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iPad iPad as E-Reader
- Thread starter luqtotheman
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The main reason why I even considered to buy an iPad (I have the rMini) was for the purpose of using it as an e-reader. I bought a lot of books through iBooks on my iPhone 5 and realized that the screen was too small to read comfortably, so after some hard thinking, I finally decided on buying the rMini. I didn't need the bigger iPad because it would be too big for my taste - especially taking it out on the bus, it would just feel too awkward and the rMini is the PERFECT size for reading. I don't regret my purchase and any person using it as an e-reader I'm sure wouldn't either. I don't have any eye strains with it either, so I guess that all depends on the person.
I have read many books on my ipad and on my iphone. But it is far from ideal. Eyestrain is inevitable, no matter how you set the settings.
Kindle Paperwhite is a far superior e-reader. I have never had eye-strain from using it, and since I got it a year ago, I have read more books than I have read in the last 10 years. But a Kindle can't do all the other things an iPad can.
My advice is that if you want an e-reader, get a dedicated device - Kindle, Nook or otherwise. They are a fraction of the price of an ipad and they do the job brilliantly. An ipad can be used as an e-reader, but it is not a very good one.
Kindle Paperwhite is a far superior e-reader. I have never had eye-strain from using it, and since I got it a year ago, I have read more books than I have read in the last 10 years. But a Kindle can't do all the other things an iPad can.
My advice is that if you want an e-reader, get a dedicated device - Kindle, Nook or otherwise. They are a fraction of the price of an ipad and they do the job brilliantly. An ipad can be used as an e-reader, but it is not a very good one.
It works great in adequately lighted conditions such as room or perhaps outside. It works in a pinch.
However for dimly lit environments light in my bedroom before bed or on a dark red-eye flight, it's pretty bad for my eyes. For that I use my dedicated reader. For me that's my Kindle Paperwhite. My Kindle also has free worldwide 3G, so I can download books anywhere.
However for dimly lit environments light in my bedroom before bed or on a dark red-eye flight, it's pretty bad for my eyes. For that I use my dedicated reader. For me that's my Kindle Paperwhite. My Kindle also has free worldwide 3G, so I can download books anywhere.
I'm looking at getting a rMini or a dedicated eReader for reading and I think the Paperwhite looks good but idk about e-ink. It seems pretty janky when switching between pages and library view. It seems like it would be really distracting. I also don't like having to use Amazon to buy all my books. What if I want to use a ePub I got from somewhere else? Does anyone have any experience with a Kobo? Right now I spend a lot of time reading on my iPhone with the app Marvin. I would like a bigger screen but I don't know if $400 is worth spending just for a bigger screen.
I think that if you are happy to read on your iphone then the rmini could be a good option for you. In my country kobo devices are very cheap, you can get a kobo touch or a kobo mini for $50. If it were me I'd get a retina mini and just pay $50 or so and get a cheap dedicated eink reader like a kobo or nook. That way you'd have the best of both worlds. If you didn't like e-ink you wouldn't have spent much more and you could just read on your rMini and use it for all it's other functions.
Absolutely love the ipad for reading indoors with some ambient lighting. Haven't tried out "on the beach" yet.
Had problems with eye strain early on, but lowered brightness and sepia/night themes eliminated it for me. Found good, feature rich readers for both epubs and my growing pdf libraries that blows iBooks out of the water.
On the flip side, never tried an e-ink reader but with Amazon's return policy and a good converter program in hand, one wouldn't have much to lose.
Had problems with eye strain early on, but lowered brightness and sepia/night themes eliminated it for me. Found good, feature rich readers for both epubs and my growing pdf libraries that blows iBooks out of the water.
On the flip side, never tried an e-ink reader but with Amazon's return policy and a good converter program in hand, one wouldn't have much to lose.
I actually went back and forth between the Paperwhite and iPad. I soon realized that the ONLY place where a Paperwhite wins hands down is outside in direct sunlight. But then I also realized that when I'm outside in direct sunlight, I'm almost never stationary. I'm walking, running or doing some other physical activity. I would never actually just bake in the sun and read. Maybe some others would - I wouldn't. So all of Amazon's promo photos of people with Kindles on a sunny beach are a non-starter for me.
Even when outside, so long as I'm some place with some good shade, the iPad is certainly serviceable. But the percentage of time I'm actually reading in direct sunlight or outside with shade is so small that it doesn't outweigh the convenience factor of just having one device that does everything.
I read for hours on my rMini. Nice size, weight, and no eye strain problems. Of course, like others have mentioned, there are glare situations outside, but for me this is not a problem. For me it's all casual reading, but I am a true convert from printed to rMini.
Ipad for Magazines, Comics most PDF's. Kindle for novels. I tend to read books late at night so prefer e-ink both for my eyes and for less problems sleeping after.
