iPad as an e-reader? - Page 2

ChrisC333 · 03-29-2010, 11:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zetareticuli

However, eInk does not deliver the richness in displays and colors that is required for many technical documentation and scientific papers that include graphs and lines of different colors. I think the iPad would be a much better choice in this case. Assuming, of course, that the ebook support (such as PDF) is good enough in the iPad.

I'd agree with you. My e-ink reader does a terrible job with some PDFs - not just for the lack of colour, but because the page layout and formatting can go completely haywire too.

There's little doubt that the iPad will do a better job with PDFs, but just how good, and what limitation it has (if any) will only be solved once some of us get our hands on one and test it out with a range of actual documents. It really is just guessing right now.

LDBoblo · 03-30-2010, 02:12 AM

I'm also waiting to see how the software options for iPad look with regard to reading. It may not be my ideal specialized device for annotation and markup, but if the document viewing options are solid, I'll probably get one.

The resolution of the screen concerns me a little bit, being only 1024x768, but that SHOULD be enough to view A4 printed at 9pt fairly legibly. That is, if your eyes can read text that small.

It will only be a week or two before we start getting the requisite deluge of banal "unboxings" and reviews, and some of them will undoubtedly be related to reading functions and programs.

Backlit LCD is no problem really. A little hard on the battery life, but you get great indoor viewability. The Kobo reader app video even had a cute slider for reducing the brightness to better match ambient conditions, which is where a lot of people go wrong with LCDs.

If I get one, its main functions will be reading and document handling. Video, music, web, all that other stuff are just fun little extras.

pauli · 03-30-2010, 07:34 AM

what a lot of people will put off the iPad in Europe is it's price. There's talk about the cheapest iPad (16 GB, wifi only) being 550 euros in France and Germany. This version costs 499 US$ in the States...
Source (sorry in French)

atari_ckx · 03-31-2010, 10:06 AM

Well, I have reading in iphone for a couple of years using Stanza. And I'm rather satisfied with the screen. My needs? Well, I use the iphone for ebooks reading, but I've a lot of PDF magazines (and books), and I want to use the IPAD for magazine reading, the larger screen and the color (and price) looks ok for me. Also, I like night read at bed (with my wife at my side) and I can't afford to have a light (turn the f.cking light off!! do you got the picture ...), so the back illuminated screen is a must for me.

I've read many (>100) ebooks on the iphone and the experience is satisfactory for me, so I'm accustomed to read with a LCD screen, and I just need a larger, color and back illuminated screen with a -good- PDF support; so I think the IPAD should be enough.

Of course, this will be true depending on a GOOD PDF application, and the cpu speed to handle PDF files; on the iphone, the PDF applications I know are rather bad ... but I have a 3G, think the IPAD have a better CPU.

Also, I'll use the IPAD (If I pull the trigger) to see videos, photos, music and play some nice games. My idea? Have it at home, perhaps taking it with me on some travels, but we already have a netbook for this, so the IPAD won't have tickets on every travel ...

Greetings from Venezuela,
ATARI

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03-30-2010, 02:12 AM	#17
LDBoblo Wizard Posts: 1,385 Karma: 16056 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Asia Device: Kindle 3 WiFi, Sony PRS-505	I'm also waiting to see how the software options for iPad look with regard to reading. It may not be my ideal specialized device for annotation and markup, but if the document viewing options are solid, I'll probably get one. The resolution of the screen concerns me a little bit, being only 1024x768, but that SHOULD be enough to view A4 printed at 9pt fairly legibly. That is, if your eyes can read text that small. It will only be a week or two before we start getting the requisite deluge of banal "unboxings" and reviews, and some of them will undoubtedly be related to reading functions and programs. Backlit LCD is no problem really. A little hard on the battery life, but you get great indoor viewability. The Kobo reader app video even had a cute slider for reducing the brightness to better match ambient conditions, which is where a lot of people go wrong with LCDs. If I get one, its main functions will be reading and document handling. Video, music, web, all that other stuff are just fun little extras.

03-30-2010, 07:34 AM	#18
pauli Groupie Posts: 185 Karma: 119824 Join Date: Feb 2008 Device: iLiad, DR1000S, HTC Hero, DR800SG	what a lot of people will put off the iPad in Europe is it's price. There's talk about the cheapest iPad (16 GB, wifi only) being 550 euros in France and Germany. This version costs 499 US$ in the States... Source (sorry in French)

03-31-2010, 10:06 AM	#19
atari_ckx Junior Member Posts: 1 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Valencia, Venezuela Device: None	Well, I have reading in iphone for a couple of years using Stanza. And I'm rather satisfied with the screen. My needs? Well, I use the iphone for ebooks reading, but I've a lot of PDF magazines (and books), and I want to use the IPAD for magazine reading, the larger screen and the color (and price) looks ok for me. Also, I like night read at bed (with my wife at my side) and I can't afford to have a light (turn the f.cking light off!! do you got the picture ...), so the back illuminated screen is a must for me. I've read many (>100) ebooks on the iphone and the experience is satisfactory for me, so I'm accustomed to read with a LCD screen, and I just need a larger, color and back illuminated screen with a -good- PDF support; so I think the IPAD should be enough. Of course, this will be true depending on a GOOD PDF application, and the cpu speed to handle PDF files; on the iphone, the PDF applications I know are rather bad ... but I have a 3G, think the IPAD have a better CPU. Also, I'll use the IPAD (If I pull the trigger) to see videos, photos, music and play some nice games. My idea? Have it at home, perhaps taking it with me on some travels, but we already have a netbook for this, so the IPAD won't have tickets on every travel ... Greetings from Venezuela, ATARI

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