iTouch - am I daft in thinking this would be a better idea than an Nintendo DSi?

[MmeLindt]

For the DC's Christmas.

DD has a Nintendo DS which rarely gets played with since I upgraded my iPhone and let the DC have my old one for games.

The games on the iPhone are either free or cost a couple of ?.

Games on Nintendo are about ?30 - not many places to buy second hand or reconditioned games around here.

There is a price difference of about ?60 for the actual devices, but even buying the Nintendo plus one game would reduce that difference by half.

I also think that the iTouch is more fun for playing with, much more intuitive and less clunky than the Nintendo.

Am I wrong in thinking that the DSi's time is nearly up and an iTouch is better value?

And if anyone has an iTouch, can you tell me how it works with the internet? I know you can connect it to the wifi, can you also put a SIM card in and connect to the Internet on the go? (not that I am keen for the DC to use this function at the moment, but in the future it might be good.

Do you have the new iTouch? What is the camera like? DD talked about a camera for Xmas, would this be a do-all gadget that would cover all bases?

And the face-to-face phone thing - how does that work?

Well if she doesn't play a DS i can't see any longevity of a DSo tbh.

The camera is only a VGA camera on the itouch. But the photography apps are really good.
You just connect it to you wireless the same you would a laptop or similar. You can't connect on the go. Basically its an iphone without the phone.

DSi *

My DD has a DSi and plays with that, but uses my Itouch as some of the app games on there are better than playing with her DS :)

Oh, sorry, it is our DS (darling son not Nintendo game) who is after the DSi.

His sister has the Nintendo DS and it rarely gets played with.

Ok, so only wifi. That is fine. Not really wanting them to be able to go online anyway.

dd1 wantesd an ipod touch for x-mas. She is not allowed one. If I can't have one then she can't that and she's, er, 7

She is getting this instead. www.very.co.uk/philips-gogear-4gb-mp3mp4-cam-sa2cam08k02/705609784.prd?browseToken=%2fb%2f1000220%2c4294958022&cmsPage=philipsGallery&trail=4294958022-100203-1000220&prdToken=/p/prod3857191-sku5686874 similar but much cheaper.

I only have the last Touch, so no camera, but no, you can only connect to the net via Wifi, there's no 3g capability.

It is a lot sleeker and less clunky than the NDS, but I would be reluctant to get one for my DS (7), as it's a bit on the fragile side. The main thing the DS has going for it for us, is that it has lasted 2 years being dropped, left outside, trod on etc, and is still in good condition. The Touch has a glass front and a rounded back (on the old model, I think the new one is flatter) so it's not the easiest thing to hold. It definitely needs a case and a screen protector to stand any chance.

It also depends on what games your DD wants to play - my DS is very into both Pokemon and the Lego Star Wars series, neither of which are available on the Touch.

If you do get one though, make sure you lock down the access to the iTunes/App store, so you don't suddenly find you've bought another £30 in games!

Oh, God. Dooin. Not more choice.

:o

That is interesting, but it doesn't do games. Might do for DD though.

Lily
Yes, I have had to replace the screen on my iPhone. When using without a protector.

I would have a very heavy duty protector on it, and I know that there is a risk of this happening.

The Phillips is ok for music and camera, but it won't do games.

It's worth pointing out that the camera in the iPod Touch is significantly worse than the camera in the iPhone, it's actually even worse than the camera in the very first iPhone yet alone the latest model.

It should be OK for fun shots but it won't be as good as "proper" camera.

my dds have had (fairly exclusive ) use of my itouch for the past year or so (I originally bought it for use on flights etc). they are 6 and 3.

it is great - very portable, intuitive.

loads of game type things, but agree, it depends on what kind of games you are after.

I have found mine to be indispensable, but dd1 has SN (ASD) and it has been invaluable for her - both as a learning tool (so much so that she now has an iPad for school) and as a communication device.

I certainly think that an itouch has longer term prospects.

Sorry hijack. MmeLindt how much did your new screen cost and where did you get it done?

I've just bought a Touch for my DD for her Christmas, because she loves playing with my iphone. She's only 5 but controls it really well (I've had it for 18 months now). I did get her a vtech hand held thingy last year but she found the controls too hard to use.

And a big factor is the cheapness of the apps though granted they aren't going to be as sophisticated as the DS games.

I'd agree, Silverfrog, that it has more potential, and will probably see them through more years than an NDS, and my ds does use mine sometimes, for times tables games etc, but for his main games it can't replace the NDS.

It's interesting that you found it so useful as a learning tool - I originally bought him the NDS because I was struggling to get him to read anything by choice. I found as soon as he was presented with words on a screen, he was much keener to start learning!!

That is interesting, BadgersPaw. I have the 3GS and the camera is truly not great.

Mollie
I had it done at the Apple Store (part of the cost were covered by my phone provider as the insurance refused to pay out - a whole other story). It was very expensive, about £170 - but that was in Switzerland, it may be less expensive in UK.

Mollie
Someone on Twitter just said that she paid £60 to get her screen fixed. Will ask her where.

Why oh why is everything so expensive here?

Oh, forgot to mention, the Face Time video calling thing is only to other iPhone4/New iTouch users at the moment, so it's only really of use if everyone you/they know has one. And it only works on Wifi at the moment, as far as I know.

I have an iPod touch and both DS and DD like using it. I do sometimes consider getting me an iPhone and then my iPod touch could get a new lease of life.

I have a (very cheap) silicone case thing (think was 99p on eBay) and this helps with no dropping it. It rarely goes out although occasionally does.

Would be interested at £60. Ds has my old Iphone but the cracked screen is getting more cracked - now has a screen protector but didn't when it got cracked.

Mine is an ordinary one ie bought last July. I don't know about this camera stuff

Mollie
Twitterer is going to look out the invoice. She found him online.

OUr itouch has fared very well wrt damage (and whilst dd1 is not particularly careless with it, she is very clumsy generally, and has once or twice thrown it on the floor deliberately)

lilystar - I am a keen game player, and have found some very good games to play on the itouch. admittedly I am not so bothered as to whether they are lego/star wars , but there are some excellent examples of platform games, and longer quest games (I am a Zelda devotee, in a past life!)

Interesting, silverfrog. I'm not really a gamer at all, beyond sudoku/tetris/bejewelled. Do you have any recommendations for Touch games that may be of interest to a 7yo boy?

DC's favourite games at the moment are Angry Birds and a cookie baking game (think that is only on iPad)

Really, I just want my iPad back. :o

lilystar
Try Angry Birds and Talking Tom - think there are free versions of both.