fourcatmom Posted December 6, 2011 Share Posted December 6, 2011 I am looking for a special gift for my soon to be 11 yo for Christmas. I have considered a new DS or a cheap laptop but I am not really happy with either of those. The itouch look great but seem expensive. She loves to read and write and play games. Is 11 to young for a Kindle and how do they work and what can you do on it? I read a little on Amazon but I wanted to get more info from those who have one. Thanks:001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MeaganS Posted December 6, 2011 Share Posted December 6, 2011 Kindles are dedicated readers, so they are not the same as a tablet (like an iPad). They are fantastic for reading. The screen is a special kind of screen that won't hurt your eyes because it isn't backlit. It has a very long battery life. But if you are looking for it to do anything else other than be a book, it probably isn't your best option. I love mine because I can have hundreds of books on it for free, and wherever I am, I can read something I'm in the mood for. It does have the ability to play some games, but they are pretty basic because of the limitations of the screen and the type of machine it is. So they are mostly word or number games, not action games. As for whether or not 11 is too young, I plan on getting one for my kids as soon as they are reading on their own, so around 6 or 7, so I don't think 11 is too young at all. And we aren't big on technology for young kids in our family. Now, if you are interested in the Kindle Fire, that is a completely different animal. It is more like an iPad than a regular Kindle and can access the internet, videos, and apps. It is more of dedicated entertainment machine than an ereader, and it is backlit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lizzie in Ma Posted December 6, 2011 Share Posted December 6, 2011 The Kindle 3 is probably my favorite gadget ever. You can't beat it for reading and it has some games available for it. It is NOT a tablet, it is a dedicated ereader with pearl eink. There are plenty of cheap android tablets around but for reading I absolutely wouldn't get one. Backlit is not easy on my eyes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DawnM Posted December 6, 2011 Share Posted December 6, 2011 Isn't the Kindle Fire more like a tablet? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lorax Posted December 6, 2011 Share Posted December 6, 2011 My 11 yo loves her kindle. It allows her to have a selection of her favorite books with her wherever she goes. It is wonderful for traveling and has significantly reduced our constant need for additional bookshelves! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jann in TX Posted December 6, 2011 Share Posted December 6, 2011 Of course I had alternative motives-- I want my I-Pad back! The Kindle Fire is a nice size tablet. It does more than the other Kindles--and doesn't cost much more than a DS. She will be able to read, listen to audio books, stream NetFlix as well as other media from Amazon.com and of course play her favorite games (and practice her math facts!)--- she will not be thrilled to learn that she will have to start Angry Birds all over again--but at least it will be on HER device! She has a hand-me-down DS---but she uses MY I-pad more... (getting her an I-Pad was not an option due to $$$-- plus the smaller size of the KF will be better for her to carry around. We have already pre-loaded her favorite apps--I think I will get myself a few new ones for MY I-pad for my own stocking stuffer! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SebastianCat Posted December 6, 2011 Share Posted December 6, 2011 I LOVE my Kindle, but others are exactly right - it's a Reader, not a Tablet. I have 100+ books on my Kindle, have them in "collections" with one for my kids, one for myself, and one for reference books (Bible, etc.). The battery lasts forever (I've had it since March, and charged it maybe 3-4 times). But if you're looking for a tablet to play games in addition to a Reader, check out the Kindle Fire. I haven't seen it, so I can't comment on how well it works. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fourcatmom Posted December 6, 2011 Author Share Posted December 6, 2011 Thank you all very much for the info. I am now interested in the fire but does it ever go below $199. I was thinking of not spending more then about $150. She does love to listen to music, she is constantly reading, watching movies and she loves to play games on her DS and so I think this would fit perfectly. I guess I will watch for sales but I think it's still fairly new isn't it? :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ottakee Posted December 6, 2011 Share Posted December 6, 2011 I LOVE my Kindle, but others are exactly right - it's a Reader, not a Tablet. I have 100+ books on my Kindle, have them in "collections" with one for my kids, one for myself, and one for reference books (Bible, etc.). The battery lasts forever (I've had it since March, and charged it maybe 3-4 times). But if you're looking for a tablet to play games in addition to a Reader, check out the Kindle Fire. I haven't seen it, so I can't comment on how well it works. Can you "lock" the collections on your Kindle iwth a password or something so that the kids can access their books but not yours? I just wonder as I have 1 book on my Droid X phone (Sheet Music) that I don't nec. want the kids reading at this stage. Which Kindle do you have? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
black_midori Posted December 6, 2011 Share Posted December 6, 2011 I LOVE my Kindle dx!!! :) My ds7 really wants one of his own - I think he's borderline of an age where I will get him one (loves to read and fully capable of using it but not careful enough with his belongings). As soon as I think he is able to adequately care for a Kindle as a long-term investment & not a short-term gadget, I will happily get him one. The Fire & other tablets are basically like thin laptops - I wouldn't get him a laptop of his own to do with as he pleases at this age, and I won't get him a tablet (unless I get one first!!! Laff). Items like that, in our house, are to be used out in public only and with limited ability to connect to the internet. I don't like DS type games - why not just read if you have free time? I want my children to want to do that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sewpeaceful Posted December 18, 2011 Share Posted December 18, 2011 The Kindle 3 is probably my favorite gadget ever.You can't beat it for reading and it has some games available for it. It is NOT a tablet, it is a dedicated ereader with pearl eink. There are plenty of cheap android tablets around but for reading I absolutely wouldn't get one. Backlit is not easy on my eyes. DITTO! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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