily transfer pictures and videos to/from his tablet. He DOESN'T have to have a wireless connection to get information to/from his tablet, because he has the external ports to take care of things (when internet isn't available...like on bus trips). Plus his Asus was WAY cheaper.
I would suggest that if you go with a tablet for your daughter, then you also check out all of the options with the different connection possibilities (if that makes sense).
Oh, and go to a place (maybe Best Buy) where you can see/hold all of the different tablets to get a feel for what would be the best option for your daughter.
My son has had a Nook Color (thanks grandma) since he was six. He does NOT read books on it. He, like me prefers to read actual books. He does play games like Angry Birds and Bad Piggies. They have a lot of learning style Apps but they can be expensive. The Nook became a family item, where he has priority use.
My son also has a 3DS(not the XL) and he plays games on it, uses Netflix and LOVES to use the camera feature. We save money on games by buying them used and Subscribing to Game Fly. Now, we only buy games we KNOW he loves that are used from Game Stop.
Personally I am glad we have both options, but my son does NOT like to read books on the Nook at all - nor do I really.
My boys each have an iPod Touch. Before the iPod's they both had DS's. Since they got the iPod's they don't really play with the DS's anymore. They use the iPod's to play some games, watch Youtube, watch Netflix, Facetime and as an alarm clock.
If her friends have DS's she will want a DS so she can play multiplayer with her friends.
I don't like the idea of using an iPod or a tablet for books, I prefer an actual ereader because it is easier on the eyes.
My daughter (7yo) has a DS and rarely uses it, she got it a while ago since her big sis had one too. My daughter uses the iPad mini the most. I have a Kindle app on there for her books and learning apps like cursive writing and math. She can also use it for Netflix and other games.
I would get the iPad not the DS, she will have more use with it over time.
JMO
Two of my boys have a Samsung galaxy 2 tablet and they have been great. Two of my step kids have kindle fires. They are also happy with them. But the big difference I notice is the Samsung has a camera in the front and back. So they can take pictures and video or skype their dad.. My son loves to take vidoes. The Kindle fire does not have that feature. Both cost around the same price. I have an ipod touch and it's good but the screen is so small. I would definitely stick with a tablet over the ipod touch, especially if she is going to read on it. Good luck!
For her age - and since it is what she really wants - I think a DS is actually a good choice.
In a few years (when she is 10/11/12), an iPad or iPod Touch could be nice, for the reason you mention ("grow with her"). I personally had an iPod Touch myself before getting an iPhone, and I was happy that all of my Touch "stuff" (programs I downloaded for the Touch) could easily transfer to my iPhone so I wasn't starting from scratch. But your daughter might not need to get into all that stuff right now...give it a few years.
My daughter loves her Ipod. games, music etc. She did get a kindle mostly because now she is having to read a new book for school every few weeks and its cheaper and easier just to down load them to the kindle. Even with the excitement with the kindle she still prefers the Ipod. When she was young the ds was it. Loved it better than the Wii etc. If that is what your daughter really wants then tell her she can have it but that is all she will get. If she still wants it then get it for her.
I like the suggestion to save something for the "big" gift when she is a little older. And yes, they can play games in multiplayer mode if she has friends with them that might be a factor in her wishing for this over a reader.
As for the readers, ipods are great for the kids playing games, but the screen is REALLY Small if you are trying to read books on it. I have an ipad and a kindle (not Fire, just a reader) and I rarely use my kindle anymore and just use the kindle app on my ipad to read my books. I like the page turn feature on it better. But, I use the battery life on the ipad more quickly (because I do other things besides just read of course) so it requires plug ins for charging, whereas with the kindle, I can read on it for a month without a recharge.
I know it isn't much help, maybe just further confusing your decision making process. Sorry about that. But I will say that our kids have "stuff" (ipod touches, laptops, DSlites, and 2 home gaming systems--PS3 and Wii).. and our kids are 12 and 15. They STILL get out the DSlites to play sometimes. Use the ipods pretty much daily (though almost never for reading a book). But both will grab my ipad rather than open up their laptop for just about everything else.
We got kindles, which as a parent I thought was the best option. They loved them, but ultimately they still wanted the 3ds xl, which one got for a birthday and the other purchased with her own money, and they play that more and enjoy it more.
