Anything but the iPad

[palpatine]

Yet it's the same as most of the Android tablets. Good hardware let down by the software.

Well, since you cannot get iOS on "Anything but the iPad," that doesn't really help much, I am afraid.

Again, we are talking about "Anything but the iPad." If I had to go out and buy something today that was not an iPad, then the Asus Prime is what I would get. It has the best specs of any tablet on the market, Asus is a solid company, and the earlier iteration was quite nice.

 

[Demosthenes X]

My first thought would be the Kindle Fire. Great tablet at a good price, and will probably handle most of what teenagers are going to use it for.

The ASUS Transformer Prime also looks like a good product, especially paired with the keyboard dock. If they want a tablet that's more productive than the Kindle Fire, this would be my pick.

 

[jzuena]

If I were you, I wouldn't recommend anything, because if the kids change their mind you don't want the parents saying you recommended it. I agree with chrono1081, let the parents know what else is out there, maybe even point out a couple that might be interesting (while making it clear that you have no experience with them) and leave it to them to take the kids to Best Buy. If they say "we want your recommendation because we think you are an expert" and you really only feel comfortable recommending an iPad, then tell them you are uncomfortable recommending anything other than iPad. Maybe that is just the IT Consultant in me who has to put my recommendations in writing, but if things go south you get the target painted on your back for making the recommendation.

I have one friend who has a Motorola Xoom and one that has a RIM Playbook (that his company bought him). These are the only tablets I have ever seen in the wild other than iPad and I have a grand total of about 5 minutes of hands on (4 minutes on the Xoom and 1 on the Playbook). The lack of competing tablets showing up among my friends (and my friends are in the tech sector) is somewhat surprising, but I'll be interested to see what happens after this holiday season.

 

[QuarterSwede]

If they say "we want your recommendation because we think you are an expert" and you really only feel comfortable recommending an iPad, then tell them you are uncomfortable recommending anything other than iPad.

This is spot on. That's what I'd do.

OP, the job they asked you to do is give them advice. Give them enough information so they can make an informed decision.

 

[jsh1120]

I'm inclined to agree with jzuena that any recommendation is a bit risky if you haven't tried a tablet, yourself. Having said that, however, I also think the Kindle Fire or the (latest version) of the ASUS Transformer are the leading alternatives to the iPad at this point.

I'm guessing that a 13 y/o girl has a phone permanently attached to her thumbs and this may be the reason that many of the iPad's features are not more attractive to her. I'm also betting that the 7 inch form factor may be appealing to a 13 y/o female. (I know it's appealing to my wife and she's a bit older than 13.)

If those assumptions are correct, I doubt the ASUS Transformer is an appropriate choice. Great for mobile business use and even for college classes. Less so for a 13 y/o.

The Kindle Fire, on the other hand, may hit the sweetspot as a media consumption device and relatively simple email manager. For a 13 y/o girl who doesn't want an iPad, the Fire would be the device I'd look at carefully.

 

[VTMac]

It does have twice the RAM and better camera's.

You can't compare RAM between competing platforms in any meaningful way. As a developer, I can tell you for fact from personal experience that both iOS and Windows Phone use way LESS ram to accomplish the same goal. I find Android uses between 1.7x - 2x RAM for a given task.

So does it surprise me that almost all droid devices ship with 2x RAM? Not at all, because it would be virtually unusable without it. But that does NOT mean the end user will actually have "more" RAM to use.

None of this is surprising because the Droid Virtual Machine (Dalvik) is based on a the Java Virtual Machine which is a notorious RAM hog.

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The Kindle Fire, on the other hand, may hit the sweetspot as a media consumption device and relatively simple email manager. For a 13 y/o girl who doesn't want an iPad, the Fire would be the device I'd look at carefully.

I'd encourage parents to be very careful with the Fire until they implement some sort of parental controls. They should at least be aware that they will have access to any and everything and that might not be desirable depending on the age / maturity of the child involved.

 

[graystone]

I see several suggestions here for the Kindle Fire but honestly, if you're going to go that route, the Nook Tablet for $50 more is a better value, and the Nook Color for the same money is a better value. So here's my 2 cents suggestion for a "starter tablet" for children.

You can get a refurbished Nook Color on ebay (direct from Barnes & Noble) for $129 with free shipping and 1 year warranty. The on-board OS, besides the eReader app, has a web browser, a simple but functional email app, Pandora, and access to the B&N app store for games and other apps. It also has the ability to load on pictures, music, and movies by connecting to a computer and simply dragging and dropping. The on-board memory is only 8 GB, but the Color also has a micro SD slot to add storage. That's Part 1.

Part 2: If you go here: http://rootmynookcolor.com/ you can purchase a 16 GB bootable micro SD card for $50 with Android Gingerbread pre-loaded. Turn the Nook off, turn back on and you can boot into full Android from the SD card. The Color OS is not modified so the warranty is not voided. If you choose the MIUI card you get a user interface that is designed to mimic the look and feel of the iPad. You then have full access to the Android Market and the Amazon App Store, not to mention the cool ability to download the Kindle App and read Amazon books on your B&N device!

