Amazon Kindle Fire HD vs. Apple iPad

[Chyron8472]

I just learned about Amazon's new Kindle Paperwhite and Kindle Fire HD.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jVYe8uyLNg (Summary of features (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jVYe8uyLNg))

http://i.imgur.com/FQ9pi.png

...more specifically: Whispersync for Games (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jVYe8uyLNg&t=16m48s).
(Backup game progress on the cloud with which to transfer save data between devices/installs).



vs. iPad?


Discuss.

[DAISHI]

The hardware doesn't outclass the current ipad, whose screen is still bigger.

The only outstanding software feature is whyspersync, but I'm not sure that it's exactly a big seller. Whether I can pick up in the middle of angry birds or not isn't really a big deal. Or more to the point, I don't own two ipads that I'd have to keep my progress synced on, and know nobody that does.

Nothing as far as music, movies, books that outclass the iPad. Definitely has far fewer apps than ipad. Less storage capacity than ipad, paired with the smaller screen.

So while not outdoing the ipad in any significant feature it also has a much lower app environment as well as lacks the sort of crosshardware pairnig capability, screen size, storage, etc.

[Johro]

Your link has one too many protocols.

Neither really interest me. I don't really have a need for an e-reader and I never really saw the appeal of the iPad. I mean an iPad isn't even better than a netbook. It's just "cooler". As someone who loves technology and is interested in pretty much every new thing, that's a bit scary.

[Chyron8472]

Your link has one too many protocols.
okay, fixed.

[shammack]

I have a non-HD Kindle Fire and I love it for reading e-books, but I rarely use it for anything else, unless I want to take a break from reading to check Twitter or something. The Kindle app store is absolutely pitiful, and unless you root it, you can't use the Android market or any apps that Amazon doesn't sell themselves (including all the Google services, which is a huge drawback for me).

That said, the iPad is waaaay too expensive for me to even consider buying one. For being so much cheaper, I think the Kindle Fire does a pretty good job of doing most of the things that an iPad can do, so I don't feel like I'm missing much. It depends on what you intend to use it for, though. For games and other specialized apps, you probably want an iPad just because iOS seems to be the mobile platform that most developers focus their attention on. But if you just want to read books and watch Netflix and stuff like that, you'd probably be fine saving your money and just going with a Kindle.

[RetroVortex]

The whole point of the Kindle fire is that it ISN'T an iPad! xD

It's focus is on multimedia rather than apps. That's why it has a large built in memory and cloud storage.
It's intentionally smaller and cheaper to fit into the gap between the iPad and the Android tablets.

Other tablets are focused on Android.

Apples iPad is well.. an iPad.
Apple have their own microsystem going on there...

[Chyron8472]

My dad uses his iPad for work (esp. for Dropbox + Adobe Reader) because it boots up faster than a laptop which saves time at meetings.

For myself, I find that I would have no purpose for an iPad other than to watch movies, play games, read books and listen to music or audiobooks--so I don't see why I need to pay out the butt for iPad features I won't use and don't care about (well, I do have a Dropbox account, but would I use it on an iPad? No. Why?)

Also, from what I understand (http://www.pcworld.com/article/259040/google_play_vs_amazon_vs_itunes_store_how_the_cont ent_stores_stack_up.html), the iTunes store is bigger, but not by too much, and there is greater reach of Amazon software throughout non-Amazon devices (eg. Kindle App on iPad). Also, Amazon's software allows for instant streaming of content. Media bought from iTunes does not, except for on AppleTV. Yes, I can stream Audible audiobooks to an iPad, but that's because Audible is owned by Amazon.

Suffice it to say, if you want to use Apple's software, you're required to use Apple's hardware and iTunes. With Amazon, you're not. Sure, if you have an iPhone, an iPad, an AppleTV and iTunes you're set, but I don't.


EDIT: Oh. Also, my wife and I play an MMO called RuneScape, which is entirely java-based and can be played in a browser. Can I play it on an iPad though? No. And, come to think of it, can I watch Stephen Colbert streaming from Comedy Central's website on a iPad. Nope. I'm not sure I could do these on a Kindle Fire either, but this means all I'd do with an iPad is browse Facebook, check email, listen to audiobooks or music, read books, watch Netflix and play Angry Birds or Fruit Ninja. How is that better on an iPad than on a Kindle Fire?

[DAISHI]

Your link has one too many protocols.

Neither really interest me. I don't really have a need for an e-reader and I never really saw the appeal of the iPad. I mean an iPad isn't even better than a netbook. It's just "cooler". As someone who loves technology and is interested in pretty much every new thing, that's a bit scary.

This is pretty much not true at all. Convenience of hauling around an ipad is better, quicker and easier to read with, display of movies is more natural, less cumbersome, you can use it easily one handed for notations, makes quick large scale documentation of things more easy and efficient. Made life working in a museum much more easy since we had to document item locations.

In short, ipad and netbooks do two different things, but overall the netbook is the unwanted uncle of the computer world at this point. Their sales are plummeting since they're a middle of the road option between a tablet vs a full laptop or pc. Tablets are the future while netbooks are increasingly niche purchases. Essentially, netbooks just make less convenient the convenience of a tablet.

[DAISHI]

My dad uses his iPad for work (esp. for Dropbox + Adobe Reader) because it boots up faster than a laptop which saves time at meetings.

For myself, I find that I would have no purpose for an iPad other than to watch movies, play games, read books and listen to music or audiobooks--so I don't see why I need to pay out the butt for iPad features I won't use and don't care about (well, I do have a Dropbox account, but would I use it on an iPad? No. Why?)

Also, from what I understand (http://www.pcworld.com/article/259040/google_play_vs_amazon_vs_itunes_store_how_the_cont ent_stores_stack_up.html), the iTunes store is bigger, but not by too much, and there is greater reach of Amazon software throughout non-Amazon devices (eg. Kindle App on iPad). Also, Amazon's software allows for instant streaming of content. Media bought from iTunes does not, except for on AppleTV. Yes, I can stream Audible audiobooks to an iPad, but that's because Audible is owned by Amazon.

Suffice it to say, if you want to use Apple's software, you're required to use Apple's hardware and iTunes. With Amazon, you're not. Sure, if you have an iPhone, an iPad, an AppleTV and iTunes you're set, but I don't.


EDIT: Oh. Also, my wife and I play an MMO called RuneScape, which is entirely java-based and can be played in a browser. Can I play it on an iPad though? No. And, come to think of it, can I watch Stephen Colbert streaming from Comedy Central's website on a iPad. Nope. I'm not sure I could do these on a Kindle Fire either, but this means all I'd do with an iPad is browse Facebook, check email, listen to audiobooks or music, read books, watch Netflix and play Angry Birds or Fruit Ninja. How is that better on an iPad than on a Kindle Fire?

I'm watching Stephen Colbert from his website on my ipad right now.

[Chyron8472]

I'm watching Stephen Colbert from his website on my ipad right now.

I mean Full Episodes (http://www.colbertnation.com/full-episodes/), not clips.

[Johro]

Convenience.

That seems to be the whole iPad game. I don't hate iPads. I just don't see a purpose for myself. I suppose that explains my lack of interest.

[Icedhope]

Honestly, I prefer the Asus Transformer. It has what I need in a tablet, and I can transfer my Itunes music if I choose too.

I'm not a fan of apple products, and I'm not a fan of the Kindle...I mean I can just download a kindle or nook app on my tablet.

also for less than what you would pay for a Kindle Fire HD, and or an Ipad.

http://www.gamestop.com/android/tablets/asus-tf300t-10-in-32gb-blue/100250