Unless you want to borrow ebooks from your local public library. Overdrive doesn't currently support Kindle AFAIK, but they claim its coming.
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iPad worth it as an e-reader?
- Thread starter PaulWog
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Unless you want to borrow ebooks from your local public library. Overdrive doesn't currently support Kindle AFAIK, but they claim its coming.
It's not funny at all. The vast majority of my hard cover books are MUCH lighter than the iPad, and the Kindle is much lighter than my books. I'm guessing your library only consists of heavy books like Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows.
And I find it unbelievably funny that you need to belittle other people's eyestrain. Consider yourself lucky you can read on the iPad for hours on end.
The iPad does so much more than a dedicated reader. Even if I found the dedicated reader easier to read on, I don't find the iPad uncomfortable to the point I wouldn't choose it over another product. I read daily on my iPad and love it. No dinky little reader can do what my iPad can.
If ALL you want to do is read books, then go for the reader. But, if you got an iPad, I'd suspect you'd find plenty of uses for it.
If ALL you want to do is read books, then go for the reader. But, if you got an iPad, I'd suspect you'd find plenty of uses for it.
This is perplexing, because it implies that a 'dedicated device' is better simply because it only does one thing, yet the fact an iPad can do much more than a Kindle doesn't in itself make an iPad any less good at being an eReader.
It's entirely a question of what the user needs from a device, not whether the device is single or multi function.
I have both a 2nd Gen Nook and an iPad, - and while they both have their purposes, I could never derive the same reading enjoyment I get out of my nook with the iPad. And believe me, before getting the nook I tried. The nook just looks like a book - and is so comfortable that I can hold it with one hand for an hour or more, while laying down on my side in bed or drinking something hot.
The nook allows me to blend into the book, with the iPad I could never really get fully into a book and don't see how anyone else can either. But hey, to each their own.
The nook allows me to blend into the book, with the iPad I could never really get fully into a book and don't see how anyone else can either. But hey, to each their own.
In this case the dedicated devices's superiority comes from the e-ink display and superior technical specifications (thinner, lighter, better battery life).
If an iPad weighed half as much, could go 30 days without a recharge, and could switch easily between e-ink and lcd, then I think it would quite clear that such a device would be superior in all respects.
However, when it comes down to reading (especially novels) battery life, weight, and display count the most. It really does't matter if my iPad can also play movies when I want to read if my reading experience is worse compared to the dedicated device.
I like that you went what was best for you-- I also had the dilemma of deciding if I should pick up the iPad owning a iPhone and Mac. Wasn't sure if it was the high pricing purchase for just reading books.
I can say I am glad I made the purchase. I bought it to read- sadly it's one of the things i barely do on it. It does everything so well and good size screen so use it more then I intended.
I can say I am glad I made the purchase. I bought it to read- sadly it's one of the things i barely do on it. It does everything so well and good size screen so use it more then I intended.
E-Reader only? Nope not good at all,
However iPad does have apps and cameras which provides entertainment in addition to reading. If you are at least slightly interested by the apps,is worth it.
However iPad does have apps and cameras which provides entertainment in addition to reading. If you are at least slightly interested by the apps,is worth it.
I use my iPad 2 extensively as an ebook reader, but if your number one use is for that I would suggest a Nook color.
The Kindle, Kobo and their ilk are too limited. At least with the nook color you can load any android e- reader app. It also has an IPS display like the iPad.
The Kindle, Kobo and their ilk are too limited. At least with the nook color you can load any android e- reader app. It also has an IPS display like the iPad.
I would think that in a situation with anything other than bright, direct light, the lower contrast of e-ink will hamper readability compared with an illuminated screen. That being said, however, the retina display of the iphone 4 is far more legible again than the ipad1 or 2. Let's hope for a retina-like ipad3!!
The Kindle is just like a book. You wouldn't read a book in the dark, and the Kindle works just as badly in those conditions, so just like we have done for hundreds of years, you have to turn on your lights (or light your candles) and bring a reading light to bed with you, etc.
If you want to hang out in the dark in your man cave, the Kindle is not for you
I love reading on both the kindle dx and ipad, but the kindle is my hands down favorite for long sessions. I don't especially like reading on my ipod, but it can certainly be done. retina screen would be nice for the ipad, of course
I think so. I dont do alot of e reading but When i do i would use the ipad instead of buying a seperate device for something that i hardly ever do.
