Apple iPad vs. Amazon Kindle

On May 3, Apple [AAPL:NSD] announced that 1,000,000 iPad units had been sold in just 24 days. To put that feat into perspective, it took the company 78 days to sell 1,000,000 iPhones back in 2007. Not only that, but the price of the iPad is about twice the cost of an iPhone, which mean this accomplishment deserves much more praise.

The launch of the iPad had analysts and industry professionals questioning if this would put a damper on the Amazon [AMZN:NSD] Kindle, the best selling tablet in the world. Apple has a strong foothold in the music player, computer, and smart phone industry, and its attempts to battle Kindle is being followed closely. Some are proclaiming the Kindle will continue to stay atop, with product publicity rising and positive reviews constantly streaming in.

Critics have termed the iPad as no miracle product and is like a giant iPhone, without the phone or camera capabilities. But what about the comparison between the iPad and the Kindle? Which stacks up better as an e-reader?


Head-to-head, the iPad (left photo) is a much better all around product compared to the Kindle (right photo), but as an e-reader, does the iPad compare? I researched the top five characteristics of e-readers that I thought would be most useful for those interested in one of these devices.

Battery Life
Apple products have always had short battery lives, and the iPad does very little to end this stigma. You would be very lucky if your iPad ran for more than 12 hours without a recharge. Compare that to the Kindle, which can last an entire week without being charged. Good for the electricity bill; good if you're on a weekend vacation; good if you forget to turn off the product once in a while. It's no contest, the Kindle wins on battery life.

Measurements
Size, weight, and even 'holdability' comes into play in this category. The 6-inch Kindle is no match for the 9.2-inch iPad, but that size comes with a cost. The weight difference is significant, a factor for those who carry backpacks or luggage. The iPad registers at 1.5 pounds - four times heavier than the Kindle (Note: The Kindle DX is a larger version of the Kindle and is similar to the iPad's measurements).

Users have also complained that the weight and size makes the iPad harder to hold, making it uncomfortable as a reading device. The Kindle is much smaller and avid readers point out they feel no significant difference with the Kindle or a hard-cover book.

The winner seems to be the Kindle, but if weight is not an issue, the iPad could be considered.

Readability
Both the Kindle and the iPad have had complaints about readability. The Kindle seems to struggle at night, because it uses a reflective screen with no back lighting, like a book, but works well in sun light. On the other side, the iPad's weakness is in the light, but works well in the dark, because it uses an LED backlighting.

Some people also experience problems with backlit screens (iPad), but this is quite rare. The belief is the pixel density is lower in the iPad, giving some people sore eyes and headaches. This problem is less prevalent with the Kindle.

Users and testers have already given the advantage to the Kindle in this category.

Downloading Content
When it comes to purchasing e-books, you can order iPad products from iTunes, and Kindle books from Amazon.com. In a form of irony, you can directly purchase books sold only in iTunes on the Kindle, but this is not reciprocal. The iPad requires you to log on to the Safari browser and purchase it online, even though the iPad has a Kindle app.

The prices of e-books are similar so no distinct differences will be remarked.

The Kindle however, uses AT&T's 3G network which allows users to download content all over the world, where the 3G network reaches. The iPad uses its Wi-Fi system, allowing it to be used in basements and areas with poor coverage. You can also tap into the AT&T 3G network with the iPad, but expect a service charge.

It is a toss up, but I believe the Kindle wins here because of its free worldwide network, universal reading, and ease of purchase.

Price
It's a little unfair to judge the price of the iPad with the Kindle because it is marketed as a multi-media tablet, not just a reading tablet. The Kindle DX, a larger version of the Kindle is $10 less than the iPad's $499 base price and offers much less. The iPad can come fully loaded at a cost of $829 too. The regular Kindle has a price tag of $259.

The Kindle wins on price easily, as it is only half the price, but for those who want to buy a larger screen, do not get the Kindle DX, get the iPad.

Overall, the Kindle has seemed to win all five main components for an e-reader. Many users and testers enjoyed the compact and compatibility of the Kindle. The iPad was deemed a larger iPhone with fewer services and did not justify the cost. If you already have an iPhone and wanted an e-reader, the Kindle is sufficient and an iPad would be redundant.

I've provided a link to both the basic iPad and regular Kindle from the Amazon store below, so that you can take a look at each product and make your own conclusion. I would love to see comments later if you do make these purchases and let me know your experiences.