Android tablet for kids ? Nabi vs Nexus

[Tom]

Want some opinions about the tablet designed for kids, Nabi 2, versus the Nexus 7.

I don't follow Android tablet market, how much difference in power and features is there ?

Is there a lot of kids software available for the Nexus 7 ?

Is the Nabi 2 limited in what Android stuff will work ?

Our kids love ipod 4 touch games, there's tons of them for free or little money..is that true of Android now or how is that coming along ?

 

[zerogear]

To be honest, I think iPad/iOS system has more in terms of education/kids oriented software. Depending on what you need Android should suffice. Nabi has lower resolution, and maybe incompatible with some software out on the marketplace. Where as Nexus is a a developer device/standard, so it most likely has more support for general app.

Though Nabi seems to be a lot more "rugged".

You should take a look on the Google Play Store and see if it offers the software/apps that you want.

 

[akugami]

Used iPad 1. Tons of educational apps that still runs great on the iPad 1. This is one area Android will have a tough time catching up to iOS. It's not a matter of can they do it on Android, they can, it's just a case of more development resources being thrown at iOS in the edutainment front.

 

[Tom]

wtf ? Thanks for the thread craps.

If anyone has any actual knowledge about my questions I'd really appreciate hearing from them.

 

[SilthDraeth]

Reading about the Nabi 2, I Would say go with it. However, I read that by default, it doesn't include the Google Framework to get Google Play Store, and access to additional apps. So it is pretty locked down. The bonus of course is the preloaded software, which seems pretty nice. I would buy it for my kids.

However, that said, my kids love my Nexus 7, but then they aren't playing educational games that much with it. Writing this thread, I realize I need to get some.

The Nexus 7 will most likely be quicker, more support, etc, and as already mentioned it has a better display.

Now if you are comfortable with getting the device, and trying to root it, there may be some way to get play store without losing all the kid software. If you just want a device with minimal fuss, maybe the NABI would do it for you. I wish I had more of an opinion on it, except to say that the I really like the Nexus 7, and I don't think it can be beat for the money.

Obligatory: How old are the kids in question?

 

[Madwand1]

There are probably more free/cheap games on Android, as iPad owners are overall more willing to spend for apps/etc. Be sure to lock down the market and especially in-app purchases though -- many of these "free" games are funded through silly in-app purchases.

 

[psych2]

I'd go with the Nexus, there are a lot of great apps for kids, here are some suggestions:

Wornworld Saga https://play.google.com/store/apps/...sMSwxLDMsIm5ldC5yb2JvdG1lZGlhLndvcm13b3JsZCJd

Paint Joy https://play.google.com/store/apps/...251bGwsMSwxLDEsImNvbS5iZWpveS5taW5pcGFpbnQiXQ..

 

[Rottie]

Have your kids test drive Nabi 2 or Nexus 7…..you will know the answer…..

Enuff said.

 

[Tom]

Have your kids test drive Nabi 2 or Nexus 7…..you will know the answer…..

Enuff said.

Look kids, Santa brought you 2 tablets..but you only get to keep one..

Not useful.

 

[gorcorps]

Look kids, Santa brought you 2 tablets..but you only get to keep one..

Not useful.

Everybody's trying to help you and you're pissing all over the suggestions. There was no crapping in this thread aside from you and your attitude... everything I read was valid suggestions from personal experience.

I hope nobody else posts in this thread and leaves you on your own.

 

[MrX8503]

wtf ? Thanks for the thread craps.

If anyone has any actual knowledge about my questions I'd really appreciate hearing from them.

People have given you help but appreciation is no where to be found. Test out the tablets, check out their apps. It's not that hard.

 

[Oyeve]

N/M

 

[akugami]

wtf ? Thanks for the thread craps.

If anyone has any actual knowledge about my questions I'd really appreciate hearing from them.

I don't own a Nabi. I do own a Nexus 7. I also have an iPad in the house.

I'm not threadcrapping. From your OP (and consequent posts), it seems like you were trying to decide on a device for your kids. You even mention your kids loved the iPod Touch games. That's the premise I was working off of when I posted.

Instead of saying, thanks but I was looking for an Android only device, you get yourself worked up over a non-issue. That's a slap to the face of anyone trying to help you.

 

[Tom]

Everybody's trying to help you and you're pissing all over the suggestions. There was no crapping in this thread aside from you and your attitude... everything I read was valid suggestions from personal experience.

