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iPad for reading?

I tried to use ipad as my primary reader but it's a little too heavy. Maybe the ipad2 is whole lot better since it's noticeably lighter.

As for PDF viewing, based on experience with the way my father uses his ipad to look at diagrams in pdf format, ipad 2 will be a much better choice with additional memory and faster processor. He has ran into numerous issues with not enough memory or slow performance in opening PDF documents with various viewers.
 
I use the iPad as a PDF reader and an ereader, and don't have any problems at all. Everyone's eyes are different, so you might want to try looking at one for a while with various brightness levels and see how your eyes feel.
 
One of the many reasons I prefer not to use my iPad to read is the depth perception. You have a thick piece of glass in front of the screen. You actually have to look thru it to see the words. When the glass is dirty or there is reflection, it really causes issues for me. And using it to read books, it will be dirty as you have to touch the glass to turn the page.
 
I commute about 2 1/2 hours total a day and most of that time is spent using iBooks on my iPad. I don't feel any eye discomfort from it. And for magazines, you just simply can't beat the iPad. I've been reading EGM and Wired on my iPad and it's amazing (though they could leave out the interactive ads.)

My wife likes her Kindle better because it's smaller and lighter. The eInk is nice, but I prefer a more multi functional gadget, and the iPad was the way to go for me.
 
Its ok as an e-reader, but there are a lot of avid readers who prefer something more portable for reading on the go (while in line or during a break during the normal course of their day).

The 7" tablets and e-readers fit into most back pockets, cargo pants pockets or handbags.... and you can actually hold them with one hand.

I think that Apple probably had their eye on the e-reader market, but didn't enter in a big way because they were at a competitive disadvantage to companies like Amazon and Barnes & Noble who already had existing agreements with publishers.
 
it's very good

While I still prefer to read hard copy, the one feature I love in iBooks is that you can turn the white pages of any iBook sepia which instantly makes it much easier to read.

It's pretty good as a pdf reader (in iBooks) but with my screenplays I find I have to reduce the size of the current page before I can swipe to the subsequent page. Perhaps I'm not doing it right ?

But it's rather good, except in direct sunlight. The glare makes it unreadable.

Anyway, I'd give it a 7 out of 10 for reading.
 
If you need to zoom or otherwise manipulate PDFs, then the iPad is the way to go. I use mine with a small, collapsible books stand (BookGem http://www.bookgem.com/). I don't like holding books of any size, so I actually had the BookGem long before my iPad. They are both pretty much my constant companion these days for work.

If you are reading an ebook or a pdf that does not need to be manipulated, I recommend the Kindle DX. It is far more enjoyable to read, in my opinion, but people have different preferences when it comes to using e-ink. I tend to read it in bed, but don't carry it around with me so much during the day.
 
I'm a doctoral student and since I got my iPad I only read PDFs on my iPad (not on my computer or a physical copy). You can get apps called Good Reader or iAnnotate to read and annotate PDFs and Word docs. You can also sync those files with Dropbox. As far as eye strain...about the same as sitting in front of the computer I suppose, but personally it's never bothered me for the hours and hours I've used it. iPad all the way over any other reader.
 
Funny enough I bought my iPad pretty much solely to read on. Car & Driver looks great as do other magazines and for a while I read quite a bit on it. Then a friend gave me a rooted Nook Color. Same display (different size) but I find the form factor a little easier to deal with. I really only read at night when I go to bed and the iPad wasn't difficult, it's just that the Nook Color was easier to hold. Reading on the LCD hasn't affected me at all, I turn the brightness down or reverse the type (white type on black background). That said, reading on the iPad is great, no ill effects from the LCD. My wife's iPad 2 is a wee bit easier to handle than my original iPad, but not enough to make a big difference. At least to me. I haven't owned a Kindle or an e-ink Nook. Thought I would chime in on the Nook Color.

Plus, I can sling some Angry Birds at the little green piggies when I need a break. Or sling some smack to my sister over GTalk.
 
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