iPad For all those who hate the iPad:

[Bremen Cole]

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

After some digging I found what you were linking at (your link goes to a login page!). And yes, it's a neat device!

I think I fixed the link.... sorry about that!

[Bremen Cole]

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

The lack of an USB port is a huge flaw, in my eyes. The fact that you can't read epubs from other sources than Itunes is an even bigger flaw, in my eyes. And if you can't turn off that page turning effect in the reader, I know I'd never ever use it.

And comparing this thing to a DXi, is comparing apples to pears... Yes, you can read books on both, but that's where the similarities end.

I read all kinds of books on my iPhone.... Kindle books, various epubs, eReader books, B&N books....etc... Why would you think the iPad would be able to only read books from iTunes?

[dragonbone]

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

And comparing this thing to a DXi, is comparing apples to pears... Yes, you can read books on both, but that's where the similarities end.

Remind me again please why I need a USB port on my reader...

I compare the DXi to the iPad. Yes little me, Jane or John Doe. There are hundreds of thousand like me, by the way. People who just want a device that works, that works beautifully, that is reasonably priced and super easy to learn. A device that has fantastic support and looks great to boot.
I compare the the DXi to the iPad because they only 2 large 'international' devices aimed at the casual reader. When you compare the two readers, the one comes off rather badly.
The other large readers that are aimed for the business sector, are way out of my price range and don't even nearly live up to the iPad (IMHO)... not for my uses anyway.
My 2 cents...

[HansTWN]

Originally Posted by dragonbone

Remind me again please why I need a USB port on my reader...

I compare the DXi to the iPad. Yes little me, Jane or John Doe. There are hundreds of thousand like me, by the way. People who just want a device that works, that works beautifully, that is reasonably priced and super easy to learn. A device that has fantastic support and looks great to boot.
I compare the the DXi to the iPad because they only 2 large 'international' devices aimed at the casual reader. When you compare the two readers, the one comes off rather badly.
The other large readers that are aimed for the business sector, are way out of my price range and don't even nearly live up to the iPad (IMHO)... not for my uses anyway.
My 2 cents...

Just for your info, there will be 6 million e-ink devices sold this year. To each his own. It all depends on what is important to you (reading or entertainment) and how your eyes can take extended reading on a backlit screen. So there is plenty of room for both types of devices. We don't want to talk you out of getting an iPad! Go ahead and enjoy.

[dragonbone]

Originally Posted by HansTWN

Just for your info, there will be 6 million e-ink devices sold this year. To each his own. It all depends on what is important to you (reading or entertainment) and how your eyes can take extended reading on a backlit screen. So there is plenty of room for both types of devices. We don't want to talk you out of getting an iPad! Go ahead and enjoy.

Hai, hai Sensei... (Yes sir /master)

P.S. Are you reading and partaking in this forum on your PRS-500? (I've tried and tried on my 700, but it won't do anything....)

[HansTWN]

Originally Posted by dragonbone

Hai, hai Sensei... (Yes sir /master)

P.S. Are you reading and partaking in this forum on your PRS-500? (I've tried and tried on my 700, but it won't do anything....)

I know enough Japanese to get that without a translation... 師傅 (Chinese for master)

And you are highlighting my point. I have a laptop that can do computing tasks and internet surfing better than the iPad, I have a smartphone that can do e-mail, IM, browsing, etc. just as well as the iPod (in some ways it is even superior, I can do flash and multitasking and I have a full querty keyboard -- some things don't work quite as well because of the screen size), and I have an ereader that I can read text on better than on the iPad. What do I need another device for? For me there is no point at this time.

Sure, I would love to have a device like the iPad if:
-- it was a full fledged computer, better than my current laptop
-- it had a screen suitable for reading and computing/video/browsing

Then I could retire my laptop and reader. Unfortunately, the iPad is still a far cry from achieving that.

[Sweetpea]

Originally Posted by Bremen Cole

I read all kinds of books on my iPhone.... Kindle books, various epubs, eReader books, B&N books....etc... Why would you think the iPad would be able to only read books from iTunes?

It all depends on the ports of the apps you use now, I'd say. But what I mostly meant was: they sell epub in the Itunes store. And they sell epub in my local online store. But I can't mix those.

