Should I get a Kindle or an iPad?

[romantico]

I've been thinking for a while about buying a Kindle. However, I've also been thinking about an iPad. I don't know very much about Kindles but am aware they are very popular and are everywhere these days. Can't an iPad do the exact same thing a Kindle does? Other than the Kindle being cheaper, are there any other advantages? I am basically look for something to read,like books and magazines. I'd like to have the option of watching movies or videos on it as well. I don't really need to go surfing the internet with it but if it is not that much more expensive I guess that would be a perk.

Would love to hear from both iPad owners and Kindle owners and get their advice on the matter. Thanks!

[OriginalGeek]

1. I've been thinking of both

(well, a kindle and a tablet of some kind, probably not an iPad though).

I already have a Kindle touch and I love it for reading books which is what it was designed to do. I do not want to read lengthy books off a tablet device because my eyes get tired. When they say the e-Ink of the kindle is just like reading a book they are telling the truth. No worries about the sun being too bright or eye-strain after prolonged use (like I get from playing games on my phone too long)

which brings me to to a tablet. My Kindle touch does nothing other than reading books (and possibly newspapers and magazines that don't require pictures). A tablet would let me surf the net, play games, go shopping, and a lot of other things that a laptop would let me do without having to carry a laptop.

But then I'd have to carry 2 things. And my phone does most of the tablet things, just on a smaller screen.

So I guess I'm in no hurry to get a tablet until the folding, clear oled screens become cheap and ubiquitous.

[romantico]

2. Yeah

That is sort of like me. How much more will I have to pay a month for internet on an iPad? I can check my email and go on the internet with my phone, but the screen is much smaller. Now they have so many Kindles out I have no idea where to even begin there. Sometimes having too many choices suck! (LOL)

[mvd]

3. I like the iPad for these reasons

- integrates with iTunes. I am a big music fan.

- has a lot more apps/games and more memory

- I like the bigger screen

A regular Kindle is mostly a reader with a few apps. A Kindle Fire will give you more in the way of movies, games, and video. Kindle Fires are $199 for the new version.

The big drawback of the iPad is the price. If you just want reading, movies, and some games, the Kindle or Kindle Fire would be best.

The only other things I don't like about my iPad 2 are the lagging keyboard, Safari browser (crashes too much), and lack of streaming cloud for music.

[yawnmaster]

7. I too use the iPad for those things, except for reading...I have the cheap $69 kindle and use it...

almost exclusively for reading.

[cbayer]

4. iPad, if you can afford it, just for the versatility.

I use mine for reading, but so much more.

We have all our charts and ship finder applications on it, which is great when you are underway. Using the maps and things like trip advisor are great if you are on the road.

Games are great, if you like games.

Surfing the net is easy, but typing is a bit tedious. Pulling up a recipe or being able to look something up when you are having a discussion are both frequently used.

And you can watch a movie or video while lying on your side.

[ohiosmith]

5. I have an iPad, my wife a Kindle Fire.

They are both great. I like the larger display on the iPad but I believe the next generation Kindles will have a larger screen.

[yawnmaster]

6. I have the ipad, the kindle fire, and a kindle bookreader (paper white)...

For reading, I absolutely love the Kindle book reader. The texture and contrast are very very good, and it is close to reading a paper book as I've seen. Only for black and white though. I bought the cheap one that when you turn it off it shows some ad, but it is not excessive and was only 69 or 79 dollars.
I really don't use the Kindle fire much.
The ipad I use to talk on Skype, play games, surf the web, take notes, take pictures, etc.. except read books (although I do have the Kindle app for the ipad so I can read my books in a pinch.

If I were doing it from scratch again, I'd buy the cheap Kindle for reading and the iPad for everything else.

on edit...
oh, the reason I don't use the ipad for reading is because of the glossy screen and it is hard to read in strong light. The kindle just has such great contrast for black an white and it is light weight and the battery can last weeks (the paper white version, not the color tablet).

