Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Help! iPad v. Kindle Fire v. Nook Tablet

I'm interested in buying a tablet and I'm having trouble deciding between an iPad, Kindle Fire, and Nook Tablet. I can't decide what to buy. For a variety of reasons, I have $500 that I want to blow on a toy - not on necessary or responsible things. Now I could use all of that money on an iPad or I could buy the less expensive Kindle Fire or Nook Tablet and spend the rest of the money on books or toys for my dog or jewelry or something like that. I'll emphasize that this is a toy. I don't need an iPad or any kind of e-reader. I have a Sony e-Reader that's just fine. But I am enchanted with the idea of fresh new technology and the pretty color screens.

iPad

Pro:
  • Will sync with my iPhone
  • Camera
  • Tons of available apps - including Kindle and Nook
  • Much more versatile than the Kindle or Nook iTunes
  • I want one
  • I really want one

Con:
  • It's expensive
  • It's really expensive
  • I don't need one

Kindle Fire

Pro:
  • It's relatively inexpensive
  • Amazon is my primary book buying website
  • Tons of material on Amazon prime
  • New Amazon lending library

Con:
  • Really designed to be an e-reader more than anything else
  • When I tried it, the touch screen was, well, touchy
  • Amazon is closed off to other devices
  • I want an iPad

Nook Tablet

Pro:
  • It's relatively inexpensive
  • In store, free support
  • Nook users seem to be an enthusiastic, loyal group
  • I love Barnes & Nobles
  • I've liked it every time I've tried it
  • Basic premise (Nook Color) around longer than the Kindle Fire so probably less kinks

Con:
  • Really designed to be an e-reader more than anything else
  • Most of the reviews say the Nook Tablet is inferior to the Kindle Fire
  • Missing Amazon's superior media content
  • Barnes & Nobles has more financial troubles than Amazon
  • I want an iPad

From my list, it's pretty clear that the iPad is my first choice...but I have sticker shock. I'm the type of person who quibbles for two months over spending $10 on a CD. I'm even more reluctant to shell out $500 because I know that it's only a toy. There's nothing for which I need an iPad. I just want one. Of course I could buy a less expensive tablet like the Samsung Galaxy or Blackberry Playbook. But I know my own shallowness. The other brands may be just as good, but I will always wish I had the "cooler" brand. That's why I whined for two years that I was stuck with the dorky Palm Pre instead of an iPhone (still wish that dorky Palm Pre hadn't been stolen even though I got an iPhone out of it).

So here's the ultimate choice...I can spend $500 for the product I really want or I can spend $199 or $249 for a lesser but cheaper product that in reality will be just as useful, but I'll always wish I had the more expensive product.

Do you have or want an iPad or a Kindle Fire or a Nook Tablet? What do you recommend? What are the pro's and con's that you've experienced or researched?

41 comments:

  1. I have an iPad, on which I have the Nook and Kindle apps. Of course, full disclosure is that I have the first two Nooks AND a Kindle 3. I like them - and dislike them - all for varied reasons. I am a B & N shopper, not happy with Amazon's business missions. I am becoming an Apple convert too.

    However, my iPad is my traveling computer too, so it is not just a toy. You may find that although you don't "need" an iPad now, the benefits could outweigh the expense moving forward.

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  2. First of all- Sticker shock is a bi*ch. It seriously sucks. But from what I've gathered you REALLY want an iPad. Will you be kicking yourself later for not buying it when you had the chance? What if you never have the chance again and you'll be forever staring at the other people with iPads while inside you are crying because it was your ONE chance and you blew it.

    Can you tell that I also have a similar problem? Of the two E-reader devices I would go with the nook tablet. You have more memory space, more in store help, and the children's books are really interactive.

    But honestly, hon, the ipad is more versatile and while you think you don't *need* it now, you just might need it later. It's like having a mini laptop. You never know when that will come in handy.

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  3. I have an iPad and I LOVE it! I got it as a gift, otherwise I'd be drooling over the Fire because I would never have the $500 to just blow.

    I noticed that in your iPad column, you listed the camera. One piece of advice? Forget about that. It's a really REALLY crummy camera. (Here is a photo I snapped yesterday with full light: http://instagr.am/p/XmdOl/ )

    Honestly? If I were in your situation, I'd just get the iPad. You can sync with your iPhone, you really want it and you can afford it right now. I would worry that in six months, with one of the others, you'd wish you'd gone with the iPad.

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  4. My mom has an iPad, and I've used it as a reading device before, and I didn't like it. The screen is too glary and it's too heavy.

