I’m not sure about you but as someone who lives and breathes print I feel guilty about thinking, writing or talking about using alternative technology such as a Kindle or an iPad. But one could argue that the success with these devices may be the future and may be the only way to sustain the longevity of previously printed products such as books, magazines or newspapers.

Also, I should admit that as someone who flies in airplanes way too much, travels with a computer, a GPS and noise reduction headphones, my priorities may be different than the average consumer. With that said, I did a little research to see which would work better for me.

My method was simple – I test drove both devices. First, I went to the Apple store and played with the iPAD for hours. Then I borrowed my girlfriend’s Kindle and took it on a trip.

Here is what I found. I loved the iPad because of all the cool things you could look at on it. But I was frustrated when I tried to perform the work I do on my Mac laptop such as writing articles and  creating slide presentations.  And I was not happy about the cost of buying a data plan. It is great for content consumption but not great for content creation.

Admittedly it takes a little time to get used to reading on the smaller version of the Kindle. But after taking it on a trip, I found I loved the small format. I could read it on any airplane even when the guy in front of me leans back and I feel like a dentist about to drill a cavity. Buying books and magazines is a breeze and the newspapers are much easier to navigate and read than their paper cousins. I love the free access to the internet but I hate typing on the Kindle or trying to access the internet for anything other than the Kindle store.

In terms of technology, there is no doubt that the iPad is a much more impressive product. For pictures, videos and internet activities it is superior. But it’s larger, more expensive to buy and use and frustrating to type on. The Kindle is smaller, lighter, more convenient, cheaper and better on an airplane.

While I would love to have one device I could use for content creation, internet browsing, email and reading, I don’t think the iPad is there yet for me. Here is my thinking – at least today. I will continue to carry my laptop for content creation, use my Blackberry for mobile email and use the Kindle to read newspapers, books and magazines.

What did you think after comparing the two?

Howard Fenton is a Senior Consultant at NAPL. Howie advises commercial printers, in-plants, and manufacturers on workflow management, operations, digital services, and customer research.