Best choice for an 8 year old? - Page 2

AnemicOak · 07-08-2015, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by susan_cassidy

That is a Fire. Fires aren't eink.

No, it's the basic eInk Kindle.

Shopaholic · 07-08-2015, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Are you sure? It looks like an eInk Kindle to me.

That is definately a Kindle eink reader and NOT a Fire.

Mukluktb · 07-08-2015, 05:36 PM

Thanks for your concerns Harry. As I said in my OP there are special needs as to why he has to have eink over a tablet. This kid will read for hours if I let him. My initial attraction is that for his curriculum there are a lot of classics he needs to read that we can get free as ebooks.

I am going to give him my Sony for now and wait for a sale on Kindle. Then between the two we have all bases covered if I need to get him to read something quickly and don't have time to convert.

I can add portables to my home insurance but the excess is $100 or $200 from memory. I think that is the only option in Australia. The kids bundle is a great offer for US residents though.

Thank you for all the replies and helping me think it through. This forum is a wonderful resource I have learnt a lot from all my searching so thank you.

DaleDe · 07-08-2015, 06:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by susan_cassidy

That is a Fire. Fires aren't eink.

Specifications: Amazon's 6" display with Pearl e-paper technology, 167 ppi, optimized font technology, 16-level gray scale.

It is not a fire or anything close. It is E Ink with weeks of reading on one charge.

Dale

shalym · 07-09-2015, 07:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by susan_cassidy

That is a Fire. Fires aren't eink.

It is NOT a fire. Did you bother following the link?

Shari

susan_cassidy · 07-09-2015, 01:46 PM

No, I didn't follow the link. I just assumed it was the Kid's Edition Fire HD, which was the only kid's package I had heard of. Sorry.

ApK · 07-09-2015, 02:40 PM

My now-12-year-old son did eventually break the substrate of his Sony PRS-350, which he got at around 8 or 9.

I have since gotten him a PaperWhite. He doesn't use it quite as much as he used to (he's currently enamored of paper library books) but I assume if I leave it in his possession, it will break in due course. A risk I'm willing to take.

meeera · 07-10-2015, 12:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ApK

My now-12-year-old son did eventually break the substrate of his Sony PRS-350, which he got at around 8 or 9.

I have since gotten him a PaperWhite. He doesn't use it quite as much as he used to (he's currently enamored of paper library books) but I assume if I leave it in his possession, it will break in due course. A risk I'm willing to take.

I'm happy to take that risk too - and the Kobo (in a Gecko case) has been taken back and forth from school many a time without being broken. My young 'un is 12 now too.

NickyWithNook · 07-16-2015, 08:27 PM

Both of my kids have Ipad 2s. The younger one (now 6) finally broke her screen after a couple of years, but we bought a new screen for $15 of ebay and my techie husband installed it.

As far as 8-year-olds go, I think it depends on the 8-year-old. If he keeps an eink device in a case, and doesn't leave it on the floor, it should be fine. Leaving it on the floor is what led to the 6-year-old's screen breaking.

Cinisajoy · 07-17-2015, 02:33 PM

Do not let him use it in the bathtub.

patrickt · 07-17-2015, 07:28 PM

Best choice for an eight-year old? Look, even if the eight-year old you have isn't perfect I'd stick with what you know. You go trading eight-year olds around and you've got no idea what you're going to get.

Get the eight-year old you're keeping a not too expensive tablet witha Kindle app.

barryem · 07-17-2015, 08:47 PM

I suggest making two problems out of this. Get him something for reading ebooks and something for reading comics. Color is only part of the problem. Comics just aren't a lot of fun on a small ereader screen. They are a lot of fun on a 10" tablet. If you don't want to get him a tablet I'd consider getting him an ereader and buying paper comics for him.

As for an ereader I'd suggest limiting your choices to Kindle or Kobo. These are the leading brands. Their quality is excellent. They're simple to learn and use. And they're durable. The off-brands may be good as well. I don't know much about them. But a lot of reviews talk about them being somewhat flaky. I wouldn't trust them.