I hope nobody else posts in this thread and leaves you on your own.

I asked for info about Android tablets for kids. I appreciate the posts that have any relevance to that. Thanks to all.

not for info about ipads, or tablets in general, or ways to find out answers in other ways, ie, have the kids figure it out by testing themselves.

I did not start the thread for general discussion about kids and tablets..I was pretty specific.

I'm already familiar with what's available for kids on ipods/ipads, that's why I didn't ask about that. Anyone who read my initial post could probably figure that out.

But hey, I don't care if people want to talk about other stuff, but I'll post what I want to in response.

 

[Oyeve]

I asked for info about Android tablets for kids. I appreciate the posts that have any relevance to that. Thanks to all.

not for info about ipads, or tablets in general, or ways to find out answers in other ways, ie, have the kids figure it out by testing themselves.

I did not start the thread for general discussion about kids and tablets..I was pretty specific.

I'm already familiar with what's available for kids on ipods/ipads, that's why I didn't ask about that. Anyone who read my initial post could probably figure that out.

But hey, I don't care if people want to talk about other stuff, but I'll post what I want to in response.

And you still come off as a dick. STFU and test these yourself. Dont ask if you dont want responces. Man, I feel bad for your kids.

 

[Tom]

I don't own a Nabi. I do own a Nexus 7. I also have an iPad in the house.

I'm not threadcrapping. From your OP (and consequent posts), it seems like you were trying to decide on a device for your kids. You even mention your kids loved the iPod Touch games. That's the premise I was working off of when I posted.

Instead of saying, thanks but I was looking for an Android only device, you get yourself worked up over a non-issue. That's a slap to the face of anyone trying to help you.

I'm not worked up. But let me ask you, if I say the kids like ipod games as a way of asking about comparable stuff on ANDROID tablets, do you really think I need someone to tell me about the ipad ? Don't you think its likely I have heard of the ipad ?

btw, as it happens we ended up getting another ipod yesterday for a birthday, so we've now got 4 of those as well as 3 iphones. And we'll probably be giving an ipad 2, or a mini if it comes out, as a gift in October, so I'm not dissing Apple stuff.

We couldn't find the Nabi 2 anywhere but Best Buy and by Sunday morning there wasn't time to go there before the party. And I hadn't really decided if it was something we wanted. And its not easy to find the Nexus 7 locally either although I did get an 8 gb one today at Office Depot. Not sure if I'm gonna keep it though, they have a stupid return policy there so not really feasible to try it out unless I'm sure I want it, but I'm not sure if its going to be difficult to buy one during the holiday season, probably going to be a hot item. So I bought it but can't open it.

Feel like I'm writing a blog here..but if any of you have a bunch of kids or grandkids you might understand why I didn't post every detail and possibility in my initial post, I wanted specific info which apparently doesn't exist here.

 

[akugami]

1. I've got 3 kids with the youngest being 2 months old. I get 4 hours of sleep per day. Doesn't give me an excuse to come off as a jerk.

2. I don't know what devices you have. I'm not you. I was merely trying to be helpful. The iPad has a much better selection of high quality apps for kids. Many of them free. That's a fact. Do with it what you will.

3. Have a nice day.

 

[yragcom1]

I'm not here to get into a pissing match with the IPad/Apple lovers, because I don't know anything about it. I DO have a Nabi 2, and I can talk about that. It's a great pad, especially if you don't want to have to worry about your kid breaking it. Between it's construction and it's rubber shell, it can really take a licking.

It's built on the Android platform, and while it doesn't come with Google Play installed, there are plenty of vids on YouTube that show how you can install it. They probably did that to prevent kids from installing software that charges Daddy's credity card without their knowing. It is pre-installed with a bunch of books and programs on it, and the Nabi setup is pretty easy. You can access the "Daddy Mode" that will allow you to use it like a ordinary Android tablet.

In comparision to the Nexus, the only thing the Nabi 2 lacks is screen resolution (1024x600 vs. 1280x800). They both use the Tegra 3 Quad Core processors. The Nexus is made with Gorilla Glass, but in overall durability, I'd bet on the Nabi 2. They have Nabi 2 drop tests on YouTube that are darn impressive.

The Nabi 2 has a smaller battery life, but it's still pretty good. It also has a MicroSD slot and a HDMI out, that the Nexus 7 doesn't.

