The Kindle DX may hand you a $10 save, when put against the lowest iPad model, but feature-wise, the iPad slays Amazon’s best offering. To start off with, the iPad too has a 9.7-inch screen much like the Kindle, but with far better resolution and colour diversity.

Also, the in-built keyboard on the lower half of the Kindle’s body actually adds to bulk and size. The iPad advantage avails an on-screen multi-touch keyboard, which not only saves space, but allows easier access and provides a neater appeal to the device.

The Kindle DX avails online subscription to books via SG connectivity. But 3G compatibility usually varies with regions and is not a good option for people travelling outside US territory. The iPad on the other hand comes with universal 802.11 Wi-Fi.

With a variety of multi-media entertainment options to choose from, including movies and music, the iPad makes the Kindle virtually look like a monotonous set of e-book. As a traveller, all you can do with Kindle is read, a benefit already availed by the iPad via iBookstore.

The Kindle books are fully compatible with the iPad, displayed in black and white albeit, just as in the case of an iPhone or iTouch. But then if you are an avid reader, you shouldn’t be bothered much about what Apple has to offer, since a standard Kindle is available at nearly half the cost of a low-end iPad.

Also, the battery life of the Kindle is much higher than that of the iPad, which supplies a mere 10-hour battery backup on multi-media mode and about 140 hours of music play.

The Kindle was meant to redefine book reading and stocking, a motive which it has carried out commendably. But the brains at Apple have seemingly given a whole new meaning to portable entertainment. Who knows? Maybe, next up would be iPad suitable multi-media versions of books, with moving graphics and audio perhaps.

You cannot really compare a media playing storage device to a modest e-book compiler. But then, a lot dependson the need and budget of the buyer. A bookworm with low budget would still turn to Amazon no matter how glittery the iPad seems.

But all-in-all, it wouldn’t be a bad prediction to say that the iPad might be the dawn of a new era, much like what we witnessed with the iPod. Although the Kindle may still be a reader’s delight, the iPad beats the tortoise in this race.

Claiming to be the grand-daddy of the iPhone & the iPod Touch, the iPad has certainly taken the Graphic Tablet market by storm, constantly staying in the news since its announcement back in January this year.

But how could something used to announce the nominees at the 52^nd Grammy Awards benefit the common buyer? Features such as a sleek physique, a 9.7-inch multi-touch display, Wi-Fi & 3G connectivity and high-end data storage surely spark it up.

With experts noting that it could be a better option than a regular netbook or perhaps even Amazon’s Kindle, the iPad seemingly promises a better market capture. Why should one go for an iPad? The answer follows.

Standing 24.3 cm vertically and merely 1.3 cm thick, the iPad’s design is meant for making it to be a slender tablet PC, making it conveniently fit into one’s carry-bag or back-pack. Also, at not more than 1.6 lbs, the tablet is a feather-weight in terms of portability.

Utilizing the iPhone OS 3.2 makes it much faster to boot compared to most other netbooks. So now, if one has to re-check those slide-show presentations mere minutes before his/her office meeting, the iPad would readily serve the purpose.

Running on a 1 GHz SoC processor and with storage capacity expandable up to 64 GB, the iPad serves as a swift multi-media player and storage device.

As we saw in case of the iPhone, the multi touch screen can be viewed horizontally as well as vertically, tailor made to fit the best dimensions of the page or picture being browsed. Hence, scrolling through a larger page now becomes easy.

The built-in lithium-polymer battery propels the iPad ahead of all other netbooks, which hardly support 3-4 hours of usage on an average. The iPad, in contrast, comes with 10 hours of battery usage and has a staggering one-month standby time.

Apple also provides for 3G connectivity support through the iPad, in collaboration with AT&T across the US. For a frequent traveler, this is grand news, since it means that he/she could stay connected 24/7 even on tour.

With aspects such as these, Apple surely has a set a farsighted standard for all Tablet PC holders. Long story put short, if one seeks a better option that will keep him/her ahead of the regular netbook user, the iPad naturally becomes a must-buy.

Including a bigger and better LCD touch-screen measuring 25 cm with a 1024 × 768 pixel resolution, the Apple iPad is certainly a leap ahead of its cousins, the iTouch & the iPhone.

Excluding the price of the supplementary gadgets that come along with it, Apple has launched this prime gadget at an affordable range of $499 to $829, its cheapest variant, thus, being about $100 less than the MacMini.

