iPad vs. Android Tablets: A Kids Perspective
Ever since the original iPad came out people have loved it. There is online web browsing on a big screen, applications of all different categories, music, movies, games and much more. And after the new iPad 2, more and more people think that the iPad is the best tablet on the market.
That is, for adults.
But what about kids like me? After all, the iPad is not the only tablet out there. The Motorola Xoom, Samsung Galaxy 10.1 and Asus Eee Pad are all new tablets on the market. HP is also out now with a new TouchPad, which uses the WebOS operating system. But which device would kids like?
The Options
The iPad 2, Motorola Xoom, Samsung Galaxy 10.1, and HP Touchpad are all great tablets. To be honest I’d be really happy if my parents got me any of these tablets. Any of these tablets will be good for most of the things kids would use a laptop for, except for typing and homework.
Most people use the iPad for browsing the web, doing e-mail, using Facebook and watching movies. Some adults love to play games on the iPad, as well. My mom likes her iPad for web browsing, reading e-mail, and using Facebook because she finds it easy to use, and light.
I currently use an Android phone right now, as well as an Android tablet. Android has more customization features such as home screen widgets and moving backgrounds, and there are a lot of free Android apps, which is great for kids who have limited allowances. Even though the iPad has more apps than Android tablets, it doesn’t make much difference because most good apps such as Angry Birds or Homerun 3D are available on both platforms. Android apps get updated faster than iPad apps, due to Apple’s harder update process. Android devices offer a lot of choices from different companies with wide ranges of features.
ThinkPad Android Tablet with Pen
There are some cheap Android tablets, but be careful because they probably don’t work with Android 3.1 Honeycomb, which is the first version of Android you should use with a tablet. Android devices crash more often than iPhones and iPads, and they can be more complicated to use.
The HP TouchPad is brand new. I haven’t had a chance to use it. When I asked around, none of my friends even knew about it yet. Some kids know about Android tablets, but the iPad is definitely the most well-known of all tablet devices. There aren’t a lot of apps available yet for the TouchPad, which is one reason why kids probably won’t like it. Also, there is no 3G version of the TouchPad so far, which means you can’t use it in the car.
From a kid’s perspective, I would have to go with the iPad 2 out of the three. The iPad has a lot more apps than the Android and HP tablets out there, and 100,000 of them are made especially for the iPad: like Angry Birds and Fruit Ninja. The iPad 2 just works a lot better than Android tablets.
Tablet Only?
Right now, a tablet is not a good choice for a kid who needs a computer for school. Tablets are not good for typing reports, making presentations, and using apps required by most schools today. I really couldn’t have done this review on an iPad or Xoom, for example. You can use Google Docs on a tablet, which I tried while writing this review, but it is hard to type, make corrections or print from a tablet. If you are thinking about getting your kid one device for school, get a low priced laptop or netbook (like Asus or HP or MacBook) instead of a tablet. Only get a tablet if your kid already has a computer for school.
The Best Tablet for Kids
So, in my opinion, the iPad 2 would be the best tablet for anyone because of its wide range of apps, good performance, ease of use, and beautiful 9.7 inch display.
So, what would you choose? I hope lots of kids and parents will share your ideas in the comments section below.
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I wish Apple would embrace Java and Flash. The decision might be a lot easier. I’m leaning toward the ASUS Transformer because of the keyboard possibilities and battery length.
Most useful page that helped me learn more about androids is this http://techworld-today.com/2011/09/cheap-android-tablets-arnova-coming/
I think it’s silly when discussing tablets with people regarding strengths and weaknesses, and the best thing they can come up with is “oh well they’re both equal since they both have the same great apps: Angry Birds and PvZ etc”
Really? Games? I think the best “kids” tablet is an android tablet. Inexpensive. App games that are also on iOS. A toy really.
But if you really want to argue about the quality of apps, then iOS has many quality apps that makes the iPad the reason why professionals use it in their work. Note Taker HD, Notes Plus, VisibleBody, Nova Anatomy series, the whole slew of medical radiology apps that work with PACS, Sketchbook Pro, heck even an app for CAD made by Autodesk. You don’t see quality apps like those on the Android Market.
I have an iPad 2, Asus Transformer, and Moto Xoom. iPad i use for my work needs + entertainment. My kids get their hands on the android ones.
id rather have an ipad. with it, at least everything works and works
well. also, its sexy and interweb is fast and snappy, while being
intuitive. ive played with the samsung slate thing and it was a joke…
non of the apps worked right and the keyboard was horrible. ill get the
ipad, thank you
id rather have an ipad. with it, at least everything works and works
well. also, its sexy and interweb is fast and snappy, while being
intuitive. ive played with the samsung slate thing and it was a joke…
non of the apps worked right and the keyboard was horrible. ill get the
ipad, thank you
it really comes down to the ammount of apps available for purchase. all comptuers are the same… its the applications that are on them is what makes them special
I’m in the process of buying my 7 year old and 5 year old iPads for xmass and your post has made me my decision far simpler
I would love for them to go android but apple just works
Also my iPad never hangs so from a pure gaming side the iPad 2 is the winner
Thx for the post
We are trying to decide what to get for our 6-year-old son. Nabi has a tablet coming out next week. It has an Android OS. All of the devices used at my son’s school are Mac, so we’re debating what to get him.
was also looking into the nabi kids tablet with android.. anyone have any info or experience with it. Its for a 7yr old who loves the games/apps on the ipad but dont feel like spending that much on one for a kid. lol
I found more details about android here http://techworldtimes.com/
Our 1 and 3 year old kids love the animal match game called
Animemory. The game has great graphics and funny extra elements like
falling fruit and really nice sounds!And the game is made for both the IPad and Android tablets!
IPad: http://itunes.apple.com/tw/app/id452678156?mt=8
Android: https://market.android.com/details?id=air.nl.studioparkers.AndroidMemory
Would like to note that you can use a Bluetooth keyboard with the iPad, which is a plus for typing and school.
Used both ipad and android. I would definitely say the XOOM by motorola was far easier to use navigate and operate. Android has my vote. As for the apps… you can get angry birds on both and what may be on ipad may not be on android but android will have something just like it. My Xoom has 10.1 display is easier to get movies and music on then the ipad was has 3g and is being upgraded to 4g next week no extra cost. Android is definitely more customizable.
4 your androids – music, mp3 free download, legal content.
http://mp3filez.org
this is wrong …. ipad don’t have assassin creed revelation or fifa 12 etc but android have …
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All depends on the age of the kids. How old was the kid that wrote this article?