As for whether it's a Kindle or a Kobo for you, it may be that if you're going to depend on library books a lot you'll be smart to get the Kobo. If you're not going to be so tied to the library and you want to have any control over his reading the Kindle offers good features for that. Since you're not controlling his reading now, that might not matter to you and it's probably just a question of money. Amazon books are cheaper. Kobo supports your library.

I have both and I like both. I do most of my reading on a Kindle but I read some on the Kobo, too, and I find it just as enjoyable. I prefer some of the Kindle's features. I like the way the Kobo feels in my hand while I read. They're both excellent. If I could only have one I'd have the Kindle but if I only had he Kobo I'd be fine, too.

I hope you make a happy choice.

Barry

Mukluktb · 07-17-2015, 11:14 PM

I went with the Kindle. I has been nothing but an absolute nightmare. I didn't realise there was now Amazon Australia which I am being FORCED to use. But amazon australia does not have the great child features the US amazon does. It is just a complete crap fight at the moment. Amazon.com is telling me I am allowed to have an account with them, use their store and run a child profile on my account. .com.au is requesting proof of my US address and threatening to limit my account if I continue to use .com

The child profile was truly awesome for the first 2 days I was able to use it. I was very pleased with my purchase. Now I am wishing I got the Kobo.

Hopefully I can resolve things with amazon shortly as I am currently locked out of purchasing books from both .com and .com.au

Sweetpea · 07-20-2015, 03:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mukluktb

I went with the Kindle. I has been nothing but an absolute nightmare. I didn't realise there was now Amazon Australia which I am being FORCED to use. But amazon australia does not have the great child features the US amazon does. It is just a complete crap fight at the moment. Amazon.com is telling me I am allowed to have an account with them, use their store and run a child profile on my account. .com.au is requesting proof of my US address and threatening to limit my account if I continue to use .com

The child profile was truly awesome for the first 2 days I was able to use it. I was very pleased with my purchase. Now I am wishing I got the Kobo.

Hopefully I can resolve things with amazon shortly as I am currently locked out of purchasing books from both .com and .com.au

Simple solution. Buy the books you want to buy either from Kobo, Amazon or your local brand of e-book shop. Install Calibre and use that to manage your child's Kindle. There are plugins that allow you to transform even DRM'd books into the format you need.

pdurrant · 07-20-2015, 05:58 AM

Given how good children's close vision is, I'd recommend the 300ppi Kindle PaperWhite 3. It should be able to display comics very well, for someone who can see very small details.

Although it doesn't have library support, of course, which it the main drawback of a non-Adobe based ebook reader.

07-09-2015, 02:40 PM	#22
ApK Award-Winning Participant Posts: 7,389 Karma: 68329346 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: NJ, USA Device: Kindle	My now-12-year-old son did eventually break the substrate of his Sony PRS-350, which he got at around 8 or 9. I have since gotten him a PaperWhite. He doesn't use it quite as much as he used to (he's currently enamored of paper library books) but I assume if I leave it in his possession, it will break in due course. A risk I'm willing to take. Last edited by ApK; 07-09-2015 at 02:47 PM.

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07-08-2015, 05:36 PM	#18
Mukluktb Junior Member Posts: 6 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2015 Device: Sony, iPad	Thanks for your concerns Harry. As I said in my OP there are special needs as to why he has to have eink over a tablet. This kid will read for hours if I let him. My initial attraction is that for his curriculum there are a lot of classics he needs to read that we can get free as ebooks. I am going to give him my Sony for now and wait for a sale on Kindle. Then between the two we have all bases covered if I need to get him to read something quickly and don't have time to convert. I can add portables to my home insurance but the excess is $100 or $200 from memory. I think that is the only option in Australia. The kids bundle is a great offer for US residents though. Thank you for all the replies and helping me think it through. This forum is a wonderful resource I have learnt a lot from all my searching so thank you.

07-09-2015, 01:46 PM	#21
susan_cassidy Wizard Posts: 2,251 Karma: 3720310 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: USA Device: Kindle, iPad (not used much for reading)	No, I didn't follow the link. I just assumed it was the Kid's Edition Fire HD, which was the only kid's package I had heard of. Sorry.

