iPad Can the iPad replace ebook readers?

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by richman

kenny
I don't think scottjl was attacking you , but generally if someone is commenting on a subject without actually touching it and using it and ANOTHER GUY has the device and using it , and speaks from experience, that carries more weight for many of us.
Even you in your field can spot young people who act like know it alls and YOU DO have experience in field and can call a spade a spade, like I see you doing in your last post.
All you have to do is go to best buy , look at it for 1 minute then say " I have handled it" and then you would have at least some "respect".
I'm trying to "learn about the IPAD myself" and so people like scottjl offers actual hands on experience. Whereas you seem to me as "troll" too, you do have times in your field where people "act like know it alls" and you do call them on it , don't you?

Let's get away from talking about individuals. If what the say has relevance then there you go. I have not made any personal attacks on anyone here, not questioned their basis for what they post as was done to me in the last few posts.

If you have objections to my statements and evidence that it is incorrect then I would love to hear it.

When I see opinions from fanboyz instead of facts I'll point them out as well. We all have our opinions about how companies should do business and I object strenuously to the way Apple is conducting themselves. It is not in the long-term interest of the consumer.

[sfernald]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

What I am complaining about it the poor quality of the eBook reading apps. There is not yet one good app (that I know of) to read ePub eBooks. All that have been written about have some major issue so far. And maybe the best one (Kobo) you cannot use content you have on your computer.

>1. The best reader to read web pages.

No flash available. Until most of the flash based sites switch to HTML5, it isn't the best.

>2. The best reader to read technical PDFs.

This I cannot say one way or the other.

>3. The best reader to read from dusk to dawn or in low light situations.

But one of the worst in direct sunlight

>4. The best reader to read comic books on.

Probably

>5. The best reader to read color documents.

Possibly

>6. It is also the most versatile reader, supporting two major book stores: iBooks and amazon (and very soon adding B&N).

iBooks is a so-so app so far. What I'd like is a full ADE that would work better.

Fair enough. I'll say though that the web browsing experience is just amazing. The buttery smoothness of scrolling and pinching to zoom is something my 3k desktop doesn't do quite as well. There are some annoyances though. I wish there were arrow keys so I could navigate down these text boxes easily. Anyone know how to navigate these create post text boxes easily?

Jswolf, you own one? You looking for a good epub app to bring over all your Sony books? Sony is stupid not to create a store on it like amazon and the others. Someone though will fill that app niche. You can count on it.

And to that other guy, a computer is not a portable reader which is what I was talking about. I have a netbook, the new Asus with the ion. It sucks for the same use cases as the iPad. I can't wait to get rid of it. The iPad doesn't replace a computer though. Computers are the best for work and creating things.

[richman]

kennyC!
I guess if apple fixes those problems it would be a good ereader. I think many people are taking a LONG Look at the IPAD and seeing the future of ereaders. Obviously this device is not a product for you to go, some of us are used to actually touching the device and using a while before we know if it's cool or not. Or we read from people that are PRO reviewers or amazon users so we get large body of people reviewing it to get a feel for if the device is right for us.
A few of us are just not use to someone never touching the device offering their opinion in such a STRONG WAY, that is why it's called TROLLING or 'fanboy' behavior.
Many of us are waiting to see how the IPAD does hold up in the views of users who own one. I just don't know why you wouldn't be more interested in user reviews and seeing the ways users feel about it. But I guess that is your way, and I don't want to change your way one bit. And who knows, a year from now you can feel differently or I could feel differently about it.

[dmaul1114]

Originally Posted by kennyc

Uh....the Kindle is a book reader...the iPad is not. It's not really a netbook or computer either, it's some kind of crippled computer-like device.

With all due respect, if you have no interest in the iPad, why are you posting about it so much here.

We all want to discuss pros and cons of the device, but people who just hate the device and don't own or want (or even are considering buying one) don't really add much to the conversation.

Just misplaced negativity like what you just posted that just basically troll and bash the device rather than offering any constructive criticism etc.

The iPad doesn't quite fit my needs so I'm holding off, but playing around with my girlfriend's it's hardly crippled.

As an e-reader I prefer reading novels on it to my Kindle as I usually read at home and I keep my place dim so backlight adjusted to proper levels is better for me. And I like the larger screen with more words per page, the MUCH faster pager turns etc. I'm also not an avid reader, so I seldom read for more than an hour or so in a stretch (and not all that often do I read more than that in a day--usually only read before sleeping).

It's also fantastic for newspapers, comics, magazines, which the Kindle and other e-ink readers stink at. And it handles PDFs much better than the Kindle (or even Kindle DX).

