to stop my parents buying DD a new DS this Christmas?

[oopslateagain]

DD is 13, an only child and the only GD for my parents. For Christmas she has the choice of a 'big' gift with a few little bits (books, sweets etc), or several smaller nice gifts.

For Christmas two years ago, DH and I went halfs with my parents to buy her a laptop to use for schoolwork. Last year, we bought her a DSi as her old DSLite was five years old and starting to fall apart.

This year she has asked for an iPod Touch. While chatting about Christmas at my parent's house, she mentioned in passing that she would love the new 3-D DS. Now my mum has said she wants to buy it.

I said no. Nintendo are going to bring out a new DS every bloody year, and I am not making a habit of replacing something yearly that is going to be out of date as soon as I get it out of the box.

She is getting the iPod Touch, and I have said that my parents can go half with us if they want. My mum is very and is implying that IABU to refuse to let her buy DD the new DS.

I think that DD needs to know that the world does not drop into her lap every time she asks.

Her birthday is not long after Christmas, mum said she could buy the DS for her then. But I still don't want her to. I think one big gift a year is fine, and she will want iTunes vouchers for her birthday if she gets the iPod for Christmas.

So, AIBU?

I should add, there's no chance of mum going out and buying it on her own as she has zero idea of 'new technology' and wouldn't know a DS from a GPS.

Manathome that sounds fab! That is definitely something to look into for the house, we could all use it, and take on holiday too.

Drink she doesn't need one. She gets one from O2 as a freebie for renewing the contract.

Remember everyone:

"You see what you recognise and you recognise what you know"

We all have skills, let's share them without jealousy, I have been lucky enough to have had and have got loads of the latest gadgets, it's my hobby, so I recognise and know about them. With mothering I am struggling to come to terms with being at home with a pinny and duster, I need support with that as it is alien to me, so happy to swop technology help with mothering help!

I DO NOT spoil my children, they may get an App or two for Christmas, but I am not into all the Chavvy cr@p xmas toys. An iPad is an amazing do everything tool, you use it as you want, if you have never had one please don't criticise them as you do not have a clue what you are talking about. I am happy to discuss things abut them, but stupid ill informed comments about them are a waste of space and help nobody.

I do have an iPad.

I bought my Goflex from Amazon.com I don't think it is launched in the UK yet, but may be for Christmas, anyway look it up, you can buy it from Amazon.com for $199 USD plus $55 USD I think of 3 day shipping and pre paid import taxes, doing it that way will still I think be cheaper than buying it from the UK.

My wfe just got the 16gb iPad as she wanted it mainly to see and talk to the children, she is abroad every second week so it helps her as she misses the children, I have the 64Gb iPad and to be honest so much is now kept in the Cloud you need less on board if that makes sense.

**OK here is a free bit of info for everyone with an iphone or iPad on iOS5 software (may work on the old software you can try), if you go to the App store, look up box.net this is a Cloud storage company, they store data for major companies, you can see their website at box.net but the reason I am telling you to fins and download their app is that for a couple of weeks they have a special offer and are giving 50GB of free Cloud storage FOR LIFE to anyone that registers VIA the app, you normally get 5Gb and have to pay for more. Now this will let you store documents, photo's or whatever remotely and safely, BUT the single file download limit is 100mb at a time, still OK for a 30 photo album or loads of documents, but once you have your account you can access your Box and data anywhere in the world with a secure password, it is FREE so a handy free storage box :-)

Hope it helps someone!

Sorry Oops. I saw after I posted you'd explained that earlier

Nah, don't leave, it's interesting here.

I think I want an i something or other now. I don't know what or why, but I def want one

Marriedinwhite: re wifi at home when you ditch the computer, no problem you buy a mifi dongle, best deal is on 3, this gives you a wifi zone of about 30mtrs wherever you are, the battery life is about 6hrs, but spare batteries on ebay a couple of quid,I have 3 spares. You can also leave it plugged into the mains or a 12v usb adapter in your car, boat, motorhome, caravan or whatever and get a constant wifi stream, up to 6 computers can link to it at one time. Any firther questions I am happy to help.

