<p>Trying to decide on a group gift for older s. He doesnt want to pay for an exta dataplan on an Ipad, so am leaning towards a kindle. Thoughts, suggestion, places for the best deal?? Help. Am leaning towards the kindle Fire. Thoughts?</p>
<p>Why does he need an extra data plan for an IPad? I have had one for 1 1/2 years and mine is wifi only. I have never needed a data plan at all.</p>
<p>NOW…the options…it depends on what he really wants. If he wants an ereader only, then the Nook or Kindle are fine. DH has a Nook Color, and DD has a Kindle. They wanted something more lightweight than the IPad. In DD’s case, the choice was made based on what held a charge the longest (as she is where there is no electricity)…and the Kindle won. DH loves his Nook Color. He calls it the IPad for cheapies…and he is right (less apps but really similar function. </p>
<p>I prefer my IPad. The screen is larger. And when I travel, I take ONLY my IPad. I can access email, read, play games, whatever. It is multipurpose. I have a first gen one so I do not have a camera…but my friends who do like that function too.</p>
<p>Find out what your son wants to use the device FOR. If it’s for books only, then get an ereader. They are more compact and the size of an actual book. I personally would get something that he can read outdoors…something the IPad doesn’t do well.</p>
<p>We’ve been discussing it. DH has the phone/data plan for his Ipad and it had been extremely helpful, especially overseas. DS would be inclined to use the bells and whistles if we provided it (they are techno-geeks) but would be satisfied to be able to read his magazine subscriptions and watch videos, but he’d probably still carry a lot of his other electronics as well.</p>
<p>You can get iPad without data plan–they come wi-fi only. My H loves his. His is 3G but you don’t have to activate a plan but can have one for it if you travel.
I have a Kindle Fire and love it. Smaller size than iPad so easier to carry around. Got e-mail, apps, and web surfing (but not as fast as iPad). I download library books (regular and audio). We have Netflix and I watch movies on it also.</p>
<p>What kind of reader is he? Will he be doing a lot of travel?</p>
<p>We are a house of readers. I prefer to have a standalone e-reader because when I read I don’t want to be distracted by apps (that’s what my iPhone is for.) D1 feels the same as does DH…most of the time. We happily consider ourselves to be “Barnes & Noble people” so we all have Nook’s: DH has the 1st edition, while D1 & I have the Simple Touch (apparently D1 has her eye on the new backlit edition that’s coming out soon since then she won’t need a booklight when she reads in bed.) I like the eInk. I resisted an e-reader for a long time because of the glare of the screen. That’s one of the reasons I’m not temped by one of the tablets (Kindle Fire, Nook Color, iPad.)</p>
<p>Having said that, DH is reading on his iPad more than he expected because he’s been traveling a lot. He says it’s nice to have one device that he can do everything on, without having to carry a Nook & a laptop.</p>
<p>Just cked with DH. Not sure he has used the dataplan in europe but has used the dataplan on his ipad enough to justify it. Like in the gym or hotels when he has to pay for data.</p>
<p>The great thing about Kindle Fire is the back lit screen to read at night. The library books I get are usually Kindle editions and are delivered wirelessly to my Kindle through Amazon. Always feels like magic!</p>
<p>Thanks, gouf. Thats the kind of info I was looking for. The backlit aspect is a great feature. </p>
<p>I know my s, and as I said we’ve had preliminary conversations. If we were to get the Ipad, we’d get the one with the data feature option to give him flexibility. But we probably dont want to spend that wnad he doesnt really <em>need</em> it, though would use it if he had it. I know my kids.</p>
<p>He has an amazon account so the kindle fire so far seems to make the most sense. Any other features I sould be comparing?</p>
<p>Just want to make sure you know Kindle Fire is wi-fi only. He won’t be able to access Amazon or email without a wi-fi connection.</p>
<p>The other thing to know in choosing Kindle vs Nook is that, at present, you can’t download new stuff from B&N from a foreign IP address.</p>
<p>Thanks, DeskPotato. Yes, do realize if we were going to do dataplan it would be Ipad. </p>
<p>Interesting about the limitation with B&N. Thanks.</p>
<p>Is your son nearby? Or going away to school?
