to not mind my in laws buying my 5yo dd a tablet for Xmas, but worrying she'll think it is shite cos she is used to my iPad?

[stopthebusiwanttogetoff]

Sorry - just that.

Get a Nexus 7 Android tablet, OP. You'll need to install a camera app but otherwise it runs pretty well. My toddler loves it, she also likes DH's work ipad but the Nexus has been very easy for her to learn and use, plus it's nice and small. It's around £150.

Lol at the Luddites on this thread ("some dolls at 5... maybe a tablet at 10"), give your heads a shake! Some kids are tech-savvy, why should they be punished for it because your pre-conceptions of what toys kids should be allowed to have? One person's Barbie plastic tat is another's tablet after all.

Sounds to me like she dosent need a tablet at all if you are happy to share yours. I dont think she will use it, as she is used to using your tablet and will probably see you using it and nag to use it, and one tablet is enough between you when she is 5 and on limited screen time.

Got to confess had a kindle fire for christmas and it does my bastard head in. I cant use the bastard thing at all. The spell check does my bastard head in. I just dont get on with it. I want an IPAD. There, I said it. I am an Apple Whorin' Cuntbag.

I agree with Usual, you dont need an ipad for a 5 year old to play games, just whats the point in a separate one when you get along OK sharing yours and she will probably still want to get her paws on it, Id just save the money.

We got my DC (20 somethings) Nexus 7s last Xmas. They are both over the moon with them and are both techie types. Apple ain't always all that.

Do you reckon back in the day people would make this fuss about a kid getting slate and a chalk or an abacus?

Or a BOOK?

Well I have both and I disagree but whatever you say

My dad bought my brother an android tablet last Christmas, was £130 opened it to rest it and it was awful. Was advertised as a good equivalent but it took at least 5 seconds to open an app, nothing was smooth. He took it back anyway.

Anyway I think the point is if the OP feels it's going to be a waste of money she could perhaps tell GP's, that way they won't be upset if it doesn't get used.

Are the games all the same on Android?

TBH I looked at a tablet as an educational tool, my DS has text to speak, social stories etc on his Ipad (which I couldn't find on Android are readily and they were far more costly what they did have))and the advantage of the Ipad over the tablet was I have Iphone (as does dad,sis,bro) and his closest friends have Iphones, Ipads and Ipod touches so he can facetime and imessage.

I drawn originally to the tablet as it was cheaper and still had Minecraft on it!

op would your DD like something like a portable DVD player instead?

If there are two tablets in the house, one better than the other, what will any child or adult choose? Just like real fireman Sam toys, compared to a fireman Sam lookalike for those that made the comparison

Children are quite savvy consumers and are not stupid. Just because they can tell one thing is better than another, does not mean they are spoilt.

Op YANBU. If it won't get used, it will be a waste of £100.
can't help with your actual question of whether there is a discernible difference, or not

Yes my DS is a techie type and is happy enough with his nexus.

And he's 20 not 5

Nexus are good!

Hopefully, even if she thought so, your daughter wouldn't express her herself in exactly those terms!

LOL at the hand-wringers thinking a tablet is spoiled brat's toy.

Last year my kind aunt and uncle spent £100 each on my DDs, getting them a LeapPad explorer for the 5o and a DS for the 7yo. Now to be fair, the 7yo loves her DS and has played with it loads, but has finished all the up to £30 each! games we got her. DD2 is let enamoured of her LeapPad - she perfers her sister's DS, my (Android) tablet or online games on the PC.

So this year, we're thinking about getting them a cheap-ish tablet each, like the Hudl. There's just so much more versatility for the price. They'll be able to donwload enless free or dirt-cheap games, play their favourtire online games and even do their online homework like Mathletics instead of having to take turns for the PC.

A much better investment then another couple of games each for the consoles they have.

Tablets are the cheap options for kids, these days!!

Oh yes, not to mention that with the Kindle app they can also fill their tablet full of those books some of you think kids with tech are missing out on.

I do agree with Strumpertron - it's very odd how some people are using "Android" as a catch-all term, as is if there is only one kind. It's not like Apple, there are very, very many different ones and most of them are pretty much directly comparable to iPads.

Mine is even more awesome because I can click it into a keyboard and hey-presto, it's a mini-laptop!

Yes she will be able to tell the difference. My DD always plays on her dads i phone rather than my android phone when out, as she finds the games better, even when we both have the same game.
Would they consider an I-touch?

