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Apple Ipad vs Amazon Kindle – Let the blows commence!

Apple Ipad vs Amazon Kindle – Let the blows commence!

The Ipad has always been pitched as the all dancing, hand held, feature full, cost effective, people friendly alternative to ….. well, most things really. It's a laptop (not a very good one) and it's a media player (sort of) and it's a web browser (actually it's quite good at that) and it's an EBook (err, no, it isn't actually).

Don't get me wrong, I love the Ipad. I have invested hard earned cash in one. But let's not kid ourselves, it's a gadget. It's a very nice gadget, but, it's a gadget. Do you want the proof? OK, you forced me into it.

• I have got 4 laptops, I do not need another one. I bought the Ipad and it is a rubbish laptop, because, well, it can't do the things a laptop does. You can't even install programmes on it properly; you have to go through Itunes.
• I have got an Ipod Touch. I really don't need another media player. The Ipad is great as a media player, but it is bulky and cumbersome.
• I have got a netbook for browsing the web. Actually, it does quite a poor job of it and the Ipad does it considerably better, but my point still stands (though only just), that I already have a web browser.
• And, I have just got my sticky little hands on a Kindle. And that really outshines the Ipad as an EBook.

I agree that it may not really be a very fair comparison. However, so many people are pitching the Ipad as the ultimate EBook and it really is not. There is something very significant that everyone seems to be missing and it is all in the technology.

The Ipad undeniably has a very beautiful screen and puts many laptops to shame. However, it suffers from the same issue as any LCD screen. Eye strain.

I work at a computer all day, every day and after a while you blink rate reduces and your eyes get tired. It's natural. That is the effect of being in front of an artificial light source and concentrating on text and graphics all day long. This is where the Kindle is very, very different. It uses a technology called E-ink. To bring technology down to the level that I can understand it, there are basically thousands of tiny balls which make up the pixels on the screen. These balls are white on one side and black on the other. When the Kindle turns a page the balls turn to represent the black and white image you see as the page of a book. There is no flicker, no eye strain (and power is only used when you turn the page). It is just like looking at the page of a book.

And that is where the Kindle wins. With the Ipad you are always impressed with the technology, amazed by the features and wowed by the design and build quality. With the Kindle, you read a book. And it feels like reading a book.

Winner: Kindle (with a knockout blow)

About the Author

Julian Roberts
www.bigbooklibrary.co.uk

Tags: ebook, ebooks, ereader, reader, software, win ereader

Categories: Digital Ebook Reader

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