Merry Christmas, mamas (and papas)!
My parents have given us money to buy either a smart phone or an iPad as their present to the whole family - awesome! Just curious what you all would recommend? I would mostly want to use it as a more convenient alternative to the desktop, as well as to get access to certain apps. I like the portability of the smart phone but not the recurring cost of a data plan. I think an iPad would be easier for us to use at home, and there is a specific app that my son's school uses that he really wants, but it is only available through Apple. This is one of the reasons we want an iPad instead of a non-Apple tablet. I'd be willing to go non-iPhone for the smart phone, though, since it would be cheaper and the smaller screen would make the apps we are particularly interested in cumbersome to use anyway.
In a nutshell, I think the pros for us of the smart phone would be portability and lower up front costs and the pros of the iPad are usability and lower recurring costs. Is there anything else I should I consider?
Thanks, everyone!
Thanks, everyone! Sounds like the iPad is the way to go!
iPad.
Why???
Because you can get last generation iphones for $1 - $50 depending on the promotion.
So... Since iPhones are essentially free ($1)... I'd get the tablet!
We have both iPhones and an iPad in our house. For the whole family to use, get the iPad. You do still need wifi in order to download apps. Assuming you have that with your home internet service, you and your kids will LOVE the iPad.
If you are looking to get a smart phone, definitely go with an iPhone. They are so intuitive and easy to use. I've had my 4 for the past two years, and have used the heck out of it. My husband just upgraded to the 5, and it is pretty wonderful. I believe you can now get an iPhone 4 for $1 - even with the data plan costing a bit more than non-smartphone prices, it's great. No, it's not the latest iPhone, but you can still do almost everything with it that you can do with the 5 (except it has 3G speed instead of 4G, but if you're converting from a "dumb" phone, it will still seem fantastic! ;) But I don't like for my kids to play on my phone too much. There's too much chance for them to accidentally delete something I need (I keep my calendar on there, email, voicemail, contacts, etc). So if you can only have one or the other, go with the iPad for now, I think.
another vote for iPad. My husband and I both have iPhones, and I have an iPad. The iPhone is great, but too small for the kids to share. The iPad is great, and when I'm home I just use our wireless network. I can usually find a WiFi hotspot when I'm out and about for portability.
I like my iPhone but LOVE my iPad. Since it is for the family go though, go with the iPad! Merry Christmas!!
As a family gift, iPad without a doubt. Since I got mine, I never use my laptop. Love love love my iPad.
We don't have any plans for our smart phones. Don't know why you need one. If you go to the play store you can download anything you want. We just use our old phones for the kids and we do NOT pay anything for their use.
They hook up to the internet through our wireless internet service at home. They hook up at McDonald's, at Burger King, etc....they just can't be "on-line" away from home or out on the highway. Which is fine because they can do other things at that time. At home or out where there is WiFi there is not cost to anyone.
With our old phones the kids play Mine Craft with each other while hubby hosts it, they play games all the time that they don't need the internet with once it is downloaded.
I do however suggest...instead of either of the choices you gave that you consider a tablet.
We got a Nexus tablet for each kid during Thanksgiving break at Staples ($150 each) and they are cool!!!! I go on FB, search costume designs, shop, watch TV or movies through a purchased program, anything you can do on a computer you can do on a tablet EXCEPT fb games and applications that use a host like that. I cannot play FarmTown or Gardens of Time through FB on the tablet. BUT we can play Angry Birds, Mine Craft, Doom GL, dice games, card games, bejeweled, gin rummy, and thousands of other games that you can download from the android market for free or a minimal cost.
I have never paid for a game but hubby paid for Mine Craft so the kids and he could all play together. We do NOT pay a fee for service. It's free through our wireless internet access at home or out at public places.
There is not any reason to have a fee if you just use it the right way. If you are in your car and need to find out the weather ahead, want to go to intellicast.com or something you can use your smart phone to do that. The games that do not use the internet to play are there on the tablet all the time, even out on the highway in the middle of nowhere.
