# Help me out here. How is an iPad2 different from a Kindle Fire? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 15, 2011, 7:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-out-here-how-is-an-ipad2-different-from-a-kindle-fire/606283 "2011-12-15T07:47:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Moonlitherial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@Moonlitherial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonlitherial)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2011, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-out-here-how-is-an-ipad2-different-from-a-kindle-fire/606283/21 "2011-12-15T20:40:49Z")
> [@Athena](#): > > Magazines are grim on the Fire, I agree. But I differ from you in that I think they’re grim on the iPad as well. I despise any magazine that’s simply a scan of the paper version, which is what Zinio was last time I looked, and it’s what Amazon sells as well. Totally stupid IMO. > > National Geo does have an iPad app for their magazine, and they format it for the iPad. I _really_ like that, and hope to see more magazines doing it that way soon. Zinio provides whatever functionality the vendor does for their magazine. I get National Geographic through Zinio and it’s the same functionality that you get if you order it directly. I was sent a sample issue of O that had the same sort of embedded functions. I like Zinio because it corrals all my magazines in one place. The new Apple Newstand appears to do the same but at vastly inflated prices compared to what I pay through Zinio. ---
**Author:** ![Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/budget_player_cadet/32/205_2.png) [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Budget_Player_Cadet)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2011, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-out-here-how-is-an-ipad2-different-from-a-kindle-fire/606283/22 "2011-12-15T20:54:33Z")
When the iPad2 burns, it releases toxic smoke. > **[Welcome to Instant Rimshot](http://instantrimshot.com/classic/?sound=rimshot)** > > If you need quick access to an ironicly-placed rimshot sound to mock your friends, or a genuinely-placed rimshot to put your great joke over the top, you've come to the right place. ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2011, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-out-here-how-is-an-ipad2-different-from-a-kindle-fire/606283/23 "2011-12-15T20:54:52Z")
> [@Athena](#): > > It’s actually not. > > I’ve had a Kindle from the very first release, and I still have my Kindle 2 (and don’t plan on giving it up. Sometimes I want to read outside in the sun.) > > So given that I have both the Fire and the e-ink Kindle (and, for what it’s worth, a Kindle Touch that I bought to evaluate but is going to be returned pretty soon), and can read on whichever one I want, I find myself grabbing the Fire more often than the old Kindle. Here’s why: > > [snip] Thanks for an informative review 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2011, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-out-here-how-is-an-ipad2-different-from-a-kindle-fire/606283/24 "2011-12-15T22:38:45Z")
> [@Reply](#): > > Thanks for an informative review 🙂 No problem. I find myself getting frustrated reading reviews of it, because it’s a pretty damn good reader, and a pretty mediocre tablet. Everyone reviews it as if it was a tablet, so gives it crappy reviews. And then everyone assumes it’s a crappy reader, too. But it’s not; it’s a good reader, with some handy tablety stuff built in. I fear that Amazon screwed up with the marketing of it, and it will fail because of that. Maybe they should have never advertised it as anything but a reader and video-player. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2011, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-out-here-how-is-an-ipad2-different-from-a-kindle-fire/606283/25 "2011-12-15T23:28:10Z")
I just hate reading that backlit screen - the regular Kindle (I have a Touch now, had a 2nd gen for ages) is so much easier on my eyes. I look at a computer all day at work and I have less than no desire to read books on one. ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-out-here-how-is-an-ipad2-different-from-a-kindle-fire/606283/26 "2011-12-16T02:00:17Z")
> [@Zsofia](#): > > I just hate reading that backlit screen - the regular Kindle (I have a Touch now, had a 2nd gen for ages) is so much easier on my eyes. I look at a computer all day at work and I have less than no desire to read books on one. Y’know, I do too, and I resisted backlit readers for the same reason. But I gotta say… it’s been fine. Not sure why, but it works for me. I bought both the Fire and the Touch, fully expecting that I’d keep the Touch and send the Fire back. But I’m doing the opposite, and it’s hardly even been a decision, I like it that much better. The speed of the page turns, the speed of the lookups, and seeing the cover made all the difference to me. ---
**Author:** ![CrazyCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CrazyCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrazyCatLady)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-out-here-how-is-an-ipad2-different-from-a-kindle-fire/606283/27 "2011-12-16T19:31:14Z")
Well, he’s right and he’s wrong. There’s very little difference between the Fire and what most folks actually use their ipads for, aside from size, price, and itunes compatibility. Seriously, most folks seem to use the ipad predominantly to surf the kitteh tubes, watch videos, and play games. You can do all that on a Fire, it’s just going to be on a smaller screen and with less in -device storage. ---
**Author:** ![Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/bc8723/32.png) [@Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unauthorized_Cinnamon)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-out-here-how-is-an-ipad2-different-from-a-kindle-fire/606283/28 "2011-12-16T22:20:22Z")
One thing to think about is that the security on the Fire is nonexistent. Not necessarily a problem, but we were thinking of going in on one for my SIL, who consistently leaves her keys, phone, and/or wallet behind in cabs, friend’s apartments, etc. Given that anyone who picks up your Kindle Fire has full access to your Amazon account, one-click ordering included, we decided it’s not a great idea. ---
**Author:** ![akonobi2011](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/2acd7d/32.png) [@akonobi2011](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/akonobi2011)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2011, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-out-here-how-is-an-ipad2-different-from-a-kindle-fire/606283/30 "2011-12-17T04:59:48Z")
> [@Idle\_Thoughts](#): > > I’m getting a Kindle Fire for Christmas. The thing is, I want an Ipad 2 eventually, as well. > > My friend, however, cannot understand why I need both. He insists that there is no difference between an iPad 2 and a Kindle. He asked me to name the differences. > > And me…well, I couldn’t. I didn’t know what the difference between the two of them were myself. I know there must _be_ differences, though, due to an iPad costing about 400 more dollars than the Kindle Fire. > > Anyone want to shed some light on the subject for me? I think I’ve posted this [review](http://valu-trek.com/review-kindle-fire-whats-all-the-fuss) in another thread but it perfectly answers a lot of questions about how Kindle Fire differs from the iPad2 and also how they are similar. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-out-here-how-is-an-ipad2-different-from-a-kindle-fire/606283.md?page=1)