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 at present. True-blue Apple patrons can hardly wait to get their hands on one as the WiFi versions are likely to ship in late March, and the 3G models are to be delivered starting April. When that time comes, we will no doubt see long lines in front of every Apple store as what happened with the sale of the iPhone.

But what of the ereaders like the Amazon Kindle and the Sony Reader?  The ereader has slowly become a common consumer device, with the Kindle getting the lion's share of the market. Seeing the potential of such a device however, many such ebook readers have also been released of late, with most of them having practically the same attributes 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 need may perhaps shift  to multi-functional devices. Can the iPad really make a major dent on the ebook reader industry? Let's take a look at the significant elements.

Let's start with the cons of the Apple device. The iPad will only be associated with Apple's own ebook store. While this makes sense 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 access these in the iPad. Actual ebook prices are still for confirmation, but there's talk that purchasing iBooks in the Apple ebook store is going to run you around 12.99 dollars and 14.99 dollars. This can be a little pricey 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 benefits, as it's a device able to perform a lot of functions. You will be able to use this oversized iPhone clone, sans the "phone", to view high-def movies, catch your favorite TV shows, do online browsing, and have fun with games on a 9.7 inch IPS touch screen. Sticking with Apple standards, the resolution and color is superb, and it comes with your choice of 16-GB, 32-GB or 64-GB internal storage. With such storage capability, the Library will hold a lot of books, which are cleverly displayed on a "book shelf" design. With one simple tap, you may choose your ebook, and read it on the high-resolution, LED back-lit screen. Depending on your memory and connection preferences, prices start out at 499 dollars and end at 829 dollars. It does have special apps developed specially 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 Kindle is a device designed for the user's most comfortable and easy reading experience in mind. Unlike the LCD monitor of the iPad, the Kindle, like the present batch of ebook readers, is equipped with 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 perfect 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? Definitely 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 come up with yet another brilliant product for the hardcore Apple user. But for the bookworm just looking to read in the most conjucive "environment" and have little need for all of the other fancy features, the Kindle ebook reader is still your best option on the market today.