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Flickr/Veronica BelmontIf you're thinking about getting a tablet, the two big choices phan mem to consider are Apple's iPad, and Amazon's Fire Tablets.

There are others out there, but Apple and Amazon have put a lot of weight behind these products, and it shows. Both have excellent hardware and software, aimed at different people based on your priorities.

This guide is going to break down the differences between both product lines. As with many things in the world of tech, this isn't a matter of something being better or worse, just better or worse for you.

The biggest question you should ask yourself before choosing a side is whether you'd like to use your tablet for productivity, or just consume things. If you're looking for a potential productivity machine the iPad is the way to go. I've been using an iPad Pro as my main machine at home for a little while now and there isn't much I can't do on it. Whether I'm importing and editing HD video, a podcast or gathering research for a piece I'm writing, everything happens without touching a "real computer."

If you really just want a tablet to casually surf the web on, or to binge on shows from Netflix, Amazon's Fire Tablet has the edge especially if you're an Amazon Prime member. From the moment you turn a Fire Tablet on for the first time, it's ready to serve you some content. Your Kindle Books are ready to be downloaded and your Prime Video queue is there. These aren't separate apps like on the iPad, Amazon's content apps are baked right into the tablet, and the more you've put into Amazon's content ecosystem the more you'll get out of a Fire Tablet.

Business Insider / Jillian D'OnfroYou can tell both companies thought about what their device would be best suited for based on their hardware and design. Any iPad or Fire Tablet will be fast enough for most people to do most day to day things. The experience of going to a website or checking your E-mail will be quick and easy on both.

When it comes to watching video, though, there's a difference. Fire Tablets have wide screens, (the same as most HDTVs), which are perfect for watching video.