The main reason we do NOT chose to do a smartphone with a plan is that once the kids learn to spell S E X they can go and see just about anything and there isn't much one can do about it. This way we have the kids games on "Kids Place" and they can't go anywhere we don't have allowed for them to get on.
They weren't the 10's but the ones they cleared out to make room for the 10's.
http://www.google.com/nexus/10/
Have you considered iPod touch? You can get more memory, connect via wifi in the home or in hotspots, the camera has been upgraded in the latest model so I understand it is very good now, it's more portable than the iPad. You would not need any contract. I had one for two years and only upgraded to the iphone because my three boys killed it and at this point I needed the phone and a better camera. If your family has apple products you can text message and video chat on the iPod touch with them for free (just like on the iPad). I have the iPad and the iPhone/ iPod touch and I use the iPod touch the most because I download apps/ videos for them to watch while at MDs office, in lines, etc. I also use iPod touch for calendar and grocery lists so I really appreciated the portability.
Did you know that you can buy the ipad mini with CELLULAR? My friend camped out for the iphone5 and he sold it to get the mini with cellular. it is wayyyyyyyy cheaper. Look into it.
without a question get the Ipad. Phones are not really for sharing. Plus the screen is too small.
to the best of my knowledge a iPad still needs a data plan or wi-fi service....I realize they are different - however - in my book - it still needs wireless service.
I have a smart phone. I'm not an "apple" fan so for me? I would chose a Smart phone....however...since this is for the family - iPad or some type of Tablet would be the way to go...
Good luck in your choices!! You have A LOT to choose from!!
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!
Hubby and I both have iPhones, I have the 4S and he has the 5. Hubby and kids got me the New iPad for Christams (LOVE IT!!) and the kids have been spending time on that more than our phones. They also all have their own iPod touches, so I guess we are Apple people.
I'd definitely go for the iPad though if it's meant to replace a computer and be left at home.
iPad.
We have an iPad, it is a FAMILY iPad and it is GREAT and does not have an extra cost like a phone.
Get an Apple, iPad tablet. It is more versatile that way AND will be able to have on it what your son does in school. Schools... use Apple products/computers/iPads etc. Not Androids.
IF you also have MAC computers at home, having an iPad will be very useful. It can all be synced together. Apple products are very flexible that way, you can use it all together and download things/apps and sync it all.
And you can get help from the Apple store people.
If you get a phone, I would get an iPhone. And you can still have apps on it, and probably whatever your son has at school.
BUT, a bigger screen is better to have, like an iPad. A phone, has a small screen.
The iPad, CAN be used as an alternative to a desktop computer.
And you can use it anywhere in the house or out.
And you can get many apps for it.
AND it can be used to get apps for your child like in school.
Think about these aspects.
Especially if you already have other Apple or MAC computers in your home. It can ALL be synced together.
Very convenient and useful.
Much more than an Android phone.
Get an iPad. Not a non-apple tablet.
To use apps and do other desk top like things on a gadget, an iPad is much better, has a bigger screen, and can be used by the whole family and is VERY versatile.
Get the new ipad mini. It will be more portable, and everyone can enjoy it more than a phone --though I have to say I'd go mad without my iphone, but hubby is in technology, so my Ipad was free.
I'd go with the iPad... the smart phones are really small, and the monthly service charges I could do without too.
If portability is really an issue, why not look into the iPad mini? It's the same functionality as the iPad, but it's got a 7.9" display -- so it's about the size of a paperback book. Easily fits into your purse.
The mini starts at $329 so it's a little less than the full size iPad too...
Now -- bear in mind I don't have any of these devices. I'm an android girl. My son has an iPod touch that he just loves though.
We are android people - we have smartphones and tablets that we LOVE. My husband is anti-apple (for us) for many a reason, but admits that for many it is a great product.
For the uses you've described, I would go with the iPad. It sounds like you'll get more use out of it and it will be better for the whole family.
