My 6y/o wants a nook for her birthday. Personally, I like the idea instead of more crap. all she has asked for is the standard black and white version, but I think the color would be beret because of the option for childrens books and the audio read along options.

I'm trying to decide if I go with the color nook, or one of the android tablets. Being able to watch netflix would be a nice bonus. The dell tablet is only about $50 more than the nook.

What are your opinions? And before you say ipad, I can't get myself to spend that much for a 6y/o. Plus, I think the size would not be pleasing to her.

The black and white e readers are easier to read in light then the color ones from what I've heard. I'm sure there are a bunch of reviews that compare all of them. Try Cnet

I know you say no iPad, but honestly I'd highly suggest it. My son is 3 and he has had our iPad (1st gen) for about a year now. He is careful with it, but there are the occasional drops. He drools on it. It has held up surprisingly well. In fact, there isn't a scratch on the screen despite not having a screen cover of any type. It had a invisible protector, but he peeled it off. We have a silicone skin on it (the back), that helps with the occasional drop. I give my wife a hard time because her iPad2 has a scratch on the screen despite her being the only one who uses that one and our 2/3 year old son's iPad doesn't have a scratch on it.

I can't speak to the Nook Color or any other tablet as we've only had iPads. But being where that is the majority of the development is, I'd honestly go for it. It will truly hold up well in my opinion. And for road trips, we got a headrest mount it just clips in. It's awesome:

[Link: amazon.com]

I hear the unwritten rule is they will fix one iPad fark-up (screen shatter, etc) for free. Although I've never had to try to get them to do it yet.

I do have a niece who has the Nook color and she loves it.

Yes, the black and white is easier to read in the light. But I think the children's books available for the color would be a plus for her. My wife takes her nook every where do the black and white makes more sense. But I can't see my daughter wanting to take hers outside to read

Why don't you pick up one of those HP tablets? I think they're on sale now for about a dollar.

I think the HP tablets are all gone. As soon as they hit $99 I think every where sold out.

I'd say get the nook.  The goal is to get your child reading anything and everything she can get her hands on at 6 yr old.  

I like the Droid tablets, but not for a 6 yr old.  Again, the goal is to get the child reading, not looking at Netfilx.  Anybody can watch TV, if you get her reading at an advanced level, you've essentially given her every opportunity in the world. 

There's going to be plenty of time to get her a Tablet when she's a teenager.  Now is the time to lay the foundation.  If you got her a Tablet, you're just going to be buying a new one year after year with the new advancements.  

With the Nook, as long as it works she can always read a book.

On a side note, GoogleTV has an app that brings up childrens books on the TV screen.  It will highlight the written word as they read along with it.  My youngest son really digs it.  It's on the Logitech Revue $99.

Don't forget you can lock down a tablet without netflix if you wanted. Just educatonal/reading apps that you want could be on there. I don't have a dog in this fight one way or another so I don't really care. It just sounded like in the first post you were worried about durability with an item of that price.

With the math apps and writing apps, not only is our 3 year old beginning to read, he can write his name and phone number and is learning math. At 3. Now he has Netflix on there and even knows how to go in and which buttons to hit to get to Diego, but he'd much rather play the interactive Toy Story read along than watch a cartoon.

I can only imagine there are interesting educational apps geared toward 6 year olds as well. A new tablet year after year with the advancements? I'm pretty sure the reading and educational apps will work fine on the iPad1 for several years to come.

Now you have me a little curious. What apps is your 3 y/o using? Along with our 6 y/o, we also have 2 3y/o's. While I am still hesitant to spend $500 just to hand my daughter an iPad (especially since I dont even have an iPad), I am now thinking about buying one for me and letting them use it.

If I could find a first gen Ipad in good shape, I think the issue would be settled.

His favorite are: (These are the app names)

Alphabet Tracing (seriously keeps him going for ever)

EnglishBaby

Mathaliens (several math/spelling apps, this maker makes a lot of other ones that are good also)

Math (thats the name of it)

Toy Story Read-Along

Lightning was here puzzle book

And for fun, he's quite good at Vegetable Samurai.

I have netflix on his and he can already go to search and type in Diego. Although I did show him about a gazillion times.

-------------------------

Last week Apple cut the prices on their refurbed 1st gen iPads to $299. I'd recommend that (although i think they're sold out of them at the moment) and buying the applecare. We have an iPad2 and other than the camera, I can't tell a lick of a difference. Although, I don't play any games that take advantage of the faster speeds, so in my opinion the iPad1 would be fine. I also realize different strokes for different folks, but for my bucks, the iPad is the best kids educational aid going. It's a tireless, patient educator that fully envelops their senses. Nook Color may have the same type apps, I don't know

search kids apps on itunes. there are some wonderful apps no question. my daughter has used them for a couple of years. she is six now. on the other hand, the nook color is a wonderful e-reader. cheap, durable, etc.

On one hand, you can alway root the Nook Color and put on the Android OS. On the other, you can alway put the Nook App on any of the tablets out there. My daughters both have Nook Colors and they are decent, but they now want iPads.

CJ

Just ran across this today.

8GB Color Nook:

http://www.dailysteals.com/

damn, at $159 that is a steal. you could buy 3 for less than entry level ipad!

haha, I saw the deal on Slick Deals and was going to post it.