Why have you not chosen to use a tablet for reading?

[JSWolf]

The weather has been nice enough this week to go outdoors in the nice warmth and sun. My iPad would be useless for reading in the park. But my 650 is wonderful. I can easily see what I am reading.

I do sometimes read on my iPhone when I am out and don't have my 650 with me. Also, I do sometimes read on my iPad at home.

[Katsunami]

Originally Posted by BeccaPrice

battery life, too heavy, can't read out of doors or in strong light.

This. Especially reading in strong light. Also, add glare, if you're in the wrong spot.

[Penforhire]

I'd say quality of the display for plain text. E-ink still wins and front-lit makes it no contest. Next most important would be weight. I can't hold the full size iPad as comfortably for hours at a time.

[patrickt]

The e-ink reader is superior for reading books. If I wanted to play games, watch movies, or do email, I'd consider a tablet.

[xg4bx]

I have no interest in tablet technology.

[Ripplinger]

Tablets are too heavy, too big, battery life way too short, and useless in the bright outdoors. Ereaders are a pleasure to hold and read in any situation for long periods of time.

[JDK1962]

But why frame it as an either/or proposition? I love, love, love my Kindle 3 for novels and mostly-text non-fiction, and I love my Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 for all the PDFs I've accumulated over the years, ARCs, etc. (because extended reading on a desktop or laptop computer has never felt comfortable).

[Katsunami]

Originally Posted by JDK1962

But why frame it as an either/or proposition? I love, love, love my Kindle 3 for novels and mostly-text non-fiction, and I love my Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 for all the PDFs I've accumulated over the years, ARCs, etc. (because extended reading on a desktop or laptop computer has never felt comfortable).

Same here. I've been using an e-reader for books only, but I use a tablet for reading PDF's when I don't want to be behind the computer. I don't want a 9.7 inch e-reader, because I don't read enough PDF's to warrant such a big e-ink device. Obviously, I also use the tablet for browsing, some youtube and some occasional email, because it'd be expensive to just use it for a PDF now and then.

[4691mls]

Before buying my e-ink reader, I looked at the Nook tablet and Kindle equivalent and I felt like I could see every pixel. E-ink looks more like real paper; much easier on my eyes.

[JDK1962]

Originally Posted by Katsunami

Obviously, I also use the tablet for browsing, some youtube and some occasional email, because it'd be expensive to just use it for a PDF now and then.

I put Google Sky Map on mine. Just so I could say that I have the galaxy on my Galaxy.

[discopig]

I find e-ink a lot less straining and easier to read in about every condition (at least with kindle paperwhite) than tablets or phones. I also had problems getting "into" a book with tablet/phone before, but I can't put my finger on why. With my kindle I just absolutely love reading on it and have no complaints at all. It is the next best thing to a good paperback book.

[cromag]

My tablets are too heavy, difficult to grip, and the screen isn't as easy on my eyes.

Unless I'm reading PDFs -- my tablets do a much better job with PDFs than my JBL.

[Katsunami]

Originally Posted by discopig

I also had problems getting "into" a book with tablet/phone before, but I can't put my finger on why.

Easy. It's your subconsious that sees the tablet as a generic device, and the e-reader as a (valid replacement of a) book. You don't *feel* the same about them. Therefore you can't get into the book when reading on the tablet.

I can't read a book from a tablet or phone either, or from a computer screen. It just doesn't work for me. That my Kindle now has a nice (fake) leather cover that can be flipped open and closed like a book, and makes that the Kindle doesn't just feel like some piece of technology, just makes the experience that much better.

It's all in the feeling you have with the item.

I have the same with playing the organ. It really doesn't matter if the organ is a Hammond, Wersi, Orla, Roland or whatever, but if it hasn't got drawbars, my desire to play it just drops about 80% or so.

Some people even go as far as wanting to only play organs from a particular brand, or even a particular type of that brand, but that's going a bit too far for me. That'd be the same as wanting to read only books in one particular genre, and from one specific author at that.

[tompe]

Too heavy. I use my phone instead to read when I am not using my Kindle.

I like to read outdoors, there are fewer distractions, and I don't like fussing over batteries.

Incidentally, I do use a 10.1" tablet for reading. I've never had much of an issue with weight. Then again, it isn't as heavy as the iPad (which seems to be what most people mean when they say tablet).