I have too much backlight in my life...
Now that the Kindle is in a decent price-range, it seems like a much more attractive purchase. The iPad and Kindle are really not comparable devices. The iPad is a touch computer with eReading capabilities and the Kindle is a dedicated eReader. Because all of the focus has gone into this one quality as opposed to everything else, I believe the Kindle is better for it. There is no doubt that iBooks is an excellent little app and I love the detail thrown into it. However, nothing compares to an electronic ink screen when trying to read a book (except of course, books themselves). The backlight and discernable pixels on the iPad make reading for long stretches a chore. While visiting my dad, I tried to read one of his downloaded books and after about 20 minutes, I was feeling the strain. It's just because I'm exposed to LCD screens ALL the time and sometimes simply need a break from them.
At work, I am in front of an LCD screen. At home, I watch movies, play games and surf the web in front of an LCD screen. When I play a game or open an app on my iPhone, I'm in front of an LCD screen. There's too much backlight in my life. When I read a book, I want it to reflect light, not produce it. When reading is your escape from computers, you don't want to have to use a full-blown computer to do it (opinions of the iPad as full computer aside). I say, long live the Kindle. I think there are enough avid readers out there who would agree that as a dedicated reader, it is the preferred option.
.
