I’m not a gadget guy. Unlike some good friends of mine, I can walk into any store without salivating over the newest electronic toys. Knowing there is an iPad2 does not decrease my contentment with iPad1. My older-model Blackberry smart phone still works just fine for me, though I admit the new models look pretty neat.
Even though I’m not one who just has to have the latest technological marvel, I do enjoy tools that help me do other things well (read, connect, write, etc.). Late last fall, my church gave me an iPad as a going-away gift. My pastor knew that I wouldn’t be one to go out and buy one, so he thought it would be nice for the church to treat me to the new Apple tablet.
After a few weeks, I wrote down my initial impressions of the iPad, remarking on its battery life, the multiplicity of features, ease of use during travel, and the stunning visual display. The iPad was like a mini-computer for me. I bought some eBooks and dipped my feet into the pool of e-reading for the first time.
After a couple months, I noticed that I was using my iPad mainly when going on trips. It became primarily an e-Reader for me in airports and hotel rooms. The iPad became a travel companion. I used it less and less at home and more and more on the road, mainly for reading.
Then, earlier this summer, everything changed. I was sitting next to a guy on an airplane who was switching back and forth between an iPad2 and a Kindle. I asked, “Why would you need a Kindle if you’ve already got an iPad? Everything you want to do on the Kindle you can do on the iPad.”
He replied, “The iPad is great as a mini-computer. But when it comes to reading, the Kindle knocks it out of the park.” He then proceeded to mention a few reasons why the Kindle was a superior reading device.
Needless to say, I was intrigued. A couple weeks later, my wife and kids got me a Kindle for my birthday. I downloaded a few books and started using the Kindle on my bus ride into work every morning and afternoon. Since that time, I have largely replaced the iPad with the Kindle. The man on the plane was right.
As an e-Reader, the Kindle beats the iPad. Here are the reasons why:
- Easy on the Eyes: I thought the talk of the Kindle’s natural screen to be overblown until I started using it myself. I quickly realized why my eyes had gotten so tired so fast with the backlit screen of the iPad. The screen of the Kindle is indeed like reading a book page.
- Focused on the Book: The Kindle is an e-reading device, period. It does one thing only, but it does it well. Pick up your Kindle and you lose yourself in the world of reading. The content stands out, not the impressive features of the device. With the iPad, e-reading is just one of the many features, which means that there are any number of distractions from keeping your nose in that eBook.
- Light and Easy: The Kindle is lighter than the iPad. Sometimes, I stand on the bus on the way to work, which means I’ve got to use one hand to hold on to the rail. I wouldn’t be able to hold an iPad with my other hand and easily click the pages. The Kindle’s size and weight make it easy to read anywhere.
- Cost: The iPad costs more than $500 compared to the Kindle at $114 (or $139). That’s not to say the iPad is overpriced. It does have more features, after all. But the Kindle excels at doing one thing – providing a reading platform.
