With a number of functionalities packed into one electronic device, the latest tablets nowadays may also be the best ereader for kids. The ereader evolution towards more capable tablets began when Apple introduced the iPad in 2010. This release revolutionized the way ereader books for kids are delivered. Full-color, multitouch displays are the main features why the iPad thrives in the eBook reader industry as it competed against the earlier Kindle and Nook ereaders. The online selling giants, Amazon and Barnes & Noble, later released the Kindle Fire and Nook Tablet, respectively. These major releases together with the iPad quickly became the primary choice for ereader for kids. Of course, Amazon and Barnes & Noble still market their traditional ereaders that take advantage of the electronic ink monochrome display. While these devices have their own set of preferred features, the overall appeal may not be that attractive anymore.
The iPad 2 as e Reader For Kids
Kids will certainly love the coolness factor that goes along with every Apple product particularly the iPad 2. It is dramatically thinner than the original iPad and packs in more power for seamlessly browsing through the eBook pages. The 9.7-inch capacitive touchscreen display ensures that children will have more space for reading texts and interacting with content. This display, which is larger than that of the Kindle Fire and Nook Tablet by 2.7 inches, is ideal for enlarging texts since younger children may need to familiarize themselves with the words and the alphabet. Larger display also means larger visual illustrations embedded in the eBooks for kids, enhancing the learning process more effectively.
The iPad 2 is available in three different storage capacities at 16 GB, 32 GB, and 64 GB. While the 16 GB storage capacity is more than enough for fitting in thousands of eBooks, the 64 GB variant is recommended especially when the device will also be used for other multimedia contents, like movies. Any of the apps found in the iTunes App Store can be added to an iPad.
The Kindle Fire
This streamlined Amazon device is the cheapest in the bunch released at an introductory price of just $199.00. While the budget price strips off premium features, such as 3G wireless, camera and other components, this streamlining makes this Kindle for kids ideal since it would also mean lesser distraction from other forms of multimedia content. The Kindle Fire is also backed by a giant book retailing company that hosts millions of digitized content so that every child’s eBook listing requirement is satisfied.
Like the Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet, the Kindle Fire also sports a 7-inch capacitive touchscreen display. It is available only in one size with 8 GB storage capacity enough to hold thousands of eBooks.
The Kindle Fire is an Android powered device which means that you will be able to add additional Apps to it from the Android Market.
The Nook Tablet
The Nook Tablet also has streamlined features so that prices are significantly dropped down to just $249.00, which is still way cheaper than the cheapest iPad 2 that costs $459.00. It has very similar features to Kindle Fire, such as the dual-core processor running at 1 GHz, but edges the latter in some aspects. Foremost, the Nook Tablet sports a commendable 1 GB RAM, which is twice the amount compared to that of the iPad 2 and Fire. This tablet also has 16 GB of storage space and the only one to include an SD card slot for memory expansion. Backed by a comprehensive Barnes & Noble collection, this device is also a highly recommended ereader for kids.
The Amazon Kindle, the Barnes & Noble Nook, and the Apple iPad are by far the best options for a kids ereader with their versatile features. For those who are looking for the most inexpensive route, the Kindle Fire may be the best option. In addition to it’s low cost, you will find that if you add the Amazon Prime service, you will be able to get a lot of content at a lower price. For those who can afford twice the price for premium features, the iPad 2 is certainly the most desired choice. Finally, the Nook Tablet just sits in between these devices providing a balance of price and functionality.