Recommendation for non-iPad?

[ReallyBigFeet]

Depends on one's priorities. As noted, I'm unclear on restrictions on apps that can be stored on the Nook Tablet's SD card storage. In any event, my reading of various reviews doesn't suggest a significant overall advantage of the Nook. But, as always, YMMV.

I've seen 5-6 reviews comparing the Nook Tablet to the Amazon Fire and, as you've indicated, they each only give a "slight" edge/advantage to the Nook Tablet. The Cnet review does a decent job of explaining why you'd pick one over the other given the Nook's edge is so slight.

 

[matt90036]

Depends on one's priorities. As noted, I'm unclear on restrictions on apps that can be stored on the Nook Tablet's SD card storage. In any event, my reading of various reviews doesn't suggest a significant overall advantage of the Nook. But, as always, YMMV.

well it does have volume buttons, is less laggy and has longer battery life. those you cannot dispute. there are other advantages that are less obvious such as better screen quality. KF does have amazon app store which has more apps but from my experience it's not the quantity but the QUALITY of apps that matter. many have reported amazon KF approved apps crashing a lot. the upside of KF is of course their huge ecosystem. I don't think B&N offers any cloud storage but that may change depending how dedicated they are to the tablet market. another advantage of going with KF is that amazon actually opened their platform to the development community, unlike B&N who decided to lock down everything, including the 13GB of internal storage.

 

[Sandman1969]

Why do people start threads like this on here?

It would be like me joining a Audi forum and asking me to recommend a car.

Because I value the opinion of people here? If you actually read the thread you would have noticed I actually received a lot of helpful advice.
You know what is worse? People just complaining about a post, yet not adding anything to the conversation... At least IMHO.


Ultimately, I am probably going the route of a used/refurbished iPad... On that note, the iPad 1 performs fine with iOS 5.x? I know it isn't a Dual Core, but it still is 1GHz. Though it only has 256KB of RAM and doesn't have a Gyroscope (Does that impact the playability of some of the racing games?)

 

[jsh1120]

well it does have volume buttons, is less laggy and has longer battery life. those you cannot dispute. there are other advantages that are less obvious such as better screen quality. KF does have amazon app store which has more apps but from my experience it's not the quantity but the QUALITY of apps that matter. many have reported amazon KF approved apps crashing a lot. the upside of KF is of course their huge ecosystem. I don't think B&N offers any cloud storage but that may change depending how dedicated they are to the tablet market. another advantage of going with KF is that amazon actually opened their platform to the development community, unlike B&N who decided to lock down everything, including the 13GB of internal storage.

Well, I wouldn't necessarily dispute any of the various features since I haven't had unfettered access to either device. But the best comparison of the two I've seen (www.laptopmag.com) gives a slight edge to the Fire.

As an aside, I am somewhat puzzled by the widespread criticism of the absence of a volume button on the KF. I think in the nine months I've used my iPad I've used the volume button perhaps five times. That's because 95% of the time, it's sitting with the volume button on the bottom of the iPad where I can't get at it without picking up the device. But as is the case often in these discussions, ymmv.

I don't put much credence in comments like "many have reported amazon KF approved apps crashing a lot." Nor in vague references to the "QUALITY of apps that matter." (Though I happen to agree that vague statements about vast quantities of available apps is not helpful, either.) The bottom line is that unless there is overwhelming evidence of consistent app failures, relying upon anecdotal reports is risky since so many variables are involved. And that applies to the iPad as well as to other devices.

In short, I hope that both the KF and NT succeed in finding a market niche. Neither is an adequate replacement for my iPad but I wouldn't expect that to be the case. And by the same token, if I did not already own an iPad I might well consider either as a somewhat less functional but much less expensive alternative.

 

[Sandman1969]

Well I am definitely going the route of an original iPad. Found a used one in excellent condition (supposedly) for $250 and includes a case.

She said it was 7 months old, so they must have bought it after the iPad 2 came out.

I was sort of looking forward to having a different OS to mess with, but I think this makes more sense. All of our existing Apps will work and our kids are already accustomed to the interface of iOS.

Can't wait to see my son's eyes light up when he opens that box....

 

[jsh1120]

Well I am definitely going the route of an original iPad. Found a used one in excellent condition (supposedly) for $250 and includes a case.

Good choice. I'm sure your son will love it.

 

[ZBoater]

Well I am definitely going the route of an original iPad. Found a used one in excellent condition (supposedly) for $250 and includes a case.