OMG.... Why am I only finding out about the built-in dictionary now??! I'm always annoyed having to use other internet required dictionary apps on my device. Thanks for the tip!
Ha! I haven't tried it either, but have some on order from Amazon. I think it'll effectively reduce glare, just not sure how I'll like it for non-reading activities.
I find the ipad Air absolutely amazing for reading pdfs. I've downloaded a bunch of comp sci textbooks as i attempt to teach myself how to program. I honestly don't think i would have stuck with it this long without the convenience of the iPad.
However for reading novels I generally prefer something lighter. I'm using a 2013 Nexus 7 for my ebook reading needs and it is working great. If I am traveling and only have my ipad with me (i usually leave the nexus 7 at home) i can still catch up with reading using google's play books app.
I still have a kindle but i almost never use it anymore. The reading experience is great but i just got tired of dealing with Amazon (crappy android app, proprietary format that seems to be getting worse, difficulty in synching books purchased elsewhere with all my devices). Google play books + an android or ios tablet is just much better.
However for reading novels I generally prefer something lighter. I'm using a 2013 Nexus 7 for my ebook reading needs and it is working great. If I am traveling and only have my ipad with me (i usually leave the nexus 7 at home) i can still catch up with reading using google's play books app.
I still have a kindle but i almost never use it anymore. The reading experience is great but i just got tired of dealing with Amazon (crappy android app, proprietary format that seems to be getting worse, difficulty in synching books purchased elsewhere with all my devices). Google play books + an android or ios tablet is just much better.
I prefer the iBooks reader to the Kindle, but I work in ebook production for an academic publisher, and iBooks has better support for features I need. Kindle still has zero support for MathML, scripting, and is generally buggier. Large tables work better in IBooks. Tables are a problem on small-screen devices, but in iBooks, they'll scroll, and on the Kindle they won't. I've been kind of disappointed that the new iBooks for desktop isn't as good as iBooks for iPad. From my perspective the Kindle software is terrible, just a notch below Adobe Digital Editions.
Though, for my personal reading, I usually use Calibre, partly because it runs on everything, even my Linux laptop.
Though, for my personal reading, I usually use Calibre, partly because it runs on everything, even my Linux laptop.
I have a Kindle Paperwhite in addition to my iPad Air. Love them both. The Air is wonderful for comics, PDFs and magazines as well as for my art books. The Kindle is great for novels and late night reading in bed. 
I do really enjoy the Kindle and Nook apps on my iPad too though.
I do really enjoy the Kindle and Nook apps on my iPad too though.LCDs don't seem to cause eyestrain for everyone, and many reading apps have "night mode" (white text on a black background) and sepia mode, both which can really ease the issue for those who do have eyestrain issues.
Yes. I find that the whole LCD and eyestrain issue really is a YMMV thing. I thought I recall a study done recently that showed that there's no appreciable difference reading between LCD and e-ink.
I personally just don't see the point of having a device solely dedicated to reading. But again, maybe that's because my eyes aren't super sensitive to LCD screens.
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Yes, through use of the kindle for Mac app and Calibre. I'll leave the rest up to you since it involves stripping DRM.
There's a very good reason. No distractions. Reading on an iPad or other tablet means you've got notifications coming in, and emails, games, and the internet in general tapping you on the shoulder. Using a device like the Kindle Paperwhite removes all that and lets you have a pure, uninterrupted reading experience. A lot of people like that. Yes, the Kindle does have a web browser but it's beyond crappy, unless you like black and white pages that take 1-2 minutes to load.
There's a very good reason. No distractions. Reading on an iPad or other tablet means you've got notifications coming in, and emails, games, and the internet in general tapping you on the shoulder. Using a device like the Kindle Paperwhite removes all that and lets you have a pure, uninterrupted reading experience. A lot of people like that. Yes, the Kindle does have a web browser but it's beyond crappy, unless you like black and white pages that take 1-2 minutes to load.
Yeah it's all just preference. For me, I prefer the extra stuff with the iPad. I tend to do some research whenever I read something, like look at a location on maps, research on wikipedia, etc... I also always listen to music while reading, so the iPad helps me do all that.
However, I do prefer the Kindle Paperwhite screen. It does feel more soothing to the eyes for me, but in the end, that itself was not enough.
There's a very good reason. No distractions. Reading on an iPad or other tablet means you've got notifications coming in, and emails, games, and the internet in general tapping you on the shoulder. Using a device like the Kindle Paperwhite removes all that and lets you have a pure, uninterrupted reading experience. A lot of people like that. Yes, the Kindle does have a web browser but it's beyond crappy, unless you like black and white pages that take 1-2 minutes to load.
I hear a little thing called self control takes care of all of that.
I kid, but one thing I do on my iPad is switch on Do Not Disturb when I'm reading. Absolutely no interruptions except my own impulses to do other stuff, which hopefully I can control by now!I hear a little thing called self control takes care of all of that.
You said what i was thinking.