Touted as THE tablet, the Apple iPad has a lot going for it as the forerunner in a fast rising market. But what makes it even more interesting is that it can also function as an ereader, even to the point of being called a possible “Kindle killer”. Let’s see if the iPad ebook reader can replace the dedicated ereader any time soon.

Weight and Size

While we can’t wait to know the great features of the ereader app, let’s first check out what many would consider the most basic factor in choosing an ereader – the size. Who wants to read for hours using a big, heavy device?.

At just 0.5-inch thick, the iPad is surprisingly (and definitely not an unwelcome surprise) thin. But you still can’t overlook the fact that it is 9.56 inches long, 7.47 inches wide, and 1.5 pounds heavy, so its not really something you can easily lug around. The iPad’s size and weight won’t be an issue at all if you’re simply checking mail every now and then, or if you update your Facebook status every two hours. But finishing a few books over the weekend? I don’t think so.

LDC Display

The popular tablet’s 9.7-inch colored IPS touch display is a major factor to the tablet’s success. This type of display renders crisp, bright photos and is great for browsing the web, playing games, watching movies, and more. But does a color LCD work just as well with ebook reading?

Yes and no. If you’re a regular subscribe of National Geographic for instance, or have toddlers who are just fond of picture books, then no doubt the iPad is right for your reading needs. However, if pure-text books (e.g. novels, biographies, inspirational books, etc) are more your reading fare, the e-ink display that the Kindle and Nook as well as other dedicated ereaders use, would be a better choice because then you won’t have to deal with glare and eyestrain issues.

Battery Life

Apple says that this gadget could go as long as 10 hours on a single battery charge with continued use. This is still quite impressive with the device’s large, LCD display and the fact that it’s capable of so many activities. But if you had planned on a weekend-long reading spree, better have your charger close by.

Price

Entry level prices for the Apple iPad are $499 and $629 for the 16GB Wi-Fi only and 16GB Wi-Fi with 3G models respectively. Sounds steep for “just” an ebook reading gadget? Well that’s because this Apple device isn’t just an ebook reader. It’s got many other features and functions that more than justify its price tag.

iPad Ebook Reader: Is It Worth It?

Over four million of these have already been sold and the number continues to grow. But by the looks of it, no one has bought an Apple iPad solely for its being an ebook reader. The device is a tablet PC first and foremost and the fact that it can be used as an ebook reader is just icing on the cake. The price is of course a factor in any purchase and since the iPad costs so many dollars more than a dedicated portable ebook reader like the Amazon Kindle, it’s best to assess your needs and budget first before making your decision.

Is the iPad eBook reader the right ebook reader for you? Drop by at http://ebookreadersresource.com to read a more indepth review of the device and see how it compares against other popular ereaders.