If I had young children now I would go for an ipad over anything else (money permitting of course). There are so many free /cheap app's, they are amazing.

ICantFind - doesn't that (again) depend on which Android phone? My DDs prefer to play on my (much better and with a bigger screen) Android phone than DH's.

That being said, it genreally is easier if a family sticks to the same format, so the folks suggesting an iPod Touch may be onto a good idea.

Android tablets are just as good as ipads if not better - they are only cheaper becasue that is googles business model not because they are inferior, iPads are vastly over-priced. We have latest iPad and a google nexus 7 in the house and my 8y old much prefers the nexus. I am yet to find a game or app that they can play on the ipad that you cant get (or a very close equivalent) on android. Plus, the nexus is faster and you can install flash on it so they can play flash based games like Moshi Monsters on it, unlike the iPad.

Anyhoo, my experience and opinion is that there is absolutely no need for a child to have their own tablet - especially one as young as 5, as they can't set everything up, they drop them, lose them, crack them, leave them lying around and don't really use them to anywhere near their full potential. I really wouldn't bother getting one for a child as young as five - have it yourself and just let her play on it :)

I think I'm with the iPad unnecessary brigade, tbh. My ds2 wants a ps4 for Christmas. He can't have one, because we can't afford it. He understands this. He's pissed off, and has pointed me towards bright house, where "X's Mum is going to get one" !

When I pointed out this was a ridiculous plan, he said, "Well, X's mum's getting one".

Still no. We can't afford it. He's ok about it, but is happy with saving up, maybe saving up for the one your dcs want would be ok, OP? So, rather than the unwanted tablet, wait awhile and save up for the wanted one?

My ds1 is 13,btw, and his ps3 was a joint gift from all of us.

Ds1, not ds2! Ds2 is only 16 months, so I'd be amazed if he cared about PS4!

Well the Apple marketing department should give itself a patient on the back. We're a non Apple household with a mixture of Android gadgets(Sony, Asus, Samsung and Motorola). DS has a 7 inch Nexus tablet which he thinks is the best thing ever. I had a play on it when it was new and it was incredibly fast and remains so despite the fact it's probably now clogged up with all sorts of rubbish he's put on it.

As for apps and games bear in mind whilst Apple might be the biggest selling brand in the smart phone and tablet market, the Android system for phones has a combined market share of around 80% and for tablets has increased to almost 70%. The people who make games and apps want to sell as many as they can, why would they limit them to one format.

You can easily check on Google store if the games she likes come in Android versions.

Please do be careful they are not thinking of buying one running on Windows 8 . The Windows 8 System is, in my opinion, very odd and the Windows app market may very well not have apps and games the Google Store or Apple store has.

A pat on the back!

Oh and in the Android versus Apple debate there was a thread on here about the fact the Kindle app works direct from the app on any Android gadget but was a bit of a faff on an Apple gadget. Can't recall the exact details.

If/ when she wants to add music the I store obviously won't work but there are loads of others , including Amazon mp3 store.

I'm assuming you have an Amazon account. You can , if you want register the tablets to it and if you want to buy books or music for her open the Kindle or mp3 apps , log in using your Amazon e-mail and password , buy and download them to her tablet. Just remember to log out afterwards.

Don't forget Google play.

It's basically Itunes.

I feel sorry for some children, as despite being parents, many of you on here don't seem to understand them at all.

It is not 'brattish' to prefer one thing over another. A 5 yo has no idea of cost or branding, they just know this one has better screens/is nicer to use/is faster or whatever and would choose to play on the one they like best. No child thinks 'Oh I'll play on mine which is slower/doesn't have my favorite game on it instead of Mummy's because Granny gave it to me' - fgs.

Fukkingup - who knows? Do you think any other people (you, aunties etc) would like to 'go in' on her present and get her an Ipad mini between them all? Or would the GP's consider getting the Ipad mini this year and something small next year? It does seem a shame to 'waste' the £100 on another tablet if you don't know if she will use it or not.... on the other hand, if there's no compromise to be had, you could just let them do it and see how it goes - if she doesn't use it you could sell it and put the money towards an Ipad next year.

If you put apps that you dd got used to she will be fine. Even if she knows the difference ( which is actually great if she foes= smart little thing) then just explain that that one is hers .
HTH

We have got DS1 a Nexus for this Christmas. TBH they are different (which is why we don't do Apple).

She will get the hang of it though.

We are all putting in for an iPad for Mum though as we think she will have a better time with it than with an Android.

It really comes down to personal preference.