REMEMBER, to operate the ipad or iPhone you need a computer to sync it with itunes, I am not sure about other tablets, I do have an HTC phone that I use on the wifi network and that doesn't need a computer, so others could be the same. The new iOS5 software is going to do away with needing a computer to synchronise as it will be done via the iCloud, but I think you will still need one for setting it up.

Boy, women can be stroppy [hsmile]

Thank you Manathome - do I get that from somewhere like PC World and will the assistant talk me through it?

I don't think YABU, she has the DSi, laptop and will have iPod Touch. 3D DS seems a bit much on top, yet another thing to buy different games for? I'd also be worried about the expectation of always being able to have the latest gadget. I'm saying that as someone who loves gadgets and has no problem with my kids using them.

Good headphones can be expensive, would they be something gp's could buy her?

Or a nice docking station.

No, you can buy it online at the link below, you have a choice of Pay as You Go with a 3 or 12mth plan, these include the £64 or so cost of the device, check what kind of usage download wise you will require, they have a 12mth deal qith 12GB, the good thing about that is that it rolls over month to month, so if you don't use it for a month or so you don't lose it, some will just run out over a month, so you have in effect 12Gb to last a year, you can always top it up after. The other option is the monthly plane, click on the tab in the link below, this will give other options. Look through it and any questions let me know, it will be delivered within 24hrs, you put in the SIM card and off you go, link your phone or computer to it anywhere there is a signal. If you are downloading films e.t.c. you will need more data download, I have the 15GB a month option which is more than enough for anything really, see what you feel comfortable with and at what budget.

We have ours on in the car so the children can surf the net or send e-mails, so very handy especially if you are camping.

BE WARNED, if you go abroad with it, like a phone it can be very expensive, I have a French version called the Clie on Orange, I use it as we spend a month in the South of France every summer, if anyone wants details let me know and I will tell you.

threestore.three.co.uk/broadband/?mifipayg=1&id=1398

I have already suggested a speaker or docking station. I think they might just go for a ridiculously expensive iTunes voucher! I have offered for them to go half with us for the iPod, I am going to re-suggest it but this time put it in terms of "If you go half with us we can get her the super-de-dooper one with lots of memory".

Having read all the DS 3D reviews about eyestrain I wouldn't give DD one if it came free with bells on. Thanks for that info Belle bunbaker and whoever else mentioned it at the start of the thread.

Yes, Manathome, women can be stroppy, especially when patronised by men, old enough to know better than to request help with "mothering" and putting on a pinny and dusting!
I think the word you are after is parenting, and one you should be well versed with already(unless that's women's work)?
And I don't think harping on about jealousy as you have 2 iPads wins either.

Really, that's your view, I didn't join to listen to nonsense, I don't have time :-)

Manathome I have sent you a PM asking some advice please :)

Sorry pissed off where do I find that message?

Little yellow envelope, Top of the page.

Got it and replied!

Look at post 6 up from here.

Married you also do not need a desktop to have a wifi network, we have ours connected to the plug with the sky box so we can have anytime plus, the desktop is upstairs, we can run sky, three laptops, a netbook, the desktop, an ipad2 and two mobiles off it if we need (not sure if all at once, not enough people in house to try!).

The wifi isnt actually part of the pc. If you buy a dongle - I think you can only use it with the device you plug it into?

Fabby chick you say you can't dictate what people buy as presents yet so far I've seen you post that clothes and now laptops are not presents. Surely that is dictatorial and certainly not the view of most people.

Just to clarify a plain dongle and a Mifi dongle are two seperate things, read my link above if in doubt.

A plain dongle needs to be plugged into a usb port of a computer to work, and will only operate that computer (althoug a new gadget has just been launched that you plunit into and it becomes a Mifi)

A Mifi dongle sits alone and gives off a wifi signal, up to 6 devices that are wifi enabled can connect to it for internet access.

Hope that helps

Thanks man didnt know about them, sorry I hadnt clicked your link I am being a lazy mare tonight.