iPad iPad Enthusiasts - Why is the iPad a no-brainer for you? - Page 7

dmaul1114 · 02-22-2010, 09:08 PM

Perfect size is all relative to what you need the device for.....

9.7" isn't bad, A4 is better as I know I can throw any of my PDFs on it, have the whole page displayed just like the printout, and have plenty of room to write in the margins (no need to crop margins to get the whole page to show up) etc.

That said, I know I'm picky and have very specific needs, so I don't mean to be bashing the iPad. It's a fine device. Just everyone has different needs/wants, so "perfect" anything is relative to what one needs.

Tamara · 02-23-2010, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dragonbone

There are enough of the negative iPad threads here on MobileRead. We need a balance

.
Are there no other takers? I've revived this thread hoping that a few more people who will be buying the iPad, would share their thoughts.

I'm strongly considering it to replace my Sony Reader and also has a lightweight companion when traveling in place of hauling my MB around with me. I already have the iPhone so the iPad makes a great companion to my iPhone since most of the apps in the app store will run on both devices.

Sonist · 02-23-2010, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johannes

I'm a bit puzzled. What makes you feel 9.7" is too small for technical PDFs? I'm actually planning to use the iPad for A4/letter-sized (arXiv) PDFs. I was under the impression this would work well (in particular with the iPad display in landscape mode).

Do I overlook something?

I agree with dmaul1114.

I currently have a Kindle DX, which has exactly 9.7" screen. It is definitely too small for most PDFs in portrait mode.

I really don't like reading in landscape mode, since you can see only half the page at any one time.

dmaul1114 · 02-23-2010, 10:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sonist

I agree with dmaul1114.

I currently have a Kindle DX, which has exactly 9.7" screen. It is definitely too small for most PDFs in portrait mode.

I really don't like reading in landscape mode, since you can see only half the page at any one time.

Yep, and land scape mode is really a pain for documents with multiple columns of text, figures/tables right in the middle of the page (and thus cut in half in landscape etc).

And you get that a lot on scholarly journals, which is my main use for PDFs.

If you're just reading mostly text, and mostly text with single columns, then splitting it in half isn't such a big deal as you don't need to scroll down, then back up to read the 2nd column, then down again etc.

Again, it's all relative to what type of material your reading. A4 is ideal screen size for me as I know it will be perfect with any PDF I throw at it. Vs. having a smaller screen which will be fine for many PDFs, but not work with some others from other journals that are multi column etc.

Johannes · 02-28-2010, 02:53 AM

Thanks Dmaul, Dragonbone, and Sonist.

Indeed, the markedly different views on suitability for reading A4-sized PDFs seem to be based on specific needs.

I will encounter PDFs with double columns. However, I figure that should be okay provided a PDF reader is available on the iPad that allows for automatic cropping of the margins. (These technical PDFs tend to have relatively wide margins.) Any info on the (expected) availability of such readers?

Donnageddon · 02-28-2010, 03:15 AM

"Why is the iPad a no-brainer for you?"

It's a big iPod Touch! And that's exactly what I wanted.

Tamara · 02-28-2010, 07:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johannes

Thanks Dmaul, Dragonbone, and Sonist.

Indeed, the markedly different views on suitability for reading A4-sized PDFs seem to be based on specific needs.

I will encounter PDFs with double columns. However, I figure that should be okay provided a PDF reader is available on the iPad that allows for automatic cropping of the margins. (These technical PDFs tend to have relatively wide margins.) Any info on the (expected) availability of such readers?

The WiFi version should be available in late March and the 3G version in April.

dmaul1114 · 02-28-2010, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johannes

I will encounter PDFs with double columns. However, I figure that should be okay provided a PDF reader is available on the iPad that allows for automatic cropping of the margins. (

Yeah, mine tend to have pretty narrow margins, and I don't want to crop them as I scribble a ton of notes in the margins of scholarly articles I read.

And that's the main thing I want a tablet for PDF reading for--not just to read, but to also highlight text and scribble notes in the margins like I do on printouts now.

