iPad as a reading device? - Page 2

ProfCrash · 12-15-2010, 09:44 AM

I have had no end of fun watching people try and read on their IPad while sitting outside enjoying a beverage at a local bar. I get some dirty looks when I pull out my Kindle and hold it in a very comfortable position while reading in bright sunlight.

Is it bad that I started taking my Kindle to places where I knew the IPad crowd was trying to read outside?

Chosing a reading device is an individual decision. I don't need the finctionality that comes with an IPad. Heck I carry a pretty standard cell phone. It has internet access but I never use it because I don't need it and why would I want to pay for the extra data package? All I needed, well wanted is more appropriate term, was something to read on.

I made my e-reader choice when the two main contenders where the Sony and the Kindle. If I were to revisit that decision today I would look first at the form factor, ease of use, the bookstore, and cost. Form factor, for me, means weight, size, button location, and screen type. The weight of the IPad is too heavey for me to want to use on a regular basis reading. I don't like touchscreens so it would not win on ease of use (I like my keyboard and joystick thankyouverymuch), and I love the e-ink. I would not pay what they want me to pay for an IPad. If I were to buy one, it would be one with 3G and I am not paying for the data package.

If I were to be looking for a tablet to use as an e-reader, I would look at the Nook Color or the Samsung Galaxy. But I don't want a tablet, I want an e-reader, so I am thrilled with my Kindle DXG.

stevenjotello · 12-15-2010, 02:32 PM

I think the books iPad bad idea, because it weighs three pounds. If I'm reading where I can prop on the table, I'm fine, and the reflection does not bother me.

montsnmags · 12-16-2010, 02:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevenjotello

I think the books iPad bad idea, because it weighs three pounds. If I'm reading where I can prop on the table, I'm fine, and the reflection does not bother me.

(bolding is mine)

Without commenting on the subjectivity of "heaviness" regardless of actual weight, I'd just mention that the iPad does not weigh by itself three pounds. The iPad's specs are:

1.5 pounds (0.68 kg) Wi-Fi model;
1.6 pounds (0.73 kg) Wi-Fi + 3G model

As mentioned in this thread, that's about the weight of a four-hundred page hardback novel (I measured a couple of them).

Cheers,
Marc

brbubba · 01-04-2011, 12:55 PM

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_...edirected=true
iPad has a very low pixel density, 120/130 or something, and even the lowest ereaders are 150. Now give me an iPad screen with the iPhone 4's retina display at over 300 ppi and I'd be all over that.

nursedude · 01-04-2011, 02:53 PM

I really enjoy reading on my iPad. I don't find it heavy or tiring on my eyes. I use sepia mode in iBooks as my reading default and Goodreader for pdf.

vxf · 01-04-2011, 03:49 PM

I read PDFs a lot on my iPad, because I like the annotation options of iAnnotate better than those on the PRS950 - and I like the bigger screen for graphs and tables.

I probably spend 2-3 hours a day reading academic PDFs. (I read much more than that, but the rest is on my PRS950).

I keep brightness way down, at about 30% and use sepia backgrounds. Even so, eyes do get very tired. And yes, it's heavy.

barium · 01-06-2011, 12:12 AM

I wouldn't recommend an iPad as a dedicated reading device because it's expensive, oversized, and the available reader applications don't take advantage of the fact that it has a full featured browser installed. If you plan to use it for something else in addition to reading, or if you plan to view many graphical PDFs, then it may be a good option. One nice thing about the iPad is that pages flip quickly and searches are easy.

I've used iBooks and Stanza, neither of which let you easily select a word and look it up in wikipedia or an internet based dictionary of your choosing. Eyestrain hasn't been a problem for me, but I rarely read a single work for more than an hour at a time. As someone mentioned, PDFs render quite nicely, but the applications I've used to read PDFs in (GoodReader and iAnnotate PDF) were hard to read out of, for some reason. The text didn't seem as crisp as it did in the ereader applications for works in different formats. I was reading long double spaced academic articles; it might have just been that the articles themselves were boring and the PDFs were displaying fine. :P

montsnmags · 01-06-2011, 12:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by barium

...
I've used iBooks and Stanza, neither of which let you easily select a word and look it up in wikipedia or an internet based dictionary of your choosing.
...

Just a minor clarification, reflected in my limited exerpt quoted...

I do wish "user-selected dictionary" was available, as it is on my Iliad reading mobipocket format books. However, I'd note iBooks not only has the inbuilt "Dictionary" button available to look-up definitions upon highlighting a word, but another button shown, "Search", which as well as searching the text itself has buttons at the bottom to search Google or Wikipedia (it does take you to Safari when it does so).

