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Kindle vs iPad - A Review and Evaluation
- 05/12/10
- 58
Yesterday audio and today video. No one is more surprised than I am to see me branching out into media other than the written word!
Since the launch of the iPad, and the Kindle before it, I’ve received a lot of questions about how the devices work and, of course, which one is the better option for reading e-books. After a while I decided it would most helpful to shoot a video showing how the devices work and offering comparisons and contrasts. My neighbor Martin was kind enough to come by and help me out (by which I mean I did the talking and he did everything else). So in this video you’ll see me compare the Kindle and iPad and, when discussing the iPad, compare the iBooks app with the Kindle app. I hope you find it useful!
Can’t see the video? Click here: Kindle vs iPad
I am a follower of Jesus Christ, a husband to Aileen and a father to three young children. I worship and serve as a pastor at 
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Comments (58)
You must have used a flash video as I can’t see it on my IPad…..
I am *very* resistant to giving up my beautiful paper books, but my question is: Is there a cheaper option for buying the digital books? I can get wonderful old copies of classics at cheap prices since they’re used. And I just don’t foresee passing around an iPad to all my kids so they can see the illustrations of their favorite book.
Excellent review; Very helpful for me and I know others.
Did watch on vimeo Excellent review. Did notice on my iPad they don’t have a dictionary in the kindle app……..
Great comparison. Do I need to have a Kindle in order to get the Kindle app on the ipad?
Tim…I’m not really into the Kindle or iPad to me there is nothing like holding a book in your hand, If I was interested though your video was very helpful. I was impressed more by your book collection. How many books do you own?
@Pat
No - you don’t need to own a Kindle to get the Kindle app on the iPad (nor your PC or Mac either) The Kindle app os free across all platforms as they really want to drive you purchasing books at the store, no matter the technology you actually use to consume the book.
Tim, you didn’t say anything about eye fatigue. Since you have opted to use your Ipad with the Kindle APP over your Kindle device, do you find that the backlighting on the Ipad vs the E-Ink on the Kindle device makes any difference (besides the ability to read in the dark?)
Werner
So Tim, you bought the book on your Kindle… can you then read that same book on the Kindle app for iPad/iPhone, or do you need to re-buy it?
I second this question. I can’t read large amounts of text on a computer screen before my eyes get tired and I start getting a headache. I can read my Kindle for hours, though. Does the iPad read just like a computer screen, since it pretty much is one?
Eye strain is definitely my number one concern with the iPad.
@NickYes, you buy the book once and it can be sent to all of your Kindle devices.
With the Sony Ebook reader you can download books from gutenberg.org (public domain works) and put them on at no charge. Sometimes they need to be converted but it is not difficult.The Kindle is a locked down device that all books that you want on it have to go through Amazon, you can send things to it but even books that should be free end up costing you something.
Tim, you didn’t say anything about eye fatigue. Since you have opted to use your Ipad with the Kindle APP over your Kindle device, do you find that the backlighting on the Ipad vs the E-Ink on the Kindle device makes any difference (besides the ability to read in the dark?)
I haven’t found it to be a real issue.
So Tim, you bought the book on your Kindle… can you then read that same book on the Kindle app for iPad/iPhone, or do you need to re-buy it?
You can read any book on up to 5 Kindle devices, I believe.
How many books do you own?
I don’t really know. I keep it to about 1,000 though, I think. Pretty much whenever I add a book I throw or give away an old one. I just don’t have room for a massive collection.
I read somewhere that the iPad’s too bulky to hold with one hand while reading, whereas you can hold the Kindle and turn pages with one hand whilst drinking tea with the other. Is this at all an issue?
Thanks Tim. This is one of the best videos I have seen comparing the two. I think the Kindle app on the iPad is probably the best solution. Does iBooks or the Kindle app read PDFs as well?
Question: Does either unit read the book to you via text-to-speech and if so how good are the voices? I can imagine long periods of reading will tire the eyes and to be able to listen would be a great help.
I am a new user to the Kindle.I purchased a Bible for it, but it is not that easy to navigate.Does anyone know the most user friendly Kindle Bible?
I would like a modern translation with easy navigation for the Kindle.Please let me know.
Until the whole bandwidth thing is fixed, I much prefer the written word. Even on a T1, I have to click ‘play’, then ‘pause’, then wait for about 5 minutes for the thing to download before I can watch it uninterrupted.
@Jay - I use the ESV Bible I got from the Kindle Store for $7.99. It’s not too bad - to navigate to specific books, I have to go back to the table of contents page. I use it more for just reading the Bible rather than study, as clicking notes and references is time consuming. For straight reading of a text, though, it works pretty well.
I also have the ESV Study Bible on Kindle, but have found it to be very difficult to use. With all the notes, references, headings, and maps, it’s just too confusing to try and navigate. Like I said earlier, Kindle seems good for Bible reading, not so much for Bible study.
