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Frankied22

macrumors 68000
Original poster
Nov 24, 2010
1,768
554
I recently got a rMini and am mainly using it for reading ebooks. So far I like it but I also hear a lot about the kindle paperwhite. Is the experience that much better on a paperwhite? Have any of you switched over from a paperwhite?
 

SandboxGeneral

Moderator emeritus
Sep 8, 2010
26,481
10,004
Detroit
I went from the Paperwhite to the rMini and I love it. I just like the feel of the touch screen better on the iPad than the Paperwhite.
 

EDH667

macrumors 65816
Nov 25, 2009
1,033
274
Northern California
I also went from a Kindle Paperwhite to a rMini. I recently tried to go back to a Paperwhite and the text looked a little blurry to me due to the lower resolution. I will be sticking with the rMini especially since you can use it for all of the other functions beyond reading books.
 

Frankied22

macrumors 68000
Original poster
Nov 24, 2010
1,768
554
I went from the Paperwhite to the rMini and I love it. I just like the feel of the touch screen better on the iPad than the Paperwhite.



I also went from a Kindle Paperwhite to a rMini. I recently tried to go back to a Paperwhite and the text looked a little blurry to me due to the lower resolution. I will be sticking with the rMini especially since you can use it for all of the other functions beyond reading books.


Good to know. Do either of you experience eye strain from reading on the rMini? I read about it but I haven't really experienced it.
 

Barhen

macrumors member
Mar 20, 2013
55
0
i still like the paperwhite and Ill still use it when I go to the beach or someplace outdoors where it will be extremely sunny. Other than that, I do most of my reading on the rmini now.
 

David58117

macrumors 65816
Jan 24, 2013
1,237
523
I switched to the iPad air...

The paperwhite text looks blurry when I switch back to it, also there are many more distractions with the iPad..
 

rui no onna

Contributor
Oct 25, 2013
13,810
11,608
I actually went from iPhone/iPad to e-ink. I prefer reading on the Paperwhite 2 over the iPad. At 212 PPI, I find the resolution quite acceptable. However, my preference is primarily because I tend to suffer from migraines which any LCD screen seems to exacerbate. When I have migraines, I can still read on paper or e-ink just fine. However, the computer monitor, tablet or smartphone tends to make the pain worse.
 

Fluidity

macrumors newbie
Mar 12, 2011
10
2
I went from the 1st gen paperwhite to the non-retina ipad mini. The screen looks great and I haven't noticed any eye strain. I like being able to see color pictures in some books and I like the responsiveness of the ipad mini. The ipad mini is comfortable to hold for long periods. I still find the ipad air a bit heavy for reading books, because I lie back and hold the ipad up in the air with propped elbows. I'm looking forward to a retina display though, not necessarily for book reading but for web surfing.
 

question fear

macrumors 68020
Apr 10, 2003
2,277
84
The "Garden" state
I switch between the two. I mostly use my iPad, but I will grab my Paperwhite for the Prime Lending Library and if I want to read in the dark (I find the screen easier in the dark than the Mini, even with the brightness fiddled in the Kindle app).
 

Bag302

macrumors regular
Sep 23, 2009
134
6
I prefer the Paperwhite 2 to the original ipad mini. However, I just got an Rmini and I think the ipad is now better.

I actually prefer white text on a black background for night reading which the Kindle can't do.
 

Frankied22

macrumors 68000
Original poster
Nov 24, 2010
1,768
554
I got a paperwhite to test alongside my rMini and I love the way text looks on this thing. Plus I love being able to hold it and switch pages with one hand. Obviously they are two different devices but right now I would say just for reading regular books the paperwhitw is awesome. Of course if you want color and PDF/comic viewing the iPad us better. I'm torn.
 

rocknblogger

macrumors 68020
Apr 2, 2011
2,346
481
New Jersey
For reading novels and other books nothing beats a kindle white. The retina iPads are good but the backlight does eventually get tiring. That doesn't happen on the paperwite. Until they can incorporate paper white into iPads I'll stick with my kindle.
 

kngelv

macrumors member
Nov 13, 2004
98
32
Detroit
I am debating this right now. I have an Air for home and use a Kindle Paperwhite 1 on breaks at work. I have an unopened Mini Retina sitting here while deciding whether to stick with the Paperwhite. I read on the Air at home.

