iPad, Kindle Fire HD or Galaxy Tablet?

[olecow]

I'm looking at getting my first tablet because I'd like to read on something bigger than my phone. All I want to do is read and surf the web. I may watch an occasional video or listen to some music but I'd primarily be using it for reading and web browsing.

The Kindle Fire HD wins from a cost standpoint with the Galaxy tab a close second. On Apple's website they offer a refurbished 16G second generation iPad for $249.

Does anyone have any thoughts on this? Thank you.

 

[Leleluvsdis]

I'm looking at getting my first tablet because I'd like to read on something bigger than my phone. All I want to do is read and surf the web. I may watch an occasional video or listen to some music but I'd primarily be using it for reading and web browsing.

The Kindle Fire HD wins from a cost standpoint with the Galaxy tab a close second. On Apple's website they offer a refurbished 16G second generation iPad for $249.

Does anyone have any thoughts on this? Thank you.

I have an IPad and my husband has a Kindle Fire. He prefers my IPad for regular tablet use, because it is easier. I prefer my IPad for tablet use and reading. It is bigger than the kindle, and has both nook and amazon options. Ultimately, I prefer an old fashioned nook or book for reading, but will read on my IPad before the kindle.

 

[crazelion]

I like my Samsung Galaxy Tablet and Asus Memo pad.I like that have total control my tablet.

 

[scrapshappen]

I have a kindle HD (we actually have two HDs and an HDX here). They are great tablets but I primarily use mine for reading and wish that I had gone with the paper white instead. I thought I would use it more for surfing, but I use my phone or Desk Top for that primarily.

The major problem with tablets and reading is the glare on the glass makes it hard to read outside when its sunny. I think I head that the newest version of the iPad has a little less glare but still not as easy on the eyes as the paper white.

 

[skysmom99]

I love my Kindle Fire HD. I read a ton on it. I also use it for games, Facebook, and just surfing. I occasionally watch Netflix on it, and I have a music app that I like to use at work during my prep period. My daughter also has a Fire HD. She uses it more for watching movies, videos, etc... than I do, but loves it, too.

 

[skysmom99]

I have a kindle HD (we actually have two HDs and an HDX here). They are great tablets but I primarily use mine for reading and wish that I had gone with the paper white instead. I thought I would use it more for surfing, but I use my phone or Desk Top for that primarily.

The major problem with tablets and reading is the glare on the glass makes it hard to read outside when its sunny. I think I head that the newest version of the iPad has a little less glare but still not as easy on the eyes as the paper white.

So true! I had an older Kindle Keyboard version that was wonderful outside, but I gave it to my mom. I miss that on sunny summer days when I'd rather go read on the deck.

 

[MomToOne]

I have a Nexus 7 that I love (wasn't on your list, but thought I'd mention it). Most people I know that have Nexus 7s or 10s are happy with them. The Nexus 8 is rumored to be announced very soon.

My sister's boyfriend doesn't like his Galaxy. Complains that it's slow. But I've never tried it and don't know if it's just his, or if it is a general problem.

 

[angwill]

We have a kindle paper white, a kindle fire, and Galaxy. I like the paper white for reading outside and in. The fire to watch Amazon movies on since Amazon doesn't have an app for Amazon movie watching and the Galaxy to get on the internet. If I have to take only one with me I will take the fire so I can read, watch movies, and get on the internet but I can't use it in the sun.

Momtoone, I think your sisters boyfriend got a bad Galaxy because mine is far from slow.

 

[Egdisney]

If you want to read, you need a regular Kindle. I don't have the fancy one, just the plain everyday one, but it light and easy on the eyes. Being easy on the eyes is the point of it. I have had a Kindle fire. I really don't think it's a great product. In my opinion, the IPad is 1000% times better.

 

[Egdisney]

We have a kindle paper white, a kindle fire, and Galaxy. I like the paper white for reading outside and in. The fire to watch Amazon movies on since Amazon doesn't have an app for Amazon movie watching and the Galaxy to get on the internet. If I have to take only one with me I will take the fire so I can read, watch movies, and get on the internet but I can't use it in the sun. Momtoone, I think your sisters boyfriend got a bad Galaxy because mine is far from slow.

iPad has an app for Kindle movies. It is called Amazon Instant Video.

 

[RitaE]

I pretty much own them all.

I have

iPAD Mini - hardly ever use simply because most of my Apps are either Amazon Appstore or Google Play. It's a great tablet though - just expensive. If you can find it on a deal the price is a little more justifiable.

Kindle Fire HD - 7". I use this mostly for reading at night or times when I want something more portable than the larger HDX.

Kindle Fire HDX 8.9" I carry this in my work bag and use it to download and share documents. I prefer it for watching videos. This one has Data Plan capabilities but I've only activated it for maybe one or two months. I don't use data on it enough to justify buying the plan. I hardly ever surf the internet on tablets but when I do, I prefer the larger screen.

Kindle Paperwhite. I read most of my books on this, especially outside. The screen is easier on my eyes for reading.

I also have an older Nook tablet and the Nook glo reader (can't remember the exact name). They work fine but since I find myself getting tied to the Amazon ecosystem more and more, I hardly ever use them. I let neighbors borrow them sometimes. I really need to sell them.

Nexus 7 (an older version). My son has confiscated this and uses it everyday for reading and web browsing.

Overall I think that you just can't beat the Amazon prices on the tablets although they all do the jobs they are meant to do very well.

