[Pfrancis]

Please help.
I'm after a cheap tablet computer for my daughter to play films and games.We bought her a "Leappad" last year and its rubbish.Hardly any games and the screen is very unresponsive and for the money its a rip off.I'm not after anything super but iI gues anything is better than the leappad.
Any ideas?

[Stuart_h]

Originally Posted by Pfrancis

Please help.
I'm after a cheap tablet computer for my daughter to play films and games.We bought her a "Leappad" last year and its rubbish.Hardly any games and the screen is very unresponsive and for the money its a rip off.I'm not after anything super but iI gues anything is better than the leappad.
Any ideas?

Depends on what you class as cheap..... the nexus 7 8gb is well under £200 ....... much cheaper and you are looking at Chinese imports or own brand types .......

[Treble]

What about this, It's a tablet computer for kids...

http://www.toysrus.co.uk/Toys-R-Us/T...B%280098533%29

[Stuart_h]

Originally Posted by Treble

What about this, It's a tablet computer for kids...

http://www.toysrus.co.uk/Toys-R-Us/T...B%280098533%29

good spot ...... wonder what spec it is (resolution etc) ?

[c4rv]

Got a advet vega for the kids for around £80 used off ebay. Took around 30 minutes to install a custom ROM including full access to android market and they have been using it no problems for the last couple of months.

If you have the cash then the nexus 7 looks interesting.

[Gormond]

Originally Posted by Stuart_h

good spot ...... wonder what spec it is (resolution etc) ?

800 x 480 which provides a shockingly poor 133 PPI

The are plenty of reviews, most of them not that positive.

Personally I would pay the extra for a Nexus 7.

[cnbcwatcher]

My neighbour bought one of her kids a LeapPad last Christmas. She asked me to set it up for them. The software to set it up via a computer is very clunky and like something out of the 90s. I had to use my dad's Windows 7 laptop as I don't know if the software worked on a Mac. It was very awkward to set up. Not sure about the games but there wasn't a great amount of stuff for it. An iPad is way too expensive for a 6 year old. What about a cheaper Android tablet?

[Pfrancis]

Thanks for the input.
The ones I had in mind were ones which aren't specifically aimed a kids.I've seen some on amazon starting from around £50.I know the resolution etc isn't going to be that good but its got to be better than a leappad??

[alanwarwic]

The cheapest Childpad like tablet was £55 on Amazon a while back.
Its more like £75 now so not such a great buy when £100 can get you an iPad 1 like IPS tablet for £100. Any that uses a Cortex A8 or Cortex A9 may be OK for now.

If your child has proven she can take care of things spending £150+ on that Nexus does cover more of the future.

For a budget £50 and OKish just look for Mail 400 in the base description. The jury is still out on whether Android 4 is best on these things.
800x480 is for now a low budget resolution. I'd certainly disregard PPI comments which would obviously also apply to the iPad 1 and 2.

[cnbcwatcher]

What about getting a used iPad 1?

[Lushness]

Originally Posted by cnbcwatcher

What about getting a used iPad 1?

If its not too expensive I would say this too. My son uses my old iPad 1 and he's as happy as larry.

[cnbcwatcher]

Originally Posted by Lushness

If its not too expensive I would say this too. My son uses my old iPad 1 and he's as happy as larry.

Where would you get a used iPad 1? I checked the Apple refurb store but they don't have any. I guess eBay or someone who's selling their old one off.

[c4rv]

Just had a look on fleabay.

16GB ipad 1 are going for over £200, apple fans really are nut cases.

[MojoMaster]

I'm sorry, are people SERIOUSLY suggesting iPads and Nexus' for a 6 YEAR OLD?!?

No wonder kids don't appreciate what they have these days.

Jesus.

[Voynich]

Originally Posted by alanwarwic

The cheapest Childpad like tablet was £55 on Amazon a while back.
Its more like £75 now so not such a great buy when £100 can get you an iPad 1 like IPS tablet for £100. Any that uses a Cortex A8 or Cortex A9 may be OK for now.

If your child has proven she can take care of things spending £150+ on that Nexus does cover more of the future.

For a budget £50 and OKish just look for Mail 400 in the base description. The jury is still out on whether Android 4 is best on these things.
800x480 is for now a low budget resolution. I'd certainly disregard PPI comments which would obviously also apply to the iPad 1 and 2.

This kind of thing?

http://www.ebuyer.com/386278-sumvisi...let-pc-astro-7

The reviews on that site seem fine.

[far2cool]

Originally Posted by MojoMaster

I'm sorry, are people SERIOUSLY suggesting iPads and Nexus' for a 6 YEAR OLD?!?

No wonder kids don't appreciate what they have these days.

Jesus.

^^^ This.

I don't even remember being 6!