The rootmynook card also comes with a number of apps pre-loaded: Netflix, YouTube, Zinio (for magazines), Angry Birds, Facebook, Dropbox, TV.com, Amazon App Store, Kindle, Pandora, and Google Maps, Contacts, Calendar, and Mail.

No camera or microphone, but for less than $200 including the bootable SD card, it's hard to go too wrong.

 

[NutsNGum]

The App Store is the definitive reason to purchase an iPad.

 

[graystone]

The App Store is the definitive reason to purchase an iPad.

Well, one of the definitive reasons. I would say the powerful OS and the silky smooth user interface is the other.

 

[Stetrain]

For a kid, I would recommend a Fire or a Nook Color/Tablet as alternatives to an iPad.

I don't understand the arguments some are making about RAM or processor cores for a tablet for a kid. If you can watch movies and play Angry Birds they will probably be quite happy.

 

[johnhurley]

For the second time this week I was told that a friend's daughter doesn't want an iPad but some other tablet. Both are 13 and one wanted an ipad as late as Thanksgiving. Neither kid had a particular tablet in mind which is how I heard about it. Their parents wanted to know what I'd recommend. I'm somewhat stunned that they don't want iPads but promised to do some quick research this weekend,

Any ideas?

I would stay out of this game ... it sounds like parents are looking for either a cheap substitute or a fall guy and/or both.

The iPad is commanding a tremendous amount of the marketplace for a good reason.

There are a lot of nice ( windows based ) laptops in the 500 dollar and under range.

 

[stickybuns]

At 13, the girls are old enough to do their own research.

 

[tmagman]

I love my ipad and dont see myself buying anything else, but i do have to give a lot of kudos to the Asus Transformer Prime like some of the other posters in here. It is an amazing tablet and has some outstanding features and straight up- its an Asus- you can't go wrong with that either.

 

[Mac.World]

The Asus does have a better battery without the dock (12 hours). Look it up. It is lighter, even if you cannot tell. It does have a better processor. Are you really going to argue that a brand new four (actually five) core processor is inferior to the a5 from last year? Lol.

I'm not sure what sites you like to get your info from, but they must be slanted a lot towards Android. Looking at just a few sites like engadget or anandtech shows the ipad with the better battery, as do most "normal" websites. Here's a link to help you out: http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=asus%20transformer%20prime%20battery%20life&source=web&cd=3&sqi=2&ved=0CEYQFjAC&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anandtech.com%2Fshow%2F5178%2Fan-update-on-transformer-prime-battery-life-wifi-issues&ei=YNzjTtCIN5D9iQLTh6HQBg&usg=AFQjCNF0yklzdESLMvdC-s9JFw5_OAe4LA&sig2=sYJnbU4CnOokOIHxzyDbGg

Additionally, Honeycomb is unable to use the quad core capabilities of the Prime and benchmarks still show the Prime slower in the graphical display area. This doesn't neccessarily mean that the Prime is worse, but def not better, at least until a gaming company works directly with NVidia to make their games work exclusively with a particular piece of hardware, like the Prime.

Just thought I would be more specific.

 

[palpatine]

I'm not sure what sites you like to get your info from, but they must be slanted a lot towards Android. Looking at just a few sites like engadget or anandtech shows the ipad with the better battery, as do most "normal" websites. Here's a link to help you out: http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=asus%20transformer%20prime%20battery%20life&source=web&cd=3&sqi=2&ved=0CEYQFjAC&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anandtech.com%2Fshow%2F5178%2Fan-update-on-transformer-prime-battery-life-wifi-issues&ei=YNzjTtCIN5D9iQLTh6HQBg&usg=AFQjCNF0yklzdESLMvdC-s9JFw5_OAe4LA&sig2=sYJnbU4CnOokOIHxzyDbGg

Additionally, Honeycomb is unable to use the quad core capabilities of the Prime and benchmarks still show the Prime slower in the graphical display area. This doesn't neccessarily mean that the Prime is worse, but def not better, at least until a gaming company works directly with NVidia to make their games work exclusively with a particular piece of hardware, like the Prime.

Just thought I would be more specific.

thanks for the link. it seems that different people are getting different numbers. Here is what I am reading. Yours sounds more rigorous, but until Asus starts selling them, I can't really say.
http://www.computerworld.com/s/arti...of_Android_tablets?taxonomyId=15&pageNumber=1

At any rate, it isn't an iOS vs. Android question. The op asked about an iPad alternative, and if we accept that as the starting point of the discussion, then I do not see anyone out there that can compete with the Asus Transformer.

As much as I like it, I still wouldn't recommend it to anyone. Besides the fact that I have not actually seen one (not released yet), it is running Honeycomb, and by the time it gets ICS, we'll probably have an iPad 3, which will likely change everything.

 

[NameUndecided]

I would stay out of this game ... it sounds like parents are looking for either a cheap substitute or a fall guy and/or both.

Ha! I totally agree.

