iPad Closing in on Kindle in eReader Ownership

[*LTD*]

Don't try to argue with LTD. He's know for completely ignoring facts that go against his distorted world view that anything that dares compete with the almighty Apple sucks and that Apple can do no wrong.

One-trick pony e-readers *will not* survive in the market. In its current form, the Kindle is destined for the bargain-bin. It's all about multi-purpose devices - gaming, reading, surfing, apps, everything - all on a single device that does everything well, wrapped in a user-centric, touch interface. This is the iPad. Unquestionably.

The Kindle aint it. It doesn't matter how pleasant it is to read books on it. If consumers can also do it on an iPad, they're going to choose an iPad.

You don't need to believe me. Wait a year. You'll either see an Amazon tablet/slate device released to compete with the iPad, or you'll see nothing.

 

[Lailoken]

It's like comparing...

Apples and (erm) Kindles.

The one is a service, and the other a platform. Surely one needs to compare the Kindle device + Kindle apps on all the platforms (including the iPad!) with the iBooks app rather?

Also as for the device, Kindle is an awesome reading device... I own one and I'll probably get an iPad as well... there is overlap, but there is also large enough bits with perfect dichotomy to warrant having both.

The title and article is sensationalist and plays afoul with statistics.

 

[HLdan]

this is a pointless comparison. A kindle costs $130, an iPad costs $500. For my wife who already has a netbook, which do you think I'll buy as an ebook reader? That $370 difference buys a lot of ebooks, with money left over for cat food and toilet paper

I just love your exaggerations as if that's the only solutions. Yeah, and a lot of people will dump their slow and clunky netbooks for an iPad that does it all. So they don't need a Kindle and they won't be spending nearly the ridiculous amount of money the way you make it sound. Oh the irony in your post from someone who would buy a MBP over a cheap PC that can do the same thing. With money left over you could buy some anti-virus software. Your pasts post tell the story.

 

[jellybean]

I own both an iPad and a Kindle, and I find the Kindle miles better for reading books on than the iPad. Reading on a Kindle really does feel closer to reading a printed page, while reading on an iPad causes me to experience eyestrain very quickly, even with the brightness turned down. Having said that, I much prefer the iPad's software experience: for example, being able to just tap on a word to see the dictionary definition is much nicer than using the Kindle's clunky d-pad to slowly navigate down to the word I want to highlight.
I also enjoy browsing the iBookstore on the iPad much more so than Amazon's alternative on the Kindle.
But at the end of the day I much prefer to read on the Kindle's e-ink display with zero glare and zero eyestrain, plus better battery life and, in my opinion, better form factor. Another thing to bear in mind is that not everybody's eyes are the same. While some don't experience eyestrain from reading on LCD displays at length, others may have much more sensitive eyes so an e-ink display could be more suitable.
Love my iPad for doing everything else but I prefer the Kindle for reading books on any day.

 

[Apple Hero]

this is a pointless comparison. A kindle costs $130, an iPad costs $500. For my wife who already has a netbook, which do you think I'll buy as an ebook reader? That $370 difference buys a lot of ebooks, with money left over for cat food and toilet paper

The iPad can do way more than read eBooks. It's a multimedia device, the Kindle is for eBooks, while the iPad is for almost everything. These are two very different devices in terms of features. For Music, Video, Movies, Apps, Books, etc, = iPad.

 

[NomadicTy]

I chose the iPad over the Kindle, but have bought all my e-Books through the Kindle store -- I couldn't find the books I wanted in iBookstore... When are they (iBookstore) going to improve their inventory?

 

[NebulaClash]

I am constantly amazed at how many people say the Kindle is easier on the eye. Clearly I'm in the minority on this one, but man, I read your comments and shake my head at how different my eyes are.

 

[jaythebull]

Recently picked up an iPad and after using it for one afternoon my Kindle ended up on ebay.

 

[Consultant]

I would rather read books on my kindle than my iPad, lighter and I like the screen.

Hum, another newbie who don't like Apple posts on Apple centric site.

I have owned an iPad since it came out. I just recently, upgraded my Kindle 2 to kindle 3. I do not use an iPad to read books. I would never want to read a book on my iPad. The ipad is too heavy, glare from overhead lights is horrible on an iPad, not comfortable to hold and the back lighting kills my eyes. I use both devices nearly daily. I wonder how many folks use both?

I wonder how accurate these surveys really are?

ROTF. Do you use a TV, do you use a computer? iPad's display is high quality, and don't hurt eyes.