    But based on your pros/cons, which are hilarious, it looks like you want something that will be more than a reading device, so I say go with the iPad. My mom LOVES hers. She mostly uses it for e-mail, movies, and music, but she is never without it.

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  5. Girl get yourself an iPad! It's my one and only Ereader and the best part is that it is so much more than that. I use it for absolutely everything, INCLUDING writing up my blog posts.

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  6. I say go for the iPad! I have one and I could not imagine not owning one anymore. It's so convenient for everything and, even though it does cost a pretty penny, I'd say everything about it is worth it. Why settle for less? Go for it!

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  7. I love my iPad. I have a ton of reading apps and I love that it is so versatile. I wavered over getting one for about 6 months and then I finally got one. I have never regretted paying that much for it because it is like a second computer to me. I do everything on it.

    I also love that I can still support my local bookstore but buying ebooks through them which you can't do on the Kindle of Nook.

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  8. I have the iPad 2 and LOVE it soooo much. It was a birthday gift from the hubs and I'm so happy that he surprised me with it because I would never have let him buy me such an expensive tablet. Even though I use it as my primary ereader, it is so much more than that. Like someone said, it's my traveling computer and worth its weight in gold when it entertains the kids on long/overseas trips. Just splurge and get the iPad, you know you want to ;-)
    NC
    Truly Bookish

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  9. I am looking at the Kindle Fire. I don't need something to replace my computer, which is kind of what the iPad is...a mini computer. I have the Kindle App on my iPod Touch and I love the thing simply for the "touch" part of it I can slide my finger across the screen wither way to go forward or back and easily access the TOC.

    Are you looking to replace a computer all together or looking for a versatile eReader? It sounds like you are looking for more then a eReader from my POV. Seriously think about what you want it to do before going with the most expensive option. Check out
    http://news.cnet.com/kindle-vs-nook-vs-ipad-which-e-book-reader-should-you-buy?tag=TOCcarouselMain.0 for a full out comparison.

    Have fun!
    ~Poison

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  10. I dont have an IPad or iPod or any of that but I do have a Nook and like you said, Im readdy devoted to my lovely nook. HOWEVERRR....get the iPad. I've had a bunch of experience with getting something just because it's cheaper and almost always end up getting the original anyway.

    Me and my dad like playing with gadgets, its what we do when we bond, and we played with the nook tablet and noticed that when watching movies or videos, its almost as bad as watching them on a blackberry. I'm talking extreme buffering, losing service, the whole nine yards.

    my mom has an iPad and its great. the camera is horrible, but other than that, she loves it. Becides, it can do more and is like a computer. You're not really paying "extra" for the same things only better, you're paying for additional features and a tablet computer versus those little handhelt crappy thingy's. Plus it's the iPad 2, they worked out all the kinks from the 1st iPad and even learned from the many many iPod touch's, iPhones, and also make wonderful computers for a living. They're the most established and you are more sure that you'll be happy with what you have with an iPad.

    (I feel like i've written you a paper.)

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  11. i have a kindle. it was cheap. i still want an ipad.

    have scott buy you an ipad for christmas. take the plunge. have him buy me one too. :)

    xoooox

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  12. I have a Nook Color. I love it, but I guess I'm alittle biased since I've always loved B&N. If you want a new toy then I guess I would suggest the Ipod and judging from your post it seems that you are leaning towards that one.

    I personally love my nook. If you plan to read with your toy more than anything I suggest the nook. And I've seen reviews on the kindle fire but where the buttons are would annoy me personally and the nook is soon to have graphic novels as well as tv shows on their nook color and I believe the tablet already has it.

    Really the choice is up to you. But yeah good luck choosing one and I hope you enjoy whichever you pick. =]

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  13. iPad. The sharing with kindle is crap. I have an iPad and got my mom to get one. If you already have an iPhone there is no choice:)

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  14. I am getting the Kindle Fire as it is actually the first one that has gotten me excited. I'm not trying to replace my computer, and have never had an e-reader before. For me this is perfect. It has the e-reader and internet so it will work for what I want it to without shelling out $500. That's why I am getting this one.

    Now it seems you really want the Ipad so maybe you should just take the plunge and get what you really want instead of thinking about how much you will save. If you don't you might regret it.

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  15. I feel like the Kindle Fire and the Nook are e-readers trying to be a tablet, whereas the iPad is a tablet which supports an e-reader (if you don't mind the size/glossy screen).

