Nintendo Switch - video, music and the web
Discussion
My eldest is after a Nintendo Switch for his 8th birthday....primarily for Fifa, Mario Kart and Minecraft.
Being a country bumpkin he's had very little exposure to computer games. Something we were keen to extend for as long as sensible but as Canute found out, the tide cannot be held back
I like the portability of the Switch, and I prefer the generally less serious nature of the Nintendo platform (we have a Wii that he has had a few goes on and is liking Mario Kart and Golf).
One thing I'd be keen to do is get it playing video/music, and possibly even internet access (controlled of course, for educational stuff). It could then broadly replace the iPad we use when travelling etc. Reading round on Google it seems this isn't really that readily possible. Has anyone on here got a Switch and put it to these uses?
A couple of friends have noted that a Switch might prove short lived and that we should get an Xbox or Playstation...not entirely convinced on that one, so opinions on that appreciated too.
Being a country bumpkin he's had very little exposure to computer games. Something we were keen to extend for as long as sensible but as Canute found out, the tide cannot be held back

I like the portability of the Switch, and I prefer the generally less serious nature of the Nintendo platform (we have a Wii that he has had a few goes on and is liking Mario Kart and Golf).
One thing I'd be keen to do is get it playing video/music, and possibly even internet access (controlled of course, for educational stuff). It could then broadly replace the iPad we use when travelling etc. Reading round on Google it seems this isn't really that readily possible. Has anyone on here got a Switch and put it to these uses?
A couple of friends have noted that a Switch might prove short lived and that we should get an Xbox or Playstation...not entirely convinced on that one, so opinions on that appreciated too.
phil-sti said:
Switch is a great device and the fact it can be on the TV and portable is great. Now it does YouTube well but it’s pretty s
te for internet. My 8 yr old loves his switch and he has access to an Xbox, iPad and Mac.
Thanks. Good feedback.
te for internet. My 8 yr old loves his switch and he has access to an Xbox, iPad and Mac. Can it play video from an SD card or similar?
Switch just for games but you can readily control with mobile app - age ratings, screen time.
Xbox much better than PlayStation for parental controls - you have to spend the time setting it up but you end up with serious power. Age ratings, control games explicitly, screen time - especially "can I have more screen time?" and you get an email with options.
Friends - control who they add, what's online. Xbox party with them all chatting is very sociable.
Plus the same settings apply to Windows 10 - get a cheap laptop for browsing etc.
Xbox much better than PlayStation for parental controls - you have to spend the time setting it up but you end up with serious power. Age ratings, control games explicitly, screen time - especially "can I have more screen time?" and you get an email with options.
Friends - control who they add, what's online. Xbox party with them all chatting is very sociable.
Plus the same settings apply to Windows 10 - get a cheap laptop for browsing etc.
You can control pretty much everything on the Switch from an app on your phone. My 10 year old has one and we can limit his usage daily by setting a time limit, so he can have 2 hours a day etc. If he starts being a dick then we can turn it off. It is a great device and for an 8 year old and its ideal as its portable.
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