Ipod Touch

I have one, and love it. It is a mini computer and will sinc everything for me from my apple laptop (music, calendar, appts, etc). My almost 5 year old has her own itouch too... long story... but we aquired it for free and my husband has an iphone (which is an itouch plus phone) and already had an itouch (which my daughter used)... so we downloaded educational and fun age appropriate games as well as movies. She doesn't use the web, but the apps and movies come in handy when we are on a long road trip for example.

... we have one.
Its is cool
You can do anything on it.... so KEEP in mind, that kids and adults play fun games on it. Many are 'free'... they are called "apps."
BUT... some of games you have to pay for.
Once my son was playing a game on it... and then my Husband got a BILL for $80+ dollars. Turns out... my son had been playing a game in which he had to 'collect' things on it. Well, each time he got one, he got charged for it.

My son is only 4... and he knows how, quite well... to turn on my Hubby's iTouch, how to put in the password, how to click on things and navigate through it ALL. AND he knows how to download things... although.. he is not allowed to do that.

Yes, the iTouch... like a computer.. .is "online" and you can surf and download things... thus, with a Teen... I do not know how, you would put "parental controls" on a thing like an iTouch.
I am not the techie in the family.

IF you go to an Apple store... they are VERY good, at explaining how it works, what you can do on it and answer ANY of your questions. They are very good... at helping people. That has been my experience.

Go to an Apple store... and just talk to them. Ask them anything...

But yes, it is a great gadget.
Don't know if for your daughter or not... but it is fun/useful/and great.

all the best,
Susan

Ah yes, I was just having this discussion, like literally 20 minutes ago, with my brother! My niece wants one too,she's almost 14. It's an iPod on steriods basically. It is essentially an iPhone but she can't talk on it. It has all the same features as a lap top, it's just smaller. They are really cool. If she's responsible and you trust her, consider it, but it comes with a hefty price tag!

I LOVE MY TOUCH!!!!!!! Basically it's a mp3 player with a mini computer put in it. That is the only way to describe it. I have several application (computer software basically) that help me with my homework, white noise maker, baby flash cards, when I had my phone turned off I was able to text people with an application. (some apps are free some aren't so that could be a problem, but you would need an itunes account with a credit card linked to it) I watch my netflix on it.
I agree to go to the apple store so that they can help you pick out the size of memory/even if you want to give her a touch. There are more age appropriate that you can get.

This must be the conversation, my nearly 15 year old wants one for xmas.

It's like a mini Ipad, or as another poster said: an Ipod on steriods.

She claims this is the only thing she wants. Not sure if it's right to indulge her so much.

This is just me but at age 35+, I had a hard time justifying buying a $200+ gadget for myself let alone a 15 year old. However I did purchase one and I use it for downloading books (recreational and education reading) and recording my classes for school. In that sense, it was worth the money but otherwise (for me) it's just a really expensive alarm clock =)

Santa brought my two oldest daughters the ipod touch last year. They were about 13 and 14 years old. They love it and so do i. We have no complaints :) We got wi fi for the house and it made it so much better. The new ipod touch has photo/video capabilities. I have researched a tiny bit.... it seems to have both and cost about 220. I borrow the ipod touch's when i go to bed and check my email and mamasource :) I have nothing negative to say about it. We are actually considering getting my two youngest the ipod touch this year. Crazy i know....but... they have used their sisters all year. They all loved it and took very good care of it. Many places now have wi fi.... our grocery store, doctors, some restaurants.... it really keeps the kids entertained (and the parents) and is a life saver.

She can go online with it. Do your research if you have ANY issues with her having unsupervised online access.