Device Polygamy

My dear Kindle — please forgive me for any neglect you may have felt over the last week. I’m sure you are curious about my feelings and our future together. I must admit, I’ve been stricken by the iPad – it’s sleek design, the promise of augmented multi-tasking capabilities, casual browsing and video. I know it’s cliche - I’m falling for a younger, more silicon-endowed, graphically appealing model – but, I’m still not completely fulfilled. So,  I have a proposition. Would you consider “device polygamy” and become a sister-wife to the iPad? It might help if I explained what’s attracting me to the iPad and away from you.

First, the screen is impressive – color helps obviously, but the resolution is crisp and seemingly not too taxing on the eyes. As a result, my viewing and reading experiences are significantly enhanced. This was a big concern for me as Kindle’s digital ink is a closer approximation of actual ink on a page and backlighting can be a real strain. It’s still early so we’ll see how longer-term exposure changes (or not) this sentiment. Second, the experience of reading newspapers (I’ve tested the Wall Street Journal app) is a better parallel to reading the print edition, even surpassing online web versions (credit perhaps goes to WSJ for designing the app extremely well). In fact, I cancelled my Kindle WSJ subscription in favor of the iPad app, even though it’s several dollars more per month (but justified in that it allows me access to WSJ online as well). I found reading newspapers on the Kindle to be too constraining and almost claustrophobic in its layout on the page. The WJS iPad app lays out the page in a way that I can get a quick digest and then launch into any story. Moreover, a right-side scrollable tool bar provides a brief title of other stories in the section which are easily linked to. Third, having casual web browsing at my fingertips is truly a life-changer. I’m more efficient now in both my information and news gathering as well as in stealing moments of entertainment. I really hated the idea of either reading the Kindle close to my computer or writing down things to look up later. Now, additional information is a quick click away. Fourth, I haven’t tried it beyond novelty usage, but I can intuitively see how video will expand my entertainment options and also enhance my information sources. Just the mere fact that I can get videos is a net positive. Finally, apps are the “blue ocean” that will continually drive me into the arms of the iPad. I have found many apps on the iPhone/iPod Touch to be very useful, but the power of apps for someone of my lifestage/lifestyle (i.e. 30-55) will truly be realized on the iPad. The screen size and the choice of a myriad of cost-effecient, highly useful apps combine to create a heightened experience in terms of productivity, ideation and organization.

With all that, I’m sure you’re wondering why I’m even still considering keeping you in my life? For starters, your association with the Amazon store is too compelling to ignore. In fact, after several failed attempts to find specific books I was interested in reading on iBook, I resorted to downloading the Kindle app so I could find the books through Amazon. I also went ahead and moved several of my favorites from the archives so I now have them available to me on the iPad. And, while the bookmarking and annotation is much nicer and easier to use, the one big downside is that I can’t look up words (if it’s possible and I haven’t figured it out yet, someone please help). Of particular concern, is what impact will the weight of the iPad have on my susceptibility to carpal tunnel syndrome! Holding the Kindle in one hand while reading in bed is manageable. Doing the same with the iPad is less so and requires hand-to-hand shifting more frequently. Finally, while I’m careful with the Kindle, I’m ultra-sensitive about where I take the iPad. Kindle and I have gone to the beach, ate lunch together, sat at an outside table at Starbucks. Will I treat the iPad a bit more preciously and not take it as many places? Simple answer. Yes.

Not much to hang a relationship on, is it, Kindle? Can you live with co-habitation? Hopefully, you are allowed to innovate and expand your capabilities through your app on the iPad, which will definitely extend our relationship. But, sooner or later, the iPad will address all the above, and more (that I haven’t even thought about yet). So, a more apt, albeit unlikely and unrealistic, hope is that you guys (Amazon and Apple) find a way to co-exist and allow each other to do what you do best – Apple, you design highly engaging consumer experiences through your hardware products, and Amazon, focus on selling the best library of literary and information material available anywhere. Now, that’s a marriage I would support.