iPad vs Kindle
One function the iPad is supposed to be very good at is the presentation of e-books. Let's see how the iPad compares with the Kindle DX and the new Sony Reader Daily Edition.
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Physical size
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Kindle DX: 10.4" x 7.2" x 0.38" , 18.9 oz w/ Whispernet 3G
iPad: 9.56″ x 7.47″ x 0.5″, 25.6 oz w/ 3G
Sony: 8.125" x 5.0" x 0.6" , 12.75 oz w/ 3G
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Screen
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Kindle DX: 9.7 inch E-Ink screen, 1200 x 824 pixels, 150 ppi
16 levels of grey
excellent daylight visibility
iPad: 9.7 inch color IPS LCD screen, 1024 x 768 pixels, 132 ppi
162,144 colors (18 bit color), same as iPhone and iPod Touch (unverified)
poor to impossible daylight visibility, like a laptop
Sony: 7.1 inches E-Ink Vizplex screen, 1024 x 600 pixels
16 levels of grey
daylight visibility
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Input
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Kindle DX: chiclet keyboard at bottom, navigation buttons on right
no touchscreen, no Bluetooth options
iPad: multi-touch screen, navigate by gestures, single on/off button
Keyboard can be attached by dock or Bluetooth
Sony: touch screen, virtual navigation keys, virtual keyboard
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Other features
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Kindle DX: Text to Voice, bookmark pages, annotate pages, zoom in on text or graphics (no zoom for PDF files), no bookmarks in audio files?
limited font styles (possible to hack in new fonts)
iPad: Text to Voice, zoom in (including PDF), bookmarks for text and audio books, (not sure about annotations connected to particular e-book page)
Lots of choices for e-book font style and size
Sony: choose from 6 font sizes; highlight and annotate pages using included stylus, make bookmarks, minimize margins setting, export notes to PC or Mac using Sony Reader Library software, built in New Oxford American dictionary
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Use as Web Browser
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to access newspapers, periodicals, blogs online
Kindle DX: Whispernet 3G (Sprint), no WiFi
browser speed is limited by the slow refresh of the E-Ink screen
Grey scale screen limits legibility of images
No support for Flash
no charge for Whispernet access
iPad: WiFi or 3G (AT&T)
very fast page refresh, scrolling
color screen better for images, graphics, movies
YouTube app
no support for Flash content
$30 a month charge for unlimited AT&T 3G access
Sony: No web browser, just access to Sony Reader store
no charge for 3G access
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Purchase Price
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Kindle DX: $489
includes Sprint 3G modem and 4 GB flash storage
IPad: $629
includes AT&T 3G modem, 16 GB Flash storage
Sony: $400
includes 3G modem, 1.6 GB flash built in, SDHC card slot
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E-Book Price
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Amazon: $9.99 bestsellers, more for other titles
Apple iBook store: $12.99 and up
Sony Reader Store:
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E-Book formats
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Amazon: AZW Amazon proprietary, MOBI, PRC, TXT, TPZ, PDF
Kindle readers for iPod, PC (Mac reader coming)
iPad: EPub, TXT, PDF, others?
E-Pub readers available for iMac, iPod, PC
Sony: ePub, PDF, TXT, Microsoft Word, RTF, Adobe Digital Editions