James
 

EDH667

macrumors 65816
Nov 25, 2009
1,033
274
Northern California
I am debating this right now. I have an Air for home and use a Kindle Paperwhite 1 on breaks at work. I have an unopened Mini Retina sitting here while deciding whether to stick with the Paperwhite. I read on the Air at home.

James

You might as well try the Mini Retina. If you are keeping it sealed to return it, most places open any sealed iPad anyway. If you are like me, you will prefer the Mini Retina for reading. Although the rumored Paperwhite 3rd addition may sway me back at least for outdoor reading.
 

Fattytail

macrumors 6502a
Apr 11, 2012
902
242
I keep trying to give my Paperwhite some love, but it just doesn't work out. The text is far crisper and the contrast higher on my iPad.
 

Puonti

macrumors 65816
Mar 14, 2011
1,400
1,030
For text-only reading (books) I turn to my Paperwhite 2; indoors, outdoors, doesn't matter. For me it's a better book experience.
 

Shanghaichica

macrumors G5
Apr 8, 2013
14,276
12,697
UK
I started readibg ebooks on the iPhone. Then I got an ereader and switched to eink. Now I have the paperwhite 2, original iPad mini, ipad air, Asus memo Pad hd7 and Note 3. My first choice device for reading is my kindle. I prefer eink to lcd displays. I can read for hours on an eink display but only about 20 minutes on an LCD one.
 

Fattytail

macrumors 6502a
Apr 11, 2012
902
242
I started readibg ebooks on the iPhone. Then I got an ereader and switched to eink. Now I have the paperwhite 2, original iPad mini, ipad air, Asus memo Pad hd7 and Note 3. My first choice device for reading is my kindle. I prefer eink to lcd displays. I can read for hours on an eink display but only about 20 minutes on an LCD one.

So many people say this and I just find it incredibly bizarre because the text on Kindkes is just so blurry compared to an iPad. I find text on retina displays razor sharp and the greater contrast more conducive to reading.
 

jrswizzle

macrumors 603
Aug 23, 2012
6,107
129
McKinney, TX
I love my iPad - for reading comic books, textbooks and magazines its the best. But for reading regular books, I use my Paperwhite 2. Just easier on the eyes and no glare.

Also, much more willing to take my $180 Kindle to the beach than my $500 iPad rMini.

Other than reading books, my iPad is the go-to for everything else.
 

Night Spring

macrumors G5
Jul 17, 2008
13,877
6,967
So many people say this and I just find it incredibly bizarre because the text on Kindkes is just so blurry compared to an iPad. I find text on retina displays razor sharp and the greater contrast more conducive to reading.

That's how I feel too. But it just seems like some people react well to eink, and others don't. I suspect it really depends on individual eyesight. And not just whether you have 20/20 vision, but some people seem more bothered by brightness (so they prefer eink over lcd) and others seem more bothered by lack of contrast (so they prefer lcd over eink).

This is one thing where listening to other people's experiences and opinions isn't going to help. You just have to try it yourself to find out if you like eink or not.
 

scorpio1973

macrumors 6502a
Aug 5, 2009
560
23
I recently went from a 1st gen Paperwhite to a rMini. So far, I really like using my rMini for reading. The crispness of the text (which, IMO, is superior to the Paperwhite) makes my reading experience very enjoyable. Also, I feel like the responsiveness with basic navigation of my Paperwhite is slow, so the rMini is one up in that category.

With that said, I do think the Paperwhite is much better for reading in outdoor locations. I tend to use the my rMini for indoor book reading and my iPad Air for reading magazines.
 
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thelookingglass

macrumors 68020
Apr 27, 2005
2,012
457
I recently tried a second generation Paperwhite and I have to say, the contrast seems noticeably better. I might have to give it a shot. The single purpose reading device seems anachronistic in this day and age but I do like how it's so distraction free. Plus, Kindles are relatively inexpensive so I can toss them around without really thinking twice.
 
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