The tablet – that comes with an easy to clean oleophobic coating – plays 720p HD video. But the video output quality reduces to 480p when projected on an external screen via an adaptor.

The iPad uses multi-touch screen technology similar to the iPhone and the iMac and runs on a 1 GHz Apple SoC processor for faster and smoother functioning. It utilises the iPhone’s 3.2 OS format.

The on-screen QWERTY keyboard facility provided is quite user-friendly and bold, alike the ones in the iPhone and iTouch. An Accelerometer on the side of the screen also denotes the position mode in usage – Portrait (vertical) or Landscape (horizontal).

Besides the multi-touch screen, the other controls include a Sleep Button, a Home Button, a Mute & a Volume Rocker Button, tailor made for convenience of the user.

The iPad comes in 16, 32 & 64 GB storage variants. Also, a buyer can choose between Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi + 3G connectivity support. The iPad has an inbuilt 802.11 Wi-Fi antenna for enhanced, uninterrupted signal inflow. The 3G connectivity is supplied by AT&T across all corners of the US.

The Wi-Fi edition weighs a mere 1.5 lbs, while the 3G counterpart is just 0.1 lb lighter. Thus, the iPad essentially becomes a traveller’s pet, not only fulfilling his entertainment needs during a journey, but also enabling him to stay connected to friends and family.

However, the Apple iPad is not to be confused with the Fujitsu iPad, which is a popular Japanese price verification and inventory checking device.

The iPad has raised some eyebrows due to the Apple/Fujitsu brand name conflict, but for now, the Apple iPad is a real buzz amongst consumers and tech-freaks worldwide.

So, if you are either a gadget-geek looking to expand his collection, have been smitten by this fascinating and smart new release or simply have nothing good to shop with that spare $500 bill, then this is your pick!

Be it a gadget guru or an average appreciator of technological wonders, the iPad has been the latest talk of the town amongst one and all. Loaded with a chain of smooth & trendy features and gorgeous looks, it seems as yet another trend-setter from Apple.

With negligible threats in the field of Tablet PCs, the iPad has created some serious ripples amongst fans and foes alike. Amongst the brunt-bearers are the two major e-book readers available in the market – Amazon’s Kindle DX and the Sony Reader.

At first glance, the Amazon Kindle has a 9.7 inch screen, while the Sony Reader has a 7 inch counterpart. The Apple iPad has a 9.7 inch screen similar to that of the Kindle, but it can be switchable vertically and horizontally view.

Another major aspect that rockets the iPad ahead of its rivals is the fact that it is a complete multimedia package, supporting major media formats for pictures, movies and music. The Kindle and the Sony Reader can stretch their capabilities only as far as e-books.

The Kindle and the Sony Reader offer 3G connectivity, but restrict its usage to subscribing of books. The high-end iPad variant offers 3G too. But what sets it apart is its Wi-Fi support, which makes connectivity easier no matter where you go.

Both, the Sony Reader and the Amazon Kindle come with externally built keyboards or touch pads, which add to the size and weight of the devices. The iPad has an in-built touch keyboard which appears on the screen directly, adding to its appeal and cutting back on size.

The iPad’s screen resolution is a cut above the rest, with a resolution of 1024 x 768. The Kindle and the Sony Reader can only stretch as far as 600 x 800 pixels. Plus, the colour options of the iPad screen are far truer and brighter than those of the two e-book readers.

An iPad can expand its storage capacity to 64 GB (the high-end variant), while the Sony Reader can only handle as much as 32 GB via external memory card links. The Kindle can store e-books worth merely 4 GB.

When it comes to pricing, the Sony Reader – costing $399 a piece currently – gives the Kindle, worth $438, a good run for its money. The iPad has a starting range of $499 and goes all the way up to $829 for the Wi-Fi + 3G model.

The Sony Reader supports Windows, Linux & Mac OS X, while Amazon’s Kindle works on a conventional Linux base. The iPad uses the iPhone OS 3.2 A4, which provides it faster functionality, but deprives it of major program compatibilities at the same time.

Although on paper, the iPad hands e-Book readers a stark defeat in terms of usability, looks, features and market competition, the sales are bound to remain highly subjective to consumer class, wants and budgets.

Since earlier this year, with the iPad now raging through the gadget arena, Apple might well have unleashed a whole new era in the field of portable computing.

But Apple’s sales are still rolling with the iPhone, the iPad’s ancestral success formula. With its 3G and SGS models also widespread by now, the 3 generations of the iPhone reign on.

