Kindle - is it OK for a kid to use?

[UnfitForDuty]

We are looking at getting our first ereader soon because our daughter is quite the avid reader. Also, the Jr High that she'll be going to is beginning to move towards using PDFs of their textbooks. I've been kind of leaning towards the Kindle and now with the drop in the Ad supported 3G version I'm seriously considering it. However, I've got some reservations about the Kindle and kids using it. Maybe all of you friendly ereader users might be able to answer some questions:

1. Is there any kind of password protection on the device?
2. I understand that the web browser is wide open, no way to limit access. Is that correct?
3. Are the ads kid friendly? Are they targeted in any way? If they are targeted, what information is sent to Amazon for targeting?
4. Is the Kindle super easy (read too easy) to buy things with? Can the kids just go on and buy things if the Kindle is on?
5. There's some other apps and what not that can be installed, is there things that a parent should be conserned with?

Is there anything else that you can think about that a parent should consider with a Kindle (or any ereader for that mater).

I'm also considering the Nook. I like the touch screen as well as fact it's very reading centered. No browser and limited social networking capabilities. Oh, and also the ability to add more storage space via micro sdhd.

Thanks in advance!
Mike

[jtdolphins]

Originally Posted by UnfitForDuty

We are looking at getting our first ereader soon because our daughter is quite the avid reader. Also, the Jr High that she'll be going to is beginning to move towards using PDFs of their textbooks.

For school I would look at a tablet for PDFs. The Kindle handles them, but I can not imagine using it everyday for reading PDFs. If I still had to do PDFs everyday I would invest in a tablet for that. Its a nice feature on the kindle, but not something I want to use regularly.

Originally Posted by UnfitForDuty

[LIST=1][*]I understand that the web browser is wide open, no way to limit access. Is that correct?[*]Is the Kindle super easy (read too easy) to buy things with? Can the kids just go on and buy things if the Kindle is on?

There are no parental controls listed in the maual. Maybe someone might have an idea for this. I can't remember being asked for my password when I went to the Amazon store via the kindle either.

Originally Posted by UnfitForDuty

[*]Are the ads kid friendly? Are they targeted in any way? If they are targeted, what information is sent to Amazon for targeting?

I think the ads are fine for kids. Honestly I hardly ever notice them. I usually wake the kindle before I look at the screen. There is an add at the bottom of the homescreen too.

Check the thread on the Kindle board to see the complete list and examples of the ads.

One thing I liked about the kindle over the nook was note taking and the ease of getting the notes off the device.

[Dulin's Books]

the Kindles PDf support is really not very good.

Are these PDFs actually text based or are they images of the pages?

[susan_cassidy]

1 Is there any kind of password protection on the device?

You can password-protect the whole device, but not the Store, or particular books on the account.

2 I understand that the web browser is wide open, no way to limit access. Is that correct?
Correct. It is clunky, though; no videos, does not work with all sites (works best with sites formatted for mobile devices).

4 Are the ads kid friendly? Are they targeted in any way? If they are targeted, what information is sent to Amazon for targeting?

The ads are for stuff like cars, Oil of Olay, etc, so far. You can specify some preferences from the Manage Your Kindle page. As far as we know, that is the only type of targeting.

5 Is the Kindle super easy (read too easy) to buy things with? Can the kids just go on and buy things if the Kindle is on?

If the Kindle is registered, they can buy books very easily (nothing else - only books). Some parent de-register the Kindle after downloading the books they want the kids to see. You do get an email for each purchase on the account.

6 There's some other apps and what not that can be installed, is there things that a parent should be conserned with?

The apps (so far) are all things like Scrabble, other games, and things like a Notepad app. Nothing violent or sexual.


There are basically no parental controls of any kind. Kindle was designed for adults.

[UnfitForDuty]

Thanks for the input.

From the other threads it seems that viewing PDFs really is an issue for all ereaders. So, it may be something that we'll need to consider.

It also looks like PDFs that are text based and not image based would be optimal for an ereader. Is that right? Makes sense.

Thanks again everyone!

[boswd]

I can't imagine a kid would want a push button kindle when you have touchscreens available for the nook and kobo.