The Kindle is just like a book. You wouldn't read a book in the dark, and the Kindle works just as badly in those conditions, so just like we have done for hundreds of years, you have to turn on your lights (or light your candles) and bring a reading light to bed with you, etc.
If you want to hang out in the dark in your man cave, the Kindle is not for you
I love reading on both the kindle dx and ipad, but the kindle is my hands down favorite for long sessions. I don't especially like reading on my ipod, but it can certainly be done. retina screen would be nice for the ipad, of course
E-ink is not quite like a book: somebhigh quality ink-paper combinations have better contrast than e-ink.
If you really just want an e-reader and will be using it extensively then I would have to recommend the Kindle 3.
It's small, very light and the e-ink screen is amazingly crisp and clear. If we were talking about eBook readers alone, the Kindle is the obvious choice.
That being said, I've never had any eye strain issues reading on my iPad 2, and I've been using it heavily since I brought it (I read a lot).
You just need to consider if you need the extra features that the iPad has, and if it's worth paying that premium?
It's small, very light and the e-ink screen is amazingly crisp and clear. If we were talking about eBook readers alone, the Kindle is the obvious choice.
That being said, I've never had any eye strain issues reading on my iPad 2, and I've been using it heavily since I brought it (I read a lot
). You just need to consider if you need the extra features that the iPad has, and if it's worth paying that premium?
sure. in the context of the discussion, though, i was explaining that e-ink is used just as you would use a book. you don't have to be in bright light. the same light you use to read a book will work when you read a kindle.
as for the contrast, of course there are a nearly infinite variety of print contrast from books across the centuries, so you'll find some that are more pleasant for you to read than others. overall, though, i much prefer e-ink to books. but, that is just my opinion.
as for the e-reader, it is so inexpensive now, i think it definitely makes sense as a separate purpose, assuming that you read a few books a month. But, anything less and it makes more sense economically to have something like the ipad, especially when you think about what you will actually carry around and use. i love the kindle, but the newest nook e-reader is more advanced in terms of specs. a new kindle e-ink reader ought to be coming out shortly.
once you start getting up to 15, 20, 40 books a month, i highly recommend the dx. it is really nice to have all of that screen real estate, and you can read a lot faster (more text on the screen at once).
For reading regular novels, anyone who says that an ebook reader like the Nook, Kindle or Sony are NOT way, WAAY better than an iPad either have not tried a dedicated ebook reader or are simply...weird!
The ebook readers are SO much easier to hold and reading on them is like reading a book - there's MUCH less eyestrain than with an LCD device like the iPad. That is a fact, it can't really be discussed I would say. Some will be less annoyed, but for all (considering you have proper ambient lighting) looking at a screen that does not throw light in your face is less straining than essentially staring directly into a light source (as you do with an LCD screen).
Now, for reading larger publications like some articles, technical books or magazines and comics, I would say the iPad is superior to the ebook readers. Most ebook readers have too small a screen and even the Kindle DX, which has a screen the same size as the iPad, is not quite good enough because the screen refresh rate is incredibly slow which makes maneuvering the documents quite cumbersome.
The ebook readers are SO much easier to hold and reading on them is like reading a book - there's MUCH less eyestrain than with an LCD device like the iPad. That is a fact, it can't really be discussed I would say. Some will be less annoyed, but for all (considering you have proper ambient lighting) looking at a screen that does not throw light in your face is less straining than essentially staring directly into a light source (as you do with an LCD screen).
Now, for reading larger publications like some articles, technical books or magazines and comics, I would say the iPad is superior to the ebook readers. Most ebook readers have too small a screen and even the Kindle DX, which has a screen the same size as the iPad, is not quite good enough because the screen refresh rate is incredibly slow which makes maneuvering the documents quite cumbersome.
no. i am willing to concede that some people don't like e-ink and prefer something like the ipad. personally, i think e-ink is a better reading experience, but i read on both and don't notice any particular eye-strain (assuming you dim the ipad at night). i'm happy that we have choices, and i hope people will get what is best for them.For reading regular novels, anyone who says that an ebook reader like the Nook, Kindle or Sony are NOT way, WAAY better than an iPad either have not tried a dedicated ebook reader or are simply...weird!
