iPad first report

rwsimon · 04-03-2010, 12:29 PM

Got my iPad up and running. In fact, I'm writing this post on it.

The iBooks app is extremely impressive. Reading seems comfortable and natural. The gimmicky page turning thing is actually kind of nice!

I loaded in some ePub docs (non-DRM) that I previously had on my Sony Reader. They work great. Full justification, multiple fonts, dictionary lookups for any word, color graphics (these were sci-fi magazines).

The Apple bookstore looks good too. Haven't spent much time there yet.

Finally, the Kindle app works fine as well. It isn't as graphically snazzy as iBooks but it is fine. Amazon treats you as a Kindle owner and getting books is quite easy.

How is the iPad for extended periods of reading? I will have to see.

But as a reader it seems great and the other stuff it does is amazing.

nremondelli · 04-03-2010, 12:31 PM

Thanks for your initial impressions. Can you take it out in the direct sunlight and report on how readable it is? That will be helpful in my decision.

MsAstoria · 04-03-2010, 12:32 PM

Nice to know I can download and read my Kindle purchases on Ipad! I was wondering.

As for direct sunshine reading, important yes, but generally I do my outside reading under roof of my porch, so will be interested to see if it easier to read than my LCD screen on my computer which is basically Nada in bright daylight.

JoeC · 04-03-2010, 12:32 PM

Thanks for the report. When you get a chance let us know what it's like to read in bed with it (I do most of my reading there

) - I wonder if it's possible to fiddle with brightness and the impact it has on the eyes.

HarryT · 04-03-2010, 12:33 PM

Does the iBooks application have an "annotation" feature?

MsAstoria · 04-03-2010, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Does the iBooks application have an "annotation" feature?

I don't think so, seems I read that recently as a negative.

HarryT · 04-03-2010, 12:40 PM

Thank you. That's a pity.

foghat · 04-03-2010, 12:46 PM

How does ibooks handle collections?

froggie731 · 04-03-2010, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoeC

Thanks for the report. When you get a chance let us know what it's like to read in bed with it (I do most of my reading there

) - I wonder if it's possible to fiddle with brightness and the impact it has on the eyes.

The reading in bed thing is important to me too! I think on a quick clip of the iPad I saw it actually does have a brightness control right in the iBooks app, but I'm not sure about the others (Kindle app, B&N app, etc).

I really want the iPad to be the right choice for me, lol.

kissyfish · 04-03-2010, 12:55 PM

I am just downloading epub from google books to check them out.

So far I am liking it.

rwsimon · 04-03-2010, 12:58 PM

A few answers...
Reading in full sun (and we have that today in abundance) is not very practical. With the screen brightness maxxed out, it is quite readable but I would not want to read a book that way. So I'll need to find a little shade when I want to read outdoors. Not a problem for me - I don't like reading in the sun anyway. But for those that do, keep you e-ink around.

Adjusting screen brightness is easy in the iBooks app and is continuously variable from extremely dim to much too bright.

Reading in bed seems ideal. Plop the thing on your belly or wherever you are configured to rest it and read away. It does not get hot like a notebook computer. The back is vaguely warm but nothing to pay any attention to.

As for annotations... Not as far as I have discovered. There is bookmarking which is more like highlighting. You can highlight text in a variety of colors. Perhaps there is more you can with these highlighted things. I will have to investigate.

rguion · 04-03-2010, 12:58 PM

Thanks! Can you hold it comfortably in one hand and read a book? I was curious if your hand would get tired for a long reading period.

HarryT · 04-03-2010, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rwsimon

As for annotations... Not as far as I have discovered. There is bookmarking which is more like highlighting. You can highlight text in a variety of colors. Perhaps there is more you can with these highlighted things. I will have to investigate.

Highlighting will do just fine for me - I just need some way of marking errors when I'm proof-reading a book. Thanks - that pretty much confirms my decision to buy an iPad when they're released here in the UK.

rwsimon · 04-03-2010, 01:12 PM

The highlighted stuff (bookmarks) are compiled on a separate page with page number references associated.

One can also search within the book for specific text (i.e. a certain word or phrase) and all occurrences will pop up in a window with their context and page reference. Pretty nice.

The Old Man · 04-03-2010, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rguion

Thanks! Can you hold it comfortably in one hand and read a book? I was curious if your hand would get tired for a long reading period.

