I find the kindle fire much too heavy to read on and I have the smaller one. I also do not like the way pages turn. You cannot read one handed as you can w/ the regular kindle (at least I can't) and you have to touch the screen which I find distracting, not as reliable and I need to worry that my hands aren't wet or don't have popcorn butter on them, which is not an issue with my regular kindle. I also REALLY don't like the bright colored screen when reading on it. It is like reading on a computer and I prefer to feel more like I am reading a real book, not a computer screen (I look at computer screens all day for work). With my regular kindle, I can use it outside or to read in the tub and this would not be possible at all with a kindle fire. I can forget that I am on a device and feel like I am just reading a book. I don't get that w/ the Kindle Fire. A basic kindle (not touch- I hate the touch and got rid of my Kindle touch) can be had pre-owned for like $35-$40 from cowboom. I would definitely just pick one of those up to read on and not try to read on either the fire or ipad, whichever you decide to get. I've bought two kindles from here already because I want to have one in each of our houses and they've both been in good condition. I've also dropped my regular kindle MULTIPLE times (onto concrete, and falling off a hammock onto a flagstone patio when my dog jumped onto the hammock) and the kindle is none-the-worse for the wear. I do not think the same would have been true w/ an ipad or fire This post was edited by beaglesdoitbetter on Sat, Sep 21, 13 at 22:42

You can make the text bigger, so size wise I'd go look at them and see what feels most comfortable. I have the original B&W Nook which I use when I go to the beach, so I agree with Terriks that any of the color monitor readers are virtually worthless outside. So if you like to read a lot on vacation, try to find one used. They're pretty cheap. I also have the color Nook which I use everyday and just love. Of course, I get reader envy and think about getting the newer versions. I am intrigued by the iPad Mini because I have a mac/iphone and can keep email, apps etc. all in sync with my iCloud. Plus the iPad has nook and kindle apps that make it incredibly easy to read books in either library. It also has an overdrive media app that allows you to download library books directly to your iPad. So, with that all said, I think you should look at the iPad mini. Other than they are more expensive, they offer the most versatility - email, apps, internet, pictures, audio books etc.

I have four Kindle e-readers, and two Kindle Fire devices (the original Kindle Fire, and the Kindle Fire HDX 8.9). Yes, you can read books on the Fire (great for cookbooks and magazines because it's a color screen), but the Fire is significantly heavier than a dedicated Kindle e-reader, and if you read a lot, like I do, you'll get tired of holding the Fire. Great for movies and tv shows, though! :-) I have the 2nd generation Kindle (white), with a keyboard. I have the first generation of the very lightweight Kindle (it's considered by Amazon to be the 4th generation Kindle) -- under 6 ounces. It's the graphite color. It doesn't have a physical keyboard. It has two "buttons" on each side, the top one for going backwards and the bottom one for paging forward. It is my very most favorite Kindle. You can hold it very comfortably in one hand (either hand - hence the page turn buttons on both sides), and can turn the pages without having to take your hand off the device. The latest generation Kindle is a newer version of this device, and they've done away with the page-turn buttons and now it's a touch screen. I like the page turn buttons better because with the touch screen devices (like the Paperwhite) you have to be careful where you touch. Sometimes I end up with the top menu when all I want to do is turn to the next page. I have the very first generation of the Kindle Paperwhite (graphite) and I recently got the newest version of the Paperwhite (in white). I love the internal light on the Paperwhites. If my little lightweight Kindle had the built-in light I'd be in e-reader Heaven. Having said all that, I use the newest Paperwhite most often, because the place where I read the most is in bed. Hubs will be next to me either reading on his Kindle Paperwhite or doing stuff on his MacBook Air. I always take a Kindle with me when we go anywhere (whether it's a day trip, vacation, or just a doctor's appointment). When I was still working, I had to go across one of two bridges to get to/from work, and sometimes the bridge would be "up" or "turned" for river boat traffic and you'd have to sit there for up to 15 minutes until the bridge was open again. It was nice to always have my Kindle to read when waiting. As Elmer said, a new Kindle is less expensive than most items folks replace without a second thought. Also, and not insignificantly, the screen resolution is so much better on the new Kindles than on the older versions. Oh -- not all books have a Table of Contents. The newer versions of the Kindles can show a page number in the lower left corner of the screen. You can touch that area with your finger tip and "scroll" through your choices -- location number, page number, time left in chapter, time left in book, or keep that area blank. So if you are on, say, page 132, you can tap at the top of the screen to get the book menu, then tap on "Go to" and you can either choose a Chapter, location, or page. When you're done looking at what you wanted to see, tap again on the top and you can either use the "Go To" again or you can tap the back arrow to return to where you were. SOME, but certainly not all, books have the X-ray feature enabled. Let's say you're reading a book that does have X-ray. You're progressing nicely through the book, then a character's name is mentioned, but you're not sure who that is because it's been quite a while since you first saw that name. Tap at the top of the screen, then on X-ray. You will see a list of characters, etc., and you can go to the place where that particular character was previously mentioned. Then back again to your current reading spot.

When I got my phone, about 14 mos. ago, I got a fairly substantial "Otter Box" with it, priced at about 50 bucks, the salesperson said, but I paid for it with store-issued loyalty card, which offered a large bunch of points as bonus for signing up for the tablet, and had a few left over. "Otter Box, designed for Samsung" (mine is Galaxy A8). Commuter on-the-go protection. Otterbox since 1998. Certified drop protection. Dust protection. OTTERBOX.COM 209 S. Meldrum St., Fort Collins, CO 80521. Can see more info at "/warranty" and "/givingback", "Inspiring kids to change the world". When I bought milk in the drug store today, at full price (forgot to get it on Seniors' Thursday: 20% discount) a big sign said "$_____ bonus if over 200,000 points, $140.00 (I think was the no.) if over 100,000 points ... and and $(???) if over (50,000. ?)". My points are over 122,824, so will have to check that out! It's connected to a grocery chain, as well so I'm eligible to get $122. worth of products, as I understand it. ole joyful