Presenting a side-by-side Kindle vs iPad review, which gadget will likely win hands down? No doubt about it, the Apple iPad, with its recent much talked about launch, is the “in” thing today. Hardcore Apple patrons can hardly wait to get their hands on one as the WiFi versions are expected to ship in late March, while the 3G units are to be delivered starting April. When that time comes, we will expect to see long lines in front of every Apple store just like what happened with the sale of the iPhone.

But what of the ereaders like the Amazon Kindle and the Sony Reader?  The ereader is fast becoming a mainstream consumer device, with the Kindle getting the lion’s share of the market. Seeing the promise of such a device however, many such ebook readers have also cropped up, with most of them having practically the same features as that of the Kindle. Now with the entry of tablet PCs like the iPad which can also ably perform as an ebook reader, the gadget demand may perhaps shift  to multi-functional devices. Can the iPad really make a significant dent on the ebook reader industry? Let’s weigh the significant factors.

First off, the negatives. The iPad will only be connected to Apple’s own ebook store. While this makes is sensible for those who are still thinking of buying an ebook reading gadget, if you already own a lot of digital books, you won’t be able to dump them in the iPad. Actual ebook prices are still to be confirmed, but there’s talk that purchasing iBooks in the Apple ebook store is going to cost you around 12.99 dollars and 14.99 dollars. This can be slightly steep if you have to start from scratch. Plus, Amazon’s ebooks continue to retail at 9.99 dollars apiece.

Nonetheless, buying an iPad has its own set of advantages, being a device that can perform many functions. You will be able to use this oversized iPhone lookalike, sans the “phone”, to view high-def movies, watch your favorite TV shows, browse the web, and play games on a 9.7 inch IPS touch screen. Sticking with Apple standards, the clarity and color is amazing, and it comes with your choice of 16-GB, 32-GB or 64-GB internal memory. With such storage capability, the Library can hold tons of books, which are ingeniously displayed on a “book shelf” design. With one simple tap, you may pick out your ebook, and read it on the high-resolution, LED back-lit screen. Depending on your memory and connectivity preferences, prices start out at 499 dollars and end at 829 dollars. It does have special apps developed specifically for the iPad, and you’ll have access to many of the 140,000 other apps at the App Store.

On the other hand, the Amazon Kindle is a device designed for the user’s most comfortable and convenient reading experience in mind. Unlike the LCD monitor of the iPad, the Kindle, like the current batch of ebook readers, utilizes e-ink display, which many say, is unarguably best for reading for longer periods of time. The Kindle’s battery can last as long as two weeks without recharging, so it could also make the ideal traveling companion. The 6-inch model is priced at 259 dollars, while the 9.7-inch Kindle DX costs 489 dollars.

So which gadget gets our nod in this Kindle vs iPad matchup? Certainly for the gadget geek, the iPad will fit perfectly alongside his MacBook Pro, AirPort Express, Magic Mouse and its smaller counterpart in looks, the iPhone. Jobs and his staff have created yet another brilliant product for the dedicated Apple user. But for the booklover just aiming to read in the most conjucive “environment” and have little need for all of the other extra features, the Kindle ebook reader is still your best option on the market today.

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