[woodsprite]

8. Ipad w/ an external Flex Zagg keyboard

I don't use the keyboard a lot when I'm surfing, but I use my iPad to connect to work and edit web pages on it. I also connect to a Unix server and use VI as an editor. Having the external keyboard allows me to type much faster and have the whole screen for viewing my app. The keyboard easily fits in the neoprene zip case I have for the iPad, so it's easy to carry to meetings, etc. I haven't used the stylus that work bought for me.

[Major Nikon]

9. I have both

I don't use the Kindle anymore, but it's not one of the color ones you can use to surf the web which would be the Kindle Fire.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

10. The iPad is more versatile, especially for travel

It's a one-stop entertainment center.

You can load the Kindle and Nook apps on it, so that you can read anything that's downloadable from Amazon or B&N. It also comes with an iBooks app, which lets you download a lot of free literary classics from iTunes, even if you don't want the paid books.

In addition to books, I also have TV series and games, connections to Netflix and Hulu that work in the U.S. but not elsewhere, apps from my bank (for checking finances on the road), Safari, Facebook, the IMDB, a constantly updated currency converter, and all sorts of other apps.

If I didn't have so many TV series on it, I could also put my music on it, but I keep my video content on the iPad and my audio content on the iPhone.

In addition, since I'm self-employed, I like being able to read e-mail and attachments in large format. In a pinch, I can even do some minimal work in Pages (Apple's proprietary word processing programming, compatible with Word), although the keyboard makes it unhandy for substantive work.

I don't have the 3G version, only the wi-fi version, since using 3G overseas is the fast way to the poorhouse, even with an international roaming plan. However, I make a point of finding hotels with free wi-fi (easier and easier these days), and I have wi-fi at home, so I don't have to pay anything extra to use the Internet or the connected apps on the iPad.

When traveling overseas, especially on those long, long plane flights to Japan or Europe, the iPad is a sanity saver and a space saver. I no longer have to pack three or four books plus a laptop for checking e-mail in my carryon, and if the airplane's selection of movies doesn't appeal to me, I can watch a couple of episodes of one of my TV series.

[pipi_k]

11. I own one of each...

and like each for different reasons.

While it's true you can read books on the iPad, I like the Kindle because it's smaller and more portable. It fits in my purse.

It can hook up to your Amazon Cloud player where you can store lots of music.

I like the iPad because you can access lots of movies and TV shows you can't get on the Kindle. Which isn't to say you can't see movies on the Kindle Fire, just that you can only see the ones they offer on Amazon, as far as I know.

The iPad is bigger and easier to type on if you want to do email. Basically, the iPad is just like my iPhone except I can't make phone calls on it BUT....I can facetime with anybody else who has an iPhone.

Battery time on the Kindle...I have a Kindle Fire and while I've never actually tracked battery time I would say it's probably comparable to battery time on the iPad (+/- 10 hours) unless you leave the wireless on.

If you get a regular Kindle, you can get one with wireless and free 3G. Kindle Fire only offers wireless access.

iPad accesses wireless but you can get one with 3G (or higher? mine is 3G) that you would have to pay extra for each month through Verizon or AT&T. I get along fine just using wi-fi.

So that's my opinion. I have both, and I'm not sorry.

[blueknight]

12. we have both

along with the samsung galaxy pad. and i like the galaxy pad better than either

[Riftaxe]

13. I was looking at the new kindle HD

but was really turned off by the fact that it comes with no wall charger and you have to pay a premium to remove advertisements every time it wakes from sleep. So it's price is actually more in line with a nexus 7, which I am currently looking at
.

[Alduin]

14. I have the new iPad and I love it.

I use it more than my laptop, actually.

It's so light and portable. I can play games, surf the web, watch Netflix/Hulu Plus, and use the Kindle and Nook apps to read books.

Now, the price of the iPad is more ($500 for the 16 GB wifi-only device) and the Kindle Fire HD is about 1/2 the price.

