iPad as a reading device?

dulaurence · 12-08-2010, 05:01 PM

I have been discouraged from buying and iPad to use as an ebook reader due to the brightness of the screen; that your eyes tire easily due to the high contrast screen.

Anyone got any input or experience?

Thank you.

HistoryWes · 12-08-2010, 05:19 PM

I've had my iPad, and used it as my primary reader, now for about five months. I've never experienced any eye strain. You can set the brightness or set it to auto-adjust. I keep mine just below the middle setting. In addition, with some reading apps, you can read either black on white or white on black or black on parchment. Weight and size is a bigger consideration than brightness I think. Although I am now used to it, the iPad took a bit of getting used to after my compact little Sony Reader. Likewise battery consumption. I can't use my iPad more than two days without charging it. I could use my Sony for two weeks.

slm · 12-08-2010, 05:20 PM

I find the iPad a bad idea for books because it weighs one and a half pounds. If I am reading in a place where I can prop it up on a table, I'm fine and the glare doesn't bother me.

joeleitz · 12-10-2010, 07:17 PM

I'm surprised about that because I would have thought that the ipad is just a bout perfect for reading. hmm, well it's something to think about.

ebusinesstutor · 12-11-2010, 01:45 AM

The iPad is about 1.6 lbs I believe - a lot heavier than most ereaders. Great for on a table or on your lap maybe not so good for reading in bed.

montsnmags · 12-11-2010, 07:41 AM

The iPad weighs about as much as a 400-page hardback, or it did when I posted the following back a while:

Quote:

Originally Posted by montsnmags

Just for interest's sake, I remember posting this a little over a year ago:

Quote:

Originally Posted by montsnmags

I don't know if this helps at all, but I just took three pbooks - a normal paperback, a trade paperback, and a hardback - each of about 400 pages, and weighed them upstairs on the kitchen scales. They came out as follows:

Paperback - 225g
Trade Paperback - 515g
Hardback - 680g

Sorry if it's no help. I just got curious, and thought I better share.

Cheers,
Marc

Intersting coincidence that the Hardback weighs exactly the same as the wifi iPad. Not that it counts for any difference for most probably. I personally don't find the iPad heavy, and its shape feels to me more comfortable, less awkward, than your average hardback, or the average pbook for that matter. I thought I'd read in landscape, but turns out I prefer portrait.

Mind you, saying this, particularly about the weight, I come from an Irex Iliad, with big leather folder, and so my only point of ereader comparison is fairly similar in weight and less (for me) comfortable. Your mileage, as they say, may vary, and, it appears, does.

Cheers,
Marc

As mentioned, I have no problems with the weight of the iPad as a reader, and spend long hours in bed with it. But I had no real problems with a hardback either. But perhaps the hardback analogy gives you a closer sense of whether you'd think its weight acceptable.

Cheers,
Marc

AGB · 12-11-2010, 07:53 AM

I don't see the iPad as a good reader. If I wanted to read on a computer screen, my matte thinkpads are better than a glossy screen, and no matter how you put it, the iPad uses a computer screen, and it's glossy.

Weight-wise, I'd rather carry my Thinkpad X200s, as it can be "propped" up by tilting the screen, and I have a real keyboard.

For movies on the go, an ereader is of course out of the question,and an iPad is better. But again, I prefer a real computer for that sort of thing.

jocampo · 12-11-2010, 08:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dulaurence

I have been discouraged from buying and iPad to use as an ebook reader due to the brightness of the screen; that your eyes tire easily due to the high contrast screen.

Anyone got any input or experience?

Thank you.

HI and Welcome to the forums

Instead of recommending you a specific brand of ereader, I would like to ask you the following questions:

-What kind of books you like
-How long are your reading sessions and how often
-What's your budget (for buying the ereader and books)

Based on your answers, I think people can help you better. Because you should get your device based on the answer to the questions above. We all like and have different readers, some people 2 or even 3, so advices can be a bit biased and passionated.

