It is time we all admit it: if you are a book reader then the Kindle is a lot better for you than an iPad.
This is the big week. Apple is going to announce the iPad3. And I am going to skip all the fun. If I were to upgrade any of my current gadgets (besides that phone of mine) it would be my Kindle. I’d trade it for the newer one – not the Kindle Fire, but the basic one – the cheapest. No touch for me. No color. No flashy apps.
Why? Because the Kindle is way better than a tablet. And here are 10 reasons why.
No Apps
Did you know that there are no apps on a Kindle? No App Store. No Andorid Market. No Ovi Store. No App World. No Marketplace. Just things to read.
I like reading. In fact, I love reading. But I am also a sucker for notifications. Can’t get an Outlook email pop up notification without checking its content. So for me, the best thing is to not have apps. Or notifications. Or anything. Just the ability to read.
With an iPad 3, I’d be downloading a new app every day.
Amazon
And since I like reading so much, Amazon has been a friend of mine for over a decade. These guys know what I like. They send me these enticing emails about new stuff. That I just HAVE to read.
At this point, I have around 50 books waiting for me on my Kindle.
I curse Amazon whenever they send me an email with a suggestion. It just mean I’ll be reading more.
Yes, you can have Amazon on the iPad 3 as well. But it will not be as well integrated as it is on the Kindle.
Price
You do know that the Kindle is dirty cheap – don’t you? It cost less to just buy one and load it with 20-30 free or inexpensive books to breakeven on your investment. Amazon made sure you know it…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sulfQHdvyEs
Weight
It weighs less than a physical book. You can hold it for an hour or more and read without having muscle cramps. The iPad 3 won’t give you that.
Size
The iPad is humongous. At 10” it requires a bag. I take my Kindle everywhere, and at times I put it in my pocket – it isn’t the comfiest thing in my pocket, but it is way better than your average iPad pocket.
Brightness
Do you get sore eyes reading on your iPad? That won’t happen with the Kindle – there’s no back lighting on it, so it feels just like reading a real book. Only better. I can go for stretches of an hour or more of reading easily.
Sunlight
Try to read on your iPad 3 in sunlight. Good luck with that. With the Kindle it is second nature. That e-ink technology that is about to pass from this world just works better for a reading experience.
Battery
The iPad has some long battery life. You can go on and on and on with it. But at the end of the day you’ll be plugging it in for some juice.
My Kindle doesn’t see a wall socket for weeks. I tend to fill it up before traveling and then not think about it at all. True mobility.
No Smears
No touch = no smears.
Every smartphone and tablet today is touch based, which makes them germs infested. With a Kindle, at least the cheapest one, there’s no such thing – no touch capabilities.
Prev/Next
Want to flip a page? There are nice prev/next buttons at both sides of the Kindle. This makes for a great one hand reading experience as you can both hold the Kindle and press it using the same hand.
Can you do that with an iPad 3? You’ll need to swipe your finger and hold it at the same time. That will be 2 hands.
So yes, you will probably go for a shiny new iPad 3. But really – do you need it? If you love reading, go pamper yourself with a Kindle instead.
Lazy and can’t read it here? How about watching the slideshow instead?
[slideshare id=13766997&doc=201207-bloggeek-kindle-vs-ipad-120726123443-phpapp02]
Really good analysis. I’m a huge Apple fan, but I must admit you just showed me good arguments in favor of Kindle..
I need to know whichDevice is easier to read on for the eyes. I have macular and later it will be more difficult to read. I now read on an iPad. Would a kindle be better? Which Kindle?
I don’t have an iPad, but do own an Android tablet and a Kindle.
Kindle is easier on the eyes when it comes to reading – probably because there’s no back-lighting involved in its screen technology.
So, after everything I read on this blog, all I saw was it’s an electronic book that as long as it’s charged you can read all you want. With a hard cover or paper back book that doesn’t need charging (not electronic) I can still read all I want. So what exactly is the big deal. I also understand ebooks are cheaper, ok whatever, Kindle still doesn’t impress me. Does anyone have any really good reason what makes Kindle “special, a must have” before commenting please bare this in mind, I’m 52 and was a librarian for several years.
Cindy,
I can only offer my own experience – Kindle reading is a better experience for me for many reasons. So much so that I don’t think I’ve bought or lifted a paper book in the last 3 years (at least).
I agree and one thing I have noticed is that no matter how awake and alert I am, it doesn’t take long to stare at the screen before my eyes get sleepy regardless of how engaged I am in the content .
Cindy,
As a librarian I’m sure you have a great command of the English language but you also have an interest in new words you may come across in a book. Do you stop and go look it up? With the Kindle all you have to do is touch word and the definition pops up. If you want to note a phrase or section you can select it and then select from several options to keep it for later recall. Plus other features that are available in addition to the ones listed above in the review. Personally I like the touch feature available on the Kindle and to turn the page you just tap the side of the page so you can still do it with one hand.