Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

All iPads iPad for University

Cromulent

Cromulent

macrumors 604
Original poster
Oct 2, 2006
6,822
1,123
The Land of Hope and Glory
I had a few questions about the current iPad lineup and would like to get some advice on whether what I am planning is possible.

I want to get an iPad primarily as an eBook reader. I have 167GB of ePub and PDF format files and want to get an Apple Pencil 2 to annotate the eBooks so that it will help me study. So that means I need a minimum of 256GB of storage. I'm not interested in having a keyboard, though.

Can someone let me know if I can use an Apple Pencil like that and what eBook reader software I should be used to annotate my eBooks with the Apple Pencil? Which iPad is the best?

Thank you.
 
Your best option is to convert the ePub files to PDF and annotate using LiquidText as I don’t think there’s anything that can annotate ePub well.

In terms of hardware you’ll want an Apple Pencil to do that along with an iPad Air due to its weight.
 
  • Like
Reactions: DeepIn2U, Populus and T'hain Esh Kelch
In the books app you can highlight the text with the pencil but as for notes, that would added by selecting the note function then typing the note. That will leave a mark that there is a note in the margin but not the note itself, you have to select it. For PDF’s that are viewed with the books app, no problem either pencil on any iPad will allow to “markup a pdf”, leaving visible marks, highlights, and or hand written notes anywhere on the page.
 
Thank you all. It is a shame that ePub isn't well supported with annotation, as I prefer it over other eBook formats. Would using MOBI be better than ePub and PDF? I can download them in MOBI format.
 
Given you require a minimum of 256GB of storage and will be using iPad as primarily an e-reader, I would strongly consider the iPad Air. I feel it's your best option in terms of screen size, weight, and cost given that you are currently studying. You can see Apple's online page about the iPad Air here.

I'm not sure about annotating eBooks, but if you ever need a good PDF editor for student work, you can consider Xodo which is free and linked here.
 
I would suggest the base model iPad is sufficient for your needs, you can get 256GB for almost $300 less than the iPad Air. If price is important then the iPad 9 will do the job just fine.

With the Air you are paying for better and more capable processor, slightly better display (maybe not noticeable for your uses), and things like that. None of those things will matter if you're using your iPad primarily for reading e-books.

Save some money and get the regular iPad.

(edited to correct - iPad 9 is what I intended to write, current base model)
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Username-already-in-use and BhaveshUK
I would suggest the iPad 9 my self you would be able to get Cheaper accessories for it and it supports the Apple Pencil 1 which is cheaper to get and you can buy a good used one on eBay. But if you are set on the apple pencil 2 you can probably pick up an discontinue iPad Air 4 which would be the best option to get it might not have the m1 chip but the a14 chip is still a beastly processor to get you by for the day hope that helps.
 
Phil77354 said:
I would suggest the base model iPad is sufficient for your needs, you can get 256GB for almost $300 less than the iPad Air. If price is important then the iPad 8 will do the job just fine.

With the Air you are paying for better and more capable processor, slightly better display (maybe not noticeable for your uses), and things like that. None of those things will matter if you're using your iPad primarily for reading e-books.

Save some money and get the regular iPad.
Click to expand...
I was mistaken in my previous post, I believed the base iPad model maxed out at 128gb for some reason. Hence why I went straight to the iPad Air. I’d instead give @Phil77354 comment serious consideration.

I remember being a student and any money you can save is a blessing. Given you’ll be using this primarily as an eBook reader, it’s more than sufficient for your tasks.

It does still use the first generation Apple Pencil however instead of the second generation. If you have your heart set on the second generation version like you mentioned in your original post, you’ll have to step up to the iPad Air.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Phil77354
BhaveshUK said:
I was mistaken in my previous post, I believed the base iPad model maxed out at 128gb for some reason. Hence why I went straight to the iPad Air. I’d instead give @Phil77354 comment serious consideration.

I remember being a student and any money you can save is a blessing. Given you’ll be using this primarily as an eBook reader, it’s more than sufficient for your tasks.

It does still use the first generation Apple Pencil however instead of the second generation. If you have your heart set on the second generation version like you mentioned in your original post, you’ll have to step up to the iPad Air.
Click to expand...
You're right about the pencil, and I didn't catch that detail in the OP.

