Quality | ipad 2/New iPad | iPad Mini | Kindle Fire | Nook Color | Nexus 7 | Nexus 10 | Comments |
Size | 9.5 x 7.31 in | 7.9 x 5.3 | 7.5 x 4.7 in | 8.1 x 5 in | 7.8 x 4.7 in | 10.3 x 6.9in | Nook/Kindle/Nexus devices are roughly ½ the size of the iPad. |
Weight | 1.33/1.44 lbs | 0.68 lbs | 0.91 lbs | 0.99 lbs | 0.74 lbs | 1.25 lbs | Kindle feels 'bulkier' than Nook & Nexus. |
Thickness | 0.34 in/0.37 in | 0.28 in | 0.45 in | 0.48 in | 0.41 in | 0.35 in | Beveled edges on iPad make it sleek but slippery. |
Speakers | Mono | Stereo | Mono | Mono | Mono | Stereo | No external volume control buttons on Kindle. |
Base Cost | $399/$499 | $329 | $199 | $169 | $199 | $399 | Nook Color recently dropped price. Ipad 2 now $100 off. |
Screen Size | 9.7 in | 7.9 in | 7 in | 7 in | 7 in | 10 in | Ipad 1 & 2 have screens that are very hard to read in bright light (glare issues). New iPad screen is comparable to Nook & Kindle screens, usable outdoors but not in direct light. None are comparable to reduced eye-strain of black & white-only e-ink readers. |
Screen Resolution | 768x1024 (2) 2048x1536 (new) | 768x1024 | 600X1024 | 600X1024 | 800x1280 | 2650 x 1600 | All 3 have multi-touch, capacitive screens. *The new iPad's resolution is the highest available of any consumer product |
Camera | Front & Back (720p/1080p) | Front & Back (1080p) | None | None | 1.2mp Front Facing | Front & Back 1080p | The “new” iPad's camera is particularly nice for taking videos despite device size. |
Battery Life | 10 hours | 10 hours | 8 hours* | 8 hours | 8 hours | 7 hours | Kindle battery would run down when not used regularly – wifi runs it down, possibly? Nook/iPad held charge. |
Connectivity | Wifi +3G/Wifi +4G | Wifi + 4G | Wifi only | Wifi only | WiFi + 4G | WiFi | Verizon/ATT service available by the month for iPad. |
Navigation | Great | Great | Good | Good | Great | Great | All three have unique setups but once users are familiar with them, they are easy to use. Web browsing is functional on Kindle/Nook but feels more like extra large phone. |
Charger | Standard for iOS | Lightning | Standard Micro USB | Non-Standard Micro USB | Standard Micro USB | Standard Micro USB | Don't loose your nook charger! Standard micro usb chargers will fit, but won't charge. |
Maps/GPS Navigation | Good Maps, but GPS Navigation requires expensive 3rd party add apps | Not Tested | None | None | Great Maps & GPS Turn by Turn Navigation | Great Maps & GPS Turn by Turn Navigation | The Nexus 7 Tablet really shines for mapping functionality. It has the ability to store maps on the device so navigation works without being connected to the network. The nexus 7 also comes with 3d maps and google earth flyovers of beautiful places. Making it a particularly good tool for learning about the world geography. |
Voice Recognition | None | Good | None | None | Good | Good | The Nexus 7/10 allows you to dedicate e-mails if you speak slowly and clearly. All apps have voice recognition built in as part of the keyboard. |
Book Shopping* - Quality - Quantity -Prices - Discoverability | ibooks App Quality: 3.5/5 Quantity: 2/5 Prices: 3/5 Discovery: 1/5 | ibooks App Quality: 3.5/5 Quantity: 2/5 Prices: 3/5 Discovery: 1/5 | Kindle App Quality: 5/5 Quantity: 5/5 Prices: 4/5 Discovery: 4/5 | Nook App Quality: 5/5 Quantity: 5/5 Prices: 3/5 Discovery: 4/5 | Google Play | Google Play | *iPad users and Nexus 7/10 users can access book markets through the Nook & Kindle apps available for iOS and Google play. |
App Shopping - Quality - Quantity -Prices - Discoverability | Quality: 5/5 Quantity: 5/5 Prices: 5/5 Discovery: 3/5 | Quality: 5/5 Quantity: 5/5 Prices: 5/5 Discovery: 3/5 | Quality: 4/5 Quantity: 3/5 Prices: 4/5 Discovery: 4/5 | Quality: 3.5/5 Quantity: 2/5 Prices: 3/5 Discovery: 4/5 | Quality: 3/5 Quantity: 4/5 | Quality: 3/5 Quantity: 4/5 | App selection is quite small for Nook. Kindle app market is much smaller than massive iOS market, but still quite nice. Prices tend to be higher on Nook & Kindle for similar apps. Free content for iOS may offset the initial price difference between devices for heavy app users. |
Educational App Selection for Kids | 5/5 |
| 2.5/5* | 1.5/5** | 3/5 | 3/5 | *Selection for educational apps is growing nicely for Kindle but still more games. **Nook app market is very limited overall. |
% of Digital-Storytime* book apps available | 100%* | 100% | 18% | 16% | 15% | 15% | *Of 485 reviewed book apps for iOS devices, nearly 20% percent were also available for Nook & Kindle. By comparison, the Android Market had only 8% of these titles available. |
Overall Value for Adults | 5/5 | 4.5/5 | 4/5 | 3/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | Adults may prefer the larger screen of the iPad for videos and games, but the Kindle & Nook offer very nice alternatives to the pricier iPad for those looking primarily for a color e-reader. |
Overall Value for Kids | 5/5 |
| 3.5/5 | 3/5 | 2.5/5* | 2.5/5* | All platforms offer a variety of videos, books and games for kids & the collections are growing fast. The lower cost of the Nook, Nexus & Kindle somewhat balances out against the higher cost of content for both devices, especially for kids content. |