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e-Ink is generally better than IPS screens for pure reading ... Right?

I've had a Kindle 2 for a couple years, now read almost exclusively on my iPad 2. Kindle is great mainly for the battery life on long trips, but the IPS screen doesn't bother me. The weight difference is more significant than the screen difference, for me. Hate the Kindle interface (touch models must be better) so that influences me subtly, too.
 
I greatly prefer my Kindle over my iPad 2 for reading.

Amazon spent a tremendous amount of research & development, as well as testing time before arriving at the purpose built e-ink display they use. Having had a Kindle of each generation their latest models are highly refined.

Perhaps it's my 20/20 vision that allows me to see the noticeable difference between it & the iPad. In any light it's the best for my eyes.

Because I spend lots of time reading, I consulted a friend who's an eye doctor and he warns against using any device in the dark. Although the backlight (of a laptop or iPad) makes it possible it's not good for your eyes. The optimal situation for nighttime reading is with a light on.

Conversely reading aside, I find my iPad 2 great for web browsing.

I have other devices I use for gaming.

If it's writing I'm doing, I really enjoy my comfortable, light & thin 13" MBA. It's keyboard is simply stellar, as are the ergonomics.
 
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I've had two Kindles and just don't see what the fuss is about. The contrast is nowhere near real paper so I find e-ink gives me more eye fatigue than the iPad. Plus, I do most of my reading indoors or in dim light situations where a Kindle is completely unusable without one of those clunky add-on lights.

Weight of the iPad is a slight issue, but I have no problem using it with the smart cover or some other object to prop it up.
 
jessica. said:
I love reading on my iPad but I've been really looking at the Kindles as of late and I'll probably pick up their base model with special offers. At that price point I'd be silly not to at least try it out.
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Do it.....you won't regret it. I'm very impressed by my Kindle. I got the $79 special offers model, and the ads are not intrusive/annoying at all. In fact, I've taken advantage of a couple of offers so far.

To the OP.....I've had an iPad since the original came out, and I've had my Kindle for around 2 weeks. For me, reading on the Kindle is much, much better. It's easier on the eyes, and it's much easier to hold because of its size and light weight.

Oh, and I just downloaded a sample of Song of Ice and Fire to see if I like it....thanks.:p
 
Ecoh said:
The one thing I find really nice about reading on the iPad is reading at night. I can sit up in bed and read at night without turning a light on, therefor not disturbing my husband. :D On the other hand, reading an iPad while sitting outside in the bright sun is not easy.
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I use my Kindle Fire for night reading and it creates less heat than an iPad. Also I got a $100 discount on my Fire because I signed up at audible.com to allow my grandma to listen to the book being read(usually by the author). I also like this because when I get sleepy, I'd rather listen than actually read.
 
I find e-ink much more relaxing to read on than an lcd screen. At the prices readers are today, I don't think there's a need to debate it unless you really are strapped for cash. And after having used one for a while now (Nook Simple Touch) I don't think I'd want to go back to LCD for book-type reading.
 
Unless you want an iPad anyway, a Kindle is the obvious solution.

I'm unusual in that I sold my Kindle after getting the iPad, simply because I didn't want to have to carry around two devices. I don't tend to read in sunlight, so the iPad screen works well enough, and is fine in bed with the new night setting. Weight isn't an issue as I lean it against the pillow.
 
I got a Kindle as a Christmas present. I use it for books more than my iPad. I find it easier on the eyes when reading in bed.

I'd say get both.

John
 
I have a Nook Touch alongside my iPad. I say that it's definitely worth having both (or, just the e-ink reader if your primary want is to read books). As some others have said, it's lighter, easier to relax with, and subtly, but still noticeably enough, easier on the eyes.
 
I have an iPad 2 and Kindle 3 (keyboard model), and reading is no doubt much better on the Kindle.

The one exception to this is if you need to read a PDF with lots of diagrams or charts. The iPad does these things much better. Otherwise if you're sticking with novels, go for the Kindle. At $99, the touch model is very enticing.
 
Adamantoise said:
Well that's the thing.

I bought my dad an iPad because he wanted one, but personally I do all my computing and media consumption on my Macbook Pro.

However, reading has become such a bloody hassle (these books are huge for no reason, and I have needing a backpack to carry them around) ... So I want to buy an e-reader just for the convenience.

I am looking to spend as little money as possible ... Is the Kindle Touch the way to go on this one? I really want a natural reading experience so I'm looking into e-Ink
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I don't think that e-ink being easier to read is a matter of preference, as the poster you replied to seems to say, I think its a simple matter of fact: e-ink is easier on the eyes and therefore easier to read.

That's not the whole story though. The kindle is lighter and, I think, this makes a big difference, not to mention that its a damn sight cheaper to take out and about without thinking or worrying about the value of the device.

I'm fortunate to have both devices and would describe the kindle as a great dedicated book reading device and the ipad as a great all around tool that includes decent reading via the kindle app, so for me that's the key issue - do you want something that can do lots of things including being a pretty decent reading device or do you read *a lot* and want the best device possible for reading?