Holding in one hand would be tiring for long periods. I am resting it on my leg and balancing with my hand - very comfortable.

04-03-2010, 12:29 PM	#1
rwsimon Connoisseur Posts: 50 Karma: 288 Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Upstate New York Device: 2 Sony PRS-500s, iPad	iPad first report Got my iPad up and running. In fact, I'm writing this post on it. The iBooks app is extremely impressive. Reading seems comfortable and natural. The gimmicky page turning thing is actually kind of nice! I loaded in some ePub docs (non-DRM) that I previously had on my Sony Reader. They work great. Full justification, multiple fonts, dictionary lookups for any word, color graphics (these were sci-fi magazines). The Apple bookstore looks good too. Haven't spent much time there yet. Finally, the Kindle app works fine as well. It isn't as graphically snazzy as iBooks but it is fine. Amazon treats you as a Kindle owner and getting books is quite easy. How is the iPad for extended periods of reading? I will have to see. But as a reader it seems great and the other stuff it does is amazing.

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04-03-2010, 12:31 PM	#2
nremondelli Zealot Posts: 122 Karma: 52 Join Date: Nov 2008 Device: none	Thanks for your initial impressions. Can you take it out in the direct sunlight and report on how readable it is? That will be helpful in my decision.

04-03-2010, 12:32 PM	#3
MsAstoria Evangelist Posts: 423 Karma: 47344 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Astoria, Oregon, USA Device: Kindle Fire HDX, iPhone (yes, I read on my phone)	Nice to know I can download and read my Kindle purchases on Ipad! I was wondering. As for direct sunshine reading, important yes, but generally I do my outside reading under roof of my porch, so will be interested to see if it easier to read than my LCD screen on my computer which is basically Nada in bright daylight.

04-03-2010, 12:32 PM	#4
JoeC Addict Posts: 319 Karma: 2257942 Join Date: Aug 2007 Device: Kindle Oasis 2 and 3, Scribe	Thanks for the report. When you get a chance let us know what it's like to read in bed with it (I do most of my reading there ) - I wonder if it's possible to fiddle with brightness and the impact it has on the eyes.

04-03-2010, 12:33 PM	#5
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Does the iBooks application have an "annotation" feature?

04-03-2010, 12:40 PM	#7
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Thank you. That's a pity.

04-03-2010, 12:46 PM	#8
foghat Evangelist Posts: 464 Karma: 1006520 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Alberta, Canada Device: Kindle PW3	How does ibooks handle collections?

04-03-2010, 12:55 PM	#10
kissyfish Connoisseur Posts: 52 Karma: 13918 Join Date: Feb 2008 Device: Irex Iliad	I am just downloading epub from google books to check them out. So far I am liking it.

04-03-2010, 12:58 PM	#11
rwsimon Connoisseur Posts: 50 Karma: 288 Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Upstate New York Device: 2 Sony PRS-500s, iPad	A few answers... Reading in full sun (and we have that today in abundance) is not very practical. With the screen brightness maxxed out, it is quite readable but I would not want to read a book that way. So I'll need to find a little shade when I want to read outdoors. Not a problem for me - I don't like reading in the sun anyway. But for those that do, keep you e-ink around. Adjusting screen brightness is easy in the iBooks app and is continuously variable from extremely dim to much too bright. Reading in bed seems ideal. Plop the thing on your belly or wherever you are configured to rest it and read away. It does not get hot like a notebook computer. The back is vaguely warm but nothing to pay any attention to. As for annotations... Not as far as I have discovered. There is bookmarking which is more like highlighting. You can highlight text in a variety of colors. Perhaps there is more you can with these highlighted things. I will have to investigate.

04-03-2010, 12:58 PM	#12
rguion Zealot Posts: 121 Karma: 623810 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Bay Area, CA Device: Kindle Oasis	Thanks! Can you hold it comfortably in one hand and read a book? I was curious if your hand would get tired for a long reading period.

04-03-2010, 01:12 PM	#14
rwsimon Connoisseur Posts: 50 Karma: 288 Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Upstate New York Device: 2 Sony PRS-500s, iPad	The highlighted stuff (bookmarks) are compiled on a separate page with page number references associated. One can also search within the book for specific text (i.e. a certain word or phrase) and all occurrences will pop up in a window with their context and page reference. Pretty nice.