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<p>The iMac can be equipped with up to 16 GB of RAM along with a Core i7. That makes for a pretty powerful computing platform.</p>
<p>Question: I have an iPhone, but I will be studying abroad and am a huge reader. I have been thinking about getting a Kindle.</p>
<p>Is there any reason for the iPad? I love my phone and it does all I need. Am I missing something with the iPad, or should I go with my original plan of the Kindle? I think that I just want an e-reader, but obviously if the iPad’s is better than the Kindle…</p>
<p>For me, the IPad is too heavy to be used as a book…whether to carry in a purse or read in bed. If I didn’t have a laptop, it would be a natural choice but with blackberry, laptop and kindle in my life, cannot convince myself to buy an IPad.</p>
<p>I love my Kindle, fits in my pocketbook and I always have it. H is evaluating the IPad for work (no idea why) so we have had one at home the past week. It is nice, but we both found it sometimes difficult to read if the lighting wasn’t right during the day. It is backlight so you can read at night vs the Kindle where you need a book light. We are probably going to get a second e-reader for the kids, becasue of the price it will most likely be another Kindle. Both kids already have ITouches and IPods I see no need to the extra stuff (besides books) the IPad can offer.</p>
<p>Final decision: "And now I am trying to decide between a Kindle DX and a Kindle 2 "</p>
<p>Anyone got the Kindle DX… I will order the gift soon…so please share your experience!</p>
<p>Neither.</p>
<p>You should get Barnes & Noble’s e-reader, the Nook. </p>
<p>It has over 1 million books available.</p>
<p>This snap-shot review is from mobiletechreview which compares the Nook (post software update) with the Kindle and the Sony e-reader…</p>
<p>Barnes & Noble Nook
Editor’s rating (1-5): 4/5 Stars
What’s hot: Sharp eInk display. Has both 3G and WiFi. Supports ePUB format.
What’s not: Can’t create collections or folders to organize books.</p>
<p>Other useful information:
"The nook ups the ante by also giving you WiFi just in case you’re not in range of an AT&T signal (AT&T 3G powers the wide area wireless in the nook, Sony Daily Edition and in the revised versions of the Kindle 2 and DX). "</p>
<p>“The nook also does one better than the Kindle with their “The Daily” feature. The Daily is a tab on your reader home screen that provides free, fresh content every day. These are short pieces written by established writers on two fronts: Grin & Tonic (a humor piece) and Daybook (a “this day in history” piece”). Both good reads and just the kind of thing avid readers appreciate-- good going B&N. You’ll also get info on upcoming nook software updates in The Daily section. While we’re at it, we’ll also praise B&N for their Lending feature that allows you to lend a book to anyone else with a B&N account for 14 days."</p>
<p>Zep…thanks. Read all the threads about all these devices and there is a consensus in satisfaction with the Kindle 2. </p>
<p>I just ordered the “Kindle Wireless Reading Device (6” Display, Global Wireless, Latest Generation)". This will be my kid’s graduation gift. I’m so excited…the gift will be here this week.</p>
<p>Read your posting after placing the order…but it is fine. Nice information, thanks.</p>
<p>I said this in a different thread comparing choices -</p>
<p>Everyone seems to think whatever they have is the best - so it looks like you can’t go wrong!</p>
<p>I think the key to making a good decision is defining how you want to use the device. If I were only going to read at home or on a trip - I might get the iPad or maybe, maybe the Kindle DX. They are both larger and so they are the easiest to read. </p>
<p>What means the most to me is portability and long battery life. I take it with me whenever I am taking one of my parents, my MIL, or any other family member to an appointment - and I do that a lot. So for me the Kindle is the best choice.</p>
<p>Anyone who is buying one of these devices needs to really think how they will use it and what features are important to them.</p>
<p>Greenery, </p>
<p>I didn’t see post number 25 until after I posted. Funny how that works out.</p>
<p>Enjoy your reader. The Kindle is a always a solid choice.</p>
<p>Comparing iPad to Kindle is like apple to orange. I am typing this response on my iPad, a function that cannot be done with Kindle. Likewise, I won’t compare the functionality of an iPad with a real laptop. Kindle is a superior ebook reader for it’s longer battery life as well as it’s lighter weight.</p>
<p>padad, thanks…the two worlds are good… Well, I bought the Kindle to my Kid. It is like an extension of his hand–He absolutely loves it and carries it everywhere and at all times. Probably, my kid sleeps with the Kindle…</p>
