iPad vs. Kindle Fire (mrstjohnson)

Both David and I have the Fire -- and we both use it a LOT but both of us use it completely differently!!

Unlike on your home computer you have to have your Amazon Prime for ONE person (you can share with it on the computer and have two people linked to it but you can't with the Fire).  It's because with the Kindle you get SO many benefits to Prime.  The "lending libray" (only one book a month tho), but a TON of free movies and books/movies often for a $1.

DAvid has BOTH a Kindle Fire and an I-Pad (in fact he's had two I-Pads).  He's also got the HP version of the I-Pad.  He honestly uses the Fire ALL the time -- at work and at home.

This has surprised him -- he had been using the I-Pad a lot at work and the Kindle has replaced that.  He still carries both (he has this over-the-shoulder bag and he carries more computers with him -- he has like four he uses at work WITH his work computer).  David's in upper management and head of mortgage accounting, so often his work computer (a hellaciously powerful laptop) is typically crunching the huge mortgage stuff, and he's often going from meeting to meeting, sometimes attending another meeting via email while he's at a 2d meeting physically.  He's been amazed that he's reaching for the Kindle more than the I-Pad -- it's fast, you don't have the Flash problem you have with Apple and he finds it' great for email and notes, etc.

That said ... you **MUST** have wi-fi.  You can't use your Kindle via your phone data plan.  It just plain has *gotta* be Wi-Fi so if you don't have Wi-Fi at home and work then that's a show stopper.

At night -- I read with it -- or I may do my typing on my computer and watch a movie on my Kindle (so I don't have to switch screens).  Mostly I read.  Typing on it makes me crazy -- I type 135 words a minute and my brain just does not deal with 1-finger typing (I'm not bragging -- I've just been a danged secretary WAY too long -- if I have to slow down to think how to 'spell' a word I can't do it.  My failing -- I just can't cope -- I NEED a keyboard LOL).  So I don't bother with email on the Fire.   David, however, has no such problem.

David is even a worse tech-geek than I am.  We don't watch TV (we have one and it hasn't been on in two years so no cable bill) but David LOVES to download the old British TV shows, and old sit coms (all free on Prime) and that's how he uses it recreationally.  He also uses it playing his cigar-box guitar and has an app to use to tune it.  He has "stuff" but we don't buy "stuff" other people buy (no kids, no cable bill -- trust me - it saves money LOL)

But I know he's carrying in that satchel two I-Pads, an OQO , the HP tablet, and the Kindle -- plus his laptop -- and it's the Kindle he reaches for most he says.  I know it's not uncommon for him to be using 3 of those at least at the same time at work.  His phone is an I-Phone and that's on his hip all the time. (that's probably his favorite 'toy';)

Me?  Mostly I just read, play Angry Birds and entertain myself on my KIndle.  Nothing fancy. 

 I had an iPad, but I broke it. I had the iPad 1, purchased when the second iPad was released. For one thing, if I were buying an Apple product, I know they update them annually. I know they drop support for devices after a few years (my original iPad would no longer be supported with the next OS update, and it's not that old).  If it's been out for more than 6 months, I generally wait for the next one, because the prices will  drop soon on that model, and something better will be available for the same price. I'm not sure they do this with the Kindle. Honestly, I will probably buy another iPad in a few months, but I need to save up money for it first. I used mine mostly to play a few games, and do some basic word processing and paper work stuff.  I  sometimes let a few kids I work with play it. I also tended to carry the iPad when I needed something and I was traveling. Honestly though,  I may wait to see what the new Microsoft Surface that will be coming out has to offer. My current debate is Surface vs. iPad.

 We have iPads and DH has the Kindle Fire

I think overall the Kindle will do all that you want it to do and with Amazon Prime you get to use the lending library too. You cannot use it with the Kindle app on your iPad.

I will say that I prefer reading on the iPad..............not sure why. I loaded a few books onto the Kindle and just don't feel as comfortable with it even though I think the size is better for reading.

