Hudl, kindle fire, iPad mini or laptop for almost 11 year old dd??

[marne2]

Dd1 wants a tablet for Christmas, we already have a iPad ( though this is her sisters and it often causes arguments ), we have a google net book (dh's) and a basic tablet which isn't great. We did have a PC which broke a few months ago. Dd1 wants a tablet to use apps and play minecraft but I am thinking that maybe a laptop would last her longer as she could use it for homework, she does like to type but can do this on dh's notebook.

A laptop would cost more than what we usually spend but I am tempted as it's something I could use too.

So should we get her a tablet like she has asked for, if so which one? Or should we scrape up enough money for a laptop?

DD2 has had a laptop since she was 6, she's 13 and the one on her lap is actually her second.

It's her absolute pride and joy. She has a Nexus tablet, but it's always her lap top she returns to.

She plays SIMs obsessively (why she had a lap top to start with), writes/reads fan fiction, does her HW, school use online maths site and watches You Tube.

The cut down tablet versions of sims aren't anything like as good and I believe it's the same with minecraft, which DD1 plays on her lap top.

Sound her out about the laptop. But if she's adamant she wants an ipad for easy transportation I would get that with the keyboard thingy you can plug into it. Then you have best of both worlds.

I was thinking 'those tablets with keyboards looked good' but they seem very expensive. Maybe we should buy a laptop for the whole family to use and then get her a cheap tablet? She likes playing minecraft but dd2 manages to get on it on the iPad and ruin it, so she wants a tablet that her sister can't touch .

If they are fighting over the ipad specifically then I'd probably get them both the same rather than one having a cheaper or different gadget, to be honest. But not if it's unaffordable of course. I would sound her out about what she really wants.

I can't afford the full size iPad, dd2's was funded by a charity as she has ASD and communication problems so we didn't buy it for her as such. I'm not sure how much the iPad mini is but I might be able to stretch to one, she likes the Hudl as her friend has one but they are quite small I think?

I'd get a laptop. Most of the homework sites schools use don't work on an iPad - I know as we have one and it's a nightmare! We'll have to get dd one next year when she's 10 as the iPad simply isn't good enough.

Have a chat with her and see what she thinks, I'm sure she will be able to put you on the right path, lol. Can you get a refurbished ipad mini at a lower price??

Oh well there you go, as jam said if the schools don't work on ipads a laptop will probably be best. I have to say I much prefer my Mac to DH's ipad, it's so much easier to work from. I will get an ipad mini for travelling though.

I don't think the kindle fire does minecraft if that helps at all.