iPad or Android tablet for fb2 books?

QU2C371FcY · 01-18-2011, 09:06 AM

My dad loves his kindle, and is never without it. He get's all his books in an FB2 format, converts them to text and then moves them over to the kindle. A few of his friends got an iPad, and he's considering getting it to replace his kindle.

My question is this. If he downloads his books in FB2 format, which reader would make it easiest for him to download and read those books? I know that both the iOS and Android have apps capable of reading FB2 books, but which tablet will be best for downloading the books? He would like to avoid having to sync the tablet to something like iTunes.

The three tablets I have in mind are iPad 2, Notion Ink Adam and Motorola Xoom.

Yar-PocketBooker · 01-20-2011, 12:43 AM

Neither. Only e-Ink devices

QU2C371FcY · 01-20-2011, 07:58 AM

That's not really what I asked, is it?

jocampo · 01-20-2011, 09:13 AM

Any reason why your dad sticks to that format? It's an old format and lacks of a lot of features.

Having said that and assuming those are pure text books (because the format) an eink device should be more than enough for that. They are usually lighter, give more battery life (weeks without recharging instead of hours) and even they are cheaper than tablets.

An iPad would be overkilling and unnecessary, in my humble opinion.

QU2C371FcY · 01-20-2011, 09:17 AM

The website he gets his books from are mainly in that format.

As I mentioned, he has a kindle already, and he really likes it. He wants a tablet because he would like to do more than read books on the device. I don't think kindle will have and HDMI out port anytime soon.

Maybe I would be better of asking my question in a specific iPad or Android forum.

jocampo · 01-20-2011, 09:26 AM

As far as I know, Apple iPad doesn't support FictionBook FB2. You need install additional app to read / open FictionBook FB2 files on your iPad. Not sure if that's possible at this moment because I don't have one.

Now, if you ask me about peripherals, iPad is not one of the best, they don't have USB ports, for example. There are other tablets which much more ports and way to get access. I do have a Galaxy Tab with full Android Market access. Downloading an app which supports that format and uploading via USB would be extremely easy, even downloading directly from Internet. My 2 cents.

I'm afraid I can't make additional comments on iPad because I don't own one.

QU2C371FcY · 01-20-2011, 09:29 AM

I've seen apps that can read FB2 books on the iPad, so I am not too worried about it.

The reason I specified that this is for my dad, is because I want something that's simple to use. Personally, I would never buy an iPad. I don't like how closed Apple's platform is.

A while ago, when I was buying an MP3 player for my mom, i chose an iPod over a much better iRiver player because of ease of use. I am using the same logic now.

jocampo · 01-20-2011, 09:30 AM

QU,

I just found this: http://www.fbreader.org/FBReaderJ/android/screenshots/

I have not installed that on my Galaxy but if you have a free book FB2 book that you can give me

... I can install, upload and test. Maybe you can do something similar with an iPad user and then compare.

PM with your email and maybe I can help...

QU2C371FcY · 01-20-2011, 09:38 AM

Wow, thanks. Let's say you navigate to this page from you Galaxy Tab and try to download the book http://manybooks.net/titles/carrolll1903319033-8.html

Can you do it straight from the device? I know iPad doesn't really have a file manager, but what about Android?

jocampo · 01-20-2011, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by QU2C371FcY

Wow, thanks. Let's say you navigate to this page from you Galaxy Tab and try to download the book http://manybooks.net/titles/carrolll1903319033-8.html

Can you do it straight from the device? I know iPad doesn't really have a file manager, but what about Android?

It works!

Actually, it gave me a warning initially: "you are about to download a link that we don't know for sure if will work on your device, etc" ... but maybe it was because I was using the mobile version of mobileread website. I ignore that and showed me the webpage of "Alicia in Wonderland". Then I look for the download button, select the format and that' s it. FBreader just open it like nothing.

Not sure yet, where inside Galaxy the book is, the folder name, need to check.

By the way, nice book!

QU2C371FcY · 01-20-2011, 10:30 AM

Awesome! Thank you for trying it out.

I've actually been dying to get a tablet myself for quite some time. At this point, I am holding out for the reviews on the Notion Ink or Motorola Xoom. Hopefully I'll have one soon.

jocampo · 01-20-2011, 11:16 AM

yw

Give me some time (at work now) and I will use it tonight. I can compare with other readers apps that I already installed on my Galaxy Tab and tell you what features you have and what not. So far it was an easy process both sides: installing the reader app and downloading the book.

QU2C371FcY · 01-20-2011, 11:17 AM

Wonderful! I look forward to hearing back.

jocampo · 01-20-2011, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by QU2C371FcY

Can you do it straight from the device? I know iPad doesn't really have a file manager, but what about Android?

Forgot to mention...

You certainly have a file manager in Android via Market: ASTRO. It is really good and free. Galaxy Tab comes with "My files" , but ASTRO is better: http://www.metago.net/astro/fm/

=X= · 01-20-2011, 12:53 PM

Yes Android has much more flexibility to do what you want on the device. It's easy to mange files on stock Andriod. I believe you can do the same on iOS but that requires you to jailbreak your device.

I don't know the price of the Xoom, but that is a device I have my eye on. It will run the latest version of the OS with a dual core processor.

If your father is downloading his books from manynet, they also provided "Mobi" format which is native to the Kindle. You do not have to convert anything. Tell your dad to point to http://mnybks.net/ (that is the mobile version of manybooks.net on his kindle and he can download the books directly from the internet to his K3.

