Tablets & eReaders

[hayes]

My husband usually does the computer buying in our house, but I am trying to work on this myself, so I'm hoping to get some help. 

I'm looking for something for my kids to do their online school work.  They are under 8 in age, so there are lots of videos they watch online.  I also want the kids to be able to watch movies and listen to music on this device. I would like it to be a mobile device.

Is a tablet right for this?

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. 

Thanks!!!

[Entropy]

I think a netbook would be much more appropriate.  Cheaper than tablets, slightly less portable (but still very portable), and have a keyboard for doing school work.

They're also less fragile...  I would never entrust a tablet to an 8-year-old.

[hayes]

Thanks for that input.  I just wanted to make sure that a netbook wouldn't limit our ability to watch videos online. 

[kst8no1]

Best buy sells a laptop designed specifically for kids. It's a toshiba model (ends in s3030) that has a wipeable keyboard and has built in Internet security (net nanny) it's only $379 if I remember correctly

[hayes]

can't find that kids toshiba on bestbuy.com...did find one on the toshiba site. it is 479 on toshiba site.  thanks for the input!

[hayes]

ok,,,found the kids toshiba on best buy....much better deal than directly from toshiba site....thanks again!!

[Jeckler]

I had a netbook and I hated it. It was a Gateway 2104u. Couldn't watch videos on it without stuttering, and the screen resolution was too low, so you had to scroll not only up and down, but back and forth as well.
A tablet will have better resolution (1280x800 vs. 1024x640) and will be easier to carry around, IMO.
I haven't replaced the netbook yet, but if I do, it'll probably be with an Asus Transformer or Acer Iconia. The Iconia offers a laptop dock as an accessory, for those times when a keyboard is needed, but both have Bluetooth too, so a BT keyboard can be used as well.