Funny that Apple didn't make both pencils work equally well with their iPads, I don't know why they did that. But there is no question that the Pencil 2 is better simply because it doesn't have to be poked into the port of the iPad to charge, not the best design decision for sure!
 
Phil77354 said:
I would suggest the base model iPad is sufficient for your needs, you can get 256GB for almost $300 less than the iPad Air. If price is important then the iPad 8 will do the job just fine.

With the Air you are paying for better and more capable processor, slightly better display (maybe not noticeable for your uses), and things like that. None of those things will matter if you're using your iPad primarily for reading e-books.

Save some money and get the regular iPad.
Click to expand...
While I would also agree that the iPad 9 256GB version would be the most cost-effective option for the OP’s needs, the iPad 8 wouldn’t be - as it doesn’t have a storage option above 128GB.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Phil77354
Phil77354 said:
You're right about the pencil, and I didn't catch that detail in the OP.

Funny that Apple didn't make both pencils work equally well with their iPads, I don't know why they did that. But there is no question that the Pencil 2 is better simply because it doesn't have to be poked into the port of the iPad to charge, not the best design decision for sure!
Click to expand...
Re: charging. Common misconception that you could only charge the pencil through lightening connector. The pencil came with an adapter so you can plug it in to any charger or USB port using a lightening to USB cable.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Mackilroy and LibbyLA
JD2015 said:
Re: charging. Common misconception that you could only charge the pencil through lightening connector. The pencil came with an adapter so you can plug it in to any charger or USB port using a lightening to USB cable.
Click to expand...
Or you can buy a separate charging cable to charge it as well
 
  • Like
Reactions: JD2015
If you just need it for notes and PDF markup, this one works just as well as the Apple Pencils and can be used on 2018 iPads and newer (base iPad, iPad Air, iPad mini and iPad Pro).

www.bestbuy.com

Logitech Crayon Digital Pencil for All Apple iPads (2018 releases and later) Mid Gray 914-000051 - Best Buy

Shop Logitech Crayon Digital Pencil for All Apple iPads (2018 releases and later) Mid Gray at Best Buy. Find low everyday prices and buy online for delivery or in-store pick-up. Price Match Guarantee.
www.bestbuy.com www.bestbuy.com

P.S. There are also plenty of Apple Pencil clones using the same tech as the Crayon/Apple Pencil for sub-$30 on Amazon, ebay and AliExPress.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Mackilroy and LibbyLA
I'm managing, reading and annotating all of my pdf documents directly in Apple's built-in Files app.
Depending on your MO, you may not even need a dedicated app either.
Obviously, I converted my ebooks to pdf (I dislike the Books app anyway).
 
  • Like
Reactions: Mackilroy
rui no onna said:
If you just need it for notes and PDF markup, this one works just as well as the Apple Pencils and can be used on 2018 iPads and newer (base iPad, iPad Air, iPad mini and iPad Pro).

www.bestbuy.com

Logitech Crayon Digital Pencil for All Apple iPads (2018 releases and later) Mid Gray 914-000051 - Best Buy

Shop Logitech Crayon Digital Pencil for All Apple iPads (2018 releases and later) Mid Gray at Best Buy. Find low everyday prices and buy online for delivery or in-store pick-up. Price Match Guarantee.
www.bestbuy.com www.bestbuy.com

P.S. There are also plenty of Apple Pencil clones using the same tech as the Crayon/Apple Pencil for sub-$30 on Amazon, ebay and AliExPress.
Click to expand...
I like my Crayon because I can switch among three iPads at once for markup. However, it is much more sensitive to tilt than the Apple pencil, which means that if I tilt it too much (which isn’t really much at all), it doesn’t write and I have to “rewrite” that text. It has its uses and I don’t regret having it, but I don’t find it works quite as well for marking up PDFs. However, it doesn’t cost nearly as much. It depends on how annoying the tilt thing gets for someone.
 
  • Like
Reactions: rui no onna
LibbyLA said:
I like my Crayon because I can switch among three iPads at once for markup. However, it is much more sensitive to tilt than the Apple pencil, which means that if I tilt it too much (which isn’t really much at all), it doesn’t write and I have to “rewrite” that text. It has its uses and I don’t regret having it, but I don’t find it works quite as well for marking up PDFs. However, it doesn’t cost nearly as much. It depends on how annoying the tilt thing gets for someone.
Click to expand...

I don't really use tilt and I guess it's not something I accidentally trigger. :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back