How Does the Apple iPad Compare to the Amazon Kindle?

On January 27^th, 2010, Apple CEO Steve Jobs unveiled the company's newest gadget: the iPad. This device, which has the e-book reading functionality of Amazon.com's Kindle, is "so much more intimate than a laptop and so much more capable than a smart phone," Jobs noted.

The iPad is, in essence, Apple's reply to Amazon.com's Kindle, a tablet device capable of downloading and storing e-books. Amazon introduced the Kindle nearly three years ago, and now reports that this device is its major money-maker. In response to such success, a host of other companies such as Apple, Hewlett-Packard, Lenovo Group, and EnTourage Systems initiated plans to manufacture a similar tablet. At this point in time, Lenovo Group is set to offer a $999 device called the IdeaPad U1 this June. EnTourage is already selling a "dualbook", which is a fold-up device consisting of a color touch screen (for Web browsing) on one side and a black-and-white screen (for reading) on the other.

Apple offers its iPad for an entry level price of $499, which features a 16 GB flash memory storage device. This is half of what most technology analysts assumed would be the cost of the iPad. Models with more flash memory storage, such as 32 GB and 64 GB, will cost $599 and $699, respectively. Models with AT&T 3G cellular data connectivity will cost $129 more. Theoretically, then, one could end up spending $829 for a top-of-the-line iPad. Additionally, in order to surf the Internet, one needs to add on a $14.99/month data plan for up to 250 MB, or a $29.99/month data plan for unlimited data.

In contrast, Amazon's Kindle is currently priced at $259 for an entry level device. Also, the e-books that are downloaded to the Kindle can already be read on Apple's other devices, such as the iPhone and iPod Touch. Because the Kindle uses EVDO, the high-speed data network used by advanced cell phones, one does not need to locate a WiFi hotspot. E-books, magazines, and newspapers downloaded to the Kindle are not charged a wireless connection or download fee either. Thus, one does not need a monthly wireless data plan to access the Internet on the Kindle.

Of course, the Apple iPad is much more than a simple e-Book reader. The device also has the capacity to surf the Web and send e-mail via WiFi, store and send pictures, and download and play music files. Surprisingly, what it doesn't do is take pictures, contain a video camera or the ability to video conference, or multitask between several different applications at once. Also, Apple does not yet have any agreements with magazines to sell their content through the iPad.