07-16-2015, 08:27 PM	#24
NickyWithNook Guru Posts: 750 Karma: 3942770 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: American living in Australia Device: Kobo Libra Colour, Kindle Fire, Kindle Pwhite (Don't use Nook anymore)	Both of my kids have Ipad 2s. The younger one (now 6) finally broke her screen after a couple of years, but we bought a new screen for $15 of ebay and my techie husband installed it. As far as 8-year-olds go, I think it depends on the 8-year-old. If he keeps an eink device in a case, and doesn't leave it on the floor, it should be fine. Leaving it on the floor is what led to the 6-year-old's screen breaking.

07-17-2015, 02:33 PM	#25
Cinisajoy Just a Yellow Smiley. Posts: 19,161 Karma: 83862859 Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Texas Device: K4, K5, fire, kobo, galaxy	Do not let him use it in the bathtub.

07-17-2015, 07:28 PM	#26
patrickt Wizard Posts: 1,221 Karma: 8381518 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Oaxaca, Mexico Device: Paperwhite 4 X 2	Best choice for an eight-year old? Look, even if the eight-year old you have isn't perfect I'd stick with what you know. You go trading eight-year olds around and you've got no idea what you're going to get. Get the eight-year old you're keeping a not too expensive tablet witha Kindle app.

07-17-2015, 08:47 PM	#27
barryem Wizard Posts: 2,459 Karma: 68781975 Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Arkansas Device: Paperwhite 4	I suggest making two problems out of this. Get him something for reading ebooks and something for reading comics. Color is only part of the problem. Comics just aren't a lot of fun on a small ereader screen. They are a lot of fun on a 10" tablet. If you don't want to get him a tablet I'd consider getting him an ereader and buying paper comics for him. As for an ereader I'd suggest limiting your choices to Kindle or Kobo. These are the leading brands. Their quality is excellent. They're simple to learn and use. And they're durable. The off-brands may be good as well. I don't know much about them. But a lot of reviews talk about them being somewhat flaky. I wouldn't trust them. As for whether it's a Kindle or a Kobo for you, it may be that if you're going to depend on library books a lot you'll be smart to get the Kobo. If you're not going to be so tied to the library and you want to have any control over his reading the Kindle offers good features for that. Since you're not controlling his reading now, that might not matter to you and it's probably just a question of money. Amazon books are cheaper. Kobo supports your library. I have both and I like both. I do most of my reading on a Kindle but I read some on the Kobo, too, and I find it just as enjoyable. I prefer some of the Kindle's features. I like the way the Kobo feels in my hand while I read. They're both excellent. If I could only have one I'd have the Kindle but if I only had he Kobo I'd be fine, too. I hope you make a happy choice. Barry

07-17-2015, 11:14 PM	#28
Mukluktb Junior Member Posts: 6 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2015 Device: Sony, iPad	I went with the Kindle. I has been nothing but an absolute nightmare. I didn't realise there was now Amazon Australia which I am being FORCED to use. But amazon australia does not have the great child features the US amazon does. It is just a complete crap fight at the moment. Amazon.com is telling me I am allowed to have an account with them, use their store and run a child profile on my account. .com.au is requesting proof of my US address and threatening to limit my account if I continue to use .com The child profile was truly awesome for the first 2 days I was able to use it. I was very pleased with my purchase. Now I am wishing I got the Kobo. Hopefully I can resolve things with amazon shortly as I am currently locked out of purchasing books from both .com and .com.au

07-20-2015, 05:58 AM	#30
pdurrant The Grand Mouse 高貴的老鼠 Posts: 73,944 Karma: 315160596 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Norfolk, England Device: Kindle Oasis	Given how good children's close vision is, I'd recommend the 300ppi Kindle PaperWhite 3. It should be able to display comics very well, for someone who can see very small details. Although it doesn't have library support, of course, which it the main drawback of a non-Adobe based ebook reader.