The ebook readers are SO much easier to hold and reading on them is like reading a book - there's MUCH less eyestrain than with an LCD device like the iPad. That is a fact, it can't really be discussed I would say. Some will be less annoyed, but for all (considering you have proper ambient lighting) looking at a screen that does not throw light in your face is less straining than essentially staring directly into a light source (as you do with an LCD screen).
i kind of disagree. the kindle dx is ideal for articles, technical books, and magazines (i don't know about comics) with one caveat. they have to be formatted in single columns, because zooming on the kindle is not very fun (slow refresh rate). of course, if you intend to flip around in a book (reference literature) the slow refresh rate will make it miserable. in general, i read my pdfs on the ipad and ebooks on the ereader.
But flipping around, jumping between pages, zooming and panning is what one often does with larger publications and that's why I think the iPad is a lot better for that purpose.
I'm not belittling other people's eyestrain, for I realize that I'm the exception. OK, I do find it funny that people who spend all day on LCD screens complain about reading on LCD screens, but I understand that cumulatively it adds up for them.
My entire point is that everyone is different, so you can't tell me what to buy and I can't tell you what to buy and no one can tell us what to buy. Our eyes react in ways that others cannot predict. I never would have guessed my eyes would react the way they have, but they do. So all I ever say is to try each device for yourself and make up your own mind. Messages on a board are meaningless if your eyes react differently from theirs.
I've never read a Harry Potter book, by the way. And, here I go again, I find it funny that such a light device as an iPad is being bemoaned as such an incredibly heavy object. Boy have we gotten spoiled for thin, light devices, huh?
For reading regular novels, anyone who says that an ebook reader like the Nook, Kindle or Sony are NOT way, WAAY better than an iPad either have not tried a dedicated ebook reader or are simply...weird!
Captain Weird, showing up for action!
200 novels and counting on my iPad, and I still love the experience. I've tried both the Kindle and the color Nook, both urged on me by people who rave about the devices. I like their lightness, and I think they are ideal devices for the beach, but I hate reading on them. I sit down and try it and instantly I'm getting eyestrain. I hate the blink that e-ink makes when flipping pages. I just don't like the experience.
Now, tell Captain Weird what duty he needs to perform. I stand ready to serve!
That's not a superiority at all, it's merely a focus on one aspect of overall viability taken from a specific single point of view. When taken from a different standpoint, those things would be weaknesses or of no significant benefit - e-ink displays irritate some users as they flicker through black during page turns, and they aren't usable in mediocre to low-light. 'Thinner/lighter' are not factors that necessarily affect a particularly large number of users, and better battery life is only important to those who have no regular access to a power source.
The offset to your 'dedicated superiority' is that the iPad has much better control over font size and overall ebook display, can handle pdf files much better, can be used in low light, and can do a great deal more in terms of delivering content to users and providing a broad range of other functions and customisations.
It's not a matter of fact that one device is better than another, it's a matter of personal opinion.
I have a nook touch and an iPad 2.
I love my iPad but it's near impossible to sit in the garden during the day and reading a book on it. I also find the fact that it has so many 'other things' that I can be doing on it - I get far less read than I do on a dedicated reader.
As light as the iPad 2 is - it too gets weary on the wrists when reading, whereas my Nook Touch is very light indeed and it's design means one handed usage is great.
Though of course with the ipad you can read in the dark, with my Nook Touch I can not, and need a light source, but I still prefer reading on the nook.
I love my iPad but it's near impossible to sit in the garden during the day and reading a book on it. I also find the fact that it has so many 'other things' that I can be doing on it - I get far less read than I do on a dedicated reader.
As light as the iPad 2 is - it too gets weary on the wrists when reading, whereas my Nook Touch is very light indeed and it's design means one handed usage is great.
Though of course with the ipad you can read in the dark, with my Nook Touch I can not, and need a light source, but I still prefer reading on the nook.
Interested in more than an ebook reader but don't want to pay for an iPad, then consider the Nook Color. $249ish and capable of a simple "update" to run android 2.3 with access to the android market. IPS screen to match the quality of the iPad's, and a better size for ereading. Good native PDF support, and you still have access to B&N's book store for books, magazines and newspapers. A better backpack accessory than the heavier iPad IMO.