She said it was 7 months old, so they must have bought it after the iPad 2 came out.

I was sort of looking forward to having a different OS to mess with, but I think this makes more sense. All of our existing Apps will work and our kids are already accustomed to the interface of iOS.

Can't wait to see my son's eyes light up when he opens that box....

Congrats! I'm still looking for a deal like that!

 

[Sandman1969]

Just picked up the 16GB Wifi iPad1 with the original Apple case.

It was in like new condition like they said.

All for $250. I am so excited for Christmas and see him freak out.

Apparently, they were getting a lot of low ball bids on it and others wanting them to deliver it over an hour to them. I guess it was fate. I just looked this morning, they lived about 20 minutes from, grabbed it on my way home from work.

It is running an older iOS. I might play with Jail Breaking it beforehand to mess around with since I never really did that myself and I am waiting on the non-Tether to do my iPhone.
Other than that, any reason not upgrading to iOS 5 on it?

I know I made the right choice.

 

[monkeylui]

Well I am definitely going the route of an original iPad. Found a used one in excellent condition (supposedly) for $250 and includes a case.

She said it was 7 months old, so they must have bought it after the iPad 2 came out.

I was sort of looking forward to having a different OS to mess with, but I think this makes more sense. All of our existing Apps will work and our kids are already accustomed to the interface of iOS.

Can't wait to see my son's eyes light up when he opens that box....

That's awesome. My kids use my iPad 1 often.....so often that I upgraded to the iPad 2 when it was released. Lol.

I mentioned my son is also 8. Tonight he wanted to try out the fire. Sure enough he picked up on it very quick. Lol.

 

[Capt T]

Just picked up the 16GB Wifi iPad1 with the original Apple case.

It was in like new condition like they said.

All for $250. I am so excited for Christmas and see him freak out.

Congrats on finding that deal. should make for a fun Christmas.

 

[Lindenhurst]

I have to question the attitudes and parenting skills of those who give an 8 year old a 3G and 3GS iPhone and now wants to get them an iPad alternative such as a Kindle Fire etc.... Perhaps books would be fine, all by themselves?
Not you of course, just a passing comment......

Didn't your Mommy buy you a $500 iPad when you were an 8 year old?

I agree with you 100%. If I could turn the clock back 5 years, I would not have ever bought my boys a Wii, and Xbox, or any other video games. They have caused more fights in my home because of the boys obsession with playing games. 3 years ago we limited the use of these devices to weekend only, and immediately saw a huge improvement in school grades. Now we limit the usage to a certain number of hours on each weekend day, and that in itself is the cause of arguments. The tough part of the equation is that all their friends have them, so they would be the minority if they didn't. Not that that issue should make a difference, but I really think that there are major downsides to today's "tech" revolution and the effect it has on kids. I still can't fathom that tv commercials for Call of Duty are considered acceptable today, and that parents would buy their kids games geared toward killing.

What ever happened to the good old days?

 

[Sandman1969]

Didn't your Mommy buy you a $500 iPad when you were an 8 year old?

I agree with you 100%. If I could turn the clock back 5 years, I would not have ever bought my boys a Wii, and Xbox, or any other video games. They have caused more fights in my home because of the boys obsession with playing games. 3 years ago we limited the use of these devices to weekend only, and immediately saw a huge improvement in school grades. Now we limit the usage to a certain number of hours on each weekend day, and that in itself is the cause of arguments. The tough part of the equation is that all their friends have them, so they would be the minority if they didn't. Not that that issue should make a difference, but I really think that there are major downsides to today's "tech" revolution and the effect it has on kids. I still can't fathom that tv commercials for Call of Duty are considered acceptable today, and that parents would buy their kids games geared toward killing.

What ever happened to the good old days?

Thanks so much for adding to the actual subject/question and not going the route of passing judgment on someone else's parenting methods. Especially since you wouldn't have any idea of their actual situation.

 

[darngooddesign]

...What ever happened to the good old days?

Lincoln Logs were a choking hazard.

 

[ReallyBigFeet]

What ever happened to the good old days?

For sure...I mean, depending on your sex/race, the good old days may have even prevented you from owning an iPad, let alone posting on THIS forum.

Oh and uncured polio, smallpox, etc. God all this progress sucks doesn't it?

 

[gadget123]

You might be lucky and get a first generation 16GB Wi-fi Ipad second hand for the price of the HP tablet.

The tablet experience is pretty rubbish on anything else right now. I'm sure the HP is also discontinued.