Hi everyone!
My son has been saving his money for a Nintendo 3DS. (He has a DS that he got a few years ago, but likes so many of the features on the newer model. His current DS has a broken hinge and is being held together with duck tape, too)
He can tell me so many reasons why he wants to buy a 3DS...... I can't remember them all right now and I don't want to make this too wordy. However, his cousins have an ipod4 touch and they really seem to like it. So.... I told my son to consider saving his money for an ipod 4 touch instead. It might be a bit more $, but it seems like there are so many more things that you can do with it compared to a 3Ds.
So... my son is actually waiting to hear from you guys. He's done an online search for this exact request, but nothing really showed up. If you have had any experience with these electronic gadgets, please share your thoughts/ideas.
Thanks so much for helping us out with this shopping decision. I think it's a good idea for kids to learn to take the time to compare products before jumping into buying something. A good lesson, right!?
Joy
My son has had both. When he got his Touch he completely quit playing with the DS. The games are also a huge factor like several others have said. It is a big difference when you can get a ton free versus paying $30-40 a game.
My daughter has both, and the DS collects dust while she uses the iPod touch every day!
It's cumbersome to bring the games and the DS. She has all these cartridges that she loses--some of them fall between the seats, etc.
The iPod games are inexpensive, most are free or 99 cents. A few are in the $3-5 range. My daughter loves her SIMS game, which she got for $3 versus the DS version, which was $30. It's the same game.
My daughter can also use her iPod to listen to music or watch videos. When we're connected to a wifi she can watch the Disney Channel! She can also listen to internet radio when we are connected to a wifi.
If there are specific games that your son wants and they are only offered on the DS (like Mario Kart, etc.) then he'll want a DS. But if he just wants a portable game device that connects to the internet, then the iPod is perfect!
We got a refirbished iPod Touch from the Apple store. It was a lot cheaper and it still came with a full year warranty. It works perfectly!
A lot of my answer will depend upon how old your son is. My kids (and myself actually) all have both DS lites and iPod touches (the latest generation). I use both myself. My 14 yr old just came to me (30 minutes ago actually, lol) and wanted to re-sell some of his old DS games to Gamestop, because he doesn't use it much anymore. He got some birthday money, and instead of buying a DS game he wanted to buy an iTunes card (about the same $).
My daughter has both, and still sometimes plays her DS, but she uses the ipod ALL the time.
They also are portable, and there are no game cartridges to keep up with.
As for the 3D DS, you are aware that some people have vision/headache issues with them, right? And if a person has any sort of seizure disorder especially, they should not use them.
The money is really not that much different... until it is time to buy games. There are TONS of free apps or 99cent apps or $1.99 apps available for the ipod. The games for the 3DS are going to START around $20 a pop. With a $15 iTunes card, my kids can buy anywhere from 3-15 different apps. They LOVE minecraft.
If he is very young (under 8?) then MAYBE he would be happier with the Nintendo. If he is older... probably not so much longer term.
My kids downloaded free texting apps for their ipods and use them to text friends/family (and me!). I don't think you can do that with the DS.
Who will be buying the games to play on the device??
I have both and I say ipod touch. It's a little more expensive than a DS at the start, but DS games are very expensive and you have to buy them in a store -- iPod games are free or cheap, you download them anywhere there's wifi, plus you can take pictures (ds can too) and video, download books, music, video, audiobooks, email, browse the web -- just a lot more utility in the long run. iPod, hands down.
ETA: there are even apps you can download that allow you to use the ipod as a phone when you're in a wifi zone.
Ipod touch for sure. It does soooo many more things. It is more expensive, but with all the free apps, it would even out to be cheaper than the 3ds.
Since I have gotten an ipad for the family, my daughter rarely touches her ds. Those games were a fortune! :(
I agree with all the others. My kids are 12 and 11 and they have both DS's and Ipod touches. Their Ipod touches are constantly in use and the DS is sitting on the kitchen table. You can give your son an App card for $15 and he will be able to get a ton of games-whereas that would only be 1/2 a DS game or a used one perhaps.
I'm sure he won't want to wait but they had a ton of deals on the Ipod touches at the day after Thanksgiving sales. I got them theirs for 195 but then got a $50 gift card each back so it was really only 145. Then you'll need a case and a car charger and a screen protector-so probably save the $200 anyways lol
Touch over DS. Games alone are huge. How long does he play w/ a game before he's bored w/ it and wants a new one. On a touch they are either free or just a few bucks. The DS they are $30-40! He can also put his music on the touch, text for free, take pictures, download podcasts, etc.
Also, I thought I read somewhere the 3DS wasn't good for kids and their eyes. You may want to look into that.
How old is he? I think it depends a lot on age. My 10 year old got an Ipod Touch for his birthday, and he really likes it. My 7 year old got a 3DS for his birthday, and he was thrilled. I think the Ipod would be too complicated for my 7yo. My 10yo also has a ds (not a 3ds), so he can still play ds, and likes to play doubles with his friends. Anyway, if he gets a 3ds he can still play all the games he has for his old ds, and if he regularly plays ds with friends he can still do that. My 10yo is into minecraft and youtube videos, so he like the Ipod for that.
well they really are two totally different things.
yes they both play games but with the Ipod you aren't going to have the Nintendo library of games. He won't have mario , sonic , etc . so if he's attached to any of those characters there won't be available on ipod. If you have itunes you can check out the apps available.
iPod touch.
Much more options, downloadable, lots of free apps too, don't need game "cartridges" for it, much more versatile, MUCH more versatile.
And, if you have other MAC or "i" things in the house, it can all be synced too.
Nintendo 3DS, my daughter does not like it.
She has a friend that has one.
The iPod, is a lot more useful. And you can just download apps/games from home.
At our house, we have the iPad, iTouch, iPhone.
My daughter has a DS.
Our kids, use the iTouch MUCH MUCH MUCH more. It is tons more useful. And you do not have to have game cartridges for it. That is a huge plus. NO having to go to a store, just to buy or get more games. With the iTouch, you just download it.
And yep, the DS games are a lot more expensive, that iTouch apps.
Now, if your son is having to save for an iTouch4.... by the time he saves his money for that... PERHAPS, there will be another newer version iTouch. So, that is something to think about.