Is the tablet kid friendly? Yep. My 5 year old loves her Nabi 2 pad, and with the option to add Google Play, I made the right call. I couldn't see dropping $400 for a tablet for my kid that would break the first time she dropped it. But $200 for a kid-proof, powerful Andriod tablet she won't outgrow for a while? I can do that.

Questions?

 

[Tom]

Thanks for the awesome response !

 

[Tom]

1. I've got 3 kids with the youngest being 2 months old. I get 4 hours of sleep per day. Doesn't give me an excuse to come off as a jerk.

2. I don't know what devices you have. I'm not you. I was merely trying to be helpful. The iPad has a much better selection of high quality apps for kids. Many of them free. That's a fact. Do with it what you will.

3. Have a nice day.

Depends how you define jerk I guess.

I asked for info about Android tablets for kids, particularly the Nabi 2 as it compares to the Nexus 7.

Your post was completely irrelevant, which is what thread crap means. If you look at the times of the posts you will see I didn't say anything for a long time, but after a while I began to think that your post basically killed my thread, by changing the subject.

So I made a post to get the thread going again. I meant nothing personal, thread crap is an internet term, it isn't a personal attack. Sorry if you thought I meant it in that way.

As far as you suggestion for an ipad 1, I don't know of any source for new or factory refurbished ipad 1s. Craigslist is mostly a waste of time trying to find ipads, its overrun with scammers promoting websites. And as far as I know a really nice used ipad 1, about $250 ?, isn't enough cheaper than a refurbished ipad 2, $319, given the better features of the ipad 2.

And the Android tablets might not be cheap enough either, but as I already said, this thread's purpose was to get info about Android tablets, not to compare them to iPads.

 

[Rottie]

Look kids, Santa brought you 2 tablets..but you only get to keep one..

Not useful.

FINE Tommy do what you want is best for your kids. I hope one day your kids will find you lied about Santa Claus….

 

[Tom]

FINE Tommy do what you want is best for your kids. I hope one day your kids will find you lied about Santa Claus….

Sorry for not thanking you profusely for your wonderful insight that people can buy products and try them out, I never would have thought of that.

Aside from the Santa issue, it isn't easy to give things to kids and them take them away, another problem with your suggestion, although I'm hesitant to tell you, I don't want to hurt your feeloings again.

 

[AstroManLuca]

My wife's rooted Nook Tablet will eventually be a kid tablet once my kid is old enough. One time she went on a trip and her hair spray leaked all over the inside of her suitcase, making the screen look all ugly. Still works fine but the screen is permanently streaked. So if anything happens to it we don't really care.

There's a free app called Zoodles Kid Mode that lets you lock down the tablet and only allow your kid to use approved apps. It has a bunch of built in kid games already, you can specify multiple children, and it picks out age-appropriate stuff depending on which kid is using it. My only real issue with it is that the unlocking method for parents seems like it would be too easy for a kid to figure out once they hit about age 3 or 4. But it's still worth looking at.

 

[gorcorps]

My wife's rooted Nook Tablet will eventually be a kid tablet once my kid is old enough. One time she went on a trip and her hair spray leaked all over the inside of her suitcase, making the screen look all ugly. Still works fine but the screen is permanently streaked. So if anything happens to it we don't really care.

There's a free app called Zoodles Kid Mode that lets you lock down the tablet and only allow your kid to use approved apps. It has a bunch of built in kid games already, you can specify multiple children, and it picks out age-appropriate stuff depending on which kid is using it. My only real issue with it is that the unlocking method for parents seems like it would be too easy for a kid to figure out once they hit about age 3 or 4. But it's still worth looking at.

Why wouldn't they use a numeric password lock or something?

 

[Geekbabe]

Want some opinions about the tablet designed for kids, Nabi 2, versus the Nexus 7.

I don't follow Android tablet market, how much difference in power and features is there ?

Is there a lot of kids software available for the Nexus 7 ?

Is the Nabi 2 limited in what Android stuff will work ?

Our kids love ipod 4 touch games, there's tons of them for free or little money..is that true of Android now or how is that coming along ?

A couple of thoughts here..

If your house is like most, whatever tablet you chose will eventually be passed down to a younger child. If this is true in your case I would buy the tablet with the strongest features. You can always pick up a really durable case for the Nexus 7.

Also important, I understand you aren't considering iPad here but I have to ask, how old are the kids and what devices do their friends have? Being able to play the same games that your friends are playing, using the same apps is a powerful thing for kids.