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iBooks vs. Kindle

I tried ibooks on my phone it was way too basic. no night mode and very limited. the kindle app is more useful and a better selection of options. the best was ereader. it had a huge selections of options like screen and text color screen background different ones in night and day mode different font sizes for both and a lot of other goodies. but when I could not get the rest of the series I was reading in that format it was time to change.
 
Kindle for me.

A larger selection of books, and more flexibility in viewing. I like the fact that I can view books on my Mac, I'm not limited to just the iOS platform in the future (if a better device comes along) and I'm thinking of getting a kindle reader at some point.

Yes, the iBook app has better page turn animations - but that looses it's appeal really quickly when you actually get down to reading something.

The only criticism I have of Kindle is that there's often less care taken over formatting - and graphical/table content is often poorly presented. For technical books where this could be a problem I try and buy PDF versions from the O'Reilly book store. If I can't buy there, then I will occasionally buy an iBook version.
 
anjinha said:
I use iBooks. When a book I want is available on the Kindle store and not on the iBookstore I buy it there and use Calibre to remove the DRM and convert it to ePub, so I can read it in iBooks.
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There's DRM on Kindle ebooks? I thought Kindle and iBooks just used different file formats.
 
UPS just dropped off the Kindle Touch.

I'm impressed with the size and clarity of the text. The touch screen is ok, it doesn't seem as precise as the iPad. Additionally the performance is a tad laggy. There's some latency between touching the screen and waiting for the action to initiate. I'm still playing with it but for the price you cannot beat it.

The software seems more web based, that is a web browser is used to view your book selection, type in the search for new books or download archived books. At first though this was not a good metaphor but in general I think it flows a little better then Amazon's previous version. The lack of physical keyboard is a huge plus and the virtual keyboard seems ok.

It will be so much more useful on my commute, the size and one handed operation makes its a better option for me.
 
maflynn said:
Wow, I was totally not expecting that post :eek:

I was asking about iBooks and Kindle with kindle seemingly having a larger inventory of books.

I was not expecting a post about someone stealing, and his justification over that action.
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You were commenting on Kindle's lack of content. The response given merely said that this can be rectified by pirating ebooks. He didn't try and defend his actions-why bother anyway when most people on here are already decided one way or the other about piracy and won't see the other side of the argument?
 
IMO reading on an LCD is very fatiguing. For that reason I like to read on my Kindle and not on my ipad/iphone/macbook pro/etc.
 
ben-r said:
IMO reading on an LCD is very fatiguing. For that reason I like to read on my Kindle and not on my ipad/iphone/macbook pro/etc.
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For light reading the iPad's display is fine, though the e-ink of the Kindle is much better on my eyes. Any images in books like Job's biography certainly are rendered better on the iPad. I generally don't read too many books that have pictures in them though :p
 
ben-r said:
IMO reading on an LCD is very fatiguing. For that reason I like to read on my Kindle and not on my ipad/iphone/macbook pro/etc.
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I guess it just depends on the person - I've read Neuromancer in one sitting on the iPad (but then it IS my favorite book, and I can read the hardcover all the way through in one sitting as well.) I've also read whole chapters of Lord of the Rings in one sitting too.

If you're really into the story, it can put off the effects of fatigue...
 
I prefer the iBooks app on my iPad, but I buy all my books on the Kindle store. Why? Because they have the books I want.

I do not understand why Apple is STILL lagging behind Amazon at this point. iBooks has been out for a while, but the book selection still stinks.

I hope this changes since I think the iBooks app is a bit better in some respects. I like the default collections and the interface more than the Kindle app.

But none of that matters if iBooks doesn't have the books I want to read.

Come on, Apple. Step it up a bit and get more books!

And release iBooks for browsers too so we can read them the same way we do with the Amazon Kindle browser application.
 
