iPad vs. Kindle for Books

In 2007, Amazon released their ebook reader, known as the Kindle. This small piece of technology made it simple and easy for users to take books anywhere they wanted to. Suddenly, over 1000 books could be easily stored in one reader.

In 2010, Apple released their tablet computer, the iPad. While the iPad was not created to be an ebook reader, it lists this function as one of its many uses. This release put the iPad up against the Kindle, as both offer an ebook store that allows users to read books through technology. While iPhone apps have already been created, countless iPad app developers will work on their own versions of book reading for the iPad.

While the iPad can do more than the Kindle, one question remains: Which piece of technology is better for ebook reading? The answer to this question can easily help an iPad application development team create the best book reader possible on the iPad. By taking the positives of the iPad book reading system and taking into consideration the positives of the Kindle, any iPad app development team can create the perfect application.

iPad and iBooks App

While there is more to learn about the iPad, there are some things that we do know about the book reader. There will be a separate ebook store, much like the Kindle has for its own books called iBook. Readers will be able to read books in full color, which is especially helpful for books with illustrations.

The iPad is the same size as the deluxe version of the Kindle, and the base price for the iPad is the same as the most expensive Kindle. Unfortunately, the iPad will not have the amount of books available that the Kindle has, at least at launch. Over time, this will change, but at launch, users will find less books in the iPad’s iBook store.

Kindle

The Kindle has both high points and low points. Most notably, the Kindle is cheaper than the iPad. Because it only performs one main function, in can afford to be cheaper than the iPad on a consistent basis.

The Kindle also features an actually keypad with buttons on it. You will be able to type in anything you need to as required by the Kindle. Those who dislike typing on touch screens see this as a benefit.

Unfortunately, the Kindle does not support certain types of ebooks (ePub, for example) and is unable to share the books that you have purchased with any other devices. The books are also only seen in black and white, which may be perfect for some but too bland and unreadable for others.

Both products have major positives and negatives to consider. When it comes down to it, both products are targeted to different consumers. The lower cost of the Kindle will attract some users, while the full touch screen of the iPad may attract others. To put it simply, both products have something different to offer book readers. There is no “winner” in this battle, as users will choose based on their own wants and needs.