Amazon Kindle DX vs Apple iPad as an eReader
Kindle DX (Available Now for Approximately £300 + VAT)
(Order from the Amazon US store and you will be shown the full UK price, including VAT, before you checkout).
Apple iPad Available in the Spring
The Kindle has pretty much had the eBook Reader market to itself over the last year or so. The Sony eBook Reader has taken some of it`s market share but the Kindle is by far the most popular eBook Reader on the market at the moment.
So will the Apple iPad offer it real competition as an eBook Reader?
Well if you look at the features you get for the price you have to say that it`s a no-brainer – the iPad has so much more to offer from the ability to watch movies, surf the web, etc. however there are two big differences – the eInk and battery life.
eInk
It`s going to be down to what your eyes can handle but it`s easy to test – download an eBook (there are plenty of free ones) onto your computer and try reading it for the length of time you would normally read a book. If your eyes get tired or you feel you are straining then you are probably going to be better off with an eReader as the eInk is not backlit and is the same as reading a printed page in a book.
If however (and this is probably the case for younger people whose eyes are more flexible) you can read text on a computer screen without your eyes feeling tired then you will probably be better off with the iPad.
Also if you are going to spend a lot of time reading outside (sitting on a lounger in those barmy summers we have been having!) then the eInk on the Kindle is the best option as it is just like reading a normal book. You may well find the backlit screen of the iPad a problem in bright conditions.
BUT what about the battery?
Battery Life
The latest Kindle DX will allow you to read for two weeks with the WIFI switched off (this is used to download new eBooks over a broadband connection) on one charge. So if you are going away on a trip there`s no need to pack a charger.
The iPad however needs a fair amount of power to light the screen and according to Apple you get up to 10 hours of surfing the web on Wi-Fi, watching video, or listening to music. We all know what these battery claims are like though!
So basically you will need to take a charger with you if you are planning on using the iPad for more than a day.
Other Features
There are a whole host of additional features which may sway your decision but the bottom line really is what you want the device for.
Kindle DX Features
- Get Books in as Little as 60 Seconds via WiFi or 3G
- Global coverage using GSM – download books in over 100 countries
- Read in direct sunlight with no glare
- Add bookmarks and annotations using the built in keyboard
Apple iPad Features
- Surf the web in full screen, full colour
- Watch Youtube, movies
- Listen to your iTunes library
- Download iPhone Apps to play games, etc.
- Add an optional keyboard to create a laptop experience
Conclusion
So if you want an eBook Reader for the sole purpose of reading books, papers and magazines then it looks as if you would still be better of going with either the Kindle DX, it`s little brother the Kindle or the Sony eBook Reader but if you really want all the other features (and you don`t mind having to charge it every day) then the iPad may be the way to go but you may have to find some shade on those sunny days!
CLICK HERE to visit Amazon Kindle DX
Please Note: All prices were checked on 31/01/2010 but may have changed. Please visit the online shop for the latest prices.
