iPad eBook Options

Since man first put writing instrument to paper he has been fascinated by literature. Whether it be fact based, fiction, historical, horror, etc., there was always been a demand for a good “page turner”. However, in today's modern climate, people want the ability to read any book they own at any time, for as long or short a time as they desire. Enter the “eBook”, packed with nearly all the literary choices of its paper backed brethren and a multitude of modern features. Since it's inception, a number of iterations of the eBook reader have been introduced. The latest contender in the race to win the hearts and wallets of eReaders everywhere is the Apple iPad with several iPad eBook options. Though it does not come with a built in application to read eBooks, there are a number of ways to obtain your literature and that will be the main focus of this article.

There are three main applications available in the iStore which are being used by people everywhere: Apple iBook, Amazon Kindle, and Barnes & Noble Nook application. Each application is free and offers the same basic functionality as the other (built in search, dictionaries, note taking, etc). Where they differ is in visual style, ease of use, price per book, and the size of their selection. Apple's iBooks application wins in the visually appealing category, with a slick wooden bookcase holding all your purchased literature and animated page turning as you flip through the pages. Another plus is the integrated bookstore. Instead of the application taking you to the respective company's website to complete your purchases, everything is done “in-house” and is a smooth, polished experience all around. Where iBooks fails is the 30% premium you're going to pay over the other two apps to read your books using Apple's application. Another downside is its smaller catalog of titles compared to its competitors (130,000 versus the Nook's one million). If you want the most current catalog of commercial, in-print titles then Amazon's Kindle app is right for you. It also has the ability to display popular highlighted passages selected by other users, and features many of the same visual effects as Apple's iBooks application (minus the bookcase). If you want the largest catalog available, of both commercial and out of print titles, then you are going to be looking to Barnes & Noble's Nook application for your needs. It features over 1 million titles currently available, about half of which are hard to find out-of-print books. Additionally, it features more visual effects than the others, including color themes for both backgrounds and text colors.

So which application will win the hearts and wallets of eReaders everywhere? Truthfully, they are all about equal in technical capabilities. The choice will ultimately boil down to personal preference of which of the iPad eBook options you prefer. Barnes & Noble's Nook features a huge library and the ability to “lend” books for up to two weeks to your friends but has a weak dictionary and slow book loading. Apple's iBooks features an integrated bookstore but has the smallest catalog. Amazon's Kindle has the biggest “commercial” catalog but lacks the ability to purchase periodicals. In the end, each application makes it a joy to read eBooks on the iPad and should be considered a fine way to allow you to indulge in any literary gluttony you wish while away from your library at home.