Back in the day, I was conflicted.

I was thinking of getting a Kindle since everyone and their brother who owned one loved it Yet, the iPad had so much more you could do with it and everyone in my profession and their brother said it would be an invaluable business tool. (I’m a real estate guy)

What should I do?

Well, I broke down and spent the big bucks on the iPad and installed the Kindle app.  It seemed like the best of both worlds.  Unfortunately, it wasn’t

The iPad is nice. It has lots and lots and lots of apps and lots of functionality beyond just reading.  However, it is with the reading that it falls short. The back lighting really doesn’t last that long. Or I haven’t figured out how to make it last longer. As a result, I’m constantly touching the iPad to get the back lighting to brighten back up so I can read.

Yeah. I know. If I read a little faster or just turned pages more the light would stay on. It would also run down the battery life (which I realize is secondary since the battery life is way long on the iPad).

The other part, though, is that the iPad is heavy. Add a case and it’s even heavier.At least, for reading a book.The Kindle is super light and small-ish so it really is a ton easier just to carry it around and whip it out to read. I understand if you get the “pre Kindle Fire” Kindles, the Digital Ink is really very readable.

So, I’ve gone back to ordering real, paper and ink books. The kind that you hold in your hand and can’t take more than one or two at a time on trips or whatever. Thick books (thicker than Kindle, anyway).

I don’t know. It’s just something about a real book.  Maybe I should break down and get one of the original Kindles. hell, I think the cheapest one is only $79.

Maybe for my birthday…or Christmas.