Apple iPad Versus Kindle Fire - Comments Page 1

The Kindle Fire is very nice and could replace the iPod easily for mobility plus larger screen and the use of the Amazon Kindle store. Frankly I am happy someone is competing with the Apple folks and doing a very good. Kudos for making it affordable and enjoyable. I own a Kindle Fire and a Kindle reader. I agree that I would really want a keyboard for "real" computer work but when on the go the Kindle Fire is great.

I have two Kindles, one of them a Kindle Fire. The kindle fire only has 8 Gig storage. Not good for trips and vacation, where no Wi-fi or streaming, as it can only hold 3 movies on the 6 Gigs available space (1.9 Gig optimized by conversion program for Kindle). 1.5 to 2 Gigs are used for the operating platform. I had to delete all my songs when I went away.

The Kindle screen has glare when outside relaxing. Kindle Cloud Streaming songs and video is not available in Canada and I assume other countries where Amazon has not negotiated industry deals. No good for a vacation there.

You cannot store your own non-Amazon videos for streaming in Cloud. On Kindle one transfers own vidoes via USB when Kindle is on. But to watch own movies one has to go to Application called "gallery", used for pictures, to view non-Amazon movies (no-one tells you that). The touch screen is iffy as sometimes it doesn't respond and sometimes too fast. The screen get cloudy with fingerprints. The is a favorites bar but no folder system like earlier Kindle, which would be handy

It is functional for use at home and a good price. Great light for reading and headphones needed for music as speakers at top cheap and tinny..

Why I love the ipad?
It is "quiet" there is no fan noise,since there is no fan.
:-)

I could be wrong, but last I checked, you definitely could rent movies from iTunes to play on your computer (desktop, laptop, iPad, etc...), even stream to your TV via many different setups. I know I have rented probably 20 movies to watch in the past. Amazon I'm sure has more movie/TV titles, but when you add the number of TV shows available through iTunes (90,000) and movie titles (over 15,000) that is over 100,000 titles too, as you said Amazon had. One more thing: to compare in iPad to a laptop just misses the point. I miss the keyboard too, and must have one - but, what I tell people is, the iPad is all about the apps. So is Android devices and the Android market. A laptop cannot touch the incredible ease of use of downloading app's, 100's of thousands designed specifically for the device. That experience is nothing like using a laptop. While I just turned 50+ too (LOL); these tablet devices are without a doubt the future.

I don't own either yet; but people in my church who prefer to bring an eBible use Kindle, not iPad. One uses a laptop. Still, these people are just less than a handful. Presently I am not compelled to rush out and get one.

Good article but maybe wrong question. $200 gets you an Android tablet with wifi, bluetooth, USB connectivity, front and rear cameras and SD card expandibility. That's not a Kindle Fire, it's a Lenovo A1. There are several Chinese tablets in the same price range. Now the comparison gets interesting.

I have an IPAD 2. It is the gold standard to which all other tablets are compared to - for a reason - it works.

It runs readers, plays movies, plays audio, connects to the internet, organizes photos and more. It does it well and seamlessly.

I feel you get what you pay for.

It is heavier but the screen is bigger.

Ask this question -

If cost were no object - which would you prefer - Ipad or Kindle.

The results might surprise you.

Dwight

I have a Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1. It uses the Android OS. Great display and many useful apps in the Android Market. Major pluses: it is cheaper (about $399 16gb wifi only) than the Ipad (about $499 16gb wifi) and can run Flash.

Good article keep them coming. My comment is that we are in the middle of a major transition to wireless portability. I think there are still major changes to come.
If cost were no object, I would like Nook as my ereader, ipad 3 for video streaming, and a traditional laptop with large monitor, mouse, keyboard, printer/scanner as my desk computer.

I have a B&N Nook e-reader, which I got last summer expressly for using as a tablet while traveling. It was very convenient for checking email, weather, news, etc. although a little slow to load pages at times. Now B&N makes a faster version marketed as a tablet - wish I could have waited to buy now! Battery drains quickly though when surfing, and power cord is so short that you can't use the Nook while it's recharging unless you have a chair right next to an outlet. Despite these things, I do like the little device; between free e-books and library downloads it has been fun to use as a reader.

I'm not quite sure why you would buy a kindle branded android device unless they're subsidizing the it heavily (give me one for $100 and include at least 5 still in copyright book purchases and I'll take one). iPad and regular android devices can access kindle content just fine and the software is free since they want to sell the content. Why get locked in to ONE company, no matter how many titles they claim, when you can have it all?

Of course, what I really want is a (cheap) e-ink device that can hook to all the stores for content so I don't have to carry around a hideously expensive anchor when I'm on vacation.

Addendum to my last comment:

I almost forgot to mention the fact that an iPad + bluetooth keyboard is a perfectly good netbook substitute.

I have an iPad2. Big chunk of cash. But so worth it. You didn't mention the Kindle app for the iPad--which is very significant. The Kindle can only read Kindle books (right?) but the iPad can handle Kindle books, Google Books, and others. I use mine for books, email and games mostly, but also use calendar and contacts and word processing.

Bob
This is a little off subject but you did mention it in your review. You said "I still prefer the experience of a paper book to an e-reader", which, of course, is your choice. As a guy in his mid 70's, I prefer an e-reader because I can set the type size to be easily readable without my glasses. Some paperbacks have such small type I need my glasses plus a magnifier to read them.

Read more: http://askbobrankin.com/apple_ipad_versus_kindle_fire.html#ixzz1pLOPn7Al

I have been using a Galaxy tab 10.1, it is great, screen is great... it does have all the features loads and loads of free Android apps. .. They have the 7" Note as well if you are concerned about the portability

call me die hard
I went for the Acer netbook which is a small 3# 11.6 inch laptop with only handicap no dvd drive
got it cheap only $200. used only 1 day retail $400+ win7 pro and all the other goodies(read connections) wifi etc.great replacement for my ancient 15# Dell laptop

I am just starting to use Calibre 2, and so far I really like it, what is your oppinion?
Dan

I'd like to know more about that $350 laptop! The Fire makes more sense to me for a reader.

I agree with J.B. let's compare non Kindle/Nook and Ipad brand tablets to the above. I did a lot of research on all of the above, because I was not willing to pay $500 plus for an Ipad.
The price point was appealing for the Fire, but my main gripe about the Fire and Nook tablets was the "pipeline" to their content. Barnes and Noble even goes as far as partitioning the 8 Gb of storage space into 6Gb for B&N content about 1 Gb for the OS and the rest for your personal content (music, photos, docs or movies) How stingy of them!
I prefer to control my own storage needs, and have the flexibility to stream Amazon cloud content, or buy a book from Barnes and Noble if I choose, all on the same device. I am quite happy with my Acer Iconia 7" tab with the latest Android Tab OS. I have dual cameras, perfect for Skyping; also USB and Micro HDMI connections. I can do everything my smart phone does, but with a bigger screen. I can watch my Amazon digital content. I can shop the Android marketplace, not just what Amazon wants me to see. All for about $300.

I have an iPad2 and used rewards points to get it last year. I justify it because I was getting tired of taking notes on paper. So I use notetaker HD and bought the wacom bamboo stylus and all is right with the world.