iPad How do you like reading on your iPad?

[FlorenceArt]

Come to think of it, I find that I never, ever, hold the iPad in my hand(s) when using it. It's always propped on something, either a table top, a stand, mostly on my knees or on my handbag placed on my knees. It's not specific to the iPad, it's just a habit I have, I do it with books too and with my Opus. I usually have the Opus in my hand when I read, but if at all possible, I will put the hand on something to support it.

This probably explains why I have never really felt that the iPad's weight is a problem. However, for people who are used to hold a book up in their hands for reading, I suppose the iPad must be terribly uncomfortable.

What I was driving at is that just because the weight is not a problem for you, doesn't mean that it can't be a problem for anybody else. It just means that the way you use and hold the iPad makes the weight a non-issue, that's all.

[DrNefario]

I think the iPad is extremely heavy for reading. It might be under a kilo, but you are often holding it with one hand at one edge, which makes it effectively heavier because of the distance from the centre of gravity. (In fact, in any kind of use I tend to hold it across my forearm, which makes it a bit easier to handle.) You also need to be able to change pages every now and again, which will often involve the other hand - another inconvenience which also slightly bugs me about the Kobo Touch.

If I'm reading for any length of time - which is highly likely if I'm reading a novel - then I need to change hands and change positions every now and again just to keep comfortable. The weight of the iPad is definitely an issue. If it wasn't they wouldn't keep making it lighter.

[azazel1024]

I liked it a lot previously. Now that I have a nook, it is rarely used as a reading device, except for PDFs. I don't dislike it, but it just doesn't work as well. I also pretty much exclusively use my ipad propped on my legs, lap or table when using it. Occasionally if I have to walk around while using it, I of course hold it in one hand.

The nook simple touch is small enough to easily hold it in one or two hands at the right angle for comfortable reading sitting at a table or just walking around. Where as my ipad2 is a little too heavy and large to comfortable do that for too long without some kind of support (flat on a table, using a stand, lap, etc).

The nook ST is just more portable, the longer battery life is nice and I like the eink screen as it is less harsh on my eyes. Another upside is fewer distractions. I am not tempted to hare off and check my email, or a website or play a few launches of angry birds or boot up some other game every 10 minutes. I have ADD...so I know something about the power of distractions

I still use my ipad2 a lot, but I do about 5% of my book reading on it now and I spend 70% of my time in front of electronic devices (not including my work computer or TV at home) on my nook simple touch reading. Probably equal split between my home PC and my ipad2 for the rest of the time.

As a further clarification, I enjoyed reading on my ipad2, but just not as much as on my nook simple touch since I got it.

[Revolutionarybum]

I use it for Manga/Comics, Graphic Novels, and I really love dropbox and read my news stories. PDF's look great on the iPad and really help especially if it's a technical doc. But when it comes to reading eBooks I still prefer my old 3rd Gen. Kindle or a good old fashioned paper book (as long as I can get a used copy) I can't support the needless massacre of forests when we could be growing industrial Hemp for all our paper needs, Like we used to before dear old Mr. Hearst came along and financed the propaganda campaign against Hemp as if it were the same as marijuana. But then again the use of all the various electronics this forum discusses are just as morally unjust due to the horrific conditions they are manufactured under ! Sorry Fro the rant but it's just something I feel conflicted about, Just call me a raw nerve :-O

[andy1m]

I'm thinking of getting iPad for reading ebooks, mainly PDFs. But the glare worries me. I don't like shiny screen they cause headache!

[FlorenceArt]

Originally Posted by andy1m

I'm thinking of getting iPad for reading ebooks, mainly PDFs. But the glare worries me. I don't like shiny screen they cause headache!

Hello,

I think you mean the backlighting. This can be dimmed when you are reading in a dark environment, to reduce the discomfort, but yes, it can be a problem. In my case I think I have gotten used to it, but I have the lighting set to a rather low setting, and sometimes at night I have to reduce it even more. But if I remember to lower the lighting, the discomfort goes away.