We bought the original iPad after the iPad 2 came out so it was very reduced in cost which made more sense

I am using the beta of Windows8 on my laptop and will say that I am very interested to see what their new tablet (Surface) looks like. I am amazed at how quick Windows8 is on my old laptop that drove me absolutely batty running Vista

kpwlee

I will say that I prefer reading on the iPad..............not sure why. I loaded a few books onto the Kindle and just don't feel as comfortable with it even though I think the size is better for reading.

I'm astonished at how much I read on the KIndle.  I had a reading app on my computer for moths and months and hated it.  I had one book and literally couldn't get thru it even from a favorite author.

One of the things *I* use on the KIndle (and I'm probably weird/alone in this) -- I switch the font and screen background all the time.  If I don't have my glasses at hand I change the font, but I love reading hands-free (just prop it up on the case stand) while doing something else).  I read a ton in the car at night and David prefers I switch to the black background so less glare on the windshield.

That's not so much Kindle "Fire" as it is, me being astonished that I use it to read so much.  I resisted all attempts at prior versions just because I didn't think I'd like it.  But I love the hands-free part and literally just 'touching' the edge to turn a page (you don't have to swipe across the whole page with the Fire -- dunno about anything else).

But I know I wouldn't **read** on anything bigger because carrying anything bigger would be a problem for me.

I did have to buy an anti-flare thing for it and it's still not great in bright sun.

Thanks for the input.  I am definitely leaning towards the Kindle.  I know I still have 5 months to decide, but if I go this route, 1/2 my shopping is done!

I went through a similar process of indecision several months ago -- in fact, I think there's a thread about it somewhere, because I was trying to decide if I should get a Fire or iPad for DH for Christmas.  In the end, I got neither (he must've been on Santa's naughty list!  ).  Actually, I decided to wait until the newest version of the iPad came out this spring. 

DH hasn't been talking about tablets lately, so it's not been a priority.  However, he's turning 50 this fall, so a tablet will likely be one of his birthday gifts this year.  In the meantime, I will follow threads like this one to help me decide which to buy. 

DH is not a reader, so the benefits of the Kindle Fire and the Amazon library, etc., are lost on him.  He's very used to his iPhone and iTouch, so transitioning to the iPad would be easy for him (and he'd like the consistency of having the same apps, etc.).  We don't travel or have jobs where portable devices are needed -- we use iTouches for music at the gym and do TV/movie watching on larger screen TVs.  Like Callie, I must have a proper keyboard, so any tablet I'd use would be for consuming (watching/reading) media, not creating (writing) it.

Hey, I just got my first cell phone about 2 or 3 months ago, and it's a basic flip-phone, so I'm very slow to embrace technology!! 

cakana

, so I just can't justify buying the Kindle (yet)

But Cathy -- Shane NEEDS something to take to his bed so HE can post.  I mean ... just sayin ... you don't want him up in a chair messing around like MY dogs do --  do ya??? (worried look)  You come back, desk is a mess ....

calliecritturs

cakana

, so I just can't justify buying the Kindle (yet)

But Cathy -- Shane NEEDS something to take to his bed so HE can post.  I mean ... just sayin ... you don't want him up in a chair messing around like MY dogs do --  do ya??? (worried look)  You come back, desk is a mess ....

LOL - I think if he could get his paws to work right, he'd be googling youtube videos of doggie tricks for sure.

you can search the thread from when it first came out but I WAS very high on the Fire until I owned one for a while. It really is no where near the experience the iPad gives you really. It's not even fair to compare them. Makes more sense to compare it to the Nook Tablet...that is more fair. IMO.