If someone made me choose, I'd probably give up the ipad before the kindle. That's down to how I use them both and what I like to do, not the devices themselves.
 
bartzilla said:
I don't think that e-ink being easier to read is a matter of preference, as the poster you replied to seems to say, I think its a simple matter of fact: e-ink is easier on the eyes and therefore easier to read.
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I beg to differ. The very fact that there are people like myself who prefer backlit displays over e-ink (even if we are a minotiry) prove that "e-ink is easier on the eyes" is a matter under dispute, not universal fact. Yes, backlight has a known drawback in that it makes you stare at a light source for prolonged periods of time. But to me e-ink lacks contrast -- it's light grey on dark grey rather than black on white. And the lack of contrast makes my head start hurting long before my eyes get fatigued from backlight. This is a physiological difference, so for me, e-ink definitely isn't easier on *my* eyes.
 
bartzilla said:
I don't think that e-ink being easier to read is a matter of preference, as the poster you replied to seems to say, I think its a simple matter of fact: e-ink is easier on the eyes and therefore easier to read.
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Not true: it is indeed a matter of opinion.

When I read a book on my iPad I feel very much like I am reading a real book. I am immersed in the book not the device. My eyes feel fine.

When I (try to) read on my Nook Simple touch I notice the reduced contrast and find myself always fiddling with getting the best light (my eyes are fine). The device itself gets in the way of my reading. My eyes feel like they are struggling because of the contrast.

So while I and others like me might be in the minority it is still very much opinion on which you prefer. I own both so it is not like I enjoy seeing my Nook gather dusk.



Michael
 
this has been debated ad nauseum here, on the kindle forums, and elsewhere. people throw out studies and surveys, but in the end, it keeps coming down to people saying they prefer one or the other. i'd say it is opinion.

personally, i think e-ink is far superior, but i wouldn't throw my ipad out of bed! it is still quite nice. get what you want, get them both, or just give them a try--both are easily accessible at displays in stores across the country :)
 
palpatine said:
this has been debated ad nauseum here, on the kindle forums, and elsewhere. people throw out studies and surveys, but in the end, it keeps coming down to people saying they prefer one or the other. i'd say it is opinion.
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In my case, it's not even opinion, like I said I think it's physiological. It's like, I'm short, black-haired, with black eyes. That's not an opinion, I can't change that even if I didn't like how I look. Or some people are lactose intolerant, it doesn't matter whether or not they like milk, drinking it makes them sick. Same thing with e-ink devices. They make my head hurt, and it's not like I can change that -- it's not an opinion, since I don't have a choice about it.
 
straight up reading it is hard to beat an e-ink device. My wife has a kindle along with her iPad2. I think she does most of her reading on the iPad. Though that is mainly due to just having to worry about one device.

I have no problem reading on my iPad2. I do read at night in bed in the dark so the backlit helps there.

Though for pure reading and only reading e-Ink is king.
 
Adamantoise said:
Well that's the thing.

I bought my dad an iPad because he wanted one, but personally I do all my computing and media consumption on my Macbook Pro.

However, reading has become such a bloody hassle (these books are huge for no reason, and I have needing a backpack to carry them around) ... So I want to buy an e-reader just for the convenience.

I am looking to spend as little money as possible ... Is the Kindle Touch the way to go on this one? I really want a natural reading experience so I'm looking into e-Ink
Click to expand...

Other e-Ink readers:

Nook by Barns and Nobel
Sony Reader (name?)
Kobo (independent, but used to be with Borders)
 
If you simply want a reader I think you know which to buy. Using an iPad as an e-reader only doesn't justify it's cost plus, it just doesn't do it as well as E-Ink readers.

If you are open to using your iPad for more than reading, I think you will find yourself pleasantly surprised, and you'll start migrating away from your MBP for media consumption and start picking up the Ipad more and more often.

I used to be tied to a laptop as well for media consumption, but the iPad is so perfect for it, it's small (compared to a laptop), it's light, and it has great battery life. It made me find less and less reasons to use my laptop.
 
I have and iPad 2 and a Kindle Touch 3G. I use the Kindle Touch as my main reading device (fiction and non-fiction). I tried using my iPad 2 as an e-reader but would get eye strain from staring at for so long.

But if I need PDFs for school or other notes for class I put them on my iPad so I can highlight text and put notes in the margins.
 
I recently gave my kindle away because I have found myself reading more on my iPhone/ iPad. Im a avid reader (2-3 books a day sometimes) and absolutely LOVE the iBooks interface. It gives me the feeling more of a regular book than the kindle does, even with the e-ink.

Love the way the page turns and it's just really easy to use, plus I can keep my huge and growing library ( over 250 books) easily synced between my devices.

I know it's not for everyone but iBooks was what drew me 100% away from my paperbacks, something I never thought could happen.
 
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