 

[foiden]

I went with iPad instead of Kindle because, at the time, Kindle wasn't that much less expensive and was just a 1 trick pony. A good one, but still a one trick one. The iPad was more of a full-fledged machine capable of doing a whole range of applications outside of reading, yet the ability to read books was just 1 little app within an architecture filled with loads of utilities.

 

[parapup]

Ahhh... that announcement came out sometime last summer when the iPad became the hottest selling new gadget.

I should have clarified - printing money for the customers, not Apple. Or do they never "think of customers" in AAPL land?

 

[Dinø]

What I got out of this:

7% of Kindle owners don't read eBooks on their device

Related survey: percentage of iPhone buyers who plan on placing phone calls?

 

[Macist]

The Kindle is the best 'gizmo' I've owned.

I didn't ever buy an iPod - I never sauntered around with a Walkman blaring into my head, so why would I want one? I don't have an iPhone because I just want to talk and text and get my phone for free with a suitable number of monthly minutes. I don't want an iPad because a basic MacBook gives you 100 times more. I didn't own a digital camera until DSLRs became cheap enough and good enough - why own a crappy digicam when a old Olympus OM1 blew it away for quality?

So I don't do 'gizmos' but love the Kindle 3 because I read like crazy and it's a reader's dream. For years I've seen all sorts of free out-of-print books on the interenet but would have to print them out on reams of paper to read or give myself a headache by reading on screen. Eink pearl is now close enough to the printed page that if the material is good enough I forget that I'm reading on a 'gizmo'.

 

[yg17]

Hum, another newbie who don't like Apple posts on Apple centric site.

So we have to prefer Apple's products over the competition, no matter what, to post here?

 

[Macist]

If Apple wanted to get iBooks off the ground they'd sell a Kindle-like device too - call it the iBook, put eInk on it, get Jonny Ive to make it sexier and remove all the buttons, sell it with next to no margin and market it with, 'Keep reading, whether you're using your iPhone, iPad, Mac or iBook!'

But they won't as with Apple don't believe in giving customers what they want but 'reinventing' things. Sometimes this works, sometimes it doesn't but it's all or nothing with them.

 

[blybug]

*shrug* I like my iphone for e-reading. It's small and holds in one hand easily enough. I like it better than paper books honestly. And it means I'll be able to pack a bunch of books for my fllght with no added weight (now if they'd put an ibook reader on the mac that would be even more awesome cause my MBP also goes with me when I travel. And no I'm not buying an ipad or a kindle just to read a book with, that's extra stuff to carry and money spent on items I can do the same thing and better on items I already have and as I said, I have no problems reading books off my iphone).

Me too. Was pretty excited to move up to the big screen for reading when I got the iPad but frankly can't find the comfy position with it. I will read on the iPad for awhile on the couch resting it in my lap with my knees bent up. But I read in bed a lot and I haven't found a great way to hold the iPad there.

With the iPhone I can lie on my side, hold it and flick pages with one hand, and as I drift off to sleep drop it on the bedside table for the night. Often in the dark too which is nice for the wife and great advantage over the Kindle. No eyestrain here either.

 

[NebulaClash]

Apple don't believe in giving customers what they want

The market seems to be disagreeing with you. And by market, I mean the stores that are crowded with customers delighted with Apple giving them what they want.

I think what you meant to say is that Apple doesn't give geeks what they want. Big difference in scale.

 

[Macist]

The market seems to be disagreeing with you. And by market, I mean the stores that are crowded with customers delighted with Apple giving them what they want.

I think what you meant to say is that Apple doesn't give geeks what they want. Big difference in scale.

There are many people suggesting they like the Kindle App better than iBooks. If you buy an iBook, due to its DRM, you can't read it on ANY eink reader - so much for 'industry standard' epubs.

 

[tigress666]

Are we talking proper books or ones with lots of pictures? Seriously though, the eye strain and constant scrolling would, IMO, be a total misery. I'm currently writing a masters research paper and downloaded a few medical papers onto my iphone to save me taking out my MBP on a cramped flight. I got as far as the first paragraph before giving up. The other issue is the battery life; I can't imagine it lasting very long with the screen constantly on.

Honestly, I'd trust my iPhone to last as long as my MBP (and only cause I have the 2010 MBP with the 10 hour battery, my old MB would not last as long as the iPhone at all) on a plane because when not connected to wifi/3g, it's not too bad.

