[Maggie Leung]

You can buy any Android tablet with access to the Android Market now and use the Sony and Kindle apps.

Something to consider about buying an iPad: Apple recently announced that it will start enforcing a provision that requires app providers to offer their apps both inside and outside the Apple apps store. Various content providers say Apple has given them conflicting or scant info, or not given some any info, which leaves them in limbo about how much it will cost them to offer content through Apple.

Trying to make sense of Apple's moves as a consumer, I've decided that that means I can longer count on Apple to provide book access. Even if there are no changes to access short term, I wonder about longer-term access to books, given Apple's power to cut off whichever vendors it decides to, if a vendor doesn't meet its terms.

There are many articles about this Apple development online. I suggest you look into that before buying an Apple device and make up your own mind about whether you think it's a worthwhile risk. I've decided to stop buying Apple devices because of this development.