iPad outpacing gaming devices on kids' shopping lists - Survey

In the past, a DS seemed an ideal Christmas gift for a young person. However, according to a new report from market-research group Nielsen, a safer bet this year is a product from Apple, not Nintendo.

According to a survey of buyer intent among children aged 6-12, the most sought-after item in the next six months is an iPad. Some 31 percent of those responding wanted one of the tablet computers, followed by a personal computer and iPod Touch at 29 percent. Some 25 percent of respondents wanted a product on the DS platform, including the DSi and DSi XL.

Other gaming platforms fared worse, with just 21 percent of respondents wanting a PlayStation 3. Some 20 percent were in the market for an iPhone or the 3DS, which will make its debut in March. Only 18 percent of respondents wanted a Wii in the next half-year, one percentage point more than those seeking a PlayStation Move. The Xbox 360's Kinect motion-sensing system scored even lower with 14 percent--the same percentage as the PSP. The Xbox 360 console itself was the lowest-ranked gaming offering with just 12 percent.

Among consumers 13 and above, the iPad also bested gaming devices--but only just. Some 18 percent of those surveyed wanted Apple's tablet, less than wanted a computer (20 percent), a television set (19 percent), or a non-iPhone smartphone (19 percent). The most sought-after console was the Wii, with 15 percent demand, followed by the PlayStation 3 with 13 percent demand. The iPod touch also boasted 13 percent demand.

Only 9 percent of respondents wanted an Xbox 360 or a PlayStation Move, whereas just 8 percent were interested in a Kinect or a DS. Some 6 percent wanted a 3DS, and just 5 percent were interested in a PSP.