Cheap tablets okay for kids?

So looking to get a cheap tablet to put a bunch of learning apps for my 2.5 year old son. Mainly just to help him learn shapes/numbers/alphabet, etc (definitely not to be a 'babysitter' for him).

Anyways, I saw this one for only $50. I was surprised how many cheap tablets there are. Besides being a no-name brand, why is it so cheap (compared to an Ipad or similar)? I know it has an older android OS, low memory/storage space and is a refurb. Screen is probably bad quality. But it still has BT, wireless, and cameras (which is all a kid would ever need). Is that just the going rate for cheap tablets?

Also, I may be stupid, but can you download the learning apps and use them where you don't have wifi, like in the car? Or do all of the apps have to be connected to wifi for them to work?

Assuming you get one that's not messed up (some comments suggest this on the referb) it would probably work. Specs are pretty slow, and its running a Phone OS but not terribly dated. You might have to sideload the android play store onto it to get some of the apps. I would also expect to have problems with some apps. However with a 2.5 year old the chances of it being dropped or pounded on with another toy are pretty high. No use of spending $200 on a Nexus 7 right now. You might look to see what refurbished 1st generation Kindle Fires are going for since they just released the new version. They will still probably be more expensive. For $50 I would probably try it, you can always return it if you need. Don't fill out the rebate until you decide to keep it and it works for sure.

Cool, I may try it then. Do you know if I'll be able to access/play the apps/games without internet access...or do you have to have internet for those to work?

From what I've seen with my niece's cheap tablet, they're not worth the trouble. They can barely do anything compared to a more expensive tablet.

Quote from LiquidRetro : Assuming you get one that's not messed up (some comments suggest this on the referb) it would probably work. Specs are pretty slow, and its running a Phone OS but not terribly dated. You might have to sideload the android play store onto it to get some of the apps. I would also expect to have problems with some apps. However with a 2.5 year old the chances of it being dropped or pounded on with another toy are pretty high. No use of spending $200 on a Nexus 7 right now. You might look to see what refurbished 1st generation Kindle Fires are going for since they just released the new version. They will still probably be more expensive. For $50 I would probably try it, you can always return it if you need. Don't fill out the rebate until you decide to keep it and it works for sure.

The return policy isn't very reassuring.

Quote : Return Policy This Product Has Limited Exchange Privileges. For support on this product, please contact Pandigital at (800) 715-5354. Defective exchanges for identical item within 14 days of purchase permitted on this product with prior manufacturer approval.

So you can get an exchange if the company approves it, and if they don't?
I guess you're SOOL.

Quote from jordanz12 : Cool, I may try it then. Do you know if I'll be able to access/play the apps/games without internet access...or do you have to have internet for those to work?

It depends on the app/game in question. Most games I have played (not kids stuff) work offline.

There's an inexpensive Chinese tablet called the Ainol NOVO7 Paladin that gets pretty good reviews. The UK Amazon site has a few user reviews [amazon.co.uk] that look promising.
eBay has it new for $107. [ebay.com]
And refurbs at $69 [ebay.com].

Sometimes, paying double is cheaper than paying half, when the product at half the price is pure garbage.
I do understand that it's for a 2 1/2 year old and that he may play Frisbee with it, so cheaper is better, but it may be better to not buy anything at all, than to buy that Pandigital.
Just my opinion, of course.

Some of the other cheap tablets are probably better (online only). Expect it to be a bit of a headache. I'm sure I'm in the minority, but IMHO for a lot of things a computer with a CRT is for more robust with respect child usage.

If you want to try out a cheap tablet for size, try to catch of of the sales at big lots and be choosy about what model's you'll buy. Read the return policy carefully before purchasing.

hhgregg has new models below 100;
last week they had some for 79.

http://www.hhgregg.com/webapp/wcs...reId=10154

A psychologist has warned that computer screens are bad for the brains of young children. Dr Aric Sigman, an American-born British psychologist warns against computer usage, especially by any children under 9. "Children are adults [legally] at 18 but their brains are not adult till they''re 24 and a halAccording to Sigman’s study, children aged 10 to 15 who were given computers, showed reductions in maths and reading abilities.

He added that face-to-face communication for kids is a lot more vital in brain development than technology is.

"How do children learn how to speak, how to enter a conversation, how to pronounce words?" he asked.

"It is all linked to face-to-face contact because they need to see the facial muscles moving in their parents'' faces.”

fIf you put a fridge in a child's bedroom they will eat more. If you put a screen in their bedroom they are going to watch more," said Sigman.

His rules about TV and computers are that children older than three should get a maximum of an hour’s TV watching, teenagers should get 90 minutes a day, and under-15s should have no TV in bedrooms

Quote from cavan : A psychologist has warned that computer screens are bad for the brains of young children. Dr Aric Sigman, an American-born British psychologist warns against computer usage, especially by any children under 9. "Children are adults [legally] at 18 but their brains are not adult till they''re 24 and a halAccording to Sigman’s study, children aged 10 to 15 who were given computers, showed reductions in maths and reading abilities. He added that face-to-face communication for kids is a lot more vital in brain development than technology is. "How do children learn how to speak, how to enter a conversation, how to pronounce words?" he asked. "It is all linked to face-to-face contact because they need to see the facial muscles moving in their parents'' faces.” fIf you put a fridge in a child's bedroom they will eat more. If you put a screen in their bedroom they are going to watch more," said Sigman. His rules about TV and computers are that children older than three should get a maximum of an hour’s TV watching, teenagers should get 90 minutes a day, and under-15s should have no TV in bedrooms

Oh geez here we go. I'm not going to sit my kid in front on a tablet/tv all day. He's playing with us most of the day and has friends to play with a couple times a week. He'll be using the tablet only a couple times a week to keep him busy in the car ride to the store or something.

Quote from jordanz12 : Oh geez here we go. I'm not going to sit my kid in front on a tablet/tv all day. He's playing with us most of the day and has friends to play with a couple times a week. He'll be using the tablet only a couple times a week to keep him busy in the car ride to the store or something.

I never thought you would, and I believe that Cavan's post was more about caring, than wanting to interfere, much less insinuating that you're not on the ball.
I think that getting your son a tablet is an excellent idea. He can learn a lot from it. Kid's brains are like sponges at that age and they can absorb unbelievable amounts of new information. The tablet you get him, may be a great head start for him in life, in this high tech world that we live in.

In case anyone is wondering, this features the Exynos 3 Single SoC (a.k.a. Hummingbird) which is present in the original Galaxy S lineup (and is essentially an Apple A4, of the iPhone 4, with a better GPU).

Quote from RockySosua : There's an inexpensive Chinese tablet called the Ainol NOVO7 Paladin that gets pretty good reviews. The UK Amazon site has a few user reviews [amazon.co.uk] that look promising. eBay has it new for $107. [ebay.com] And refurbs at $69 [ebay.com]. Sometimes, paying double is cheaper than paying half, when the product at half the price is pure garbage. I do understand that it's for a 2 1/2 year old and that he may play Frisbee with it, so cheaper is better, but it may be better to not buy anything at all, than to buy that Pandigital. Just my opinion, of course.

While this seems like a good option, one thing to keep in mind is a MIPS CPU will reduce compatibility with much software in the Play Store as fewer applications are compiled for the platform compared to ARM. Then again, a lack of ICS/Jellybean for the Pandigital one will also reduce compatibility with some software.