It's like giving a teenager a ColecoVision instead of an XBox.

[SCION]

Originally Posted by boswd

...

It's like giving a teenager a ColecoVision instead of an XBox.

Those were the days! Still have some cartridges.

[WikiStealer]

That kid will grow up to be literate and with a sense of history.

[boswd]

Originally Posted by SCION

Those were the days! Still have some cartridges.

they were weren't they, had the Atari 2600, colecovision and that Radio Shack paddle game. you hooked up those prongs to the screws on the back of the TV.

I too have my cartiridges up in my parent's attic. Ahhh these kids today have nothing on us

[UnfitForDuty]

Originally Posted by boswd

I can't imagine a kid would want a push button kindle when you have touchscreens available for the nook and kobo.

It's like giving a teenager a ColecoVision instead of an XBox.

I hear you on the touch screen. Heck, I want one. Though, I wouldn't be surprised if we get more ereaders. I would like to stick to one family for compatibility reasons. You know, move books from one reader to another w/out having to worry about the grey area of bypassing drm. So, what ever we go for more than likely we'll stick with it.

Maybe the key here is to let her decide.

[crich70]

Originally Posted by boswd

they were weren't they, had the Atari 2600, colecovision and that Radio Shack paddle game. you hooked up those prongs to the screws on the back of the TV.

I too have my cartiridges up in my parent's attic. Ahhh these kids today have nothing on us

Yeah and games that we thought were state of the art marvels (pong, pac man, centipede, pole position, etc.) are considered 'retro games' now days. Back in the day though they were really something to see.

[HappyMartin]

Originally Posted by WikiStealer

That kid will grow up to be literate and with a sense of history.

And how dangerous would that be these days. The poor kid will stand out like a pimple on a pigs bum and be victimized by all the cool kids.

[ApK]

Originally Posted by crich70

Yeah and games that we thought were state of the art marvels (pong, pac man, centipede, pole position, etc.) are considered 'retro games' now days. Back in the day though they were really something to see.

Pretty much the two signs of me being 'old' that hit me hardest were seeing my favorite Atari Games in the retro collection, and hearing my cutting-edge hard-rock favorites on the on the 'oldies/easy listening' radio station.

Oh, and, of course, I disagree with boswd that a kid will automatically necessarily prefer a touch screen in a reader. Depends how they intend to use it. It's not Collecovision vs. xbox, it's real keys vs. fake keys. If the keys are important to them. Maybe they are not, but maybe they are. If they intend to do a lot of searching and look ups, they keyboard may be preferred. It is for me.
Even for the hip youngsters, for example, there are still plenty of popular cellphones with real keyboards, they have not all gone touch screen for texting.

ApK

[ApK]

Originally Posted by HappyMartin

And how dangerous would that be these days. The poor kid will stand out like a pimple on a pigs bum and be victimized by all the cool kids.

No, the difference is between being a knowledge-filled geek with no social skills, and a knowledge-filled cool kid who knows how to apply the knowledge to the social dynamics of the real world. The former are victimized, the latter run the world!

[jocampo]

Originally Posted by UnfitForDuty

Thanks for the input.

From the other threads it seems that viewing PDFs really is an issue for all ereaders. So, it may be something that we'll need to consider.

It also looks like PDFs that are text based and not image based would be optimal for an ereader. Is that right? Makes sense.

Thanks again everyone!

That is correct. For image based PDFs or PDFs with complex layouts like tables and things like that, a tablet is a better choice. I recommend an iPad with GoodReader app. I ended selling my Kindle DXG basically because that. Although, I missed the DXG weigh and eink screen. But it is certainly faster to navigate PDFs with a tablet.

Regarding your concern with Kindle or eink readers with children, I would not worry to much. To be honest and straight to the point, porn should not be an issue because watching porn on an eink reader is basically impossible or a torture , lol ... because the refresh rate.

If you want to limit accidental purchases, you can open an account and setup a prepaid VISA or something like that.

I don't have kids yet but I would love to promote reading on them. A Kindle is probably a better way to spend time than a PS3 or a XBOX.

So go ahead and buy a Kindle wifi so they can start enjoying books right away.