iPad Vs Kindle

Many, many blogs over the last two days have focused on Apple's introduction of their brand new product, the iPad. Aside from the continuous onslaught of criticism against Apple's poor and comical choice in a product name there has been in depth discussion on how this new product will effect media. The most interesting article I could find was a discussion on how iPad is a challenge to Amazon's e-book reader, The Kindle.

The article can be found at nytimes.com or:
http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/27/three-reasons-why-the-ipad-will-kill-amazons-kindle/?ref=technology


This article examines three reasons why the iPad will be more successful than Amazon's Kindle. The three reasons are that, "Content is changing, but the Kindle is not. The Kindle's technology isn't evolving fast enough. The Kindle is too expensive for a single-purpose device." All of these arguments are based on the versatility of each items ability to be used as an e-reader for electronic books. Not only is the name-tag of Apple enough to overshadow the Kindle, its multifunctional use will give customers "more for their money". What consumer would ever choose less for their money?

In relation to media at large, the competition between these two products may just open the public's mind to a whole new medium of information. That medium is that of an e-reader. As opposed to purchasing a book or textbook e-readers are making information more portable and more affordable. While e-readers already exist, the addition of Apple's new product to the market will be promoting a whole new mindset for the public to examine when considering who they consume literature.

As a college student, this may be the best option for ridding our backs and our bank accounts of the pesky worries that textbooks arise. Just consider the idea of reducing the price of all of your textbooks to a cheap download. Just like an MP3 player, you would have complete access to the knowledge in pages at your fingertips in a cold metal piece of hardware. The inclusion of the iPad's various features will of course increase the pleasure that a student will gain from a normal e-reader. It is yet to be proven, but I am in full support of the move to e-readers and possibly the purchase of an iPad.

Matt