I-Pad or Kindle, that is the question.

I need one or the other. Yes, a bit self-indulgent - but I really believe it will improve my quality of life.

I realize there are lots of opinions on both. I welcome those opinons and recommendations in the comment section. I really, really,  REALLY want one of the other. But which one??? It all boils down to my current lifestyle.

Let's break it down and see if we can figure this out together.

I-Pad

Apple advertises the IPad as a magical and revolutionary product at an unbelievable price of $499.

(Not looking to unbelievable yet.)

Okay.. so you got me sucked in. Magical?? Unbelievable? Revolutionary? Heck yeah! But wait.. I have an Ipod and I wonder... is it only going to be compatible with the computer I upload it to? Or does it work that way?

The main thing Apple is touting (once you click on the picture on their website) are the apps.

"All of the built-in apps on iPad were designed from the ground up to take advantage of the large Multi-Touch screen and advanced capabilities of iPad. And they work in any orientation. So you can do things with these apps that you can’t do on any other device."

Okay - I DON'T have an iphone, and could honestly care less about apps. Not impressed. So far, no dice.

Let's see what is next..

Safari

"iPad is the best way to experience the web. View whole pages in portrait or landscape on the large Multi-Touch screen. And let your fingers do the surfing."


Okay.. soo a little computer. Alright.. alright.. but I have a laptop already.

What's next?
Mail

"There’s nothing like the Mail app on iPad. With a split-screen view and expansive onscreen keyboard, it lets you see and touch your email in ways you never could before."
I have a blackberry... I already have my work email synced, and everything else is there. Tell me why I need ANOTHER device that can do that.
**again - I clearly looking for an electronic device to read books on.. that's all. But I am open to more.. let's continue..

Photos
"A vivid LED-backlit IPS display makes viewing photos on iPad extraordinary. Open albums with a tap. Flip through your pictures one by one. Or play a slideshow and share your photos."

I have these stored on my Ipod now. They are only uploaded to Facebook. Again - duplicating what I can already do - and have already paid for.

Videos
"The 9.7-inch high-resolution screen makes iPad perfect for watching HD movies, TV shows, podcasts, music videos, and more. "

I  realize the screen is bigger.. and this might be a bit more a selling point for me. I can already do this on my laptop, phone and ipod. But okay.. I can take this as a plus.

YouTube
"With the YouTube app designed specifically for iPad, videos are even easier to find. And on the amazing iPad display, they’re more fun to watch. Especially in HD."

Who cares? I have a Youtube account and have all of my faves marked. Don't need an easier way to find videos.

iPod
"Reach out and touch your songs. View your album art full-size. iPad makes music look as good as it sounds."

Okay - my heart did skip a little beat. BUT- I am all about keeping what you have until it dies. I have a 30 gig Ipod with video and everything. I can't transfer my little investment... what to do? What to do?

iTunes
"Millions of songs, thousands of movies and TV shows, and so much more. Browsing and buying are just a tap away."

Cooool. At my finger tips??? Hmmm..
Getting warmer.

App Store
"You’ll find more than 150,000 apps on the App Store, and iPad can run almost all of them. Including everything from games to productivity apps."

I-DON'T-CARE.

iBooks
"Reading is a joy on iPad. Text looks crisp and bright. Pages turn with a flick. And you can buy new books from the iBookstore. Just download the free iBooks app to get started."
*DING DING DING

Maps
"See more of the world with iPad. Find locations easier than ever with street view, satellite view, or new terrain view — all using Google services"
Useful.

Notes
"With its large display and onscreen keyboard, iPad makes it easy to jot down quick notes and keep important information on hand. You can even email yourself reminders."

Might be useful.

Calendar

"Work, home, and everything in between. Your schedules are easy to read and easy to manage on iPad — even all at once."
Hmmm...

Contacts
"With Contacts on iPad, you can see much more than just names and numbers. And you can do more with them, too."

Hmm.. if only it were a phone or video conferencing tool. Then I would never leave home without it. ;-)

Home Screen
"With just one press of the Home button, you have access to every app on your iPad."

Okay...
Spotlight Search
"No matter what you’re looking for, Spotlight Search can help you find it"
Could be useful if you have an extensive library of music or songs.

iWork
"The iWork productivity applications that you know and love on the Mac — Keynote, Pages, and Numbers — have been completely redesigned for iPad. So you can create great-looking presentations, documents, and spreadsheets. All using just your fingers. And while they’re easy to use, they’re also the most powerful productivity apps ever built for a mobile device."
THIS -if it is not extra and super expensive - would put my laptop out of business.


Okay Okay.. I get it. I see. But really, I am looking for a simple reading piece. The rest is good.

Let's compare price with the Amazon Kindle.

Amazon Kindle








Advanced Design


"Sleek & Light"
"At 10.2 ounces, Kindle is lighter than a typical paperback and as thin as most magazines. Barely a third of an inch in profile, you'll find Kindle fits perfectly in your hands."  I like that!!

