Nook Vs Kindle Vs iPad: Comparing the Heavyweights in the Ebook Reader Market

With ebooks selling more briskly than paperback editions, it seems that the sales of ebook reading have nowhere to go but up as well. Because of this, consumers are even more interested in which ebook reader is considered "the best". This article is a three-way match up - Nook vs Kindle vs iPad - and we'll quickly evaluate the features of each device that could make it the best reading companion.

It's worth noting of course that while both the Barnes & Noble Nook and Amazon Kindle are dedicated ereaders, Apple's iPad is not. It's a tablet PC which can also be used as an ebook reader. So another question that may perhaps be answered in this post is whether a multi-function gadget as the iPad can take the place of a device that's solely for ebook reading.

To help us pick out the best choice in this Nook vs Kindle vs iPad comparison, we based our evaluation from these three questions:

1. Does size and weight matter to you?

Some people's reading habits are limited to a novel, and perhaps a magazine or two, every week. Others, on the other hand, could finish 3 fiction books in 5 days or over a weekend. The type of reader you are - the first, the second, or somewhere in between - counts for a lot when choosing an ebook reader. This is because the device's size and weight would play a big role in your comfort as you are reading.

If you are a reader in the true sense of the word, then the Kindle should zoom up to the top of your short list. Weighing a mere 8.7 pounds, and measuring 7.5" in length, 4.8" in width, and 0.335" in thickness, it is smaller than the Nook (7.7" x 4.9" x.5", 12.1 ounces), and even more so than the iPad (9.56" x 7.47" x 0.5", 24 ounces). With a Kindle, you can snuggle up in your favorite chair without having to worry about holding it with two hands or ending up with wrist fatigue.

2. Would you prefer an e-ink screen or a color touchscreen display?

A full color multi-touch LCD certainly looks attractive put alongside the rather drab grayscale e-ink display. However, you should know that reading on one screen is a totally different experience with reading on the other. With a bigger, colored LCD like the one the iPad has, you'll be able to enjoy magazines and illustration books. With e-ink technology which the Nook and Kindle both utilize on their 6-inch screens, you can lose yourself in your favorite novels for hours without feeling any eyestrain or experiencing any glare from the sun or certain lighting conditions.

The type of display your ereader has would also reflect on the performance of the battery. Colored displays use up a lot of power, hence the iPad can only manage 10 hours of continued use. The Kindle is the most efficient of the three with a battery than can last up to 30 days, while the Nook can go 10 days without a recharge.

3. How much are you willing to spend?

The price is always a key component in any purchase. In this case, the scales tip in favor of the dedicated ebook readers Nook and Kindle, which cost $199 and $189 respectively for 3G with Wi-Fi models, and $149 and $139 for Wi-Fi only models. The iPad costs a lot more with prices starting at $499 for the Wi-Fi only and $629 for 3G with Wi-Fi version.

Nook vs Kindle vs iPad: Which Should You Buy?

Each of these devices has their own set of pros and cons. While the iPad has the steepest price tag, it lets you do more than just ebook reading, and has the prettiest display to boot. Nook and Kindle are the most suitable for long form reading but the Kindle has the upper hand with its longer battery life, more compact design, and lower price.

Ultimately, it all comes down to which device best fits your needs and budget. You decide.

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Kindle Vs iPad: Which Is the Better Ebook Reader?

No doubt about it, the Kindle and the iPad are two very different devices; the former is a dedicated ebook reader while the latter is a tablet PC which can also serve as an ereader. Both started the trend in their respective markets and they continue to dominate these markets to this day.

But considering that the iPad was once touted as the device that could bring the ereader industry (dominated by the Kindle) to its knees, it is still interesting to note how a Kindle vs iPad comparison would pan out. Of course, we would be comparing features that pertain to the respective device's usability as an ebook reader.

Size and Design

The size of the device is very important when evaluating ereaders. After all, you would be looking for something which you can hold in your hand for hours if needed without being hampered by its bulk and without feeling its weight. In this regard, the Kindle 3 fits this requirement perfectly. Weighing only 8.7 ounces, it's a lightweight compared to the 24-oz iPad. The Kindle is 7.5" in length, 4.8" in width and 0.335" in height, while the iPad measures 9.56" x 7.47" x 0.5". With these dimensions, it's pretty obvious that the Kindle is the more compact and portable device.

Display and Readability

Who wouldn't be attracted to the iPad's glossy 9.7-inch LED backlit IPS display? In contrast, the Kindle's 6-inch grayscale e-ink screen would really look rather dull. But then again, e-ink technology goes perfectly with ebook reading - no glare, no eyestrain - so a real book lover may yet say no to the glitz of the iPad and go with the "drab" Kindle, as far as reading books go.

Graphics

As more magazine and newspaper subscriptions are being routed to ebook readers, the device's ability to render graphics and illustrations has become a factor for some. This is where the iPad shines over the Kindle. Its full color multi touch LCD gives life to color magazines, children's books, newspapers, and other document with such content in a way that the Kindle can't.

Battery Life

With the user's capability to do so many things on the iPad - web browsing, video playbacks, email, playing interactive games, Facebook, Twitter, etc. - and on a full color screen at that, one can't expect it to last for more than a day. With a Kindle on the other hand, you can go on "space shuttle missions" (as Wired magazine puts it), and still have battery life left to spare on your device.

Price

No Kindle vs iPad comparison would be complete without a mention of their respective costs. The difference in the functionalities of the two devices is perhaps proportional to the difference in their prices. The Wi-Fi only model of the Amazon Kindle is priced at $139, while the Wi-Fi + 3G version costs $50 more at $189. These prices are a far cry from the iPad's starting prices for 16GB models - $499 for Wi-Fi only and $629 for Wi-Fi and 3G. You'd have to dig deeper into your pocket for iPads with 32GB and 64GB memory.

Kindle vs iPad - Which Ereader Do We Pick?

While we'd like to say that the Kindle wins because it is the dedicated ereader, or the iPad wins because it is more than just an ereader, things aren't as clear cut as this.

If you'd like to have a gadget that can simply give you hours of reading pleasure and won't break your bank, then the Kindle is your best bet. On the other hand, if you are more of a multi-tasker and like the all-in-one functionality that the iPad offers, then by all means, bite the Apple. The bottom line is, the consumer opts for the device that best fits his needs and budget.

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