Actually you can download from guttenberg to a kindle. you just have to connect the kindle to your computer instead of using the wireless. There is another site called feedbooks that will wirelessly send free public domain books to the Kindle
You do not need a Kindle to download the Kinde iPad app. And Amazon has just about nailed it on their first go around.
ESV has a free iPad (and iPhone) app. It is excellent, allowing for highlighting and note taking. It is also easily browsable and searchable.
I read somewhere that the iPad’s too bulky to hold with one hand while reading, whereas you can hold the Kindle and turn pages with one hand whilst drinking tea with the other. Is this at all an issue?
That’s somewhat true. You can hold it with one hand, but it’s definitely more awkward than the Kindle.
Does iBooks or the Kindle app read PDFs as well?
No. Well, you can send PDFs to Amazon for conversion to Kindle format. But your better bet is to get GoodReader for iPad and read your PDFs that way.
Question: Does either unit read the book to you via text-to-speech and if so how good are the voices? I can imagine long periods of reading will tire the eyes and to be able to listen would be a great help.
The Kindle has this feature but it’s pretty bad. You’d be better off buying an audio book.
Like I said earlier, Kindle seems good for Bible reading, not so much for Bible study.
Right. The iPad is much better at either of those. I can’t wait to see the ESV Study Bible app when it’s ready. The ESV on iPad is already really good and very intuitive. I’m working on a video of some of the Bible study options for iPad.
@challies
Have you found a PDF reader that also allows for highlighting and note taking? I love Goodreader, but I need something like PDF Pen for iPad.
@challies
Have you found a PDF reader that also allows for highlighting and note taking? I love Goodreader, but I need something like PDF Pen for iPad.
Very good review, Tim. Being the owner of an iPad (and not a Kindle), as well as an iMac, Macbook Pro, and iPhone, I definitely have an affinity for Apple products. But despite that, I really don’t see why you would buy a Kindle and not an iPad. The iPad does everything that the Kindle does and a ton more. I agree that Apple needs to do more work in improving iBooks and I’m sure they will. But even without iBooks, the iPad is a hands-down winner in my book. iPad with the Kindle app is the way to go. Also, as one who does a lot of writing, often in places like Starbucks, my laptop has become pretty much obsolete. I throw my iPad into a bag, along with a wireless keyboard, and I’m good to go. One poster asked about the weight of the iPad while reading. I haven’t really noticed it that much. Most books that I read are hardcover and the iPad weighs less than the typical hardcover book.
One limitation to be aware of is that if you subscribe to newspapers, magazines, or blogs on your Kindle, they will only be available on your Kindle device. They cannot be read on your iPad or PC.
Great! Thank you.
Josh - I think price is a good argument for Kindle. The Kindle is half the price (or less than half the price depending on which iPad you get) and in its second generation. The iPad is still a first-generation device and one that will be changed a lot by the second generation. You could buy six Kindles (at least) for what you’d pay for your first and second-generation iPad.
Obviously, Tim, the Kindle is cheaper. But seeing your video review, it’s also obvious that the Kindle just plain LOOKS cheaper. I guess it does what it’s supposed to do, but if I’m in the market for a reading device, I’m going to pony up the extra cash and get something that looks better and that offers me a whole lot more. Maybe if you only want something to read books with, I could see going for the Kindle. I don’t know about your 6 Kindles for 2 iPads story. That would be going under the assumption that the 2nd-generation iPad is going to run about $1,000. I don’t think that’s going to happen. Again, if all you want is a book reader, the Kindle is the way to go…maybe. But that’s not what I was looking for and I’m extremely happy with my purchase.
Hi Tim,
Have you had a chance to check out the Kobo eReader yet?
Price, cross-platform flexibility and open formats all seem to be big wins for this device over the Kindle. Its definitely something I’m looking into (and its one of the very few pieces of tech that arrived in Canada first!).
Thanks.
Thanks for the review. If you prefer the Ipad and would like to gift your Kindle to a poor seminary student, I’d be willing to take it off your hands. :)
Most classics can be found for free through Amazon. Tim makes a great case for using the free Kindle app on the iPad, but the Kindle does what it does well.
I could care less about taking notes while reading on an ebook reader. I’ll bet that you are the exception and not the rule. My main concern is eye strain. You didn’t address readability with the IPAD. Will my eyes hurt after reading for two hours on the IPAD? Can someone tell me? This is very important to me.
Thanks
Bill, I’ve had my iPad for a little over a month now and have noticed no abnormal eye strain. It’s no different for me than what I experience when reading a regular book for an hour or two. I have done almost all my reading on the Kindle app for iPad and have the background set at sepia. The wonderful thing is that I usually have 3-4 books going at once. Two weeks ago, I traveled to Colorado for a speaking engagement and all I took for reading was my iPad.
While this is not available on the Kindle, I highly recommend Laridian’s PocketBible software for Windows PCs and most any other mobile device (including the iPhone & iPad). The main PocketBible reader program is free (for iPhone/iPad) and the ESV Study Bible (which includes both the ESV Bible translation and the ESV Study Bible notes) is available for purchase.