"Simple to Use, No Computer Required" ding ding ding

"Unlike most electronic devices, we wanted to keep Kindle simple. Kindle is wireless and ready to use right out of the box–no setup, no cables, no software to install, no computer required."  is it possible to be in love?

Ergonomic Design

"Kindle is easy to hold and read. We designed it with long-form reading in mind. When reading for long periods of time, people naturally shift positions and often like to read with one hand. Kindle's page-turning buttons are located on both sides, allowing you to read and turn pages comfortably with one hand from any position." Yesssss

Precise 5-Way Controller

"Kindle has an easy-to-use 5-way controller, enabling precise on-screen navigation for selecting text to highlight or looking up words." - okay... sooo...

Long Battery Life

"Long Battery Life—Read for Days Without Recharging" Bingo!!

"With Kindle's long battery life, you can read on a single charge for up to 1 week with wireless on. Turn wireless off and read for up to 2 weeks. Battery life will vary based on wireless usage, such as shopping the Kindle Store and downloading content. In low-coverage areas or in EDGE/GPRS-only coverage, wireless usage will consume battery power more quickly." yeah.. my ipod could not do that - i bet that ipad could not either!!

Charge Via USB

"Kindle ships with a U.S. power adapter and a micro-USB cable for charging your Kindle from a computer USB port. The U.S. power adapter supports voltages 100V-240V."


Wireless Access With Whispernet

"Get Books in as Little as 60 Seconds" - That's what I am talking about!!

"Whispernet utilizes Amazon's optimized technology plus a high-speed data network to enable you to wirelessly search, discover, and download content on the go. Your books and periodicals are delivered via Whispernet in less than 60 seconds. And unlike Wi-Fi, you never have to hunt for a hotspot. Wireless download times can vary based on 3G or EDGE/GPRS coverage, signal strength, and file size. See wireless coverage map for availability."

No Monthly Wireless Bills

"No monthly wireless bills or commitments. Amazon pays for Kindle's wireless connectivity so you won't see a monthly wireless bill. There is no wireless setup–you are ready to shop, purchase, and read right out of the box. "

Global Coverage

"Uses GSM technology—the most popular mobile wireless standard—with wireless coverage in over 100 countries. See wireless coverage map for availability."

Travel the Globe with Kindle

"Travel the globe and still get books in under 60 seconds. Download books wirelessly in over 100 countries around the world, such as Australia, Hong Kong, Germany, Japan, Norway, Spain, South Africa, the United Kingdom (UK), and many others. Stay in touch with news from home by having your newspaper and magazine subscriptions delivered wirelessly while you travel. See wireless coverage map for availability. " COOOL

"For U.S. customers traveling abroad, a $1.99 fee currently applies when downloading books or single issues of periodicals wirelessly from your Archived Items or the Kindle store while traveling internationally. For details on periodicals and personal documents, click here. To avoid any fees, you can always download books, periodicals, and personal documents via your computer and transfer to your Kindle using USB. "

Carry Your Library in 10.2 Ounces

Holds Over 1,500 Books - This is the answer to all of my problems.. seriously

"The ultimate travel companion, Kindle weighs 10.2 ounces and holds up to 1,500 books. No longer pick and choose which books fit in your carry-on. You can always have your entire Kindle library with you."

Automatic Library Backup: Re-Download Your Books Wirelessly - yeah.. apple's not gonna do that!

"Books you purchase from the Kindle Store are backed up online in your Kindle book library at Amazon.com. You can wirelessly re-download books available in your library. This allows you to make room for new titles on your Kindle. We even back up your last page read and annotations. Please see more information about your library content."



Enhanced Reading

"The most elegant feature of a physical book is that it disappears while you're reading. Immersed in the author's world and ideas, you don't notice a book's glue, the stitching, or ink. Our top design objective was to make Kindle disappear—just like a physical book—so you can get lost in your reading, not the technology."

Paper-Like Screen

"Utilizing the latest in electronic-ink display technology, Kindle provides a crisp black-and-white 6" screen with the same appearance and readability of printed paper. Sharp and natural with no glare or backlight, reading on Kindle is nothing like reading from a computer screen. Those who see it for the first time always do a double-take. The screen works using ink, just like books and newspapers, but displays the ink particles electronically. And unlike a laptop or smart phone, Kindle never gets warm so you can comfortably read as long as you like. " - That's all I need!

Here are some more highlights:
Read in Sunlight with No Glare
Adjustable Text Size
Manual Screen Rotation
Built-In PDF Reader

Read-To-Me Feature
Newspaper Reading
Bookmarks and Annotations
Personal Document Service Via Whispernet
Wireless Access to Wikipedia
Built-In Dictionary with Instant Lookup
Search

Audiobooks

Read Kindle Books on your iPhone or PC

Basic Web Browser

All for $259


I think I know which one I want... what are your thoughts??