Inotab.. Confused!!

[rainbowfeet]

Probably going to get my ds an Inotab for Christmas or his birthday 6 weeks after.. I always thought it was a handheld games console that you put cartridge type games in.. But just looked at it on Argos site & now I'm confused!!

Please clarify for me if you can how it works.. The basic item approx £75 says it connects to internet too is that to download games or are the separate games available approx £14.99 for that model?!

There is also a more expensive model which looks like a robust tablet type thing does that just work by downloading or take games too?!

Any experience grateful as this is a big purchase for me.. Thank you.

[everydayaschoolday]

We have 2 different generations of innotab here - 2 and 3. The 3S is the internet one with wifi - we don't have this. For the Innotab 2 and 3, games can be downloaded through DH's pc, with the Innotab connected by the lead to his PC. None of the downloads are free I don't think.

We buy the kids cartridges when they are on offer. Most RRP at £19.99, predominantly on sale for £15 but can occasionally get them on offer at £9.99. We have quite a collection of cartridges now, as the kids (age 3 and 6) can quickly bore of the games, so new ones are needed to keep them interested.

It's a sturdy console (ours has been dropped a few times) and the games are engaging and educational. We've transferred on music to the console as well from our PC, and the kids love the video recording feature.

It eats batteries. I cannot understate this. For the innotab 3 and 3S, you can buy a recharger unit (not compatible with Innotab 2) and this has saved us a fortune on one of our consoles.

If I were to do it all again, in light of the cost of games cartridges versus free app games downloads available, I'd be more inclined to buy a cheap tablet and download lots of free app games instead. That said, the kids love their innotabs, although it's costing us a small fortune in cartridges and batteries.

[rainbowfeet]

It's all clearer now .. Thank you!

Might sound like an old duffer but my goodness it was much simpler & less expensive in my day

[everydayaschoolday]

Just had a look on argos. The £99 one has the rechargeable battery pack included. I bought this separate at the £29.99 price (also argos).

The £75 one you're looking at doesn't include this rechargeable battery pack. This console is on amazon for £48.99 this morning and on sale in a number of other retailers for a similar price - just google 'innotab sale'. So a sale price console + £29.99 battery recharger pack is cheaper than the argos all-in pack at £99.

[everydayaschoolday]

DH says downloaded games vary in price starting from £2.99. And these downloads take up memory on the innotab console (unlike the cartridge). Your kids will use up memory saving their artwork or taking video recordings etc.

[DefiniteMaybe]

My ds has the innotab 3s with the rechargeable battery pack, I bought it last Christmas for £70.
He loves the kids connect app which is like texting but only able to send and receive messages if I approve the person.
He's got a couple of cartridges and is getting a couple more for his birthday. It's had loads of use and tbh we probably haven't used a lot of the features I've not downloaded anything for it.
I wasn't keen on getting a normal tablet for him because the 'free' apps rely on adverts and you buying in app stuff which I don't want to be pestered for.

[rainbowfeet]

Thank you for your advice.. I think I'm settled on the 3s.. I like that it looks more robust than normal tablets & I think will grow with him a bit until he wants a play station or xbox.

I know it's more expensive than a basic tablet but I like the security of one especially for children.

[everydayaschoolday]

Glad we could help :) and fair points about ads on the freebie apps too.