Choosing between an Asus Transformer or a Nook Tablet is as potentially dangerous a decision as recommending an iPad for a kid that you *hear* just doesn't want one. These people need to ask their children, or get a better idea of what the kids are interested in direct from the source. If you're just a friend of the parents, or a relative who doesn't have a chance to get a better idea directly from the kids, then I would stay out of this minefield of taking even partial responsibility in a potentially disappointing Christmas gift.

 

[jsh1120]

...
Additionally, Honeycomb is unable to use the quad core capabilities of the Prime and benchmarks still show the Prime slower in the graphical display area. This doesn't neccessarily mean that the Prime is worse, but def not better, at least until a gaming company works directly with NVidia to make their games work exclusively with a particular piece of hardware, like the Prime.

I assume you would have said the same thing about the original iPad and its inability to take advantage of the multi-tasking capabilities of the hardware.

 

[Mac.World]

thanks for the link. it seems that different people are getting different numbers. Here is what I am reading. Yours sounds more rigorous, but until Asus starts selling them, I can't really say.
http://www.computerworld.com/s/arti...of_Android_tablets?taxonomyId=15&pageNumber=1

At any rate, it isn't an iOS vs. Android question. The op asked about an iPad alternative, and if we accept that as the starting point of the discussion, then I do not see anyone out there that can compete with the Asus Transformer.

As much as I like it, I still wouldn't recommend it to anyone. Besides the fact that I have not actually seen one (not released yet), it is running Honeycomb, and by the time it gets ICS, we'll probably have an iPad 3, which will likely change everything.

I completely agree with you. Currently the Transformer Prime is the cream of the Android crop. If I had to choose an Android based tablet and money was no object, this would be it. People that buy this just need to hope and pray that ICS comes to this tablet soon, so that the quad core and all of its capabilities can get fully utilized.

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I assume you would have said the same thing about the original iPad and its inability to take advantage of the multi-tasking capabilities of the hardware.

We aren't talking about the original iPad, nor do I care about the original iPad or anything it could or couldn't do, since it does not relate to the topic at hand. If you are unable to comprehend this, I suggest you remain quiet.

 

[phpmaven]

For the second time this week I was told that a friend's daughter doesn't want an iPad but some other tablet. Both are 13 and one wanted an ipad as late as Thanksgiving. Neither kid had a particular tablet in mind which is how I heard about it. Their parents wanted to know what I'd recommend. I'm somewhat stunned that they don't want iPads but promised to do some quick research this weekend,

Any ideas?

Despite the fact that she says she doesn't want the iPad, I would buy them both and let her decide within the return window. I can't imagine her not wanting to keep the iPad, but time will tell.

 

[jsh1120]

...

We aren't talking about the original iPad, nor do I care about the original iPad or anything it could or couldn't do, since it does not relate to the topic at hand. If you are unable to comprehend this, I suggest you remain quiet.

Just noting how amusing it is to see Apple fans criticize Android devices for not taking advantage of the latest Android OS when the first version of the iPad lacked features that are now taken for granted.

 

[marc11]

LoL great thread. "kids do not want iPads" so the majority of the advice here is..get an iPad. Lol.

If all they will be doing us email, videos, music and Facebook type stuff a kindle fire would be a great choice. The asus and upcoming Samsung tablets should also be good options.

 

[*LTD*]

Just noting how amusing it is to see Apple fans criticize Android devices for not taking advantage of the latest Android OS when the first version of the iPad lacked features that are now taken for granted.

The first version of the iPad was also the first version of next-gen tablets, period. A completely new paradigm that created a new market. Its strengths - and the very notion that Apple actually had the nads to do that - far outweighed any supposedly missing features. Fast-forward a couple of years, and tablet makers (and smartphone makers) cannot in any way afford to do in 2011 (almost into 2012) what Apple did as a first-mover in 2010 and 2007.

 

[Carouser]

To the OP: as others have before you give any advice, you might want to figure out, or ask these parents to find out, why their children want a tablet but don't want an iPad at all. It seems strange.

***

Just noting how amusing it is to see Apple fans criticize Android devices for not taking advantage of the latest Android OS when the first version of the iPad lacked features that are now taken for granted.

A) The first version of the iPad didn't have features many similar devices now do
B) Mac.World points out that a current Android device isn't making optimal use of its hardware.

Wow, yeah, what a contradiction, haw haw Apple fans, amirite?

 

[AdrianK]

Surely the key to this is finding out why they don't want an iPad, so you can get something that's suitable...?

 

[4DThinker]

Why not an iPad? Not all kids are followers.

Consider the Kindle Fire, the Acer A100, the HTC Flyer, Samsung's Galaxy 7.0, or even the Toshiba 7.0 tablet that will be available soon. All are fully capable of entertaining a teen, with the least capable being the Fire (with no cameras) but the Fire is also the one likely to survive several generations. Android 3.2 on the A100, Flyer (any day now), and Samsung. Not sure what the Toshiba ships with. All reliable hardware companies with years of experience making laptops or phones (HTC) before getting into tablets.