Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Tech tips

Flip

Original poster

Kids Fire Tablet, am I useless or is it just shit?

16 replies

KaroH · 03/01/2023 19:30

We've been using an old ipad with a kids case on it for awhile with DS. We only need it to play some Bimi Boo baby games, Netflix and white noise on Spotify occasionally. It's a knackered old ipad though and the battery life is abysmal so we replaced it at Christmas with a kids fire tablet, not sure what model, going to find out in a minute.

It's awful though and I just can't work out how to make it better. It's full of apps to download and books and stuff that we just don't want yet. Is there a way to change it so its just a regular tablet which shows the apps we have chosen and that's it?

It has loads of links to shows such as Bing but rather than going through BBC iplayer which I would prefer it brings up YouTube.

I'm getting the feeling we've just bought the wrong thing but hopefully not!

OP posts:

fizzyfood · 03/01/2023 19:36

They're so rubbish compared to the iPad. Got fed up with ours and went back to the iPad.

mrsmarmalade12 · 03/01/2023 19:37

They are shit

Thatboymum · 03/01/2023 19:39

They are really shit we use iPads but got the kids fire for going on a plane and it’s so awful , slow , crashes doesn’t load etc

Bemyclementine · 03/01/2023 19:41

My DC have one. I had my profile on it which I use for reading, bbc iplayer , Netflix etc. The kids have their profiles with their games, books etc on. So it can do what you want it to, but you won't get the apps you wanton the kids profile (I dont think,)

I wish the dc couldn't just add any shite they want.

BoobsOnTheMoon · 03/01/2023 19:41

You have to turn the "Kids+" off. I think that's what it's called anyway.

Then it just shows the apps you've downloaded and none of the extra bollocks.

Reluctantadult · 03/01/2023 19:43

They're not great. As pp just said, switch profiles off the kids profile.

Mrstumbletap · 03/01/2023 19:43

My one we got just to give DS on planes was soooo bad.

Books, games, everything was useless, hard to use.

Got a really cheap second hand ipad off Facebook marketplace and it's solved the problem.

Original poster

KaroH · 03/01/2023 19:44

I'll give it a try turning the kids+ off and see how it goes. It just feels so messy. Like having the Google play store as the main interface on your phone or something.

OP posts:

bunnypenny · 03/01/2023 19:46

I hate them. So unintuitive and over stimulating when connected to the internet.

HauntedPencil · 03/01/2023 19:46

After using an iPad getting used to them is properly frustrating and they are a bit shit. Saying that, they are perfectly fine for small kids to have and all mine had them and when they only use them and stop being used to an iPad it was fine. They learned to use them and I only had to intervene now and again

Clarabellawilliamson · 03/01/2023 20:46

The kids profiles are shit, the normal ones are better.

They are SO cheap compared to iPads that I can't really complain (think the fireHD 10 went down to about £35 before Christmas at one point)

Original poster

KaroH · 04/01/2023 10:25

Thanks for all the help. Taking kids+ off has made it slightly more bearable. It's still shit though isn't it!

Point taken on the price though I suppose. We got the initial ipad for free 7 year ago with a car and DH was the one that bought the fire tablet so I've been mentally removed from the price considerations 😂.

I think I was expecting it to be more standard android like my phone rather than a reminder of the car crash that was Windows 8.

OP posts:

SuperPup86 · 04/01/2023 10:34

We got 5 year old one for Christmas.

It's fine but that's being generous and it's only fine because he's 5. He's used it for you Tube a couple of times and a handful of games we've downloaded. He's had great fun with the camera and video. But it's frozen a couple of times so far.

I'm disappointed with the limitations of the Amazon store - you can't get Reading Eggs for instance, which I wanted as it's what they use for school. I should have done more research because I thought you'd get the full android store.

I'd say its fine for a very young child as a first tablet for limited use but I'd never consider one for an older child or adult. I think you get what you pay for and they're so super cheap that's reflected in what they can do.

Chesneyhawkes1 · 04/01/2023 11:15

I got one for DSS when he was 7. Compared to iPad it was shit.

I hated having to use it to help him 🤦‍♀️

MaverickGooseGoose · 04/01/2023 12:23

They are shit. Turning if the kids+ defeats the object of parental controls.

We bought mini iPads from CEX to replace them.

GlumyGloomer · 04/01/2023 12:39

I'm going to be the voice of dissent here, I really like them for my kids. There is so much stuff on the kids plus, I have them set to limited access so fairly safe. Only thing I've had to manually put on is Disney, the rest they can just explore. It's early days, but no issues so far.
Never been rich enough to own an Ipad though so probably don't know what I'm missing, lol

Flip