Tablet recommendations:

[rivan]

I'm looking at getting a second tablet for a kid's birthday later this month. We have a Fire and thinking about a second one but thought I'd check here for feedback, as I have some issues with the Fire.

Price point is incredibly important - I might do $250. $300 would have to have a new

I'm a tablet noob, and while I'm technologically competent, I don't think I'm interested in the time or effort to root (and supporting it from then on). At this point, I prefer the fully-supported, warranty-covered setup.

If I get a second Fire - will my apps work on both concurrently?

 

[quikah]

what issues do you have with the fire? May or may not be solved with a different tablet depending on what it is.

Do you want another 7" or would like a bigger one?

Apps should work on both if you use the same account.

 

[CuriousMike]

what issues do you have with the fire? May or may not be solved with a different tablet depending on what it is.

Good point.

I rooted my KindleFire with one-eye open and it worked.
It's pretty sexy now running ICS.

 

[Bateluer]

If I get a second Fire - will my apps work on both concurrently?

Can someone answer this definitively?


To the OP, do you want to stay in the 7in category, or move up to ~8in, or 10.1in tablets? Those widen the options. Galaxy Tab 7 Plus is a premium tablet, will get ICS, and it can be found for 300 regularly.

Lots of Tegra 2 powered tablets can be found for cheap now as vendors clear inventory, but I'd hesitate on those. While I like my Tab 8.9, the limitations with Tegra 2 would make me wary recommending them to others.

This summer, we'll have a slew of high performance, high resolution, ICS sporting tablets.

 

[preslove]

How old is the kid? Archos is putting out a $130 7" tablet for kids, but it hasn't come out yet. It's supposed to some time in April, but who knows if they'll actually be in stores this month.

 

[dagamer34]

Find a used iPad 1.

 

[smartpatrol]

Find a used iPad 1.

This. You can find 1st Gen iPads on eBay in your price range. That beats the crap out of any budget-priced Android tablets IMO.

 

[Specop 007]

How old is the kid? Archos is putting out a $130 7" tablet for kids, but it hasn't come out yet. It's supposed to some time in April, but who knows if they'll actually be in stores this month.

I havent had good luck with Archos stuff. Been through 2 of their products, I dont suspect I'll go for a third.

 

[akugami]

Used iPad 1. Battery life is fantastic compared to most $200'ish tablets that don't have an Apple logo on it. It's very sturdy, my kids have dropped the iPad 1 multiple times. iOS is much more intuitive to use. There's a ton of free games and edutainment apps. I have a few animated audio books that will read in two languages.

 

[superxero044]

I am really happy with ice cream sandwich on my touchpad. Is there any decent android 4 tablet in his price range

 

[annomander]

How old is the kid? Archos is putting out a $130 7" tablet for kids, but it hasn't come out yet. It's supposed to some time in April, but who knows if they'll actually be in stores this month.

my mother had one of them, I hated it, no official app market, stay away

 

[quikah]

Can someone answer this definitively?

I have the same amazon appstore apps installed on my phone and my Acer Iconia tablet. They both work.

No idea about Google play apps.

 

[Bateluer]

I have the same amazon appstore apps installed on my phone and my Acer Iconia tablet. They both work.

No idea about Google play apps.

Google Play apps work across multiple Android devices owned by the same account. Same with the Amazon App Store, under standard Android OS devices.

I was asking about Kindle Fires and their forked Android OS.

 

[rivan]

what issues do you have with the fire? ...

Do you want another 7" or would like a bigger one?

Mostly that I can't (without rooting) use any apps but what I buy from the Amazon app store.

Also - I haven't seen a way to lock down one-touch purchases from Amazon video, so all I let the kid use is Netflix.

An SD slot might be nice as well, if I wanted to load some additional video of my own for car trips.

The size is just fine.

Can someone answer this definitively?
This summer, we'll have a slew of high performance, high resolution, ICS sporting tablets.

Moving to a larger tablet wouldn't bother me, but it's not a selling point.

How old is the kid? Archos is putting out a $130 7" tablet for kids, but it hasn't come out yet. It's supposed to some time in April, but who knows if they'll actually be in stores this month.

He'll be turning 5 this month. He LOVES watching vids on the Fire, so it's turned into a reward item for him. I'd like to get him his own and load a bunch of older cartoons - Bugs and Animaniacs - that sort of thing.

 

[rivan]

Used iPad 1.

I've been thinking about this as well, I've just had terrible luck with buying used over the years.

 

[PeeluckyDuckee]

I would also recommend an iPad 1. They are near android tablet price category and can't be beat in terms of educational apps and apps in general. Not sure about iOS 5 performance though.

 

[TuxDave]

I would also recommend an iPad 1. They are near android tablet price category and can't be beat in terms of educational apps and apps in general. Not sure about iOS 5 performance though.

From an earlier thread, iOS 5.1 seems to bring back life to the iPad 1