Much like the iPod nearly ten years ago, the hot Christmas gift this year is the tablet. However, don’t count on the iPad’s continued dominance.

The Kindle Fire isn’t the technological equal of the Apple innovation. It is, however, sold at a price point far more comfortable for the American public, less than half that of the iPad 2. At the end of the day, the better tablet might not win the tablet wars.

iPad 2 vs. Kindle Fire: A Comparison

There’s really no wiggle room here: The iPad 2 is a better tablet. CNet performed extensive testing on speed and Apple’s iPad 2 was the clear winner. Further, the size difference can’t be ignored. The iPad 2 boasts a 9.7” screen, compared to the Kindle Fire’s 7” screen. The latter is closer to book dimensions, while the former is closer to magazines. The iPad 2 is the clear winner on size alone for those who plan to use it to watch videos. Daily Finance dedicated an entire article to exploring features the iPad 2 has but the Kindle Fire doesn’t. They aren’t exactly frivolous complaints. The Kindle Fire is missing a camera, microphone and 3G connectivity. The only place where the Kindle Fire wins is on price.

Digital Readers: The Wave of the Future?

Digital readers as the wave of the future has lead to much digital ink spilled on the Internet. But does it hold water? Signs point to yes. Borders stores are gone, but the Barnes and Noble e-reader / tablet hybrid, the Nook Tablet, continues to sell. Magazines, looking for a new business model, have increasingly scaled back on “wow” extras in favor of old-fashioned print in digital form.

However, readers of the Internet age clearly want more than just something to read books on. While it’s nice to be able to carry around an entire shelf of books in your bag, it’s nicer to be able to share your thoughts about them with friends and indeed, the world. Cue social integration into e-reader / tablet hybrids. Txtr, a German-based e-reader company will offer social media integration on its new tablet reader when it debuts. The new device further boasts better, faster and more integrated content sharing over Wi-Fi and Bluetooth than any extant tablet.

E-Reader Apps

While there are strong technical arguments for upgrading from an e-reader / tablet hybrid (like the Nook Tablet or Kindle Fire) there are scant reasons for having one in addition to a true tablet (like the iPad). The attitude of the consumer public -- or at least those marketing to them, anyway -- is that once you have the e-reader, why not have a tablet while you’re at it? All one needs to turn a tablet into an e-reader is a simple app. This breaks through the oft-stated objection “What does this do that a book doesn’t?” It also gives bibliophiles, those people most attached to the smell of old paper and the feeling of a book in their hands, a reason to dip their toe into the e-reader market.

E-Readers and the Future of Print

The “death of print” certainly sells a lot of (print-based) newspapers. However, while the number of magazines and newspapers has declined, actual readership has increased. On the Internet or in the more analog world, one thing is clear: Those who love reading and those who don’t are suckers for quality content, readily accessible at all times. Rather than the Kindle Fire being the “iPad killer,” it seems far more likely that Apple’s new app Newsstand will take much of the wind of out e-reader sails. Apple’s strategy always includes lowering prices to make products more accessible to more customers. If all Kindle has to sell people is a lower price point, it’s in big trouble indeed.