The great thing about PocketBible is that you only have to purchase the content (such as the ESV Bible translation and ESV Study Bible notes) once and then you can use it on all of the other PocketBible platforms, without having to purchase the same content again for a different platform (helping us to be good stewards of our money ;-).
What about monthly price? The 3G fee for the iPad is considerable.
What are your thoughts on that issue?
Was wondering why you decided to go with the iPad when the price difference for the same book was so significant; 120% greater for the iPad version. Of course you didn’t mention whether that changed when using the KindleApp, but presumably it did not. Knowing how many books you consistently digest it is hard to imagine that this did not factor into your decision-making. I know it would for me.
Other notes: vimeo video was off-sync with the audio until I clicked the HD button on the right to turn HD off, then it was fine; agree that eye strain is an issue, as well as battery life; don’t say I wouldn’t use an e-book reading device sometime in the future but I still much prefer a book in the hand.
If e-books really does take off and actually supplant physical books, something I highly doubt, book burning would be a thing of the past would it not? Too easy to just push a few buttons and either delete (or amend) history for any strong arm with the desire to do so, as in this story from not so long ago: http://tinyurl.com/krxozk. Something about that sends a chill down my spine. ‘Nuff said.
I bought the wifi iPad…saw no real need for the 3G version. I’m almost always in an area where wifi is available.
As far as the price difference for books, the books are the same price whether you download them to your Kindle or to the Kindle app on your iPad. The price jumps up quite a bit (as we saw on the video) when you buy them through iBooks. Hence, I don’t really use iBooks on my iPad. I stick with the Kindle app on my iPad.
Bill, I’m an exception right there alongside Tim - can’t imagine reading - even novels! - w/o taking notes!
Tim, Terrific review! Very clear - good points of comparison (except you waited until you had moved to iPad to demonstrate the capability of changing fonts, which - as you know - is available on the Kindle device as well as on Kindle for iPad/Mac/PC etc.).
Eye strain is an issue for me (63 yr-old eyes; photo-sensitivity; headaches, etc.), and I’ve read a lot of arguments back and forth with no clear-cut “winner”; the one issue you did not address verbally that just jumped off the screen at me was the very obvious difference in glare - virtually none on Kindle and extremely evident on iPad. Do you notice the difference as you are reading?
Hands being as much an issue for me as eyes, from the video I think holding the iPad would be much less comfortable than what I’ve experienced while reading my Kindle2. Plus ease of transport of the smaller device. (To me, the iPad seems like little more than an unprotected laptop screen with a virtual keyboard.)
All that said, I have to admit I was drooling just a little over the iPad, especially when you got to the Kindle for iPad. The best of both worlds - all the pluses of Kindle with the color and “splash” of iPad.
… and you are absolutely right in advising to forget about using the (experimental) web feature on the Kindle - painful! I even attempted a trial subscription to your blog. Reading your entry was perfectly fine, but there was no access to reader comments, which is a big part of your blog - especially Reading the Classics; and the A la Carte links put me in painful web-land, so….. sorry but I immediately discontinued the subscription. =^(
Now, Kindle for iPad might be a whole ‘nother story in that regard.
Tad, there’s a public domain book management application called Calibre out there which enables you to move any book to the Kindle (or any other device from the Sony Reader to the iPad).
Doug mentioned the price difference between the books on ibook and kindle. One should keep in mind that ebook prices are probably about to start moving considerably.
The higher ibook price is probably closer to what all ebook prices will be in the future. Amazon has been selling many of its titles for a loss (buying them from publishers for $12-15 and selling them for $9.99). The rational was to get folks hooked on kindles. They make up the loss in hardware sales. Now that Apple has created a viable alternate delivery system, Amazon will face real pressure from publishers to up that price (and I just don’t think they can continue to sell content for a loss).
Don’t buy an expensive reader because you think you’ll save money on the content in the long run. You might not. Make sure you buy a reader that suits your lifestyle.
this post single-handedly pushed me over the ledge to finally purchasing the iPad
need another post soon though regarding what the best apps are, ways to compare pricing of books, free/cheap books that are must haves, etc. for fellow iPadders
thanks!
Josh,
Thank you for the information. Based on this review, your comments and comments from a friend with an IPAD. I willspend the extra $250 and purchase the IPAD for reading.Kinda of tired of printing out my free pdf books to read.
Thanks,
Bill Trip
Interesting review! I’d be interested in the “eye fatigue” issue too. I find the Kindle so easy on the eyes - and of course I can just listen if necessary. I haven’t played with the iPad, but it looks more like a computer screen to me. I think the ease of use of the Kindle in your hands and the very easy-to-read text would both be in its favour.
I found a couple of interest articles related to eye strain you may find interesting.
Screens and Eyestrain
Do E-Readers Cause Eye Strain?
Your review triggered my decision to buy an iPad—the same day! It’s really nice and exceeds my expectations. Thanks!
Very helpful review Tim, thanks.