Summary Box: IPad may be Kindle’s first big threat and complicate choices for consumers

Summary Box: IPad could be big threat to Kindle

WAR OF WORDS: Amazon’s Kindle might get its strongest challenger yet when Apple releases its iPad tablet computer. Although the Kindle starts at $259 and the iPad at $499, the iPad does so many other things that people who want to read books electronically might have a tough choice.

AMAZON’S APPROACH: Amazon has hedged its bets. Beyond selling the Kindle hardware, it sells e-books that can be read on other devices, including the iPad and iPhone.

TO BE SEEN: The pending iPad launch hasn’t dented Amazon stock. Investors probably still want to see what consumers tend to use iPads for.