> My take would be that children change so much and so quickly that they're very hard to lock into a device or a platform. The things they cared about last week they don't care about next week which means that their old apps are largely irrelevant to them, and their brains are so adaptable the learning curve on a new device is no barrier at all.

I am not arguing from an ideological perspective. I am not concerned that their use will teach them soley the iOS way of working. I am concerned about actual lock in.

Apple spends a lot of money on ensuring that their flagship functions (iMessage, AirPlay, Maps etc) are strictly available only on their hardware or through licensed solutions.

Having all of your music in iTunes/iCloud, having most of your friends on iMessage, owning physical hardware with only iDevice connectors or software support etc. These are the future ramifications I am concerned about.

iMessage sends and receives text messages. That's a pretty weak lock in - there pretty much isn't a mobile phone made that it can't interoperate with going back a decade or so.

Maps, I'm curious as to how this is a lock in, or who it is who is desperate to get Apple maps on their non-iOS device but I'm sure as this is an Apple issue you'll be able to point me at where I can get the great official Android Maps / Navigation app for my Kindle Fire then? Oh yeah, it's official licensees only.

And the version of BlackBerry messenger for iOS? Or Android?

And I can access Microsoft Windows Phone Rooms from Android can I?

Specific functionality offering competitive advantage are only ever shared by people when it's in their interest. That's not an Apple specific issue, you'll see the same with pretty much every device.

And physical hardware connectors - Micro-USB as a standard for charging is fine but the fact that they both have a Micro USB port doesn't mean that you can use Android peripherals other than a charger with a BlackBerry or Nokia Lumia.

And for chargers - kids don't need dozens of chargers, in most cases the one in the box will be fine. If not $10 on eBay will get you another one - hardly a massive issue when we're talking about phones generally costing hundreds of dollars.

The reality is that device change has always had barriers but Apple's don't seem to me to be significantly worse that anyone elses.

Apple's are significantly worse, however. Apple does things like use non-standard screws and connectors. They also like to glue in batteries. Basically they make the machine so that it can't be easily repaired or replaced by a qualified technician. They also reduce the ability to recycle certain components by gluing them to the case.

I'm a longtime Apple technician and things started going downhill when the iMac came out. The Apple machine is pretty on the outside. Perfect for the folks that buy them.

> Apple does things like use non-standard screws and connectors.

Apple does use standard screws. They're just Torx or tamper resistant Torx.

You can buy the screwdrivers at most home repair shops, even for the tamper resistant ones.

While they're not that common, they're definitely standard screws.

We're talking about tablets. Can you tell me which of the major tablets is user serviceable?

No, we're not. I referred to Apple generically in my post.

I also won't tell you which major tablet is user serviceable. Also, why would it need to be major? Is this a quiz?

Apologies, when you posted a reply to a post discussing iOS devices I thought you'd be talking about iOS devices.

My bad.

  > owning physical hardware with only iDevice connectors

I don't think that this is a concern for kids aged 2 - 14.

I'm sure it isn't, but I am talking about concerns from a parental point of view.