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Which reader is best? iBooks or Kindle App?

L

LSK6453

macrumors member
Original poster
Aug 16, 2006
64
0
I am seeking opinions as to which reader is best on the iPad2.

Please share your thoughts and experiences.

Thanks
Larry
 
Both are the best.:eek::D

There are countless threads that debate/highlight the merits of the two but almost all agree to have both is the best option.
 
Agreed. Try both.

Kindle works on your computer too, so that might be a bonus.

You can sync the Kindle books to as many e-readers as you want also...

I like free regardless, but often a university will require books that Apple doesn't have in the store...but iBooks has easier browsing IMO...

See, they both have +'s and -'s.

gdc
 
Agree that the Kindle is better. Much better selection of books and the reading experience is better too. More words fit on a page in Kindle and the UI is much less obtrusive than iBooks.
 
It is all personal preference and since both are free, try them both for yourself

Several have stated their preference for Kindle
I, however, prefer the iBook app for reading
 
thanks everyone. I got my ipad last night and there are several books that I want to read. I think the amazon store has more options so I am going to start there.
 
Personally, I like iBooks better but amazon wins the price wars almost every time, so I vote with the wallet. The difference isn't sizeable enough to warrant the price difference between the two.
 
I actually like the Nook reader the best. It gives more appearance options than Kindle, has almost as many books as Kindle, and most importantly to me, it saves your most recent position, whereas Kindle saves your furthest position. I move back and forth between my iPad and my iPhone, and I have had too many experiences with Kindle where I accidentally went forward in a book, or maybe checked a footnote, and from that point on Kindle only will only sync to the end of the book, because that was my furthest position. Infuriating.
 
Deliverator007 said:
I actually like the Nook reader the best. It gives more appearance options than Kindle, has almost as many books as Kindle, and most importantly to me, it saves your most recent position, whereas Kindle saves your furthest position. I move back and forth between my iPad and my iPhone, and I have had too many experiences with Kindle where I accidentally went forward in a book, or maybe checked a footnote, and from that point on Kindle only will only sync to the end of the book, because that was my furthest position. Infuriating.
Click to expand...

+1 for Nook app. Got a 'real' Nook 2 Christmases ago, and it's nice to be able to read books from the same place on both the iPad and Nook as well as the desktop applications.
 
Have owned iPad and Kindle 3.

As a pretty avid reader, the Kindle wins hands down for pure reading.

Battery life is incredible, and no eye strain (at least for me). The selection of books and auto-sync features are also quite nice.

For everything else, including magazines, the iPad is clearly in a different league.

In terms of the two apps, I'd prefer the Kindle purely because of the auto-sync feature. Read on iPad, read on computer, read on iPhone etc.
 
I prefer the Kindle app. First, the Kindle store has a bigger selection of books. Second, Kindle books can be read on many different types of devices.
 
The apps are about equal.

But as others have noted the Kindle store has by far the biggest selection of e-books of any of the e-books store. iBooks being newer has one of the lower selections. Though if you're only reading mainstream, best seller type books you should be covered--though sometimes prices are higher in the iBooks store.

With the iPad, no reason to focus on one though. Get both and the Nook app and Stanza and Kobo etc. and then you can have access to pretty much every e-book out there, shop around for best price etc.

I pretty much stick with Kindle, but that's only because I have a Kindle 3 and mainly read my e-books on that still as I prefer the e-ink screen and lighter weight for laying down and reading for hours.
 
Tried a search and can't find my answer easily, so . . .

Can one read an iBook purchase on the Kindle App? And a Kindle purchase in iBooks?

Thanks ahead of time.
 
docbluedevil said:
Can one read an iBook purchase on the Kindle App? And a Kindle purchase in iBooks?
Click to expand...

Purchased books? No.

People need to remember that these apps aren't mutually exclusive. You can have both (and more!) on your ipad at the same time. Amazon has a better store currently, plus you can browse from a desktop/laptop which you can't on the iBookstore.

I've purchased some materials from Fictionwise.com and read them via ePub format in iBooks; I like the layout and such better than Kindle.

Also, don't forget to check out OverDrive which lets you read ebooks checked out from your local public library (if they support it). Why buy a book if you can borrow it legally for free? (I know Kindle has loaning capabilities, I mention this because people seem to forget that the Public Library exists)
 
Thanks for your reply, deeddawg.

Hmm . . . I wonder if my local library supports overdrive. Great advice.
 
solowmodel said:
Have owned iPad and Kindle 3.

As a pretty avid reader, the Kindle wins hands down for pure reading.

Battery life is incredible, and no eye strain (at least for me). The selection of books and auto-sync features are also quite nice.

For everything else, including magazines, the iPad is clearly in a different league.

In terms of the two apps, I'd prefer the Kindle purely because of the auto-sync feature. Read on iPad, read on computer, read on iPhone etc.
Click to expand...

Very well said! I completely agree.
 
solowmodel said:
In terms of the two apps, I'd prefer the Kindle purely because of the auto-sync feature. Read on iPad, read on computer, read on iPhone etc.
Click to expand...

FWIW, iBooks does this as well, syncing between iPhone and iPad.


In any event, there are free books and/or book samples on each app platform, so the best advice I've give to anyone curious about Kindle app vs iBooks vs Nook app is to sit down and TRY THEM EACH. See which one you like, at no cost! :D
 
I read with both.. why? Because SEVERAL times I have found the book to be cheaper in one place then another.. I also have the Nook app, for the same reason. I buy where the book is cheaper. Also Nook has a Friday Freebie EVERY Friday..

1 thing I like with Kindle over iBooks is that it seems iBooks times out (goes to standby mode & iPad goes off) faster then Kindle. I do however, think iBooks is prettier :eek:
 
docbluedevil said:
Can one read an iBook purchase on the Kindle App? And a Kindle purchase in iBooks?
Click to expand...

No to both, unless you strip the DRM and convert formats. There are ways to strip DRM for Kindle books, but none for iBooks.

However, if you find non-DRM books in the respective formats, (epub for iBooks, mobi for Kindle), you can use them with the apps. This means that you aren't always limited to books that are available from iBooks store and Amazon.
 
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