The questions are: will the new baby isolate the old one? Will the iPad’s release pose a possible threat to the iPhone’s existence? It’s the battle of the slate PC against the slate Smartphone.

How the iPad measures up against the iPhone…

Pricing: The iPad was released within a range of $499 (for the Wi-Fi version) to $829 (for the Wi-Fi + 3G version), while the iPhone currently costs $99-299 for the 3G model and $299-499 for the SGS variant.

Processor: The iPad runs on a 1GHz Apple SoC A4 processor ensuring swifter booting and performance. The iPhone 3G utilizes a 620 MHz processor while the 3GS version uses an 833 MHz chip, both being provide by Samsung.

Camera: Although the iPad comes with no in-built camera, photography can still be carried out using an external camera kit. The iPhones on the other hand come with 2.0 MP (in 3G) and 3.0 MP (in 3GS) in-built cameras with geo-tagging.

Connectivity: Both the iPhone and the iPad utilize features such as 3G connectivity across the US, Wi-Fi and connectivity to external devices via a USB dock. But the feature that gives the iPhone a slight boost over the iPad is its Bluetooth supplement.

Display: With a 9.7 inch display and a 1024 x 768 pixel resolution, the iPad guarantees all the luxuries of a large, glittering, crystal clear screen. The iPhone supports 320 x 480 pixels on a 3.5 inch display, with a 2:3 aspect ratio.

Dimensions: The iPad measures 9.7 x 7.47 x o.5 in., owing mostly to its large screen size. But the only disadvantage it has here is that it won’t fit into a pocket, in which case, the iPhone glides ahead with measures of 4.55 x 2.44 x 0.48 in.

Storage: The iPad 3G + Wi-Fi can store up to 64 GB of data, while the high-end iPhone 3GS variant can only store as much as 32 GB of music, videos, pictures and miscellaneous data.

Weight: The iPad weighs in at a range of 680-730 gm, while the iPhone is much lighter and sleeker at a mere range of 133-135 gm.

Therefore, the iPhone and the iPad may be brothers from the same mother, but they differ in multiple internal & external aspects. The iPhone has earned its own bit of respect under the sun. It is left to see whether the much hyped iPad can follow suit or not.

On the eve of iPad’s product launch, Steve Jobs claimed his striking new brainchild to be a missing link between an average smartphone and a laptop/netbook, something that would serve as a traveller’s or an office-goer’s pride.

But with this new kid on the block gathering the spotlight, would the sales of the original Apple computing genius, the MacBook, get hampered in the long run? It is a question which most sceptics are speculating on.

However, if you are a confused buyer scratching scalp on what to buy come summer – in love with the iPad’s oozing appeal on one hand and double-minded about its features and reviews on the other – then here’s some assistance on offer.

The latest MacBook Pro which was released back in October 2009 has gathered a commendable customer base globally. Now, with the iPad’s release this new year, it remains to be seen how well it fares against its own cousin.

Barring the multi-touch feature, the iPad’s 9.7 inch widescreen display falls a bit short in terms of looks compared to the glossy 13.3 inch MacBook display which supports a 1280 x 800 pixel resolution.

A 2.26 GHz Processor along with a two 2 GB RAM slots assures superior access and performance speed for the MacBook, way faster compared to the iPad, which runs on a 1 GHz Apple s4 processor.

The maximum storage capacity that an iPad can dish out is 64 GB with its high-end Wi-Fi + 3G model, whereas the MacBook comes fitted with a 250 GB HDD, which is expandable up to 500 GB.

Both MacBook and iPad have Wi-Fi connect facilities via a robust 802.11 a/b/g/n AirPort. But the advantage that the MacBook has here is that it also serves as a Bluetooth. On the flipside, the iPad’s top variant supports AT&T’s 3G connectivity.

The MacBook comes with an 8x DVD+R drive for reading and writing DVDs/data disks. In this aspect, the iPad proves to be futile with no slots for disks and no ports for USB.

Running on a smooth Mac OS X v10, the MacBook complies with most of the modern functions that one would expect a laptop to perform. But based on the iPhone’s 3.2 OS, the iPad may seem a swift-runner initially, but is devoid of most common programs.

Lastly, the iPad serves as a slim and trimmed traveller’s pet with a mere feather-weight of 1.5 to 1.6 lbs, whereas, like most laptops or netbooks, the MacBook – at 4.7 lbs – is a bit hard to carry around on trips and tours.

