Top E-Book is iPad?

[Harmon]

Originally Posted by dmaul1114

I really don't think you'll find any virtual keyboard very satisfying for serious word processing work.

But maybe you're one of those who can adapt and come up with a new way of typing fast on them like the kid mentioned above typing super fast on the iPad in the store!

Between being smaller than a real keyboard unless it's a huge tablet, not having tactile feedback, and having the keyboard on the screen and thus showing you less of the document, I myself could never use a virtual keyboard on a tablet for word processing work.

But to each their own, I'll always have desktops and laptops for real work, Tablet for reading and media consumption.

I'll bet you could learn to use a virtual keyboard pretty quickly if you are doing a lot of word processing on it. But what seems to be missing from the generic one on the iPad keyboard are the keyboard combinations that allow you to do hinges like bolding & underlining, formatting &c. So the problem may not be using the keyboard, so much as what you can't use it for. But perhaps a word-processing app would incorporate a more versatile keyboard.

[dmaul1114]

Yeah, not having a shift key for symbols etc. is a killer.

But there are other issues you just can't get around like having the keyboard blocking nearly half the screen etc.

To each their own, but I can never see myself doing any real word processing work without a real keyboard personally. But I'm sure others will be able to.

[EowynCarter]

iPad = tablet != e-reader.

Trying to compare Tablets and e-reader is trying to compare desktop pc and netbook. Makes no sense.

[dmaul1114]

Originally Posted by EowynCarter

iPad = tablet != e-reader.

Trying to compare Tablets and e-reader is trying to compare desktop pc and netbook. Makes no sense.

Agreed when talking about comparing devices, pricing etc.

But one can still compare the reading experience on a tablet to that on an e-ink e-reader etc., and talk about the various pros and cons to reading on both types of devices etc.

[astra]

Originally Posted by dmaul1114

But one can still compare the reading experience on a tablet to that on an e-ink e-reader etc., and talk about the various pros and cons to reading on both types of devices etc.

Then LCD-pro camp must be ready for people for whom eInk is the only way to read ebooks will completely dismiss iPad as ebook reader.

[GeoffC]

Originally Posted by astra

Then LCD-pro camp must be ready for people for whom eInk is the only way to read ebooks will completely dismiss iPad as ebook reader.

Now there's a thought ....

a device that allows you to switch between LCD and eink according to your wishes/status &c ....

[dmaul1114]

Originally Posted by astra

Then LCD-pro camp must be ready for people for whom eInk is the only way to read ebooks will completely dismiss iPad as ebook reader.

Of course--we always have to deal with the "if it glows, it blows" bookworm types.

Hopefully when more tablets are on the market we'll get a Tablet specific forum area here.

[astra]

Originally Posted by GeoffC

Now there's a thought ....

a device that allows you to switch between LCD and eink according to your wishes/status &c ....

Really switch? Having two screens? or imitate eInk?

[GeoffC]

Originally Posted by astra

Really switch? Having two screens? or imitate eInk?

hehehehe

:takestongueoutofrightcheek:

[astra]

Originally Posted by GeoffC

hehehehe

:takestongueoutofrightcheek:

[rgoulde]

I've read dozens of books on my Kindle2 and now have read several on my iPad. I love both devices but the iPad is at best a backup reader for me if I don't want to carry both with me when I travel. The display is a non-issue for me - both have problems when it's dark (e-ink can't be read and an hour or so is about all my eye's can stand on the the iPad). I don't read in the dark though. I do read in the car and on the iPad the sunlight even in the car can make it hard to read.

The big difference is ergonomics. The Kindle is easy to hold and turn pages on with one or two hands. The iPad is harder to hold without accidentally turning a page if you hold it on the side or pressing the exit button on the bottom if you hold it there. That problem is excerbated by the weight of the device making it hard to hold for long periods, particularly one handed. Finally the fact that if you tilt the iPad too much it flips orientation on you makes reading in bed more problematic. All that said, the iPad is still perfectly usable, just not as easy as the Kindle.

The next biggest difference between the two is the poor performance of the Apple iBook store vs Amazon. I cannot use the Apple store without also using Amazon to get more information about the book or to use the more flexible ways to find books on Amazon. I'm sure that will change eventually. Using the Kindle app on the iPad helps but it only works for books you purchased through Amazon unless you manually convert and copy a book into iTunes for syncing to the iPad.

Sorry this is so long but I thought some might like the detail.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by rgoulde

Finally the fact that if you tilt the iPad too much it flips orientation on you makes reading in bed more problematic.

Forgive the question, but you are aware that there's a switch on the right side of the iPad (immediately above the volume control) that switches off the orientation change?

[JSWolf]

Thiis is a test of the emergency broadcasting system.

The above was typed on an iPad in portrait mode and it worked quite well.

[WT Sharpe]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Thiis is a test of the emergency broadcasting system.

The above was typed on an iPad in portrait mode and it worked quite well.

Did you get an iPad, borrow one, or use one in an Apple Store?

If you bought one, I'm jealous!

[dmaul1114]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Thiis is a test of the emergency broadcasting system.

The above was typed on an iPad in portrait mode and it worked quite well.

Yep. As I said, it works great for typing short messages etc. I could definitely take it in place of a laptop for non-work travel where I'd just need to respond to e-mails etc.

I wouldn't want to be typing up my 30+ page research articles, writing class lectures or any other heavy word processing on any kind of virtual keyboard. Though that could be remedied with a blue tooth keyboard of course.

But as I also said, maybe some others will be fine with virtual keyboards and learn to do heavy typing work on them. I could live to be 500 and I can guarantee that I'll still be typing on a physical keyboard. 100% a case of "if it's not broke, don't fix it!" for me.

But virtual keyboards are more than adequate for briefer typing.