For other types of media it's great for streaming video, I like surfing the net (no forums or other typing heavy text) on the couch on it more than on my laptop as it's just easier to hold, reading is better as the scrolling and zooming is much easier than on a laptop etc.

Add in the games, random apps etc. and it's a damn neat device. I 100% want some tablet device like it to supplement my laptop and other gadgets. I may well end up with an iPad, but I want to wait a few months and see what happens with Android tablets, what apps roll out of the iPad, see what's rumored for the 2nd gen iPad etc. before taking the plunge. The Kindle will definitely be the only/last e-ink device and dedicated reader of any type I own.


Tablet devices like the Ipad are not something everyone will need/want. I get that, they are a niche gadget for people who want something between their phone and laptop (or in place of a smartphone which I have no need for). But those folk shouldn't be posting in tablet centered forums here either IMO, as they can't add much to the conversation which should be specific to the devices pros and cons--and mainly focused on e-reading on this site. Not just generic bashing of the device.

I don't go around to the e-ink device forums (despite owning a Kindle) and bash e-ink, dedicated readers etc. as that just adds nothing to the conversation in those forums which should be discussing the use of the device, not trolling by people who don't like the technology. The anti-tablet folk should similarly stay out of tablet device discussions if all they can do is troll because they have no interest in the technology IMO.

[sfernald]

Originally Posted by kennyc

How does that iPad work in the same situation. Is it even readable?

In Vegas I took my iPad down to the pool to sunbathe. It was virtually unreadable. Not only that but I started playing a game and within 10 minutes it shut down due to overheating. A couple hours later though I moved into the shade and had a delightful experience with it. Even watched a netflix movie with it using the public wifi.

Therefore, it is not suitable to outdoor use in direct sunlight, so i'll keep my kindle around for that.

[dmaul1114]

Originally Posted by akira28

My eyesight is about 15/20. The text is blurry as is confirmed below. As I mentioned previously changing the font size does not solve the problem. (BTW I do enjoy audiobooks too, thank you.) I don't know what Apple has done to the font rendering but it is certainly not on par with the Macbook Pro. I suspect two reasons: 1) The dpi is not great enough to be used as an effective ereader and 2) they had to make compromises in the algorithm to accommodate both landscape and portrait views.

The text isn't as high of contrast as e-ink, but I find it easier to read personally.

The screens bigger so you can compensate by having larger font and still having a lot more words on the screen.

And for me, having adjustable back lighting is a huge help as I tend to read in dim settings. Never read outdoors, in direct sunlight by a window etc.

Anyway, to each their own. I found the reading on the iPad better than reading on my Kindle personally. Kindle would no doubt be better for reading for 5 hours straight or something. But again, I never do that. An hour at a time is a long session of reading for me.

[stustaff]

Originally Posted by kennyc

You both have a known issue with certain defective e-ink displays. You should have had Sony replace them for free. (your friend too). Yes, it's a known issue so why didn't you test it and get it replaced.

Its a known issue with eink devices! not an error as such.

read this https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=27424

[dmaul1114]

Originally Posted by kennyc

You never know do you. The things I've brought up are reality, whether I experienced them or not:

The Overheating
The Wi-fi problems
The "must be approved by the mother-ship" apps
The missing Flash for fully-capable operation.
The changes in book pricing due to Apple's involvement
The inability to use the iPAD (I'm told I can't use the other description or it's trolling) in bright sunlight.

The Big-Brother nature of Apple.

There are definitely drawbacks to the iPad. I'd add lack of a true file management system to your list.

But what you have to realize is most drawbacks are subjective and won't bother some people, or are problems that only some people have.

I couldn't care less about reading in direct sunlight as I NEVER do anything outdoors (much less something I can do indoors like read), don't have windows I read by etc. (lighting is pretty poor in my place). That also kills the worry of overheating.

I don't care about Apple's App process. Only apps I'd use are things like news, weather, PDF readers, e-book apps, productivity software. And there's already a good selection of that even with just being out a week. I don't care if some indie devs are getting screwed by having their game or random app rejected. Not my problem. I only care whether I have the apps I need.

No Flash is a drawback, but less so than I expected. The Netflix and ABC apps covered most of my flash usage, when the Hulu App is out I'll be pretty much all set. Add in that sites like ESPN.com have already adapted to using Flash AND HTML5 so their videos still play on the iPad and it's not something I miss.

WiFi would be annoying if you were getting the reported dropouts. But that seems to vary by router. Had some dropouts at my girlfriends, no problems at my place.

Book pricing isn't ideal, but I'd mainly buy Kindle books. And I think the pricing will work itself out if people don't buy the higher priced books.

