Quote:
Originally Posted by mgmueller
I spend way more time with iPad than with any dedicated eReader.
But I don't spend it reading (by "reading" I think of books. I don't mean reading websites while surfing).
I spend it surfing or testing apps. For example, I don't have any sense of orientation. I take a lot of pics on vacation, but I never remember where I've actually taken them ("Is this Perugia or Cortona? At least I know for sure, it has been in Italy."). I don't want to replace my camera by a GPS-enabled one. I've thought about tagging via iPhone. But for now I've decided for a GPS app on iPad. On the big screen, I easily will find my position ("my room was the 2nd one from the left"). I'll send an email as a reminder with the GPS coordinates to myself. There are easier ways, but I'll try it and seems like fun. When already using GPS, I easily can browse for Panoramio pics or POIs.
So, basically iPad is my mobile surfing station. It can't replace my UMPC for all tasks, but most of them it has taken over already.
So, I absolutely can recommend iPad. My UMPC has been $ 1,200 and still has about the same price tag. Price and size/quality of the display are arguments enough for iPad.
BUT:
Personally, I don't use it for intense reading. When on the train, I briefly may use it for 20 minutes or so.
But I care about the battery.
I already have to charge every single day. Reading doesn't consume lots of energy. But on one hand, I don't want to turn WiFi off and all those other actions for saving energy. And even if reading is only 4% or so per hour - on top of my already intense consumption it's too much for me.
And I really don't see the need. I easily can take a dedicated reader with me, in addition to iPad.
Fo now, my combo is Kindle DX Graphite (my newest one and of similar size as iPad) and iPad. Being able to sync between DX and the Kindle app on iPad makes it even more convenient.
Of course, most users won't go for 2 units. If you're shopping for a multi-purpose unit, iPad of course beats Kindle and the other ePaper readers. I never would surf the web intensively on ePaper. I certainly won't play a game on ePaper. And I wouldn't dare to watch a video on ePaper (Alex and some other hybrids might be an option).
But again, this would be easily solvable by using 2 units: For example iPod touch for all of the above and a dedicated ePaper reader.
So personally, I'm always coming back to the argument "one doesn't fit them all. 2 can cover way more options".
I'd simply ask myself, what's the main focus.
If it's a bit of all (watching movies, playing games, surfing the web, reading), iPad is the most multi-functional.
If it's reading, I'd still go for ePaper. I can do an entire week on most of my ePaper readers without recharging.
Maybe you can rank and weigh your top 3 priorities?
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Oy, I've got more than 3 priorities:
No.1 : Availability and price of books. Old and new ones.
No.2 : Quality of the respective book format. I've read a lot about full justification, metadata and so on.
No.3 : Portability of the books. What if I have another reader in 2 years? Can I easily take the books with me?
No.4 : Weight of the reader and battery consumption. Can I easily hold it in one hand while commuting? Will it stay on long enough for traveling 2 or 3 days?
No.5 : Robustness of the reader. Can I put it in my bag? Can I take it to the beach or pool?
No.6 : Readability. IN sunlight, in a dim room. On the train.....
I'm not sure how to weigh them, all seem important...