[cnbcwatcher]

Originally Posted by c4rv

Just had a look on fleabay.

16GB ipad 1 are going for over £200, apple fans really are nut cases.

That's a bit much I thought a used one wouldn't be too expensive.

Originally Posted by MojoMaster

I'm sorry, are people SERIOUSLY suggesting iPads and Nexus' for a 6 YEAR OLD?!?

No wonder kids don't appreciate what they have these days.

Jesus.

I was the one who suggested an iPad but I suggested a used first gen iPad rather than a brand new one as I thought used ones would be cheaper.

[alanwarwic]

Originally Posted by c4rv

.. fleabay....16GB ipad 1 are going for over £200, apple fans really are nut cases.

A replacement/repair will probably cost more so there is a very big market in replacements.
One drop and you are better off buying 2nd hand and flogging off the broken one. It makes sense.

Strangely the Guardian even ran with a "Does Apple repair iPods or simply encourage a throwaway culture?" way back in 2009.

The EPEAT saga along with the new Macbook Pro is just a continuation on this theme.

[cnbcwatcher]

Originally Posted by alanwarwic

The EPEAT saga along with the new Macbook Pro is just a continuation on this theme.

The Retina Macbook Pro? I must admit that the fact you can't even upgrade the RAM yourself isn't a good thing, especially considering the machine costs £1800 (or £2300 for the top-end one). The rMBP doesn't even have an optical drive, which IMO is a bit disappointing for a Pro laptop.

[Gormond]

Originally Posted by c4rv

Just had a look on fleabay.

16GB ipad 1 are going for over £200, apple fans really are nut cases.

That's not so crazy when you consider that CEX will give you £169 for a 16GB iPad 1.

Apple products always hold their value very well.

[alanwarwic]

Originally Posted by cnbcwatcher

The rMBP doesn't even have an optical drive, which IMO is a bit disappointing for a Pro laptop.

The experts are iFixiit even burst open the battery because the whole chassis design etc was fused industrial strength glue.

It was this retina MBP that was in conflict with EPEATs original guideline intentions. It has plenty of soldered in Ram. Obviously it cant fall out but its a common failure point too so plugging in replacement has always been good design.

I can accept that for portability a blu-ray or dvd drive can add weight with the Cloud and USB allowing us to get by without one.

Heres iFixits comments on the future hitting us now.
http://ifixit.org/2763/the-new-macbo...ble-untenable/

Surely budget laptop manufacturers who be keenest to follow suit and do likewise?

[Treble]

Originally Posted by MojoMaster

I'm sorry, are people SERIOUSLY suggesting iPads and Nexus' for a 6 YEAR OLD?!?

No wonder kids don't appreciate what they have these days.

Jesus.

I agree.

I don't see why a 6 year old even needs their own tablet computer, never mind a top spec one.

[Stuart_h]

Originally Posted by Treble

I agree.

I don't see why a 6 year old even needs their own tablet computer, never mind a top spec one.

Times are changing..... would you quiz the poster if they had suggested getting their 6 year old a PS3 or a Wii ?

The original query was regarding buying something better than a leap pad ..... id have thought a small tablet would be quite a sensible option. Kids are growing up more techie these days and a tablet is a good thing to start on.

To me a Nexus 7 is a no-brainer if you are looking at spending that much. Small form factor (7 inch) will be quite well suited to a 6 year old. Why anyone would spend similar money on a used iPad 1 amazes me ???? Second hand, battery likely to die and no longer supported with software updates (yes I know they will get iOS updates but fewer and fewer features will be enabled).

Nexus 7 - brand new, warranty, more rugged than the iPad and guaranteed updates for a couple of years minimum.

[Stuart_h]

Originally Posted by Gormond

800 x 480 which provides a shockingly poor 133 PPI

The are plenty of reviews, most of them not that positive.

Personally I would pay the extra for a Nexus 7.

agreed.

currently on holiday in the USA and been trying to find a Nexus 7 but no stock anywhere

[Gormond]

Originally Posted by Stuart_h

Times are changing..... would you quiz the poster if they had suggested getting their 6 year old a PS3 or a Wii ?

The original query was regarding buying something better than a leap pad ..... id have thought a small tablet would be quite a sensible option. Kids are growing up more techie these days and a tablet is a good thing to start on.

To me a Nexus 7 is a no-brainer if you are looking at spending that much. Small form factor (7 inch) will be quite well suited to a 6 year old. Why anyone would spend similar money on a used iPad 1 amazes me ???? Second hand, battery likely to die and no longer supported with software updates (yes I know they will get iOS updates but fewer and fewer features will be enabled).

Nexus 7 - brand new, warranty, more rugged than the iPad and guaranteed updates for a couple of years minimum.

I may be wrong but I don't think the original iPad is getting the iOS 6 update due to only having 256MB RAM.