It all depends what you want it for. I use Keynote, Pages, and Numbers to do my schoolwork on with the iPad, but if you want a device just to read and watch Netflix/Hulu Plus, I believe the Kindle Fire HD can do that.

[Flaxbee]

15. Just saw a news story (DC news) about how Kindles and Nooks track what you read, what you highlight

or bookmark, what you re-read, how long it takes you to read a book, if you get past page 300, etc.... they use this data for marketing information, obviously, but it is as if someone is taking notes about your reading habits and preferences.

I don't think if you buy from Amazon and read on your iPad, there is a record of what you bought, but not necessarily how you read it (though I could be wrong - not sure how the Kindle and Nook apps work).

Just something to consider. I have neither, though one day I will want a tablet if I have to start traveling more.

Edited for typos.

[NV Whino]

16. I have a iPad

And read Kindle books on it. You can surf the net. There are wonderful apps and games. I watch Netflix and other movies on it. Love it. Calendars, address book, e-mail, camera. Go for it.

[jrandom421]

17. Neither

Wait for Surface Pro.

[pink-o]

18. I have an IPad and I gave my Dad a Kindle Fire

He's elderly, so he loves it because it's light and not as difficult to hold onto. The biggest pain with the IPad is you have to keep your hands around the edges when you want to move it. The touch screen is so sensitive, you lose your info every time your fingers stray. It's easier on the Kindle.

I'm an Apple person, so dealing with Android Apps isn't natural for me. Also, I was bummed you couldn't put ITunes on the Kindle. Don't see why not, since I have it for my PC as well as the Mac. But to compensate, the Kindle has Adobe Flash and the IPad doesn't.

Also, Dad and I both have the MLB At Bat app, and can watch every baseball game we want on our respective tablets. Streaming is awesome on both, just the IPad has a bigger screen.

So both are good choices, just depends what you want them for. Music, photography and graphics are always better on Apple products!

[pipi_k]

19. Something your dad might like

I bought a hard leather case/shell for my Kindle Fire.

The front cover opens like a book and folds around to the back, and there's a wide strap attached for slipping your hand through, which gives a better grip.

Made by "Marware".

[av8rdave]

20. I love my iPad, but...

As a reader, it's rather heavy (the newer models are better) and hard to read in bright sunlight. I still prefer it because I travel for a living and it's way more than just a reader.

If I were buying a device strictly for reading, I'd go with the Kindle.

Just my $.02

[romantico]

21. Thanks

Thanks for the advice everyone. All been very helpful. One question I have is this. Can I plug a Kindle into my Mac? I might go with a Kindle just so I don't need internet access. Basically for watching TV shows and movies,listening to music and reading.The Kindle Fire might be where I go for now and then in the spring go to an iPad.

[TreasonousBastard]

22. I have a Nook Tablet that does everything you want and doesn't have...

Amazon playing games with you, running ads, or spying.

Netflix, Hulu+ and Pandora are available wherever I can get WiFi, along with webmail, and I sideload lots of stuff from my computers (although I'm not exactly sure how you do it with a Mac).

I subscribe to the NY Times for 20 bucks a month and a few magazines for a couple of bucks a month each and have maybe 250 books on the thing, most of which are public domain and available for free somewhere on the web. My local library lends e-books and stuff, too-- download them from the library wifi and they'll eventually disappear on the return date.

Whatever you get, download Calibre on to your Mac-- it's necessary for reformatting many free books so e-readers can use them, and has other interesting uses.

http://calibre-ebook.com/

[UTUSN]

23. November 20, the newer/larger Fire HD, 8.9" screen. Here's a review sold on it, comparison with iPad

I've got a regular Kindle reader and it's sort of clunky. I'm totally low tech and have no idea what a tablet does different from a laptop. The current Fire HD has a 7" screen. The reviewer's main gripe (below) is the chintziness of Amazon not to include a wall charger, sold separately. My main need is a keyboard and they have one, a bluetooth. I've called them and they say it has the same capability of highlighting e-books text into a file and connecting to laptop via bluetooth (not USB) for editing the highlights.
And the separate keyboard allows for posting into websites (DU) and e-mail.