So, no matter what it seems like from the get-go, the iPad cannot be a replacement for a laptop, and definitely not a MacBook, which is craftily priced at $999, which seems legit compared to the $829 that the high-end iPad demands.

But what it will serve as readily in the times to come is as a perfect entertainment package – supplying feeds ranging from movies to music – for those who believe that “small is beautiful”.

But a month after its launch – after paying due consideration to a bunch of pros and cons – critics and supporters have given it a somewhat lukewarm review. So, amidst all the confusion and misleading recommendations, where do you go?

Here, we have tried to post an apt solution for the common buyer, who is surely smitten by the iPad’s initial appeal, but is too jittery about the total package’s feasibility. We have segregated 5 top reasons why to buy, or why not to buy an iPad.

Reasons to go for it: -

1. The main concern for any consumer would be the price of the product that he is willing to buy. Price and demand are co-related according to economic laws, after all. At an affordable starting range of $499 and stretching up to $829, it isn’t too heavy on the pocket.

2. Provisions for 3G support are present in the top model, where the connectivity is being provided by AT&T at a nominal prepaid rate of $30 across the US of A. Along with 3G, Wi-Fi connectivity is also a supplement with every iPad, ensuring easy click and connect.

3. It acts as a robust media player, which caters to all your movie and music needs. To add to it, a countless amount of snaps and pictures could easily be stored and viewed on the iPad too.

4. Running on a 1 GHz Apple processor and using the iPhone 3.2 OS as its base for functionality, the iPad guarantees much faster booting and performance throughout as compared to other portable media players or tablets.

5. The memory space starts from a commendable 16 GB and is expandable up to 64 GB (for the high-end model), indicating ample storage space.

Reasons to drop it: -

1. Unlike the iPhone or the iTouch, this new “i” gadget won’t fit into your pockets, meaning it will be hard for you to carry it around without stuffing it in a suitable case or bag.

2. There are no camera provisions. Hence, it is impossible to click a photograph with your friends and family without attaching an external Camera Kit, which comes for an added cost.

3. Without any CD/DVD/Blu-Ray drive, it becomes very hard to record a disk or play your favorite DVD on the iPad.

4. The iPad also has no USB ports to connect to. This is a heavy disadvantage as data transfer inflow and outflow becomes totally restricted, without connecting an external USB Dock.

5. The MacBook is a healthier option if you intend to buy a sleek, portable PC. With a 2.26 GHz Intel processor, 2 GB DDR3 RAM & a 250 GB HD, it seems legitimately priced at $999 compared to the top iPad labeled at $829.

So, now you face the good and evil sides of the iPad. To buy or not to buy, that is the question. The answer simply lies in your own needs, preferences and budget.

Experts and critics alike have placed the iPad in a direct head-to-head fight against the Kindle, highlighting its multi-purpose properties and utilities plus the additional e-reader supplement to be its key strengths.

iPad fanatics have already paid eulogies to the Kindle, pointing since the versatile iPad has so much more to it – including games, pictures, music, movies, internet and e-books – that it actually poses a major threat to Amazon’s e-book reader.

The cause of the hype is also be attributed much to the suave and sleek looks of Apple’s new product, with a sharp 9.7 inch LCD screen that supports a resolution of 1024 x 768 pixels and a fully software-enabled touch-screen keyboard to go along with it.

Some critics agree otherwise, saying that the key stand-point of the subtle Kindle is that it acts as an effective e-reader for that avid bookworm who simply wants to cut out all the fancy and enjoy a good, calm reading experience.

When it comes to price, the Kindle’s purchase seems a bit illogical at a whopping $489, when one could get a device, the iPad that is, which could do a whole lot more than a basic e-reader at just $10 extra.

But on the flipside, experts believe that since the collision between the two gadget goliaths is a long term issue, most people would rather base their pickings on needs than price tags.

Although the latest Kindle DX may cost nearly as much as the iPad, the refurbished original Kindle is still available at prices as low as $260 in select outlets on demand.

The refurbished Kindle may support poorer black and white text-only displays, but then Amazon is planning improvements soon. Also, at $13.99, the iBookstore subscriptions seem a bit bratty compared to the reasonable $9.99 per subscription offering of Amazon.

So, at the end of the day, it all depends on the segment the buyer and his needs belong to. The iPad is a priceless possession for a media-buff or a frequent traveller. But then when it comes to good old e-book reading, the Kindle is bound to be his perfect pal.

