The recent surge in the popularity of eBook readers is reflected by their increasing ubiquitousness, and has made them hot sellers in electronics outlets. A flood of new products in this previously non-existent industry has made it difficult to choose the best eBook reader, and most consumers don't even know what features to look out for.
Two of the biggest names in the eBook reader world at the moment are the Amazon Kindle (which has now been around for a few years) and the newly-released Apple iPad. They've been pitted against each other due to their overwhelming popularity - but are they really all that similar? Read our review to find out which you should choose.
Their specifications
When it comes to comparing the two on the grounds of features, they aren't all that similar. The Kindle is designed to be a reading device, with an easy-to-read e-Ink screen to match, but not much else.
The iPad, on the other hand, is designed to do everything - from allowing you to check email on the move, to listen to music, create documents, browse the web and more. The downside? Its screen isn't as easy on the eye for those who want their eBooks to feel more like real books.
With regards to which would actually be the best eBook reader, the iPad is high on features but not as appropriate for reading text on its screen for long periods at a time compared to the Kindle. The Kindle specializes in making the experience of reading an eBook from its screen comfortable and pleasurable, and does it better than the iPad.
How Much Do They Cost?
More features is not necessarily a better thing, especially when some of the features aren't going to be used much. Since the iPad's price is twice that of the Kindle, it will only be worth it to purchase the iPad if you will be using many of its features apart from just reading eBooks. If you actually need an eBook reader that can function as a tablet pc, the iPad is the way to go even over the new Kindle DX, which is not much different from the original Kindle yet costs almost as much as the iPad.
Do You Really Have to Choose?
Apple and Amazon both have an online collection of eBooks that can be purchased, with many of them being exclusive to the websites. What if someone who has a iPad is interested in an eBook sold only at Amazon.com? This might be cause for concern if the two manufacturers were uncooperative, but fortunately the two companies are friendly enough that Amazon has released an iPad-compatible program that can access eBooks downloaded from Amazon.com
Since this software version of the Kindle covers many different platforms such as Windows and Macintosh PCs, the best eBook reader may in fact be a software version that allows users to choose any hardware they want.
Sammy runs eBook Reader Guide, the place to go for all the latest Kindle news and the best iPad covers and cases. Why not take a look at the latest iPad accessories review for the hottest new glamorous, eco friendly and unique accessories available online.
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