[donnakamla]

I joined this site because I'm in the market for an eReader, because I love reading all kinds of books. I have been using an iPod until I lost it recently. Before that I used a PSP and that wasn't too bad an experience.

I can't afford and cant justify paying $1000 for an Illiad or similar. The Kindle has only recently come to Australia, and before that we had available something called Bebook available for around $300.

Anyway I've done what I could to get by, hence my modification of PSP to read public domain classics in text files.
But until I lost my iTouch I have been very happy reading from it using a couple of great apps, Stanza and Goodreader.

I've read the forum "which device should I buy" to help me in my quest. I was so ready to plonk my cash down for an eInk device that was reasonably priced and one that hopefully supported PDF well. I think from memory the Bebook Opus? sounded a good candidate to match.

But no, now I'm leaning heavily in favour of the iPad. Because I KNOW from using the iTouch what to expect. The selling point is not only the device. Its the two factors of great apps in combination with the touch screen and user interface.

Using the iTouch (before I lost it) was very much like the experience of reading and, I don't know, maybe that's why I liked reading from the iTouch and why I want to by an iPad.

[lene1949]

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

Too funny..

[dragonbone]

Originally Posted by donnakamla

I joined this site because I'm in the market for an eReader, because I love reading all kinds of books. I have been using an iPod until I lost it recently. Before that I used a PSP and that wasn't too bad an experience.
I can't afford to pay $1000 for an Illiad or similar. The Kindle has only recently come to Australia, and before we had something called Bebook available for around $300.

I've done what I could to get by, hence my modification of PSP to read text files.
But until I lost my iTouch I have been very happy reading from it using a couple of great apps, Stanza and Goodreader.

I've read the forum "which device should I buy" to help me in my quest. I was so ready to plonk my cash down for an eInk device that was reasonably priced and one that hopefully supported PDF well. I think from memory the Bebook Opus? sounded a good candidate to match.
But no, now I'm leaning heavily in favour of the iPad. Because I KNOW from using the iTouch what to expect. The selling point is not only the device. Its the two factors of great apps in combination with the touch screen and user interface.

Welcome donnakamla. You are so lucky to be arriving on the ebook device market now!
If only the iPad had been on it's way/announced one year ago already... it would have saved me months of worrying, wondering, speculating and plotting. It would also have saved me $450. That is how much my PRS-700 cost including import tax and S&H... only to realize that I still needed a wall charger too. Then I had to tell lies on the registration form when I registered my device, in order to have access to the store... sigh... if I had gotten the Kindle, the amount of hoops I would have had to jump though, would have been much more.

On the bright side side the iPad is now on it's way!

YAY!
Now all I have to worry about is which one I will order from my LOCAL Apple store. I won't have to spend hours trying to figure it out, as I already know how the ipad works. I know how the software (iTunes) works. I know the company won't fade away, go bankrupt or discontinue anything. I know the software (iTunes) won't freeze or take hours to open. I know it won't crash my PC or my device. I know if something goes wrong with my device, it will be fixed or replaced immediately and locally. I also know that the screen will be GREAT (no nasty grey green screen surprises) and I know there will be more wonderful applications than I can possibly use.
Finally... I don't have to worry myself silly about making a big mistake by buying the wrong product because this is the right product for me.

[Iqy]

Oh sweetpea, that is hilarious! Haven't laughed so much in a while. What movie is it and why are the hangers on so scared?
Iqy

[scottjl]

dragonbone, you bring up some excellent points. people already know itunes, and those who have touches or iphones already know how to use the ipad. no surprises there. and apple is not a company one has to worry about going away any time soon (it's only been predicted for the last 30 years or so). not that sony is going anywhere. and amazon isn't likely to go anywhere soon but can you count on them to provide hardware support for the next 5 years? 10? they aren't a hardware company, this isn't their primary business.

[nikkie]

Originally Posted by Iqy

Oh sweetpea, that is hilarious! Haven't laughed so much in a while. What movie is it and why are the hangers on so scared?
Iqy

The movie is Downfall and the groupies (his generals) are freaked because one of Hitler's allies did not show up to a battle he was supposed to and Hitler is throwing a fit over the incompetence and insubordination of his generals. ("It was an order not a request!") Hitler is griping that he now will lose Europe.