To add to it the budget, a person who needs a good dose of data storage but has a low budget, should go for the original version Kindle to build up a library-like e-book collection. In contrast, if he has a $500 bill to spend, the iPad is the pick of the season.

With sleek looks, an off-the-page touch-screen display, fly-weight make, swift softwares and advanced connectivity luxuries, the iPad is designed to ooze sure-shot appeal at first glance. Enthusiasts and fans alike are frantic for honest reviews.

But put the technological dexterity aside and you will find yourself in a real state of doubt, even if you are truly tempted to grab an iPad, owing much to the mixed and somewhat sceptical response that it has been receiving.

Now like every gadget geek would admit, each time a new advancement is made on the scientific road to success, there are a few cons hidden beneath the countless pros that might exist. Likewise the iPad too has its own set of disadvantages.

Here are 10 reasons why not to buy an iPad: –

• The iPad provides no USB compatibility, thus making it virtually impossible to connect any USB device – from a simple Flash Drive to a Wireless Modem – without having to use a cumbersome USB adapter.

• Lack of a CD, DVD or Blu-Ray drive reduces the scope of enjoying your favourite movies or music if they are not stored on the Tablet’s in-built memory.

• Without Flash support, an iPad user has no means to enjoy the usual online streamed videos or even play online interactive games.

• There are no provisions for a camera, ruling out options of online webcam chats via Instant Messengers and even clicking of pictures for direct storage.

• Since there is no remote controllability availed, it might become a bit frustrating to manually fast forward video clips or toggle through pictures.

• There is no option of a card reader, leaving no way to connect to mass storage cards unless an external adapter is attached.

• No HDMI port in the iPad indicates zero connectivity to your Plasma or LCD Home Theatre Screen without buying an additional Dock Connecter, restricting your movie experience to mere 25 centimetres.

• Since the iPad is essentially built on the iPhone OS 3.2 format, there is futile hope for multi-tasking, much like in case of an iPhone.

• The iPhone OS also indicates that most regular programs compatible with Windows, Mac or Linux cannot be accessed on the iPad.

• The iPad’s 3G capabilities are restricted barely to Northern American users for now, since Apple has an exclusive tie-up with AT&T for 3G support.

Hence, there may be current craze for this storming new Apple gadget across the globe, but the lack-lustred attributes mentioned above may cause it to fizz out soon.

The following list highlights 10 points to summarize the benefits of the iPad…

1. What was expected to be a real high-end buy compared to Apple’s usual pricing standards was launched at a stunningly reasonable range of $499 (16GB Wi-Fi) to $829 (64GB Wi-Fi + 3G).  

2. With slender dimensions of 24.3 x 19.0 x 0.33 cm and weighing as light as 1.6 lbs, the iPad proves to be no extra baggage for a traveler.

3. According to Apple’s words, the iPad supports nearly 10 hours of battery life, irrespective of media or Web usage, a 140-hour music play backup and a one-month stand-by time.

4. The new and improved iWork interface with upholstered pages, numbers, keynotes etc. the workspace looks quite eye-grabbing. Also, it serves as a smooth media player for all sorts of entertainment needs – from movies to music.

5. Apple also supplies an interesting array of accessory add-ons at relatively cheap costs, including Docks for keyboards & external monitors, USB & 30-pin adaptors and a Camera Connection Kit.

6. With a bit of assistance from the Camera Kit, it becomes quite easy to click, store and view personalized photographs on the iPad while on the go.

7. Unlike the Amazon Kindle, the iPad has a crystal clear full-screen-wide display of 25 cm, which could be conveniently shifted from horizontally to vertical position, depending upon the size and dimensions of the picture or page being viewed.

8. If reading a newspaper proves too clumsy on a busy route to work, the iPad serves as a perfect tech-savvy replacement. With exclusive New York Times subscriptions, daily news feeds are just a click away.

9. An iPad user has access to a stream of over 140,000 applications from the strong and still steam rolling right along from the Apple App Store at a throw-away price of less than $10 each.

10. On a 1 GHz Apple SoC processor, the iPad boots and functions way faster and smoother compared to the host of other Tablet/touch-screen PCs in the market.

Opening up new avenues for the scope of Tablet PCs to expand, the iPad is bound to set more of such benchmark standards. So, with that taken care of, you now have ample reason to head to your nearest Apple store and get a hold of the new iPad experience!