Overall, but still based on your experience, I would narrow any choice to Nook, Kindle, Kindle DX and iPAD. Which one will depend of expected daily use and book's preference.

tyche · 12-11-2010, 09:28 AM

Turn the brightness down? Use a reading app that has night mode or use a sepia background?

basschick · 12-12-2010, 06:21 AM

i find my wrist starts to hurt after spending 20 minutes holding a heavier hardback book, so the ipad is out for me. besides, non-eink readers hurt my eyes, turned down or not.

montsnmags · 12-12-2010, 06:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by basschick

i find my wrist starts to hurt after spending 20 minutes holding a heavier hardback book, so the ipad is out for me. besides, non-eink readers hurt my eyes, turned down or not.

I get a numbness in my thumb and the palm at its base (ball of the thumb) when reading hardbacks, or paperbacks for that matter, for any amount of time in bed. Do you get that, basschick?

I can get this with the iPad, but then I remind myself to stop holding it like I normally hold a pbook (which I still read a lot of, so, habit...).

Cheers,
Marc

HarleyB · 12-12-2010, 07:19 AM

This is an individual decision and I think your best option is to try as many devices as possible and decide what works for you.
My husband loves to read on our iPad - I don't like the screen or the weight and the size for reading however I love lots of the other things I can do with it. I tend to read for hours at a time and my eyes hurt when I read on the iPad. I much prefer my Kobo for reading.

basschick · 12-14-2010, 12:27 PM

i don't, and one of the reasons i passed on the ipad and heavier readers was to avoid having this happen as i have friends who have this kind of thing. i suggest you -

1. see your doctor.

2. make sure not to hold anything in that position.

3. get something lighter to read on.

your symptoms could be carpal or repetitive stress disorder, or some kind of pressure being put on the nerve from the position.

Quote:

Originally Posted by montsnmags

I get a numbness in my thumb and the palm at its base (ball of the thumb) when reading hardbacks, or paperbacks for that matter, for any amount of time in bed. Do you get that, basschick?

I can get this with the iPad, but then I remind myself to stop holding it like I normally hold a pbook (which I still read a lot of, so, habit...).

Cheers,
Marc

The Hooded Claw · 12-15-2010, 02:19 AM

I find my iPad too heavy to be an ideal ereader. Perhaps more serious is that there are too many distractions in the device!

On the positive side, it handles illustrations far, far better than my Kindle.

Figlilly · 12-15-2010, 03:25 AM

IPads are a lot of fun and I used mine for a while as a reader. I didn't suffer any eyestrain even though my eyesight is not the best. The reasons other people have given are valid though. It is heavy and awkward - I bought a little bean bag thing to prop it on when I read in bed - but you wouldn't want to be carting the IPad around with you because of the size and the weight. The battery doesn't last long and watching it run down often spoilt my enjoyment while reading. The good thing about the IPad as a reader is that you can have lots of different reading applications. I had Kindle and Kobo on mine. I bought a Kindle and it is perfect because I can carry it with me everywhere and the battery lasts for ages between charges.

12-08-2010, 05:01 PM	#1
dulaurence Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2010 Device: iPad	iPad as a reading device? I have been discouraged from buying and iPad to use as an ebook reader due to the brightness of the screen; that your eyes tire easily due to the high contrast screen. Anyone got any input or experience? Thank you.

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12-08-2010, 05:19 PM	#2
HistoryWes Teacher/Novelist Posts: 632 Karma: 2274466 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Nevada Device: Nook STR, iPad	I've had my iPad, and used it as my primary reader, now for about five months. I've never experienced any eye strain. You can set the brightness or set it to auto-adjust. I keep mine just below the middle setting. In addition, with some reading apps, you can read either black on white or white on black or black on parchment. Weight and size is a bigger consideration than brightness I think. Although I am now used to it, the iPad took a bit of getting used to after my compact little Sony Reader. Likewise battery consumption. I can't use my iPad more than two days without charging it. I could use my Sony for two weeks.

