Gah...can someone help steer me regarding tablets? with Cliffs

[leeland]

SO...I am finally about the jump into the smartphone arena and it will be an android based smartphone.

Cliffs
- I am getting a new smartphone first time ever, coming from a work BB.
- We are getting an iPad gifted to us (iPad 2).
- Kids want to get iPod Touches for x-mas (or a tablet)...something to play games on, watch videos, listen to music.
- I really don't care for the Apple products, wife has iPhone (not tech savy)
- I have to manage all electronics
- I would prefer to get an android tablet (cheaper, read decent reviews)
- BIG unknown is how you can manage all devices on a particular brand so you can share apps that you have paid for (may be the deciding factor...may be a non factor)


My wife has an iPhone and she is not the best with computers thus I have to help her generally with everything related to the phone.

We are getting a used Ipad 2 gifted to us for the holidays from my father in law.

My kids want to get an iPod touch...simply because other kids have them and they want to do all the fun stuff on them.

If I am going to spend a couple hundred bucks on a device I keep telling my wife why not get a Nexus tablet for each kid for the same price (larger screen, can do just about anything an Apple device can within reason, cheaper than a Mini, more storage...etc.)...

The wife's point is that she thinks we can get a base account with iTunes and share all the apps across the devices...which I am assuming you could do on either device...

Can anyone give me their opinion on what would be easiest to manage from an apps standpoint...

If one has a better selection for games, educational programs..etc?

I don't see the kids using them THAT much for education...but it would be nice.

I personally don't like the Apple products but if it would be easiest to manage then I guess I am ok with it. If I am getting an Android based phone, I would be the one installing and managing the account for the most part.

Oh..and if anyone asks why buy kids a tablet, they have saved their money for the device and are paying half so it isn't like they haven't worked for it.

Thanks in advance for any comments...

 

[vshah]

on an android tablet, you can just designate one google/gmail account as the app buying account. use this account across all android devices (in addition to the device owner's personal account) and you will have access to all apps across all devices with a single purchase.

personally i like the layout of the play store way way better than the itunes store. you can browse and install apps direct a device from the web interface at play.google.com

the nexus tablets also allow multi user login, so each of your kids could have their own profile on there with their favorite apps / individualized home screens etc.

 

[dlock13]

on an android tablet, you can just designate one google/gmail account as the app buying account. use this account across all android devices (in addition to the device owner's personal account) and you will have access to all apps across all devices with a single purchase.

personally i like the layout of the play store way way better than the itunes store. you can browse and install apps direct a device from the web interface at play.google.com

the nexus tablets also allow multi user login, so each of your kids could have their own profile on there with their favorite apps / individualized home screens etc.

I was about to mention the Nexus tablets. I'm near positive you can use the same Google account for each user on the same tablet. They can just transform their look.

 

[lopri]

The wife's point is that she thinks we can get a base account with iTunes and share all the apps across the devices...which I am assuming you could do on either device...

True among Apple devices. But it is a bit of chore to log in and out of iTunes, iTunes U, AppStore, iBooks, etc. Contents downloaded by one account will not discriminate against other logins, and logout isn't automatic which means things can get quite confusing. Remember, too, that the contents can be added/removed from iTunes on your desktop computer. It can be chaotic although you will eventually sort out what's what.

So in my experience sharing iPad with someone else (even if that someone is someone you love) wasn't too pleasant. It's OK to have an iPad in the house so that anyone can kill time in the bathroom, but doing something personal or for a period of time could be frustrating.

As to Apps, it's totally up to you and your family. Just keep in mind that whatever you buy with Apple/iTunes account will not be available on Android or Windows Phone/RT, and vice versa. Only medium that can access contents from different platforms as of now is x86 Windows (your desktop).

 

[TuxDave]

True among Apple devices. But it is a bit of chore to log in and out of iTunes, iTunes U, AppStore, iBooks, etc. Contents downloaded by one account will not discriminate against other logins, and logout isn't automatic which means things can get quite confusing. Remember, too, that the contents can be added/removed from iTunes on your desktop computer. It can be chaotic although you will eventually sort out what's what.

So in my experience sharing iPad with someone else (even if that someone is someone you love) wasn't too pleasant. It's OK to have an iPad in the house so that anyone can kill time in the bathroom, but doing something personal or for a period of time could be frustrating.

As to Apps, it's totally up to you and your family. Just keep in mind that whatever you buy with Apple/iTunes account will not be available on Android or Windows Phone/RT, and vice versa. Only medium that can access contents from different platforms as of now is x86 Windows (your desktop).

Why is there all this logging in and out and what not? Just pick a family iTunes account and leave it logged in for everything. I do wish iOS would support multiuser (under one iTunes account) already, that would make all the browser bookmarks/app selection easier to deal with on a shared iPad.

 

[lopri]

Read what this guy says:

http://winsupersite.com/mobile-devices/when-shopping-tablets-buy-ecosystems-not-devices

He's trying darn hard to appear unbiased, rofl. He illustrated pros/cons of each platforms neatly. But "mix-and-match" is NOT what I'd consider sound approach.

 

[MrX8503]

You don't have to log in/out to share apps. Log in once, done.

Me and my gf share the same Apple ID for apps and have different emails for iCloud. Separate iCloud for, iMessage, Game Center, contacts, etc. Works perfect.

 

[vshah]

seems sharing apps is a non-issue on both platforms.

maybe a good next step would be to browse both the play store and the itunes store to see if any one has certain apps your kids may like that don't have an equivalent in the other?

 

[ponyo]

If iPod Touch is what your kids want, I would suggest getting that. You can get refurbished iPod Touch 4th Gen 8GB for $129 and 32GB for $179 direct from the Apple Store. http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/specialdeals/ipod

I would recommend the 32GB as iOS apps and games take up quite bit of room. My daughter prefers the iPod Touch to her iPad.

 

[dagamer34]

You don't have to log in/out to share apps. Log in once, done.

Me and my gf share the same Apple ID for apps and have different emails for iCloud. Separate iCloud for, iMessage, Game Center, contacts, etc. Works perfect.

That... just sounds like a mess waiting to happen.

 

[TuxDave]

That... just sounds like a mess waiting to happen.

My wife and I have been doing it for a while and it's Apple perspective that a family shouldn't have to repurchase an app over and over for each device that they own. Unless you're focusing on the "girlfriend" vs "family". Anything involving a girlfriend is a mess waiting to happen.