The
Sony Daily Edition V The Amazon Kindle
Reader...
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After a long wait,
Apple unveiled their Apple tablet computer -
the iPad - on January 27, 2010.
Reactions were mixed - is it
really the death of e-book readers or is
it just a bigger version of the iPod Touch?
Opinions will inevitably depend upon your point
of view. In some ways, the two gadgets are very
different and you can only go so far when
trying to make a meaningful
comparison.
That being said,
here's a comparison..
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Amazon
Kindle
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Apple
iPad
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| Display |
E-Ink display
Kindle 2.0 - 6" diagonal
Kindle DX - 9.7" diagonal
No touch screen functionality.
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9.7" diagonal back-lit display
which supports mutli-touch operation. |
| Hardware |
Kindle 2.0 10.2 oz.
Kindle DX 18.9 oz.
Both Kindle approx. 0.32" thick.
Both Kindles have a QWERTY keyboard included
along with toggle switch and button
control.
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24 oz., 0.5 inch thick with a home
button, volume controls, screen lock sliding
switch and a headset jack (3.5 mm). |
| Store |
Over 400,000 books are available on Amazon's
Kindle store.
Books are in Kindle format.
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New iBooks store available. Books are in the
iPub format.
There will be an app to allow Kindle books
to be read on the iPad.
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| Features |
Very basic web browsing is possible.
PDF reader included.
3G connectivity with no monthly fee. No
download charges.
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Very versatile device - definitely way more
than an e-book reader. Can access iTunes App
store, has the Safari browser, media player,
e-mail, games.
Comes with bluetooth and Wi-Fi. 3G available
in higher models only - with monthly payments
required (see pricing below).
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| Battery Life |
Approx. one week with wireless turned on.
With wireless turned off two to four weeks
depending how much you read.
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10 hours usage - or one month on
standby. |
| Connectivity |
3G international connectivity.
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Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 3G |
| Price |
Kindle 2.0 $259
Kindle DX $489 |
Wi-Fi Only:
16GB $499
32GB $599
64GB $699
Wi-Fi + 3G
16GB $629
32GB $729
64GB $829
3G Data:
250MB per month $15
Unlimited $30
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Whichever device you choose will be a matter
of personal preference. If you prefer the specialism of the
Kindle with its long battery life, portability and very
good (for reading) e-ink technology
display then that's what's right for you. On the
other hand, if you prefer the greater versatility of the iPad
and are prepared to sacrifice a little performance in certain
specific areas then it's certainly a very nice looking gadget
and, let's be honest, pretty cool.
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