Love it, hate it — it doesn’t matter. The iPad is here to stay. The more I use mine the more I love it, because you actually have to use it to understand where it fits into your life. It’s not a computer so much as it is an interactive book, mixed with a personal TV, and — as it turns out — a decent sounding radio.

One of the apps that I’ve come to enjoy using on a daily basis is Today In History by Down-Shift Interactive. The History Channel is what originally made me a fan of history, but since I’ve stopped watching TV this is one of the things I’ve missed. Now, right here on my iPad, I have all of history in concise Twitter-sized spoonfuls. I actually look forward to my new daily ritual of sitting in my big comfy chair, cracking open the iPad like I would a book, and touching the icon for this program.

Up pops the historic events that happened on this day. Not just a few, and not just recent ones, but notable events in all of history are at your fingertips. Also are lists of who was born today, who died, and what significant calendar events — including holidays — are happening around the globe.

You don’t have to be online to enjoy it, as all the data is cached locally, but if you do happen to be online — and an item of interest compels you to share — you can, directly from the app, via email, Facebook, or Twitter. That in itself is pretty cool, but add to that, this app has it’s own built in social network where you can actually comment on each historic event and read what others have commented. You can friend these other commenters and have entire discussions with them.

All right there in the app. Seriously, this is something I never would have thought of, and never would have thought I’d enjoy — but I do. I mean, really, talk about “history coming alive…”

– Post From My iPad

This is literally like comparing apples to oranges, but since people continue talking about the iPad as a "Kindle killer," this needs to be addressed.

I have both, now. I can compare them side to side. I’ve used the iPad to do some serious reading, and as slick and sexy as it is, my iPad is not as good a ebook reader as my Kindle.

Two main reasons:

1. Despite all its deficiencies, the Kindle’s screen is far easier on the eyes. The iPad’s screen, through a combination of being backlit and glare from the glossy surface, is harder to read — not at first blush, but after a few hours, yes. I noticed a big difference.
      
2. The iPad is much heavier. This makes a difference especially if you’re the type, like me, who prefers to hold the book instead of resting it. It’s like the difference between holding a paperback versus holding a big hardbound book.

Setting both these things aside, the iPad may still be the better choice for you if you are dead set against owning a device that has a single purpose. You can’t really think of the Kindle as a computer — it’s a book. Period. Now some detractors may say that an iPad isn’t a computer, either, but I’m sorry — it is. It’s a decent little word processor (I’m writing this on it) and it’s a communication device (Skype works great on it, by the way) and it’s a game machine, and it’s a great little music and video player.

It is also a pretty good ebook reader. Oddly enough so is the iPhone — truth be told I actually find the tiny iPhone screen easier on the eyes for reading than the iPad’s.

But which one would I pick up and take with me to the park so I can sit under a tree and get lost in a good novel?

My Kindle.