The Kindle Fire order has been cancelled. Poor thing never really had a chance. But like I said in the other thread, I couldn't wait any longer and now have an iPad mini waiting for me to be picked up at the Apple store!
All your answers have been very informative so far. Whatever I don't know yet I'll learn with trial and error on the mini, though I have a slow learning curve with tech stuff.
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Originally Posted by holymadness
4. Notes are easy to take in iBooks. However, they do NOT synchronize with your computer. They stay in the book and can only be synchronized with other Apple phones or tablets using the same Apple ID. As far as I know, it is impossible to extract your iBooks notes as a text file, or to even view them on a mac or PC. It is possible that third-party ebook readers allow you to do this, but I'm afraid I don't know of any.
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No way to sync notes to my Mac? I guess it's not as huge of a deal since the mini is more of a small computer rather than a dedicated reader like my Sony 950, but still that sounds so strange! So I can't download iBooks onto my computer and then have it sync notes to the computer iBooks app? That's what happens with the Sony Reader app; I can use the Sony app on my computer to look at notes taken on the 950.
And if I really can't transfer those notes anywhere else for safe-keeping (in case the mini is destroyed or lost), what about the iCloud? I haven't used it yet but I may start for this. Would the notes be saved in the cloud?
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Originally Posted by Synamon
Yes, books you add to iTunes show up under the Books section. I don't use iBooks particularly, but it's easy to transfer your books via iTunes into iBooks. I've mostly done this with a few PDFs, they load into iBooks as well as epubs.
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I'll be finding out soon, but I'm still not understanding - is iBooks a separate app from iTunes or is it part of iTunes? If it's not part of iTunes then what is the "Books" section of iTunes?
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Originally Posted by Synamon
DRM-free epubs load into iBooks directly via iTunes. Those with DRM will have to be loaded into an app that handles the specific DRM. I use the Kindle app since I'd rather email my ebooks wirelessly to my iPad mini from calibre, skipping iTunes. calibre automatically converts any epubs to mobi when it sends.
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I've used calibre a few times but am leery of using it regularly. Does it convert the files perfectly? I always feel like if I convert it then tiny formatting things are probably messed up and the books aren't as nice as in their original format, but it's hard to tell really.
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Originally Posted by Synamon
The apps all have a built-in dictionary, but I don't know specifically which dictionaries they use. I don't think you can add your own dictionary.
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Almost everything else I'll get used to, but I will sorely miss the Oxford dictionary I'm using on the 950. When I get the mini I'm going to try to figure out if there's any way I can use it easily.
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Originally Posted by Synamon
The Smart Cover is very light, but I found that I mostly use the mini by holding onto it rather than propping it up so I didn't really want the cover. Instead I ordered a silicon skin for the back of the mini to give me some grip, but maintain the sleek and lightweight form factor.
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Yes I don't think I'd use the cover so much for standing up, but to have a ready-made thing to prop the mini up with if I need it would be great.
But where did you get this "silicon skin" from? That sounds exactly like what I was thinking about for the back to protect it from scratches without adding weight or clunkiness, and if it makes the grip better then all the better.
Also, would you guys say the anti-glare protective film for the screen is worth it? I'm careful with my tech stuff and don't think I'd scratch the screen (the back's another matter since it's more easily scratchable and exposed), especially if I have the Smart Cover to cover the front when not in use. But I'm wondering if the anti-glare properties would be worth it.