iPad vs. Kindle: 3 Key Differences

One thing is for certain about Apple, that they're one of the most innovative companies on the planet. You can be sure that every Apple device will contain features that you've probably never seen before, and this remains true to all new products from Apple. Even if the technology for each device has been created by another company, they always find a way to improve on the original invention. A perfect example of this is when they released the iPod during the time when other MP3 manufactures were releasing their products and blew them completely out of the water. They've also done this more recently against rival mobile phone manufacturers with the very popular iPhone.

Now they are aiming to try it once again with the iPad. Although their intent for the iPad is to be more of a general purpose computing device, there is no denying that one of their main targets is the Amazon's Kindle. There are a multitude of differences between the two products, but let's note the key differences and see how they stack up against each other.

Touch Screen functionality - Even though both screens are roughly the same size, the iPad has a touch screen functionality that is sure to please the users of the device. Since most of the early adopters of the platform will be former iPhone users, a similar interface is a huge advantage. And consumers who are not using an iPhone now will surely be more impressed by the touch features than the normal hard button navigation presented by the Kindle.

Device Functionality - The Kindle was meant to be an ebook reader and nothing more. They focused on giving people a similar experience to when they would sit down and read a paperback book. The iPad is going to try and give those same users something more. Apple wants to give them the same ebook functionality, but wrap it in a device that will function as a mini computer as well.

Color Screen - The Kindle is in black and white. The iPad is in color. That advantage definitely goes to the iPad. Since most people are used to color devices, I would have to say that the iPad will be looked upon more favorably by the average user. While the kindle creators claimed that they decided to go with a black and white screen so that users could feel as if they were reading a real book, people are going to see the kindle side by side with the iPad and ultimately choose the color device.

These are three key differences between the iPad and the Kindle. All of these factors will make a huge difference in someone who is deciding which device that they want.

[via iPad Covers Blog]