The iPad is selling like hotcakes -- an approximation of 2000 units per hour. The individuals who buy the iPad all have a wide range of interests. Certain buy it for gaming, several buy it just to be the first on the early adopter train and various are still undecided whether they should invest in one. This information will examine the iPad as an eReader device and it will list the benefits and drawbacks of using the iPad as your main eReader.

The Pros. The iPad can support a wider variety of file formats: cbr, pdf, doc, docx, ppt. You have a paper you have to read before Monday? No problem. Need to read the new manga or comic book that came out? No problem. The only downside to this is that the ability to read a multiple range of formats is not built in. One must buy an external App for this. Do not like paying for an app that does what should have been present on the iPad by default? The iPad comes with an iBooks app. This is an.epub based store, which is up to now supported by Penguin Books, HarperCollins, Simon & Schuster, Macmillan Publishers, and Hachette Book Group USA. The advantage of using the.epub format is that there is support for "interactive books". One can rotate images, watch videos and even communicate with other user, all while reading a book. If you are visually impaired, the iPad iBooks app can read books out loud for you.

The Cons. The iPad uses a backlit LCD display. Unlike the e--ink displays, the iPad can irritate the eyes over prolonged reading. The two ways to prevent irritation: blinking and following the 20/20/20 rule (every 20 minutes look 20 feet away for 20 seconds to allow your eyes to refocus) are quite an annoyance. The iPad also doesn't have a native pdf/doc/cbr/ppt viewing app and spending cash on what should have been a default feature is definitely an annoyance.

Should you buy a traditional e--ink eReader (kindle, Sony Reader) or wait for an iPad? If you're just looking to read books and don't need any fancy features then I would recommend you buy a traditional eReader. However if you want to read books and experience the power of mobile computing, then I would suggest the iPad. The iPad only has a 10 hour battery life, but nobody reads a book for 10 hours straight. With the iPad's advanced media and Internet Browsing Capabilities - the iPad is worth the extra money