    If you plan on doing anything that is not e-reading, then you will be unhappy with either the Fire or the Nook, as they're not tablets! If you're going to shell out a couple hundred, right now you would be better of getting the Playbook which is on sale for $199, as it is a tablet, and supports e-books.

    Go for the iPad. You'll regret it later if you don't!

    Kelly
    Radiant Shadows

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  16. I have a nookcolor and I love it to death. My husband has an ipad and while it is cool, I don't get any reading done on it. I just get too distracted by all the other things that it does.

    Lindsey @ babiesbooksandsigns.com

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  17. I have an iPad and love it. It is totally for the apps and fun stuff. I read books on my Sony eReader and use the iPad for fun playing. It is also super easy to access YouTube and Netflix, if you use either of those.

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  18. I don't own any these and the closest I owned to something like this is my Kindle 3 with the keyboard but while I owned that I was always wishing for it to be a touch screen or to have a mouse pad thingie cause really it was irritating to navigate that thing (now its dead) and now there is a Kindle Fire with a touch screen hmm and colour hmm. I want an iPad but its to freakin' expensive and its a bit big for a portable device buuuut the nice big screen means reading manga and watching shows and movies would be more enjoyable AND its not so closed off to other applications. The Kindle Fire is mainly Amazon and the Nook is mainly Barnes and Noble but the iPad allows you to download all these cool awesome stuff and browse the web and yay but also its really expensive and I am quite clumsy, I don't want to spend $500 on something that could break by just dropping it. My Kindle 3's screen got screwed up when my brother leaned on its but it was $189 so not as horrid if it had been $500. Its up to you, sounds like you really want the iPad so you should get the iPad :P.

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  19. DO IT - buy the iPad - if you have the money spare, enjoy it while you can, it won't always be there. You'll only regret not getting what you really want.
    So go on - treat yourself!. :D I would love to be able to buy one.

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  20. You know, like a lot of people here already said, seem to REALLY want the iPad. Yes, it's expensive, but since you already have an ereader, you don't have to worry about the reading issues, and just let it be your focus for browsing the internet, or whatever else you choose to do with it. You sound like you saved this money for a specific reason...to buy a new toy :).

    Personally, I have pretty much converted to Apple. I bought my Macbook this past May, and I love it. It was definitely EXTREMELY expensive (took me about a year to save for) but it's got the quality. And if you do end up deciding to use it sometimes as an ereader, then the iPad allows you use BOTH Amazon AND BN, so you don't have to worry about making that necessary choice between BN and AMAZON, which you seem to shop both at.

    However, it is your money of course, so ultimately it is your decision. Whatever you decide to get, I'm sure you'll love it. Just asking though, but isn't the iPad like $650?? I thought it went up, or is that just depending on your GB??

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  21. Get the ipad. They're useful. A really useful toy. You can read AND blog AND do tons of other stuff from it. Biggest reason to get it: you want it. There are a few times in any girl's life that she just has to treat herself to something she just WANTS. Buy the iPad.

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  22. I think you should get the iPad if that is what you're really excited about. I'm a Nook supporter, but if you're wanting more than just a really fancy e-reader with some of the bells and whistles of a tablet, then go with the iPad. Buy what makes you happy. Especially if you have the money to do it! I didn't need a new Nook, loved my 1st generation one with 3G, but when the new simple touch was on sale for educators on Saturday I couldn't pass it up. So I say go for what you want, or you'll always wonder if you should have done it later.

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  23. I don't have an iPad (yet) but it sounds like you really, really want one. Get the iPad.

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  24. You really want that iPad. You should get it! I got myself a Playbook recently, but only because it was on sale. I haven't bought an iPad because I think it's not worth its price. I'm so nitpicky with those things. XD

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  25. I say get the iPad since you can do so much more with it. I do have a e-reader that I rarely use since I like holding and reading from a actually book so much more.

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  26. I have an older version of the kindle and I love it..but my mom has an ipad and I got to say that I LOVE using it haha. Watching movies on it is the best!

    But when It comes down to reading experience I really like reading on my kindle better then the ipad. Hope this helps :)

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  27. I was pretty much like you. I didn't need an iPad, I just wanted one. Have a Kindle that I love to read on. (and I really don't like reading on my iPad, unless I'm reading in the dark.) You just have to decode if you want it bad enough to spend the money. I did. I've had it about a month now and love it. I know I said decode instead of decide but my iPad won't let me correct it! Kind of ironic...

