Kindle wins because it is designed to be a dedicated reading device for reading books and little else. Note that I say as a device dedicated to reading ‘books’, I don’t say magazines or blogs (the iPad is probably better at these). Why?
- Ergonomics: call me a wimp, but I can’t hold the iPad like I would hold a paperback - using one hand, shifting from one to the other without resting it on a surface for long periods of time. Because I can do this with the kindle, after a few minutes I don’t notice that I’m not reading a dead tree book. Kindle 1, iPad 0
- Reading time: I read for a couple of hours at a stretch before I put my book down briefly and then may read again for another hour or two. With the iPad I probably could do the same but with more strain on my eyes; after all you’re staring at a light-bulb (which is pretty much what a back-lit display is), for that long. I do stare at a computer screen for 12 hours a day, but not like this, uninterrupted. So Kindle 2, iPad 0
- Portability: I’d be more likely to carry a small paperback-sized, feather-weight device with me more often that I can read on, say when I’m grabbing lunch or on the plane (every oz counts when you’re chasing changed gates and making transfers). Kindle 3, iPad 0
- Graphics and general feel: Love the fonts, color and richness of the iPad page (the screen is truly a triumph). The Kindle page looks pretty drab and the fonts are definitely not as good. But then again, I weaned off Winnie the Pooh recently, so unless it is one of those Phaidon art books (not sure if they’re on iPad yet), it doesn’t really matter much to me. I’ll call it a wash.
- Price: books on the kindle still might be cheaper, but I could be wrong about this. Besides, as long as there is competition, letting content owners set price is a better model IMHO. Eventually, with the competition, prices should converge. Wash, again.
Obviously this is is colored by my reading habits, tastes, and upper-arm strength, but if you’re reading a lot of hardcovers and paperbacks, you may want to stick to your kindle or organic reader. For other awesome game-changing personal computing stuff you may want to rush out and buy an iPad. No sarcasm, really - the iPad is a genre-maker albeit a first gen product with some rough edges - more on that soon.