Cheers,
Marc

bcumyns · 01-06-2011, 12:44 AM

I have an iPad and a Sony reader. My son has an iPad and a Kindle 3. Both of us prefer reading on the Sony or Kindle. The iPad may not be heavy but is seems heavy and is awkward to hold if it is without a case. The iPad is certainly preferable for reading to my grandson while he is sitting on my lap and looking at the pictures with me.

barium · 01-06-2011, 01:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by barium

I've used iBooks and Stanza, neither of which let you easily select a word and look it up in wikipedia

Quote:

Originally Posted by montsnmags

iBooks not only has the inbuilt "Dictionary" button available to look-up definitions upon highlighting a word, but another button shown, "Search", which as well as searching the text itself has buttons at the bottom to search Google or Wikipedia (it does take you to Safari when it does so).

Thanks for that correction.

montsnmags · 01-06-2011, 02:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by barium

Thanks for that correction.

I prefer "clarification" to "correction"...you did use the the rider "easily" before it, so you could certainly argue that this Wikipedia-lookup is, subjectively, not easy.

Also, I'd hate to be seen as more "correcting" than "welcoming". So I better also say "Welcome to MR", barium. Welcome to MR.

I know you've been here a little while now, but I note you've delurked recently and started posting more. Thanks.

Cheers,
Marc

Readerlover2011 · 01-06-2011, 04:14 AM

I feel comfy to use iPad to read E-book, bigger screen than most reader.

boswd · 01-06-2011, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dulaurence

I have been discouraged from buying and iPad to use as an ebook reader due to the brightness of the screen; that your eyes tire easily due to the high contrast screen.

Anyone got any input or experience?

Thank you.

only you can be the judge of that. But there are options when reading on an lcd screen. You can turn the brightness down, change the background color.
Despite what some people love to believe, you aren't forced to read with the brightness at 100% on a white only background.

I have both the nook eink and nook color, I love them both. I was pleasently surprised at how quickly I adapted to reading on the LCD screen of the nook color. I played around with some settings and now I truely enjoy reading on it. In fact under normal circumstances it is now my nook of choice.

but that's me, but again only you can be the judgde of whether or not reading on an iPad or similiar device is for you. Not us, it's your eyes and your money. Not ours.

Maggie Leung · 01-07-2011, 01:43 AM

I've had no eye trouble reading entire books on iPad. I'm middle aged and have read daily on iPad for seven months. YMMV.

Today, I read a book consisting of 400+ pages (according to Amazon print-version description) entirely on iPad. I'm doing a quick e-mail and Web check, then I'll start another book, also on iPad, before I get some sleep tonight.

I'm a tech 'tard, but iPad brightness is easy for me to adjust as needed.

I figure each person's eyesight and reading preferences vary, so it makes no sense to assume that any device will or won't work for someone else. Good luck finding whatever device works for you.

dulaurence · 01-07-2011, 09:52 AM

All:

Thanks so much for the input. Never realized there would be that much activity! I like that there is an app for that. As for the iPad vs other readers, we are a Mac family (I know, weird) so there was not much room for choices. Oh, and I failed to mention my wife was expecting an iPad for Christmas. One of the most poignant replies above was the one that mentioned the real problem is the distractions the other apps present when reading. Understatement.

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12-15-2010, 09:44 AM	#16
ProfCrash Tea Enthusiast Posts: 8,554 Karma: 75384937 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Somewhere in the USA Device: Kindle1, Kindle DX Graphite, K3 3G, IPad 3, PW2	I have had no end of fun watching people try and read on their IPad while sitting outside enjoying a beverage at a local bar. I get some dirty looks when I pull out my Kindle and hold it in a very comfortable position while reading in bright sunlight. Is it bad that I started taking my Kindle to places where I knew the IPad crowd was trying to read outside? Chosing a reading device is an individual decision. I don't need the finctionality that comes with an IPad. Heck I carry a pretty standard cell phone. It has internet access but I never use it because I don't need it and why would I want to pay for the extra data package? All I needed, well wanted is more appropriate term, was something to read on. I made my e-reader choice when the two main contenders where the Sony and the Kindle. If I were to revisit that decision today I would look first at the form factor, ease of use, the bookstore, and cost. Form factor, for me, means weight, size, button location, and screen type. The weight of the IPad is too heavey for me to want to use on a regular basis reading. I don't like touchscreens so it would not win on ease of use (I like my keyboard and joystick thankyouverymuch), and I love the e-ink. I would not pay what they want me to pay for an IPad. If I were to buy one, it would be one with 3G and I am not paying for the data package. If I were to be looking for a tablet to use as an e-reader, I would look at the Nook Color or the Samsung Galaxy. But I don't want a tablet, I want an e-reader, so I am thrilled with my Kindle DXG.