 

[ellochka]

iPad has great compatibility with all technologies. You can read a book from any source (Kindle, B&N, iTunes, Google Play), and watch any video services (iTunes, Amazon, Netflix, etc). When you buy Kindle Fire or Samsung, you are stuck with the services they are tied to (you can't even play Amazon videos on Samsung - ***?). Netflix is the only service that will work on all devices.

Samsung tablets have one great advantage - they have a micro-SD card slot. That's like additional memory, up to 64Gb, for 10% of the price Apple charges. You can use it for videos, pictures, music, etc. If you have lots of home or other DRM-free videos on your computer, it's pretty great. If you have your DVDs ripped to the computer it's probably the way to go. The transfer is a breeze, as you don't even have to sync. Just copy the media in the card, and you are good to go.

As others have mentioned, regular Kindle is great for reading. It's totally worth the price. My DH has one, and he went totally digital (that is a guy who was using the library for 20 years on a weekly basis, and so cheap he would not be caught buying a book for more than $2 before).

 

[dhardawa]

I have a Nexus 7 that I love (wasn't on your list, but thought I'd mention it). Most people I know that have Nexus 7s or 10s are happy with them. The Nexus 8 is rumored to be announced very soon.

My sister's boyfriend doesn't like his Galaxy. Complains that it's slow. But I've never tried it and don't know if it's just his, or if it is a general problem.

Hated ours. I found it to be very un-user friendly and then the charge port went out when it was about 10 months old (a very common, known issue).

 

[yoopermom]

DM and I recently went on a roadtrip, her with her Ipad Mini, me with my Kindle Fire HDX 8.9". Both truly work just fine, it's just an apples and oranges thing. We took a ton of pictures each, and both felt that the camera (both still and video) were more user friendly on the Fire. If you're a "Mac person" (already have an iphone, ipad, etc) and are happy with that environment, then stick with an Ipad mini. If you just want something user friendly that its easy to do web/movies/reading/pictures on, a Fire is great, too.

Terri

 

[MikeP22]

For my wife and I, our regular Kindles are what we use for reading.
I have a Kindle Fire HD (the larger one). I wish I had something better. Laggy and non-responsive; programs stay running in memory even after they are closed.

She has I think a Nexus tablet and it works so much better than my Fire.
Unless you want Kindle Free time for the kids (which admittedly is a pretty good feature), I would just stay away from the Kindle Fires. Kindle Fire also does not get full access to the Google Play store, and many of the Google apps aren't natively supported by the appstore.

I think you'll be okay either way with an Apple or a Samsung tablet.

 

[puffkin]

We have an Ipad, Kindle Fire and I have a regular Kindle with keyboard. I love my Kindle for reading, I would not want to read for any period of time on the Fire or Ipad. I absolutely hate the Fire. The Ipad is so much more user friendly. I bought it for my DS8 so he would stop monopolizing the Ipad and he hardly ever uses it. He doesn't like most of the apps and it is just very clumsy to use. Plus the battery drains very fast. About the only thing I like about it is the screen resolution is good and I like the size.

I am probably going to trade it in this fall and get him an ipad mini for Christmas. Probably should have just done that in the first place, but I was trying to save some money. I really wanted to love the Fire because I am an Amazon Prime member for years. Oh well, lesson learned

 

[wenrob]

We have iPads and Kindle Fire HDs here. I use my Kindle keyboard for reading, can't do it for any length of time on my iPad Mini though I don't have an issue reading magazines on it.

The Kindle Fires were great for my kids but man, are they frustrating! As a PP mentioned, very laggy. Getting an ap on them is a huge source of frustration, the process is ridiculously long especially if you have your kids in Free Time. I had to have my DD's replaced in the first year and now I'm constantly rebooting both kids and cleaning out the cache hoping to keep them limping along until their birthday (Nov) or Christmas when I will buy them iPad Minis. They are not yet even two years old. With the new generation soon to be announced they should drop a $100 and hopefully there will be gift card deals I will only be paying $100 more then what we paid for the Kindles and a much better product IMHO. As also mentioned, you can get all your media apps on an iPad, just can't do that on the Kindles.

 

[Dizzytime]

I'm looking at getting my first tablet because I'd like to read on something bigger than my phone. All I want to do is read and surf the web. I may watch an occasional video or listen to some music but I'd primarily be using it for reading and web browsing.

The Kindle Fire HD wins from a cost standpoint...
Does anyone have any thoughts on this? Thank you.

Yes, I do. Kindle Fire will do exactly what you want . In fact, seems like you need something suited for exactly what I do, too...i.e. read, movies, web and email. Actually, I've found mine perfect for anything I want to do... when I don't need my laptop to work.

Yeah, for the price, the Kindle Fire was the best purchase for value I have ever made. JMHO

Best of luck!

 

[Pigeon]

I've got a iPad and a Nexus tablet. I also use a galaxy tablet frequently. I like the two Android tablets better than the iPad, I like the microcard slots, and they are more reasonably priced.

 

[TimonTracy]

We have iPads here and I had a kindle fire HD (Previous generation). I enjoy having my kindle fire and although the iPad is bigger its also much more expensive. My kids are both getting their own kindle fire tomorrow. They really don't have a preference and I can have 3 kindle fire HDs ($119 refurb) for price of one iPad. I plan to take advantage of kindle fire free time.

Getting the screen replaced on an iPad is the cost of a kindle fire hd, just saying.