I have had an iPad since it was first released back in April and have been very happy with it, especially as an electronic book reader. The text is very easy to read and the device is just about the right size. Recently I got a new Kindle from Amazon and must admit I was very impressed with the quality of the text on screen. I thought it would be a good idea to compare and contrast the two device's’ capabilities.
Apple iPad
Apple produce 6 different versions of the iPad. three different capacities:
each with either Wi-Fi or Wi-Fi and 3G. If you opt for a 3G version then you need to take out a contract separately with a mobile provider for the 3G service. I personally have the one without 3G as I do have my iPhone which gives me full 3G coverage. Rather disappointingly it is not possible to tether your iPhone to the iPad, allowing you to share the 3G service.
The iPad is really a fully fledged tablet PC. The app store contains thousands of applications ranging from pointless fun through to key business solutions. Apple have even produced mobile versions of their iWork suite. Reading emails is an absolute pleasure on this device as the screen is so clear and much bigger than the iPhone. The web Browser is a cut down version of Safari but does not support either Silverlight or Flash, which causes a few problems with some sites.
As a eBook reader the iPad is wonderful; the text is very clear and images are rendered perfectly. The included iBooks application has a number of great books available but with the addition of a pdf reader such as CloudReader it is perfect. The page turning is fast and smooth with a realistic page turning effect which does not distract form the reading experience. The device is fairly big and as such may get a little uncomfortable after an hour or two.
Amazon Kindle
The Kindle comes in two versions, one with a 3G connection and one without. I personally have the one without 3G as I do have my iPhone which gives me full 3G coverage. However the Amazon offering does provide free worldwide coverage, which is an amazing offer for just a few pounds more.
The E Ink technology used by the Kindle is absolutely amazing and provides a perfect medium for viewing text. However it is not quite so impressive at viewing images or tables. This makes it perfect for reading novels but not so good for more technical publications where diagrams and code examples are shown. The screen transition is not so nice as the screen turns black whilst the page is refreshed and this distracts from the act of reading. Amazon have added a number of experimental features to the device such as a web browser which is very basic and limited for more than simple browsing by the lack of a touch screen.
The Kindle is a great eBook reader but that is about it. One note to beware of is the fact you can buy eBooks directly via the Kindle with little or no confirmation of the purchase. The ordering system uses Amazon’s one-click payment process and so it is fairly easy to mistakenly buy a book, which my other half quickly found out with a £25 book.
Conclusion
The iPad is a much more complete solution and is much better for reading any technical publications. As such it is definitely my device of choice. However it is at least 4x the price of a Kindle. and twice the size. For pleasure reading and taking on holiday the Kindle is perfect, and I am not going to be as upset if it gets lost or broken at ~£100 instead of ~£500.