12-15-2010, 02:32 PM	#17
stevenjotello Member Posts: 15 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2010 Device: none	I think the books iPad bad idea, because it weighs three pounds. If I'm reading where I can prop on the table, I'm fine, and the reflection does not bother me.

01-04-2011, 12:55 PM	#19
brbubba Connoisseur Posts: 92 Karma: 668 Join Date: Dec 2010 Device: PRS350	http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_...edirected=true iPad has a very low pixel density, 120/130 or something, and even the lowest ereaders are 150. Now give me an iPad screen with the iPhone 4's retina display at over 300 ppi and I'd be all over that.

01-04-2011, 02:53 PM	#20
nursedude Zealot Posts: 131 Karma: 17102 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Ontario, Canada Device: Kobo (Original), KT, iPad 1, iPhone 4S, iPad 3rd gen	I really enjoy reading on my iPad. I don't find it heavy or tiring on my eyes. I use sepia mode in iBooks as my reading default and Goodreader for pdf.

01-04-2011, 03:49 PM	#21
vxf Guru Posts: 944 Karma: 1490348 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Norman, OK Device: Sony PRS 350, 900, 950; Kindles (ALL of them!); Kobo Aura One	I read PDFs a lot on my iPad, because I like the annotation options of iAnnotate better than those on the PRS950 - and I like the bigger screen for graphs and tables. I probably spend 2-3 hours a day reading academic PDFs. (I read much more than that, but the rest is on my PRS950). I keep brightness way down, at about 30% and use sepia backgrounds. Even so, eyes do get very tired. And yes, it's heavy.

01-06-2011, 12:12 AM	#22
barium Connoisseur Posts: 96 Karma: 20572 Join Date: Sep 2010 Device: None	I wouldn't recommend an iPad as a dedicated reading device because it's expensive, oversized, and the available reader applications don't take advantage of the fact that it has a full featured browser installed. If you plan to use it for something else in addition to reading, or if you plan to view many graphical PDFs, then it may be a good option. One nice thing about the iPad is that pages flip quickly and searches are easy. I've used iBooks and Stanza, neither of which let you easily select a word and look it up in wikipedia or an internet based dictionary of your choosing. Eyestrain hasn't been a problem for me, but I rarely read a single work for more than an hour at a time. As someone mentioned, PDFs render quite nicely, but the applications I've used to read PDFs in (GoodReader and iAnnotate PDF) were hard to read out of, for some reason. The text didn't seem as crisp as it did in the ereader applications for works in different formats. I was reading long double spaced academic articles; it might have just been that the articles themselves were boring and the PDFs were displaying fine. :P

01-06-2011, 12:44 AM	#24
bcumyns Member Posts: 12 Karma: 276964 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: North Carolina Device: Sony 300	I have an iPad and a Sony reader. My son has an iPad and a Kindle 3. Both of us prefer reading on the Sony or Kindle. The iPad may not be heavy but is seems heavy and is awkward to hold if it is without a case. The iPad is certainly preferable for reading to my grandson while he is sitting on my lap and looking at the pictures with me.

01-06-2011, 04:14 AM	#27
Readerlover2011 Junior Member Posts: 9 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2011 Device: none	I feel comfy to use iPad to read E-book, bigger screen than most reader.

01-07-2011, 01:43 AM	#29
Maggie Leung Wizard Posts: 1,449 Karma: 58383 Join Date: Jul 2009 Device: Kindle, iPad	I've had no eye trouble reading entire books on iPad. I'm middle aged and have read daily on iPad for seven months. YMMV. Today, I read a book consisting of 400+ pages (according to Amazon print-version description) entirely on iPad. I'm doing a quick e-mail and Web check, then I'll start another book, also on iPad, before I get some sleep tonight. I'm a tech 'tard, but iPad brightness is easy for me to adjust as needed. I figure each person's eyesight and reading preferences vary, so it makes no sense to assume that any device will or won't work for someone else. Good luck finding whatever device works for you.

01-07-2011, 09:52 AM	#30
dulaurence Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2010 Device: iPad	All: Thanks so much for the input. Never realized there would be that much activity! I like that there is an app for that. As for the iPad vs other readers, we are a Mac family (I know, weird) so there was not much room for choices. Oh, and I failed to mention my wife was expecting an iPad for Christmas. One of the most poignant replies above was the one that mentioned the real problem is the distractions the other apps present when reading. Understatement.

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