Kindle vs. Nook

Choosing between these two tablets in particular is a subject of much debate around CNET. We have a full rundown of the pros and cons, but the short answer is to look beyond the hardware and go with whichever store you're most invested in (Amazon or Barnes & Noble). If it's still a toss-up, consider whether the Nook's extra storage means more to you than Amazon's suite of free cloud storage options.

Ultimately, both have generous return policies, so give them both a shot.

For more buying options, check out CNET's running list of the best budget tablets.

For a video version of this buying guide, visit CNET's How To blog.