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  28. Hey Alison,

    If you are leaning towards an ipad, I would wait a couple more months, because there are rumors that the ipad 3 is coming out in March, which is what I'm waiting for too. I'm a Mac user, so, it's more than likely I will get an ipad. Hope that helps! :)

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  29. As a librarian who worked for a while with Overdrive's ebook system, and one that's been following the publisher/ebook/Amazon drama lately, my advice would be to wait. If that's not an option, don't go with the Kindle. It's too limiting.

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  30. well , i have an ipad I love it , there is netgalley which you can view its books on bluefire reader (download from app store on ipad) which is great and Ibooks , I love the ipad and recommend it besides the internet is excellent on it and its very good and fast to use , there are millions of applications on the ipad (goodreads has an application for the ipad)

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  31. Here's my 2 cents: If you want a TABLET, go with the iPad. if you want an E-READER, then choose one of the others. (My choice is Kindle. LOVE IT.) But, if you want all of the functionality that comes with a tablet, then it's iPad all the way! ;-)

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  32. Buy once, cry once. Sure the price might be higher, but if you have the money and that's the one that will make you happiest, then go for it. You'll get over the sticker shock after the money has been spent and then you'll have something you like and want.

    Otherwise you might have saved money, but will you be happy with one of the other devices? Really happy? Or will you wish you had an iPad?

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  33. Not sure which one you should get. I have an ipad and love it. But I would love a device that is only for books. I am not to keen on the idea for a e-reader that can do everything.

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  34. I'd go between the Nook and the iPad. I have a Nook Color. You might actually want to consider adding it to your list of possibles. B&N has stated that in December there will be an update making it capable of the same things the tablet does. Some stores already have demo-models of the updated NC, I played with one next to a Kindle Fire and the Nook Tablet. I decided against getting and am just waiting for the update. Sorry if that added to your confusion. ;)

    That said though, since you have an e-reader I'd probably go with the iPad. I want one, but knew holding it to read for long periods of time would bug me. Having both though you wouldn't really have that issue.

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  35. I currently own the classic Nook and an iPad and I do most of my reading on the iPad. I had a NookColor and bought it for the lack of sticker shock, but let's be honest: the iPad it isn't. I didn't enjoy the laggy Android OS under the hood. I eventually sold it and just purchased the iPad and I haven't regretted it at all. If you really want the iPad, you won't be satisfied with anything else.
    The sync integration between my Apple devices is pretty rock my socks-in' too, I must admit! ;)

    Jennifer @ The Bawdy Book Blog

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  36. I have the IPAD 1 and love it. It's a great device. Apple is a great product. They have great customer service. So think about that. Not to mention you can shop anywhere with the IPAD. I love my IPAD.

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  37. I'm looking at getting an ipad as my next major item purchase. I've been debating with myself lately over getting an e-reading device, but since I really am not that interested in e-books, I know I don't want something that's JUST an e-reader. And since I no longer have a laptop, the ipad will be awesome to have so I can take a computer on campus with me.

    I know that if I settled for a different tablet just because it's cheaper, I'd be kicking myself for it later. I like the idea of all the apps available on the iphone, but I'm not interested in getting an iphone. I just don't use my phone much at all. But an ipad would be actually useful!

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  38. iPad all the way. I can live without my iPod touch!

    ComaCalm's Corner

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  39. I received an iPad for birthday and Christmas. It's fun. What I enjoy most are the games and the super fast Internet. I didn't get the 3G because I didn't want to pay monthly for that and it's not cheap. You can read kindle books, nook books and PDFs on it through apps. I asked for a wireless keyboard thats compatible with the iPad for Christmas because it's kind of hard to type but I've gotten used to it. The other two look cool and have a lot of features similar to iPad only they are obviously cheaper.

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  40. I would go with the IPad.

    My mom had the same dilemma and she bought the nook color. Then you bought the iPad because it is what she really wanted. She gave the nook color to me but now she wants it back :(

    I say go with what you really want because if you really want the ipad. You will end up buying one. It's cheaper in the long run to get it now than buy to tablets.

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  41. I definitely suggest and iPad, YES it's expensive, but in the long run it's SOOOO much more than ANOTHER eReader will ever be. You will find uses for your ipad that you can't even imagine and it NEVER gets viruses like a regular PC. I say go ahead and spend the extra money, you will be glad you did.

    I made 2 scarves and they turned out ok. I am hoping I get better the more I do and I also think new shirts probably work better than old ones.

    Live The Life You Love
    http://www.alishiawillardson.blogspot.com

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