Screen: 25 cm,
full-colour, backlit
Storage: 16 GB and up
Weight: 680 g
Price: From $549
Perfect For: An internet junkie or gaming
and computer geek who occasionally reads,
rather than a dedicated bookworm.
Pros: The iPad has a fully backlit, highcontrast
colour display that’s terrific for
illustrated works. The iPad’s app for reading,
iBooks, supports the ePub format. Touchscreen
navigation makes flipping pages a
breeze. You can select whatever type and
size of font you fancy. Words and passages
can be highlighted and annotated, and an
instant pop-up dictionary is a click away. The
landscape orientation provides two side-byside
pages, simulating a real book.
Cons: The iPad’s size and weight can make
reading cumbersome. Carrying it around
all but demands a protective and generously
proportioned purse or tote. The Apple’s
iBookstore pricing per book is higher than
other e-readers, and you’ll need an additional
monthly paid wireless connection (or to rely
on WiFi) to download data, whether it’s a book
or the latest viral YouTube cat video.