iBooks Uncomfortable

[PhoneI]

Exact opposite for me. I can't even look at my Kindle anymore, and only plan on using it at the beach. I find the iBook experience to be very good. Love the fact I can now read in the dark, in bed, while my wife is sleeping.

Only thing I really want is a greater selection.

 

[smotheredhope]

You can actually do this. Seen an Apple tech do it in the store.

Under settings, accessibility, international or something..... you reverse the screen lighting like a photo negative (whole machine though). iBook goes to white lettering on black background.

what a great tip, man!!!! Like others I just made it my triple click!

 

[IronLogik]

I can't use the iPad for long reading. It's too heavy compared to my Kindle. It's also too bright and hard on my eyes.

I hoped that maybe I could replace my Kindle with the iPad but it just won't work for me that way. I do use the Kindle for reading PDF files though, mostly tech books that I snag in PDF form from Pragmatic Programmers or O'Reilly.

 

[ScrewTheDaisies]

Sold my Kindle 2 and don't miss it. The text was crisp, but the contrast and slow page turns frustrated me. The iPad is larger and heavier, but when I'm reading, I'm hardly aware that the iPad is there. It's just me and the story.

 

[Jaro65]

Sold my Kindle 2 and don't miss it. The text was crisp, but the contrast and slow page turns frustrated me. The iPad is larger and heavier, but when I'm reading, I'm hardly aware that the iPad is there. It's just me and the story.

Similar story here. Sold my Kindle, Kindle 2, and Kindle DX before iPad was released. I don't regret a thing. If anything, it is simply amazing how much more useful the iPad is.

 

[JNB]

After borrowing a Kindle on a flight and reading a couple chapters on it, it was the most craptastic experience I've had reading, tbh. It looked—and had the same ease of readability—of a late 80's/early '90's display, and the navigation was, well, less than well-thought out. This is why is didn't care at all about the iPad's reader—until I used it the first time.

I've been through four of five books now (two of them Stephen King novels!), and don't want to put it down. Regardless of ambient lighting, it's clean, clear, and a joy to read from, and turning pages is actually turning pages. Who'da thunk. Unlike the Kindle's method, which feels exactly like reading text on an LCD, the iPad's book reader is much more like a natural (or at least historically accepted) means of reading a book.

Personally, I don't think Amazon really ever cared about the Kindle; it's just a one-time purchase. It's really all about the books, or why else would the reader software be available on so many platforms? He with the better subscription model wins. 😉

 

[GoCubsGo]

This is a good point JNB. I have not tried a Kindle but I recently tried a Nook and holy crap. Now it may be better than a Kindle but I found the iBooks experience to be better than the Nook. People gripe about eink and such even Kindles' adverts show the lady reading at the beach in the sun (something people are saying you cannot do with an iPad), but really? If that's all you have then ok.

I do find the iPad gets heavier after a while but the case really helps and not being afraid to rest your thumb on the black bezel is key.

 

[bniu]

the key thing I like about ibooks and the kindle app is I can travel long distances when I visit family and carry minimal stuff. I don't have to go about checking a bag full of books, I can have them all on my ipad and even have a copy of everything on my iphone. I personally hate clutter and want to have as few physical things as possible with me.

 

[mrj412]

I haven't seen anyone else complain of this, but I have found that I keep touching the left side of the screen while holding the iPad and it flips back a page. I would really like an option to disable the left margain tap all together and just swipe back if needed so I can hold it with my left hand more comfortably.

I should add, my iPad is still "naked".

 

[btrav13]

iPad is too heavy and the screen is a little too eye-straining for serious bedtime reading. I know that plenty disagree, though, and I feel this is a subjective thing. I don't see myself giving up e-ink.

In fact, my husband recently got a Nook and I'm having massive technological lust over it--it's so much more comfortable to use than my Sony e-reader; and feels/looks more like an Apple product than anything.

I hear you! I do all my reading at night and the eye-strain was the first thing I noticed. What I have done to combat this is that the more tired I get, I start lowering the screen brightness. This seemed to help a lot...especially if ALL the lights are out because my wife is asleep.