In short, it's fine you don't like the iPad. But again, if you have no interest in the device, you really can't add much to the conversation rather than generic bashing and re-iterating the negatives of the device that have been discussed to death already in more detail by people who own the device or have at least played around with it.

In the meantime, I'll just throw you on ignore as I think I've seen all you have to contribute to iPad conversations. And that's all I have any interest on in mobile read (well that and Android and Windows tablets when those start coming out) since I won't buy another dedicated reader.

The point is that the answer to the topic at hand is not only NO! but HELL NO! There's no way that the iPad will replace ebook readers. They are not even the same thing.

I agree 100%. As I've said repeatedly on this site, it's not some zero sum end game where only tablets or e-readers can survive.

They are different devices, that just have being able to display e-books in common.

The tablet lovers need to quit talking about the end of e-readers. And e-ink lovers need to quit worrying about it and being so antagonistic about tablets on here.

Dedicated readers with e-ink or future reflective screen tech are here to stay as there is a sizable niche (at the least) of people who want them. People who read a ton and want the screen tech, battery life and want a device that does nothing but read.

At the same time, there's a market for tablets for people like me who read a bit, but spend a lot more time on movies, tv, sports, video games, net surfing, music etc. and want something that we can do all that as well as read on.

There's absolutely no reason that both markets can't co-exist and thrive.

[richman]

kennyC!
You are a rebel at heart, and I guess you are upset with apple about the way they force people to buy from their store. Some people also don't like being locked up either , and I heard some even planning on escaping and were planning a "jailbreak"!

[deltop]

I really really think people will be dissapointed with all the Windows based tablets that are coming out.

Who wants a hand held device with a short battery life, long boot up and loading times, sluggish performance, vents and fans! (seriously look at the hardware on most of them) and ancient lcd tech. None have yet been announced with a screen anywhere near as good as the iPad has.

A full os tablet will just be like a netbook without a keyboard. Not an enticing prospect to me.

The Android based tablets on the other hand might very well provide some serious competition. But based on my limited use of Android so far I'm not sure, we'll have to see. At the very least being able to install any app you want is a huge plus. But if they don't sell in huge numbers you just won't see the development needed to turn them into usefull devices.

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by yvanleterrible

A netbook can't cut it because of the orientation of the screen. I'm writing on one right now. It shows only the top or bottom portion of a page and navigating is a pain compared to the iPad.

BTW There is no need to be derisive of a device's name when discussing about it.

I added this:

http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/fil...scription.html

to mine, works great! And I can use any windows ebook reader -- B&N, Kindle for PC, FB Reader, mobipocket, etc. etc. etc.

[dmaul1114]

Yeah, I don't have high hopes for the Windows tablets. I just can't see an full OS tablet matching the thinness, batter life, low heat output etc. And I doubt the UI will be nearly as intuitive since they're adapting Windows 7 rather than designing a touch UI from the ground up.

But as you note, the Android tablets should be able to do that, so I'm anxious to see what they do.

If they can match or come close in form factor, battery life, responsiveness of the touch screen and be more open, have a real file management system etc. I'd have my ideal tablet.

In any case, I have no interest in a full tablet PC with a full OS etc. I do just really want a media consumption/document markup device. So the iPad is damn close. Just needs a real file system (or something closer) so all the PDF apps I had could easily find and open PDFs on their (rather than loading them in each app separately etc.).

Could go for a slightly bigger screen as well. 9.7" is better for A4 PDFs than I thought, but another inch or so would be a big help.

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by stustaff

Its a known issue with eink devices! not an error as such.

read this https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=27424

No, it does not affect all eink screens. I currently own 3 eink readers and have owned two others. None of them had the fading in sunlight problem.

Many who have had problems have had them replaced for free in most cases or for a minimal charge is out of warranty. You should give it a shot.

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by dmaul1114

The text isn't as high of contrast as e-ink, but I find it easier to read personally.

The screens bigger so you can compensate by having larger font and still having a lot more words on the screen.

And for me, having adjustable back lighting is a huge help as I tend to read in dim settings. Never read outdoors, in direct sunlight by a window etc.

Anyway, to each their own. I found the reading on the iPad better than reading on my Kindle personally. Kindle would no doubt be better for reading for 5 hours straight or something. But again, I never do that. An hour at a time is a long session of reading for me.

I actually think I would like reading on it, probably moreso than on my Sony 900.

I'm really looking forward to the next generation of ebook readers. Great things are in store. (and I'm not talking about the App Store! ).

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by richman

kennyC!
You are a rebel at heart, and I guess you are upset with apple about the way they force people to buy from their store. Some people also don't like being locked up either , and I heard some even planning on escaping and were planning a "jailbreak"!

I've heard of that as well.