Neither.. there are other options on ios and they are much better.. one has option to download books from torrents :)

Love is eternal - Albus dumbledore
 
anjinha said:
I use iBooks. When a book I want is available on the Kindle store and not on the iBookstore I buy it there and use Calibre to remove the DRM and convert it to ePub, so I can read it in iBooks.
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When all things are equal (availability, price, and version) why buy the iBooks version over the Kindle version?

Buying an iBook is currently a dead-end...locked in to an iDevice. Buying a Kindle book (at least with the current DRM scheme) and converting it to ePub allows me to read it on a variety of devices.
 
I have an iPad. e-Ink displays kind of look like play props, except that the Kindle - non-touchscreen at least - have physical buttons and responds when you press them
 
maflynn said:
I'm not sure if there's an ongoing debate about iBooks vs. Kindle, but it seems that Kindle has a higher volume of available books.

I prefer the look, feel and interface of iBooks but I'm frustrated by the lack of material - at least material that I'm interested in.

For instance, looking up books written by Issac Asimov in both highlights the issue.

I saw that there's a new starwars book out called starwars deceived (an old republic based story). Again available in kindle, not iBooks.

Is apple serious about providing a deep and rich set of books to purchase, or are they just dabbling in this, only to tire and move on.

Yeah, I have the kindle app, but as I said I prefer the iBook app instead.

Oh at let me get it out of the way right now.
Yeah, I'm a nerd and I'm proud of it :D
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The Kindle device is best for reading especially for long periods of time.
 
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I like the look of iBooks but I don't find it practical because if one day I choose to not use an iOS device I will be stuck while Amazon has made an effort to put it's app on all devices which allows me to be somewhat cross platformed.
 
thekev said:
Text looks completely awesome on the kindle. It looks more like paper than any other display I've seen.
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I agree. I just bought my wife a Kindle touch (not fire) and she loves it. I find that when reading on the iPad eyes get tired a lot faster plus it's much heavier.

Also like someone else mentioned Kindle app is available for any platform so you can read your books almost anywhere you choose.
 
People on this forum must have weak eyes. I've read for hours on my iPad and never once experienced "eye fatigue" -- I wouldn't be shocked if a large amount of this is psychosomatic and would never have been a problem for most people if they were never told to expect it.
 
thekev said:
Text looks completely awesome on the kindle. It looks more like paper than any other display I've seen.
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Agreed but because there is no back lighting with the kindle, I'm now preferring the iPad/iBook option. The interface, UI and performance of iBooks is much better then the Kindle as well. I find the kindle reader (not the app) to be sluggish, plus because I have the kindle touch, I'm hitting the screen accidentally either going to the next page or the prior page by mistake.

The form factor and the e-ink display is why I got the kindle. The kindle's cross platform support also drew me in, but I'm liking the selection of the iBooks and as I just mentioned the UI of ibooks.

My problem is when I read I may not be in the best lighting conditions and the iPad works better then the kindle reader. I could still use the kindle app but that's where the UI differences come in to play on the iPad.

I hate flip-floppnig on this topic like I am. I really want to like the kindle, the display is awesome but for what ever reason I seem to be coming back to iBooks :/
 
Hi

If you are using an iPad as your reader than both iBooks or Kindle (App) will be backlit (since this is a device specific function).

However I take your point the actual Reader device from Amazon is not backlit :) and may not be best for you all the time.

As the Kindle app is free I reckon you can have the best of both worlds with an iPad. I reckon the choice of which app you choose to use at the time will depend on what books you can get from the iBook store or Amazon store.

Another thing to consider is that iBook can read ePub which to my understanding is a more common format than .mobi. This means you may be able to buy and read books sold by other stores (eg the Book Depository).

There are several places you can get free books (legally) usually classics - and some of these may only be available as .epub.

If you like iBooks, then I say stick with it. If you can't find the books you want in the iBookstore, consider getting the book from Amazon.

You don't need to like the Kindle App or the Kindle Reader...I reckon it is mature enough to realise there is nothing personal. :)
 
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