=X=

01-18-2011, 09:06 AM	#1
QU2C371FcY Enthusiast Posts: 29 Karma: 10 Join Date: Apr 2009 Device: none	iPad or Android tablet for fb2 books? My dad loves his kindle, and is never without it. He get's all his books in an FB2 format, converts them to text and then moves them over to the kindle. A few of his friends got an iPad, and he's considering getting it to replace his kindle. My question is this. If he downloads his books in FB2 format, which reader would make it easiest for him to download and read those books? I know that both the iOS and Android have apps capable of reading FB2 books, but which tablet will be best for downloading the books? He would like to avoid having to sync the tablet to something like iTunes. The three tablets I have in mind are iPad 2, Notion Ink Adam and Motorola Xoom.

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01-20-2011, 12:43 AM	#2
Yar-PocketBooker Fanatic Posts: 589 Karma: 6976 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: New York Device: PocketBooks and Onyxes and anything E-Ink...	Neither. Only e-Ink devices

01-20-2011, 07:58 AM	#3
QU2C371FcY Enthusiast Posts: 29 Karma: 10 Join Date: Apr 2009 Device: none	That's not really what I asked, is it?

01-20-2011, 09:13 AM	#4
jocampo Layback feline Posts: 3,034 Karma: 6980745 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: USA Device: Oasis 2nd gen, Sony DPTS1, iPad Pro 10.5"	Any reason why your dad sticks to that format? It's an old format and lacks of a lot of features. Having said that and assuming those are pure text books (because the format) an eink device should be more than enough for that. They are usually lighter, give more battery life (weeks without recharging instead of hours) and even they are cheaper than tablets. An iPad would be overkilling and unnecessary, in my humble opinion.

01-20-2011, 09:17 AM	#5
QU2C371FcY Enthusiast Posts: 29 Karma: 10 Join Date: Apr 2009 Device: none	The website he gets his books from are mainly in that format. As I mentioned, he has a kindle already, and he really likes it. He wants a tablet because he would like to do more than read books on the device. I don't think kindle will have and HDMI out port anytime soon. Maybe I would be better of asking my question in a specific iPad or Android forum.

01-20-2011, 09:26 AM	#6
jocampo Layback feline Posts: 3,034 Karma: 6980745 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: USA Device: Oasis 2nd gen, Sony DPTS1, iPad Pro 10.5"	As far as I know, Apple iPad doesn't support FictionBook FB2. You need install additional app to read / open FictionBook FB2 files on your iPad. Not sure if that's possible at this moment because I don't have one. Now, if you ask me about peripherals, iPad is not one of the best, they don't have USB ports, for example. There are other tablets which much more ports and way to get access. I do have a Galaxy Tab with full Android Market access. Downloading an app which supports that format and uploading via USB would be extremely easy, even downloading directly from Internet. My 2 cents. I'm afraid I can't make additional comments on iPad because I don't own one.

01-20-2011, 09:29 AM	#7
QU2C371FcY Enthusiast Posts: 29 Karma: 10 Join Date: Apr 2009 Device: none	I've seen apps that can read FB2 books on the iPad, so I am not too worried about it. The reason I specified that this is for my dad, is because I want something that's simple to use. Personally, I would never buy an iPad. I don't like how closed Apple's platform is. A while ago, when I was buying an MP3 player for my mom, i chose an iPod over a much better iRiver player because of ease of use. I am using the same logic now.

01-20-2011, 09:30 AM	#8
jocampo Layback feline Posts: 3,034 Karma: 6980745 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: USA Device: Oasis 2nd gen, Sony DPTS1, iPad Pro 10.5"	QU, I just found this: http://www.fbreader.org/FBReaderJ/android/screenshots/ I have not installed that on my Galaxy but if you have a free book FB2 book that you can give me ... I can install, upload and test. Maybe you can do something similar with an iPad user and then compare. PM with your email and maybe I can help...

01-20-2011, 09:38 AM	#9
QU2C371FcY Enthusiast Posts: 29 Karma: 10 Join Date: Apr 2009 Device: none	Wow, thanks. Let's say you navigate to this page from you Galaxy Tab and try to download the book http://manybooks.net/titles/carrolll1903319033-8.html Can you do it straight from the device? I know iPad doesn't really have a file manager, but what about Android?

01-20-2011, 10:30 AM	#11
QU2C371FcY Enthusiast Posts: 29 Karma: 10 Join Date: Apr 2009 Device: none	Awesome! Thank you for trying it out. I've actually been dying to get a tablet myself for quite some time. At this point, I am holding out for the reviews on the Notion Ink or Motorola Xoom. Hopefully I'll have one soon.

01-20-2011, 11:16 AM	#12
jocampo Layback feline Posts: 3,034 Karma: 6980745 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: USA Device: Oasis 2nd gen, Sony DPTS1, iPad Pro 10.5"	yw Give me some time (at work now) and I will use it tonight. I can compare with other readers apps that I already installed on my Galaxy Tab and tell you what features you have and what not. So far it was an easy process both sides: installing the reader app and downloading the book.

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01-20-2011, 11:17 AM	#13
QU2C371FcY Enthusiast Posts: 29 Karma: 10 Join Date: Apr 2009 Device: none	Wonderful! I look forward to hearing back.

01-20-2011, 12:53 PM	#15
=X= Wizard Posts: 3,671 Karma: 12205348 Join Date: Mar 2008 Device: Galaxy S, Nook w/CM7	Yes Android has much more flexibility to do what you want on the device. It's easy to mange files on stock Andriod. I believe you can do the same on iOS but that requires you to jailbreak your device. I don't know the price of the Xoom, but that is a device I have my eye on. It will run the latest version of the OS with a dual core processor. If your father is downloading his books from manynet, they also provided "Mobi" format which is native to the Kindle. You do not have to convert anything. Tell your dad to point to http://mnybks.net/ (that is the mobile version of manybooks.net on his kindle and he can download the books directly from the internet to his K3. =X=