One thing that I like about the iPad is the ability to “facetime” with another iPad or iPhone. It’s very similar to Skype but you just “call” up the other device (works through wifi). My D has an iPad and we face time often–cheaper than air flights! Super easy! iPad of course has probably the most apps available since it’s Apple. Web surfing is nicer on the iPad since the screen is larger.</p>
<p>Kindle Fire (like I said, I love mine) is smaller (lighter, more portable), and since run by Amazon has the best availability and ease to get books. Being the size of a large paperback , it feels natural to read on. You can also download music and get magazines and newspapers. The screen is a nice size to watch movies or you tube.
I have a few games on mine–good size for card games etc.
I’d say buy the Kindle–it’s much cheaper and someone in the family will adopt it immediately if you decide to get another iPad!</p>
<p>I was in the process of shopping for an Ipad for my eldest son recently, when he bought his current GF of only several months duration home to meet us, and he announced she had already bought him one! When I checked around with friends to see if this is what kids do nowadays - nobody seemed surprised. They both have good jobs, but like to spend money.</p>
<p>Anyway, if you’ve decided to go with the Ipad, the middle amount of memory is more than adequate - to buy the highest amount costs a lot more.</p>
<p>I learned about all these products at BB, but purchased at Apl. Their warranty is cheaper and not as long - but they Ipad doesn’t have a 4 year lifespan. BB had a better selection of covers.</p>
<p>gouf,
This would be a gift for his 26th b’day. He lives across country. We can do facetime with our phones, though in truth we haven’t yet. I did once with a friend in Texas. It was fun.</p>
<p>Parent-
Does your s’s gf want a second bf?? She can buy him an ipad too!! :D</p>
<p>His gf bought him som expensive Brooks Bros shirts at the holiday season. I dont spend that kind of $$ on my DH’s shirts!</p>
<p>Jym, iPad iPad iPad!<br>
I use my iPad for kindle books for amazon, the only thing I don’t get on the iPad is the “Kindle lending library” free one book a month. big whoop. </p>
<p>I took the Kindle fire to England instead of the iPad and began to HATE it. Typing was in issue (not on the iPad). Antenna was weak, so when H was wifi connected in the hotel room on his Samsung tablet, I’d have to go to the lounge with the Kindle. </p>
<p>iPad data plan is pretty cheap around here, lots cheaper than a phone data plan. Gives you just enough data to do email when traveling, or ya know other important forum checking.</p>
<p>You can read the iPad in the dark, too.</p>
<p>If he prefers the form/shape of the Kindle… go for a different tablet than the Kindle fire. Although I admit, I don’t have the latest rev of the Kindle, we got the first gen Fire.</p>
<p>Oh man, and just when I was convinced to get the kindle…</p>
<p>I use my tmobile phone to connect my ipad to 4g when I don’t have access to free wifi for my iPad. I could see that it would pay off for someone who travels and stays in expensive hotels where they charge for wifi to have a 4g version, otherwise it is extra upfront and a monthly payment that isn’t really necessary. The iPad is a wonderful device and would be my choice if money is no option. FaceTime is a great option.</p>
<p>The ongoing cost of content is often an overlooked factor in making this decision. The huge amount of free quality content (books, movies, apps, etc) that comes with the Kindle Fire made it the obvious choice for us. My wife reads books, surfs the web, uses apps, watches tv shows and movies up to three hours a days. And six months later it has yet to cost us a dime in content cost.</p>
<p>Those SAME free Kindle books can be loaded onto the IPad…where you can have a Kindle and/or Nook Ap. I do that all the time.</p>
<p>Jym…if he has an IPhone, and plans to take his electronics with him anyway…and you are considering a Kindle Fire which is Wifi only…why wouldn’t you consider an IPad with only wifi?</p>
<p>You don"t need the data plan, D1 just returned from Europe and WIFI access is very easy to come by at hotles, hostels, cafes,etc…also have a Nook, and DW would love to get rid of it and get the IPAD…all 3 kids and i have Ipads,…we all have iphones also,so even if we had no wifi,we do have dataplans on our phones…got with the best,Apple</p>