Yes, we’ve used and are quite familiar with iPad’s, too. My parents also have an iPad and a Kindle Fire, and we’ve tested iPad, Kindles, the Nook, and a Transformer first generation. And I was a iPhone user for the last couple of years. I go back and forth pretty easily between Apple and Android products, so I don’t always understand the dichotomy.
Re: Flash (Adobe Flash, not Flash memory), streaming sites (Netflix, YouTube, etc.) have moved away from it, so for homeschooling purposes like watching documentaries and such, it really is a non-issue, like Doug said.
Really for me, it was comparing the specs on a chart. Resolution vs. screen size, memory, processing speeds, size/portability, weight, prices, and what we plan to use it for. Those are the actual cold, hard facts about the product that you have to live with until you can afford to buy a new one. That said, we still haven’t decided which one to buy. I discovered some glitches with the Nexus 7, but the resolution is beautiful. Which would I rather live with? Unfortunately, there is no perfect tablet.
And I can’t say that what’s right for us is right for everyone. At the end of the day, it’s just a tablet, and something newer, better, shinier, etc. will be out right after you buy the one that you researched so long and hard on in the first place. A family in my homeschooling group has all Apple products and they are happy. We have Android products and are happy.
@mrsmccardell – If you are only familiar with Apple products, there is a learning curve to an Android device, but it’s not terrible. However, saving some money won’t be worth it if you’re not happy with what you bought.