So yeah, it's just we all have our own, very specific needs--and mine are more specific than most I realize.

Johannes · 02-28-2010, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tamara

The WiFi version should be available in late March and the 3G version in April.

Sorry, my question was ambiguous. What I meant to ask was: "any idea on availability of such a PDF viewer (with automatic margin cropping) for the iPad?".

Tamara · 02-28-2010, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johannes

Sorry, my question was ambiguous. What I meant to ask was: "any idea on availability of such a PDF viewer (with automatic margin cropping) for the iPad?".

There are lots of different PDF apps in the app store. I don't really use PDFs much myself so I don't know which ones can do what you want.

Sonist · 02-28-2010, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johannes

Thanks Dmaul, Dragonbone, and Sonist.

Indeed, the markedly different views on suitability for reading A4-sized PDFs seem to be based on specific needs.

I will encounter PDFs with double columns. However, I figure that should be okay provided a PDF reader is available on the iPad that allows for automatic cropping of the margins. (These technical PDFs tend to have relatively wide margins.) Any info on the (expected) availability of such readers?

There is no particular reason not to expect a margin-cropping PDF reader app, but IMO 9.7" is still too small for most PDFs, particularly tech/science ones.

For instance, trying to read a Lonely Planet PDF on the 9.7" is farly unpleasant, even though the margins are small. The font size is too small in portrait, but in landscape the columns cause you to keep scrolling up and down incessantly, plus it just feels weird, like someone is covering half the page. I use it in a pinch when traveling and pulling out my Mac Book is too much hassle, but would not do it regularly.

I really don't see the iPad as a great device for PDFs. Or for magazines and "papers" - I think the publishers of periodicals are getting too excited over something which may not work well for their formats.

For PDFs, the The DR1000 may be the closest, but still a little to small for me.

I really wanted to like and buy the iPad, but there are just too many misses - I feel about it the same way I felt about Apple TV (which I actually bought, then sent back).

Johannes · 02-28-2010, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sonist

... IMO 9.7" is still too small for most PDFs, particularly tech/science ones.

Hmmm, you make me doubt...

I don't want to hijack this tread. Have started a new tread on this subject.

All4Fun · 03-01-2010, 09:16 PM

It's been a while since I've been to mobileread. Since my last visit, I've sold my Sony PRS-505 in anticipation of the iPad.

For me, the mere experience of being able to read in colour on a tablet device is justification enough for me. I'm not worried about battery life. If I get in an hour of reading per day, that would be an achievement for me with all of my other priorities.

I'm also looking forward to being able to browse the web in bed. Has any of you ever tried using a notebook while lying down?

I currently do that with my Macbook Pro and while it's do-able, I'm hoping that the experience will be better with the iPad.

Being able to use some of the Apple Store apps would be great too. Imagine using the SlingPlayer app on the iPad (which I own for an iPod Touch my daughter uses) and other odd apps.

Remember, Apple is selling the experience and not trying to solve world hunger with the iPad. For what I need it to do, I'm expecting it to be a great experience.

Can't wait for its release. I'll look to pick up the wifi version upon release.

dragonbone · 03-05-2010, 01:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by All4Fun

It's been a while since I've been to mobileread. Since my last visit, I've sold my Sony PRS-505 in anticipation of the iPad.

For me, the mere experience of being able to read in colour on a tablet device is justification enough for me. I'm not worried about battery life. If I get in an hour of reading per day, that would be an achievement for me with all of my other priorities.

I'm also looking forward to being able to browse the web in bed. Has any of you ever tried using a notebook while lying down?

I currently do that with my Macbook Pro and while it's do-able, I'm hoping that the experience will be better with the iPad.

Being able to use some of the Apple Store apps would be great too. Imagine using the SlingPlayer app on the iPad (which I own for an iPod Touch my daughter uses) and other odd apps.

Remember, Apple is selling the experience and not trying to solve world hunger with the iPad. For what I need it to do, I'm expecting it to be a great experience.

