I have a beady eye on the iPad, which will take Google e-book downloads when they come available, as well as those from the Apple Store, plus it does other computery things that I want, one of which is to easily read saved web pages on it without having to go through a conversion process or squint at too small/monochrome a screen. The iPad is back-lit, which for my personal preferences suits me better; but it's also bigger, heavier, more costly etc. The attraction of it for me is to be able to do ordinary computer & online stuff as well as reading e-books.

I'm not sure whether the Kindle has a USB port, but bear in mind that the current iPad doesn't, whereas the imminent new one (out in February?) will - or it's supposed to - so you can just save web pages & PDF's onto a memory stick and then port them across.

Other thing to think of (and I don't know the latest state of play) is that some of the big publishers won't supply Amazon with their titles - or are threatening not to - because they don't like their pricing policy. There is/was some dispute going on between Amazon and the major houses, and I think the largest of the Big Six (Random House) does not supply Amazon at this time. You'll need to google the book trade news to get the latest, but it's something to consider. Publishers and the mega sales outlets are at daggers drawn over this & other issues.

Also bear in mind that neither the Kindle or the iPad will take an ethernet cable so you'll need to have either wireless or 3G.