iPad Stanza vs. iBooks vs. ? - Page 2

aagstn · 10-17-2010, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sjfwhite

I would use Stanza full time for non-DRM'ed content if it could read from the same database as iBooks. I like being able to have my ebook collection transferred from Calibre into iTunes and then just syncing automatically from there rather than either manually adding files for Stanza or using the Calibre server.

This is why I'm using iBooks pretty much exclusive now on my iPod Touch.

gandor62 · 10-18-2010, 04:46 PM

As I own several Apple devices I tend to use iBooks mainly for the ease of each device keeping up with whatever page I am on. I tend to read in 10 minute bursts when I'm out and about on my iPhone or Touch, and on the iPad when Im home. Not having to search for my current page does it for me.
The Downside is when im on the smaller devices iBooks wastes so much space on the margins, but I just put up with it. My Kindle 2 is just sitting on my desk and not used now.

leebase · 10-18-2010, 10:56 PM

I love stanza on my iPhone for all the reasons you mentioned. However I just really like the look of the iBook app on the iPad. So much so, that I now buy booms when I can from the ibookstore. Really hope amazon ups the ante on visual appeal for it's two boom apps.

Lee

toddos · 10-19-2010, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leebase

I love stanza on my iPhone for all the reasons you mentioned. However I just really like the look of the iBook app on the iPad. So much so, that I now buy booms when I can from the ibookstore. Really hope amazon ups the ante on visual appeal for it's two boom apps.

Lee

But ... why? iBooks wastes so much space on non-functional metaphors like page edges (why don't those grow/shrink as you page through the book? If you're going to waste the space, make it useful). The UI is poorly laid out, and it's missing major functionality requirements like a white-on-black reading mode (no, turning on the "invert colors" accessibility setting is not a valid solution), better font choices, and hyphenation.

I like that Stanza, Adobe, and pretty much every other ebook reader besides iBooks don't waste space on frivolousness.

I guess "pretty" is in the eye of the beholder, but I much prefer a "form follows function" approach. Make the app the best ereader it can be, and spend your "prettiness" budget on text rendering rather than chrome.

leebase · 10-20-2010, 12:13 AM

I just like it better. So much better that it's changed my book buying priority. Inverse mode works for me, but I agree they need a proper night mode. And I really love Stanza's integration with Calibre. Too bad fictionwise imploded, as stanza integration was excellent.

Lee

ShortNCuddlyAm · 10-20-2010, 10:25 AM

I'm using iBooks to read and Calibre to manage and transfer the books

bygjohn · 10-22-2010, 08:05 AM

I tried iBooks but quickly returned to Stanza: iBooks just doesn't have the customisation options that Stanza has, and sometimes you don't want to do a full iPhone sync just to grab a book from your computer. Recently discovered Calibre, and the combination of Stanza and Calibre is pretty amazing. I might have more use for iBooks if it would reflow text in PDFs, but as it doesn't, Calibre-Stanza and conversion to ePub is currently a better solution for me.

jharker · 10-22-2010, 02:22 PM

Other than Stanza, is there any other e-reader / software that DOES do hyphenation?

xangela · 10-23-2010, 12:26 AM

I use iBooks, but I'm not actually a big fan of it. I haven't figured out how to lock orientation when I'm using my iPod Touch so if I shift too much it'll get pissy with me and switch around repeatedly before settling down. The margin is too big. It takes a long time to load.

But, I'm lazy, and it's easy to load books. It also keeps my place in a book if I switch to the iPad (so long as I sync).

View Poll Results: Which eReader is number one for you?
iBooks	32	34.78%
Stanza	39	42.39%
Other	21	22.83%
Voters: 92. You may not vote on this poll

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10-18-2010, 04:46 PM	#17
gandor62 Connoisseur Posts: 99 Karma: 14 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Brisbane Australia Device: iPod Touch, Ipad, Kindle 2	As I own several Apple devices I tend to use iBooks mainly for the ease of each device keeping up with whatever page I am on. I tend to read in 10 minute bursts when I'm out and about on my iPhone or Touch, and on the iPad when Im home. Not having to search for my current page does it for me. The Downside is when im on the smaller devices iBooks wastes so much space on the margins, but I just put up with it. My Kindle 2 is just sitting on my desk and not used now.

10-18-2010, 10:56 PM	#18
leebase Karma Kameleon Posts: 2,960 Karma: 26738313 Join Date: Aug 2009 Device: iPad Mini, iPhone X, Kindle Fire Tab HD 8, Walmart Onn	I love stanza on my iPhone for all the reasons you mentioned. However I just really like the look of the iBook app on the iPad. So much so, that I now buy booms when I can from the ibookstore. Really hope amazon ups the ante on visual appeal for it's two boom apps. Lee

10-20-2010, 12:13 AM	#20
leebase Karma Kameleon Posts: 2,960 Karma: 26738313 Join Date: Aug 2009 Device: iPad Mini, iPhone X, Kindle Fire Tab HD 8, Walmart Onn	I just like it better. So much better that it's changed my book buying priority. Inverse mode works for me, but I agree they need a proper night mode. And I really love Stanza's integration with Calibre. Too bad fictionwise imploded, as stanza integration was excellent. Lee

10-20-2010, 10:25 AM	#21
ShortNCuddlyAm WWHALD Posts: 7,879 Karma: 337114 Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Mitcham, Surrey, UK Device: iPad. Selling my silver 505 here	I'm using iBooks to read and Calibre to manage and transfer the books

10-22-2010, 08:05 AM	#22
bygjohn Junior Member Posts: 5 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2010 Device: iPhone 4	I tried iBooks but quickly returned to Stanza: iBooks just doesn't have the customisation options that Stanza has, and sometimes you don't want to do a full iPhone sync just to grab a book from your computer. Recently discovered Calibre, and the combination of Stanza and Calibre is pretty amazing. I might have more use for iBooks if it would reflow text in PDFs, but as it doesn't, Calibre-Stanza and conversion to ePub is currently a better solution for me.

10-22-2010, 02:22 PM	#23
jharker Developer Posts: 345 Karma: 3473 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Brooklyn, NY, USA Device: iRex iLiad v1, Blackberry Tour, Kindle DX, iPad.	Other than Stanza, is there any other e-reader / software that DOES do hyphenation?

10-23-2010, 12:26 AM	#24
xangela Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2010 Device: ipad	I use iBooks, but I'm not actually a big fan of it. I haven't figured out how to lock orientation when I'm using my iPod Touch so if I shift too much it'll get pissy with me and switch around repeatedly before settling down. The margin is too big. It takes a long time to load. But, I'm lazy, and it's easy to load books. It also keeps my place in a book if I switch to the iPad (so long as I sync).

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