And I'm talking books with lots of words *shrug*. I don't get eyestrain with it (or at least no more than reading a regular paper book. Honestly, I seem to get less than reading a regular paper book). And I don't scroll, I flip pages (I actually prefer Apple's iBook reader honestly with its animations, I know it's a subtle thing but it tends to feel more like reading a book than the other ebook apps) and they are easier to flip than on a regular paper book (I can hold the iphone and flip with the same hand so I can eat and read for example which I tend to do). I doubt I could flip pages and hold the ipad with one hand. In fact the one advantage I see to Kindle is if people are right that it's light enough to hold in one hand. That's a *huge* reason I have started preferring ebooks to paper books. If I have to hold it in two hands, that ruins a lot of the advantage over paper books when we're not talking about traveling and having to pack those books but for everyday reading.

 

[tigress666]

Me too. Was pretty excited to move up to the big screen for reading when I got the iPad but frankly can't find the comfy position with it. I will read on the iPad for awhile on the couch resting it in my lap with my knees bent up. But I read in bed a lot and I haven't found a great way to hold the iPad there.

With the iPhone I can lie on my side, hold it and flick pages with one hand, and as I drift off to sleep drop it on the bedside table for the night. Often in the dark too which is nice for the wife and great advantage over the Kindle. No eyestrain here either.

Yep, you pinned exactly why I like the iPhone even over paper books .

 

[Kissaragi]

Sony has the attention of only 1% of future ebook reader buyers?

It's a shame, the Sony readers are better than the kindle now IMO (if your not bothered about wireless), and your not tied to the Kindle store. They cost more up front I guess, but it's still a shame.

 

[147798]

I use my iPad and will never buy a Kindle. Defeats the purpose of having a device like the iPad. Why carry 2 tablets in which one only serves one purpose?

The e-ink vs LCD debate is ludicrous. There is no difference. Your eyes will adjust as needed to compensate. There are many studies on this. LCD screens DO NOT cause your eyes to fatigue more. You guys are trying to read hours at a time. You're suppose to rest your eyes for a few minutes 60-90 minutes.

I've never had a problem reading on my iPad for hours. And when I need a break to rest my eyes, the iPad has plenty of options for me to do that. Funny how Amazon is the only one that says you need e-ink.

Yes, there is a difference. Whether the difference matters to you might be a different question, but there is a difference.

 

[NebulaClash]

There are many people suggesting they like the Kindle App better than iBooks. If you buy an iBook, due to its DRM, you can't read it on ANY eink reader - so much for 'industry standard' epubs.

In other words, Apple lets you choose either the Kindle app or its own app. So much for not giving the customer what they want.

epub standard is an industry standard. It's the standard that all will be using soon. Only Amazon uses a standard that won't work except through its own software.

It's true that you can add DRM to epub books, but that's not the same as saying you cannot read epub books on lots of devices, for you can. Only Apple lets you read whatever you want from whatever source you want.

 

[handsome pete]

ROTF. Do you use a TV, do you use a computer? iPad's display is high quality, and don't hurt eyes.

I must have missed that booming trend of people reading novels on their tvs and computers.

Everyday computer use and tv watching are entirely different practices than reading novels. They provide different stimulation to your eyes. You can't compare them.


I have both and simply as an ereader I pick up the Kindle every time. I stare at computer monitors up to 10 hours a day working on video and reading text at much higher resolutions than the iPad. I prefer to not have to stare at an LCD display more than that. Not saying this is true for everyone, but the eInk display is much easier on my eyes for heavy reading.

 

[Westside guy]

With all of these things it's going to make it even harder to put down bucks for the one-trick-pony Kindle.

I disagree, especially given the amount of time the average person holds onto any of these devices. Do you think you're going to still be using your current iPad in 3-4 years? I don't see why a person who isn't wowed by the current iteration of the iPad - like me - would hesitate to buy a Kindle, even if they think 3-4 years down the line tablets may meet their expectations.

It's not like you've listed anything that we don't all already know will be coming. Plus I've had lots of access to my daughter's iPad, and that's specifically what convinced me I didn't want one - it's just too big and heavy for the purposes for which I'd want to use it. I know many people think the iPad is the right size, but there is also a significant number that feel as I do (if you don't believe that, you haven't been paying attention to any of the iPad discussions here or elsewhere). Bottom line... I'm happy with my brand new Kindle 3.

The wild card, of course, is Google. I was actually tempted by the size and weight of the Galaxy Tab; but the OS isn't really there for Android tablets at present. However Google is supposedly working on tablet-targeted improvements, and for all we know Android 3.0 may just wow everybody. If we get good tablets that are the size and weight of a Kindle, that might possibly kill it. But still... I think the price differences between tablets and the Kindle will keep the latter alive for the foreseeable future.