Battle of the iPad Book Apps: iBooks Versus Kindle

PCMag's Michael Miller offers up a detailed review of both the iBooks app and the Kindle app for the iPad.  The strength of the iBooks app, says Miller, is its search functionality and its support for the more open ePub format.  But, Miller points out that Amazon has a much better selection of books available, and that, together with the Kindle app's ability to sync with multiple devices, gives the Kindle app the edge over iBooks.

Read the full review here.

Dan Frommer on Why He Ordered an iPad

AlleyInsider's Dan Frommer did a post on why he ordered an iPad.  Its of some value to those of you who are on the fence about ordering an iPad.  He makes some good points except for this one:

I've been thinking about buying a Kindle for a while, to read e-books while I'm at home, but wanted to wait and see if the iPad would be a better all-around device. It is, so I'm going to give it a shot.

Of course the iPad is a better all-around device.  The Kindle is NOT an all around device.  It was designed to do one thing extremely well - provide a great reading experience (primarily for books).  Its not clear what the reading experience will be like on the iPad.  Sure, it offers a color screen, a clear advantage over the Kindle (particulalry for magazine content).  The iPad's screen, however, is backlit, so will not be nearly as easy on the eyes while reading for longer periods of time (i.e., books).  So, if books is your thing, the Kindle may still be the right choice.