12-08-2010, 05:20 PM	#3
slm Fool Posts: 468 Karma: 4113712 Join Date: Feb 2003 Device: Kindle: Voyage,PW1,KOA, Kobo: Clara Colour, Nook GLP, Pocketbook verse	I find the iPad a bad idea for books because it weighs one and a half pounds. If I am reading in a place where I can prop it up on a table, I'm fine and the glare doesn't bother me.

12-10-2010, 07:17 PM	#4
joeleitz Banned Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2010 Device: none	I'm surprised about that because I would have thought that the ipad is just a bout perfect for reading. hmm, well it's something to think about.

12-11-2010, 01:45 AM	#5
ebusinesstutor Star Gawker Posts: 526 Karma: 6944314 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Spruce Grove, AB Canada Device: Kindle Paperwhite	The iPad is about 1.6 lbs I believe - a lot heavier than most ereaders. Great for on a table or on your lap maybe not so good for reading in bed.

12-11-2010, 07:53 AM	#7
AGB Headbutting stupidity Posts: 1,703 Karma: 2526196 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Greater Cph Device: PRS650	I don't see the iPad as a good reader. If I wanted to read on a computer screen, my matte thinkpads are better than a glossy screen, and no matter how you put it, the iPad uses a computer screen, and it's glossy. Weight-wise, I'd rather carry my Thinkpad X200s, as it can be "propped" up by tilting the screen, and I have a real keyboard. For movies on the go, an ereader is of course out of the question,and an iPad is better. But again, I prefer a real computer for that sort of thing.

12-11-2010, 09:28 AM	#9
tyche Addict Posts: 227 Karma: 2530 Join Date: Dec 2009 Device: PRS-505, iPad	Turn the brightness down? Use a reading app that has night mode or use a sepia background?

12-12-2010, 06:21 AM	#10
basschick Wizard Posts: 1,096 Karma: 4695691 Join Date: May 2008 Device: Kindle Paperwhite	i find my wrist starts to hurt after spending 20 minutes holding a heavier hardback book, so the ipad is out for me. besides, non-eink readers hurt my eyes, turned down or not.

12-12-2010, 07:19 AM	#12
HarleyB Fanatic Posts: 565 Karma: 1113286 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Sunshine Coast Australia Device: Kobo (RIP), iPad, iPhone 4, Kobo Touch x2, Kobo Glo	This is an individual decision and I think your best option is to try as many devices as possible and decide what works for you. My husband loves to read on our iPad - I don't like the screen or the weight and the size for reading however I love lots of the other things I can do with it. I tend to read for hours at a time and my eyes hurt when I read on the iPad. I much prefer my Kobo for reading.

12-15-2010, 02:19 AM	#14
The Hooded Claw Connoisseur Posts: 70 Karma: 6050 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Oklahoma! Device: Kindle Paperwhite, Android phone with Kindle app, Kindle 4 in reserve	I find my iPad too heavy to be an ideal ereader. Perhaps more serious is that there are too many distractions in the device! On the positive side, it handles illustrations far, far better than my Kindle.

12-15-2010, 03:25 AM	#15
Figlilly Zealot Posts: 122 Karma: 2514066 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Australia Device: Kindle Oasis 2&3, Paperwhites, Kindle Touch, Kobo Clara, IPad Air2	IPads are a lot of fun and I used mine for a while as a reader. I didn't suffer any eyestrain even though my eyesight is not the best. The reasons other people have given are valid though. It is heavy and awkward - I bought a little bean bag thing to prop it on when I read in bed - but you wouldn't want to be carting the IPad around with you because of the size and the weight. The battery doesn't last long and watching it run down often spoilt my enjoyment while reading. The good thing about the IPad as a reader is that you can have lots of different reading applications. I had Kindle and Kobo on mine. I bought a Kindle and it is perfect because I can carry it with me everywhere and the battery lasts for ages between charges.

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