<p>So the IPAD will be my H birthday present. After reading all the reviews, I’m sure he will love that gift, too.</p>
<p>Greenery - for those of us who are of a certain age, a word of caution is in order. The first day I received my Kindle, I read a lot. A lot. </p>
<p>The next morning I woke up and wondered why my thumb felt funny. There was a nerve twitching. I had turned so many pages I sent my thumb into some kind of spasm. It has been fine ever since, but perhaps Kindles should be packaged with a warning for those of us who are a little older.</p>
<p>I have an iPad now. I use it like a laptop. I didn’t get the 3G version because I use it with wifi. </p>
<p>iPad doesn’t have a camera, like iphone, so I can’t make video calls. It doesn’t do multi tasking (similar to iphone), so I can’t have ichat and web browser on at the same time. Many browser functions are not working properly yet. I also don’t have Excel or Word on iPad, so I can’t always view attachments.</p>
<p>IPad is great for photos (I have hundreds family photos on iPad), surfing, music, games. I also have few books download on IPad. When I travel, I only carry my iPad, I leave my heavy Mac at home.</p>
<p>Just thought I’d mention that Oberon Designs now offers covers for iPads. I love their cover for my nook.</p>
<p>Having played with an iPad for a few minutes I’ve concluded - </p>
<ul>
<li>The iPad is just a bigger, heavier version of my iPhone although with fewer features.</li>
<li>The iPad is too heavy to use regularly as a book reader for me. It might be somewhat okay to read on a plane or something but not for reading in bed when compared to the lighter Kindle.</li>
<li>The iPad is an awkward and poor substitute for a laptop for web browsing, etc. It can be made to work but the positioning is awkard, i.e. how to prop it up properly, and when propped up the keyboard is in an awkward position and basically not usable.</li>
<li>For traveling I can easily just use my iPhone for listening to music, watching movies on planes, browsing the internet for making a hotel reservation or something, messaging, and I can even take pictures with my iPhone and even make a phone call.</li>
<li>The iPad is expensive for what you get. An iPhone is way less expensive. A netbook is way less expensive. </li>
</ul>
<p>So, the iPad is cool, no doubt, but it’s a little like a cool looking brick (although that’s harsh, it has more utility than that). It simply is no match for a laptop or netbook for utility as an ergonomically useful web browser, word processing device, email, general purpose laptop, etc. It’s no match for the Kindle as a book reader largely due to the weight. The Kindle is no match for the iPad in more general functions but all that is superseded by an iPhone, various other smart phones, a laptop, or a netbook.</p>
<p>I’m afraid an iPad is something I think would be cool to have, enjoy playing with for a bit, and then end up setting it aside and using my laptop and iPhone for the majority of uses. </p>
<p>I just ordered a Kindle as a gift for someone else so it’s possible my opinion may change once I receive it and get a chance to play with it (while ‘setting it up’ for the person I’m giving it to 
) but so far I think for a book reader it’s Kindle > iPad, for use traveling it’s iPhone > iPad, and for use as a browser/email/movie watching/etc. it’s laptop/netbook > iPad. </p>
<p>Keep in mind I don’t actually ‘own’ an iPad so take any of my conclusions in context.</p>
<p>Well, I am wondering when DH will put his new iPad aside. So far, he loves it. He frequently travels for work and most of his young employees email him throughout the day. The iPad works great for returning those emails and he loves that he can use wireless or 3G. He now leaves his laptop at the office or at home and just uses the iPad for day trips.</p>
<p>Worknprogress…concerning the Ipad that’s exactly what I have in mind–that my H can take it when is travelling and when we are in the car without worrying if we could connect to the Internet.</p>
<p>Update with the Kindle: it is marvelous and my kid reads reads and reads. However, that’s because he loves to read and the kindle has been a great addition to download books at any time or place.</p>
<p>iPad is a great ice breaker, strangers would come up to me to ask about my iPad.</p>
<p>Actually, I realized that an iPad would be the perfect gift for a single woman looking for a man. It is quite the man-magnet. I was waiting for DH in the lobby of a conference center and I was approached by several guys who wanted to know how I like it. I would have told them if I had been allowed to use it ;)</p>
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<p>Happens to me too. I now carry the iPad and the Apple Bluetooth keyboard. The combination is small and light (total 2.25 pounds). I only take the keyboard out if I want to write something long.</p>