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Without a doubt, the Apple iPad was the most coveted and gifted gadget this holiday season. With prices starting at $500, it isn't a casual purchase, but nonetheless it made the top of almost everyone's wish list. Even among children age 6 to 12, it was the number one gadget request, leaving the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PaperJamz guitars in the dust. So let's say you were lucky enough to snag an iPad, now what?
Barnes & Noble will be making some big Nook announcements this afternoon at a press conference in New York City, but the one question on everyone's mind will be: How is the nook going to compete against the Amazon Kindle? Barnes & Noble and Amazon keep its e-reader sales numbers pretty quiet, but it seems safe to say that the Kindle has an edge at this point. Amazon announced yesterday that Kindle sales have already passed last year's totals for Q4. What can Barnes & Noble do to catch up? I have five ideas:
When Jeff Bezos launched the latest edition of its Kindle eBook reader , he did so with a solemn commitment to maintain the device's
dedicated reading experience. Bezos's vision for the Kindle has always
been the reader, the book, and almost invisible device between the two.
It is a pretty thought, no doubt more comforting than the idea of
pitting the mono-function Kindle against the multimedia powerhouse that
is the Apple iPad.
Still, it is fundamentally wrong. Bezos is quite correct to focus the
Kindle on readers, but consider this fair warning, the way we read is
changing.
The Amazon Kindle launched the e-book market as we know it this week with the Tuesday introduction
of a $139 Wi-Fi version of the device. The release shows how the
company plans to continue to lead in the segment: focus on reading.
I got some hands-on time with the newest Kindle, which ships August 27, and found a device that was very similar to previous versions, but better in several important ways.
The first thing you notice about the new Kindle is the size. The device is 21 percent smaller than the previous version, making it much easier to slip into a coat pocket. You might think the screen is smaller, but it is the same six-inch screen as the older version. It is only the border that is smaller.
I'm no Apple fanboy, but seeing
Steve Jobs on stage in person is exciting, and it isn't just about his
personal magnetism. Apple has $29 billion in the bank and Steve seems
determined to spend it building really cool stuff. The iPad
certainly fits that bill. Just a little slab of a display lets you play
games, browse the Web, watch movies, view pictures, read eBooks, get
directions, send e-mail, manage
your calendar, and, well, anything else developers want to write
applications to do. But after the ridiculously hyped build up and the
dramatic launch event, I'm still not sure what most people will use it
for. What's the iPad's killer app? Continue reading...
Good things come in small
packages. Size matters. You can't judge a book by its cover. Pick your
literary cliché for Sony's diminutive Digital
Reader Pocket Edition($199.99 direct), they all fit. And the device itself will fit nicely
in a purse, a jacket pocket, or even a back pocket (although that last
one might be a little rough on the screen if you plan on sitting).
Despite a somewhat-dated-looking menu system and the absence of
wireless connectivity, the Pocket Edition is very readable digital
companion
Read the Sony Reader Pocket Edition (PRS-300) full review on PCMag.com
The Sony Reader Touch Edition PRS-600 ($299.99 direct) benefits from a sleek design and a touch
screen that makes navigating menus a snap. Unfortunately, that touch
screen is a little dull, making books harder to read than on competing
devices. With the Amazon Kindle offering wireless delivery of books, magazines, newspapers, and blogs for $40 less, the Touch Edition is a tough read.
Read the Sony Reader Touch Edition (PRS-600) full review at PCMag.com.