If you have problems with reading on a screen, I would suggest you try to borrow an iPad and try it for a while, if you can. You can't judge from someone else's experience, everybody is different in how we use the device and how we react physically and mentally to the backlit screen. You must try it for yourself.

[Andy_T]

I like my iPad 1 for reading, especially as the kindle app has revolutionary features like two-column-text.

Initially I loved my Kindle 3 Keyboard, but when I broke that after 3 weeks of use on a holiday trip (imagine the despair: having loaded all those books and not being able to read them) I switched to the iPad and was impressed by how well it went.

Nevertheless, since I have my Kindle Fire I mainly use that as the form factor is more practical. But I do use the iPad, or my iPod touch if I need to and make sure to load new eBooks to all three devices as a provision (e.g. if my kids are using the Kindle Fire for watching videos and the iPad for playing games).

Now, that new iPad 3 with the 2048x1536 display, that looks really tempting for reading!
It'll be time to upgrade the number of iPads in the family soon...

Best regards,
Andy

[Andy_T]

So I took a few minutes at a computer store today and compared the new and the old ipad side by side with the iBooks application ... Very nice indeed!

[Sischa]

In my taste the iPad works out very "shitty" for plain, long term reading so i use it (since iPad 1 and now on iPad 3) for reading magazines, graphic novels, quick web surfing on the couch, news sites and rss feeds, daily newspapers cause it is much better for that than an eink device.

For reading books i have my Kindle 3 which performance much better. I love dedicated devices.

Besides that i have some "hybride" cases of yourse like reading newspaper or instapaper outside in the sun where i switch to read it on my Kindle DX.
On the other side there are also times when i use the iPad Kindle App i.e. to do a quick book read on a lunch break when my kindle is not around or some pages on the iphone kindle app when waiting at the doctor.

Its all possible cause synching via amazon is very easy now with the personal document cloud.

I believe thats the best way to read but if i would have to choose one device for reading without having the other ones i would definitly not choose the iPad (even not the very nice Retina-iPad). I would prefer the kindle cause i read much (min 5 books a week) and i love reading outside in the light.

[nursedude]

I find using the new iPad a much better reader (for my eyes anyway) than my original iPad or Android tablet. With the "retina display" I can read for longer periods of time without feeling fatigued.

[FlorenceArt]

Originally Posted by nursedude

I find using the new iPad a much better reader (for my eyes anyway) than my original iPad or Android tablet. With the "retina display" I can read for longer periods of time without feeling fatigued.

Having seen a new Retina display iPad for the first time yesterday, and today having compared it with my iPad 2, I can believe that. The new iPad should be more comfortable for reading. I'm even thinking of getting one now...

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Andy_T

I like my iPad 1 for reading, especially as the kindle app has revolutionary features like two-column-text.

Sorry, it's not revolutionary. They stole the idea from Sony as Sony has it on the 900 & 950. It's not even new. iBooks has it as well.

[JSWolf]

I've read on the iPad. I don't find it much of a problem reading indoors.

[ilovejedd]

Originally Posted by FlorenceArt

Having seen a new Retina display iPad for the first time yesterday, and today having compared it with my iPad 2, I can believe that. The new iPad should be more comfortable for reading. I'm even thinking of getting one now...

I haven't noticed much of a difference as far as comfort is concerned. Sure, the text is sharper but the backlight is the one that gives me headaches and it still does if I use the iPad for long periods of time (even with brightness at the dimmest setting). I guess that's partly the reason I can read for hours on my iPhone/iPod Touch but not on the iPad. Much smaller screen real estate.

[lorenzoens]

Originally Posted by bcgirl

Feel the need for dedicated ereader just for reading?

Obvious question requires obvious answer.

Since I'm here, will just add that: depends on your eyes, on what you read - for how long - with which needs.

If you "JUST" want to be inside a good book for hours, a 6" e-ink is made for that for lots of reasons.

Can you hold the ipad for two+ hours? Can you read with it without being distracted? How do your eyes feel about backlight? Where do you usually read?