I have given my Fire to my husband and he uses it a lot...mainly for web searches...but he has the same experience there that I have. Once you are used to the responsiveness of any apple touch based device others really really drive you nuts. You CANNOT drag, touch, open links on the Fire on the first try unless you have child sized fingers. Without fail I and he both have to ZOOM in to activate links that you could get accurately opened on your IPHONE without a problem. I was always messing up URL's and forum posts on it as well because the keyboard is JUST this much too small to be truly useable.

It "will do"...in a pinch. I wouldn't even give up my iPhone tho, to use a Fire. Factor in the complete lack of control over content and privacy of the device that WAS an issue (if more than one person uses it, the books web searches etc of any other person are immediately accessible and that is not cool for me.) no idea if they have addressed that at all. Maybe they have. Parental controls were non existant so my kids could order items from Amazon itself, movies from Netflix, etc without any input from me whatsoever. Apple devices are lightyears ahead in this respect.

Is it worth $200? yes of course it is...it's a neat little device. BUT, I still prefer to read on an e-ink Kindle...and reading on a Fire OR iPad outdoors is simply not going to happen. BOTH have too much glare and the iPad will shut down in the heat. Regular old Kindle is scads better IMO for reading.

Apple spoils a person...and the Fires performance as a web surfing device,was only adequate whereas the iPad is stellar. $300 more stellar actually ;)

Gina, you talked about many of those things back when I was researching several months ago -- all great points.  It's good to get on-going feedback from you (and Callie and others who've been exposed to both the Fire and iPad).  As more time goes by and you have more experience with both devices, you're reviews are valuable.  

Not to hijack Lisa's original question, but as a related question --- is there any value to buying the "last" version of an iPad to save some money, rather than buying the newest and most expensive version?  If one has never had an iPad before, then even the previous version will seem like it does miraculous things to a newbie like me or DH.  If it's possible to get the last model at a cheaper price, I might consider that.  Then, if we end up fighting over sharing it because we both love it so much, we can think about getting a second one and stepping up to the newest model later on.

tacran

If it's possible to get the last model at a cheaper price, I might consider that.  Then, if we end up fighting over sharing it because we both love it so much, we can think about getting a second one and stepping up to the newest model later on.

for whatever it's worth -- David didn't even bother to upgrade to the last I-Pad -- he just didn't think it was worth it. 

I think it's really interesting seeing everyone's opinions.  I was flabbergasted that David uses his Fire to the exclusion of the I-Pad (altho the Flash thing **really** annoys him greatly). 

But seeing the range of what one person likes (or even considers a deal-killer -- and remember we don't HAVE kids, where Gina does, so the controls issue is non-existent for us) I just find it interesting.

The upgrades aren't always equal -- the last upgrade to the I-Pad was almost negligible (the camera, and a few other things David didn't think he'd use) but when they bring out the new one it could be different.  so you'd have to factor WHAT is different between the two in order to really be fair to yourself when choosing to buy and older vs. the newer of ANY device.

Also -- the wi-fi thing for me was easy because we do have wi-fi at home.  Other's may not.

 If I were going to go out and buy another iPad today, I'd probably consider getting the iPad 2 rather than the 3. However, I do not do a lot of graphics intensive stuff. But, according to what I am reading, if you are going to use it as an e-reader, you might be happier with the new one.  You might want to go look at the differences between the two,  and see what would be better for you. If you could get to the store and see both, that would also probably be good.

Gina - excellent points.  DH is very used to his iPhone and DOES NOT LIKE CHANGE.  We tried to go to DROIDS and he hated it.  You are right in the sense that apple does spoil you.  Maybe I will put it off a little longer and get an older version of the iPad (2 vs. 3 etc.). 

It all goes back to this is a nice to have, not a necessary item.  DH is a stay at home Dad and we just got a brand new kicking laptop.  Our "office" area is in the family room so its right there in the mix of things.  The one thing I know he would use it for is when he is in the basement.  He makes wine and watches how to You Tube videos regarding different stuff.  Another thing he would use it for is when we travel.  The laptop is great, but its very large since its our main home computer.  Thinking thinking thinking...