Today, Apple unveiled its new iPad. The iPad is designed very much like the iPhone, it is an OS based tablet computer that is capable of running most of iPhones 140,000 apps. Not to mention all the new apps made just for the iPad.
The question of the day is, does this new iPad intend to replace Kindle as the hot new way of downloading and reading books? I think the answer is, yes. According to Apple founder Steve Jobs,” Now Amazon has done a great job pioneering this…we are going to stand on their shoulders for this. Our new app is called iBooks.”
The new iPad made by Apple and Kindle made by Amazon seem to be similar only in size and their ability to download books.
• The new iPad and Kindle DX both boast 9.7 inch screens, but the iPad has a backlit LED touch screen and Kindle does not.
• The iBooks app on the iPad allows you to download and read books in the ePub open file format. This option could make it cheaper to get books, because you would not have to get them from Amazon.
• The Kindle only allows Kindle format books that you have to get from Amazon.
• The iPad allows you to access iTunes, Safari web browser, email, games, media player, and much more.
• The Kindle allows you to subscribe to newspapers and magazines, which is pretty cool, has a mediocre web browser, and pdf reader capability.
• The iPad has Bluetooth, WiFi, and 3G in some of its models.
• The Kindle only has 3G.
• Both iPad and Kindle provide service through AT&T, but iPad charges $15.00/ month for 250MB and $30.00/month for unlimited data transfer.
• Kindle includes 3G service for free.
• The iPad, with WiFi only, costs $499 for 16GB, $599 for 32GB and $699 for 64GB.
• The iPad, with WiFi and 3G, cost $629 for 16GB, $729 for 32GB, and $829 for 64GB.
• The Kindle 2 by comparison is only $259 and the Kindle DX is $489.
Now back to the original question. Is the new Apple iPad or the Amazon Kindle the better product? The answer is, it totally depends on what you want to use it for. Some people love the Kindle and others would like a product, like the iPad, that offers a wider range of services. However, the iPad costs more money, and will continue to cost for data transfer. So if cost is a concern or you really only need an eReader, then the Kindle is probably what you are looking for. If you don’t care what it costs, and want the most wide ranging applications in a tablet computer, then by all means go for the iPad.
Both iPad and Kindle offer good features. It is going to be interesting to see how this all plays out. Which one do you think is going to win? Are they going to do equally well because they appeal to different types of consumers? Let me know what you think.
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