Why the iPad Hasn't Killed Kindle - Newsweek

Why the iPad Hasn't Killed Kindle - Daniel, Lyons, Newsweek:

... people have realized that the iPad might be good for a lot of things, but isn’t really the best device for sustained reading over several hours. It’s too heavy, for one thing—about a pound and a half compared with 10 ounces for the Kindle, which can be held in one hand, like a paperback. ...

Another problem is that the iPad’s bright LCD screen can be tiring on your eyes compared with Kindle’s black-and-white "electronic paper." The Kindle's screen also works better in bright sunlight. Kindle has better battery life—it can run up to two weeks on a charge, if you keep the wireless switched off. That compares with 10 hours for an iPad. Plus, with Kindle you have no contract and no monthly fee, and you have wireless access in 100 countries—a nice feature for travelers.

... I suggested to Bezos that maybe Amazon didn't care about selling Kindle machines, that maybe the device wasn't important. He said that wasn't the case, but that "our goal with the Kindle device is separate from the Kindle bookstore." Bezos insisted there is a market for "a purpose-built reading device," as he calls it. "It's not a Swiss Army knife. It's not going to do a bunch of different things. We believe reading deserves a dedicated device." So far, at least, it looks like he's right.