Apple iPad vs. Kindle vs. Eee PC vs. PSP Go

We compare Apple's tablet to a Kindle, a netbook, and PSP Go to see which device is worthy of your dollars

Here is a philosophical iPad question: What is it? Perhaps the best way to explain the iPad is to call it a jack-of-all-trades. It has all the functionality of the iPod Touch, including gaming, music, and video. But it's also a day planner, e-mail device, Web tablet, e-book reader, digital picture frame, and arguably a netbook replacement. So does this mean the iPad will be replacing any of your digital gear anytime soon? To answer that question lets take a closer look at how it matches up to the competition.

Below is a quick breakdown of the iPad specs against those of the Kindle DX, Asus Eee PC 1005HA and PSP Go. These comparisons might be a little unfair, but all of these products are what you'd call "third space" devices. That is, the piece of hardware you're willing to spend your money on after you've bought a personal computer and a mobile phone. Which one would you buy?

[ Check out the InfoWorld slideshow: Apple's iPad: The key capabilities, at a glance. | And read an impassioned takedown of the iPad by Windows expert and netbook fan Randall C. Kennedy. ]

The iPad versus the Kindle DX comes down to this essential question: would you prefer an e-ink display for reading? If you want e-ink because it so closely emulates paper, then the Kindle is the device for you. But if you don't mind an LED-backlit display, you can drill a little deeper.

The Kindle comes with a free 3G data connection, but it'll cost you extra if you do much else other than download books (Amazon charges you for downloading data other than e-books). Amazon's new Global Wireless program also lets you use your Kindle all over the world. Apple's iPad requires a monthly data plan from a carrier that supports micro SIM cards (so far just AT&T in the U.S.). However, you could also opt to do without 3G and stick with Wi-Fi on the iPad.

There's also the question of how many books will be available when the iBookstore launches compared to the Kindle's 400,000-title library. But in addition to iBooks, the iPad should be able to run the Kindle app for the iPhone plus any other e-bookstore iPhone app, which potentially gives the iPad a much larger selection than the Kindle.