I want one, but I don't know why.

********QUOTE********

$299.00 Free Super Saver Shipping
Details

Select: 16 GB $299 32 GB $369

Pre-order Now
This item will be released on November 20, 2012.

http://www.winsupersite.com/article/tablets/amazon-kindle-fire-hd-144309

In its $199 base Kindle Fire HD, Amazon offers 16 GB of storage compared to 8 GB in the base Nexus 7, which also costs $199. For $50 more, you can get 32 GB of storage, twice the amount Google offers at that price. Neither offers expandable storage via microSD.

The Kindle Fire HD offers all the expected networking technologies, including dual-band, dual-antenna Wi-Fi (MIMO) with 802.11n and Bluetooth. No 3G/4G connectivity is offered, even as an option, just like the Nexus 7. Google’s tablet does offer NFC functionality, though I’m unaware of a real world usage case at the moment.

I should also mention that Amazon provides only a USB cable, but not a wall charger, in a bid to lessen expenses. You can buy a wall charger from Amazon for an additional $19.99, but that’s a cheap thing to do to customers. Google includes a wall charger with its Nexus 7 (as does Apple).

Special Offer
Get the Kindle PowerFast (WALL CHARGER) for Accelerated Charging for $9.99 when you purchase with a Kindle Fire, Kindle Fire HD 7" and Kindle Fire HD 8.9". Promotion applied at the final page of checkout.
AmazonBasics Bluetooth Keyboard with Mini Travel Stand for Kindle Fire HD 8.9-Inch, Kindle Fire HD 7-Inch, and Other Android Devices $37.81
with the arrival of an 8.9-inch Kindle Fire HD in November and an expected iPad mini next month, let’s not quibble about the details: These devices will be competing head-to-head. Today, however, it’s hard to compare the 7-inch Fire HD to the 10-inch iPad. Apple’s devices are exorbitantly expensive, especially since most customers also pile on tons of expensive accessories, like cases, covers, docks, keyboards, and styli. That said, they also do more, and if you’re fairly comparing ecosystems, Apple does come out ahead, if just barely.

I prefer Amazon’s products to Apple’s, however. And if the 7-inch form factor is to your liking, I recommend the Kindle Fire HD over the iPad. If not, wait for the Kindle Fire HD 8.9 and see how that compares. You’ll save a ton of money and won’t lack for apps, games, or other content. Besides, every time someone buys an iPad, a unicorn dies. You don’t really want that on your conscience, do you?

The Kindle Fire HD isn’t perfect, and it most certainly is not the best tablet at any price. But it is the best 7-inch tablet in the world right now. Recommended

********UNQUOTE*******

[romantico]

24. This

This is why I am researching this now. I've never owned a Kindle or iPad so it will be new to me. ALl I have is a MAC and it is all I know. I was hoping I could plug the kindle into my Mac and download movies,books,etc.I wish they had iTunes but I guess if I transfer everything from iTunes to Cloud that will work.I also tend to download lots of stuff. Movies.Music.TV Shows. This eats up a lot of memory so I am trying to figure out if I want to go and pay extra or if I should just try and conserve.I have lots to think about between now and November. Thanks for the advice!

[annabanana]

25. I am waiting for an all-in-one thingie for Verizon.. About 5x7

It would do everydamn thing and sync with everyting.

[MuseRider]

26. We have an old kindle

almost book sized and I love it. I miss books, there is something very special about them but this thing goes everywhere easily so I use it almost exclusively now. I am sitting here waiting, I broke down and bought a Samsung Galaxy Note tablet. It should be here Thursday. I am excited. I am not connecting it to our Verizon, we have wireless at home and I can use my phone to connect it where there is not a wireless link available.

I thought about an iPad but I love the Android system and it will work well with my phone. I also am a sucker for the little stylus so I can draw on the tablet and send little silly stuff on my email and make marks on any article or book I want to use on it.