Can't wait for its release. I'll look to pick up the wifi version upon release.

Welcome back

. I was also gone for a long time but returned to the fold, and now impatiently and with great anticipation waiting for the release of the iPad!

olddumbguy · 03-08-2010, 11:36 PM

I started out with the PRS-505, upgraded to the PRS-700 and used them both for nearly a year. I havent read a paper book in a year in a half. I tried to do it with Stephen King's 'Under the Dome' due to the delay in the ebook release and I ended up putting it down after 200 pages and got he audiobook from Audible.

Last May I got my first Ipod Touch and within a few weeks figured out how to work Calibre with it and Stanza and quickly got to the point where I was doing all my reading on my Ipod Touch. I no longer use my Sony readers at all.

So I am selling both my Sonys to help pay for the ipad. My 32gb Ipod Touch has about 10gb available and about 8gb of whats on there is audio. I'm going to get the 64gb ipad without the 3G. I have a Sprint MiFi that I already pay for and I'm sure it works much better then ATT's 3G.

The Ipad will become my primary book reader and I'll constantly be using Calibre to add to and update my Ipad library. I'll probobly have about 10-15gb of movies/tv shows, a few gb of pictures and the rest will be apps and room for more books. I have 80 or so apps I've purchased and will move them all over to the Ipad as well. So some games, lots of web surfing and more hours spent reading then on any of all the other uses combined.

I'm really hoping (and expecting) Stanza and hopefully Amazon's Kindle app and the B&N app will sync my Ipod Touch and Ipad together.

I have had no problems with eye strain reading on my Touch. I'm very excited about this.

02-22-2010, 09:08 PM	#91
dmaul1114 Wizard Posts: 2,300 Karma: 1121709 Join Date: Feb 2009 Device: Amazon Kindle 1	Perfect size is all relative to what you need the device for..... 9.7" isn't bad, A4 is better as I know I can throw any of my PDFs on it, have the whole page displayed just like the printout, and have plenty of room to write in the margins (no need to crop margins to get the whole page to show up) etc. That said, I know I'm picky and have very specific needs, so I don't mean to be bashing the iPad. It's a fine device. Just everyone has different needs/wants, so "perfect" anything is relative to what one needs. Last edited by dmaul1114; 02-23-2010 at 10:07 PM.

02-28-2010, 02:53 AM	#95
Johannes Enthusiast Posts: 44 Karma: 28 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Houston, TX Device: Apple iPad	A4-size PDF reading Thanks Dmaul, Dragonbone, and Sonist. Indeed, the markedly different views on suitability for reading A4-sized PDFs seem to be based on specific needs. I will encounter PDFs with double columns. However, I figure that should be okay provided a PDF reader is available on the iPad that allows for automatic cropping of the margins. (These technical PDFs tend to have relatively wide margins.) Any info on the (expected) availability of such readers?

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02-28-2010, 03:15 AM	#96
Donnageddon Now you lishen here... Posts: 2,494 Karma: 479498 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Seattle-ish Device: Sony PRS-650. Kobo Touch, Kindle Fire	"Why is the iPad a no-brainer for you?" It's a big iPod Touch! And that's exactly what I wanted.

03-01-2010, 09:16 PM	#103
All4Fun Zealot Posts: 149 Karma: 937 Join Date: Mar 2009 Device: Kindle Paperwhite (10th Gen)	It's been a while since I've been to mobileread. Since my last visit, I've sold my Sony PRS-505 in anticipation of the iPad. For me, the mere experience of being able to read in colour on a tablet device is justification enough for me. I'm not worried about battery life. If I get in an hour of reading per day, that would be an achievement for me with all of my other priorities. I'm also looking forward to being able to browse the web in bed. Has any of you ever tried using a notebook while lying down? I currently do that with my Macbook Pro and while it's do-able, I'm hoping that the experience will be better with the iPad. Being able to use some of the Apple Store apps would be great too. Imagine using the SlingPlayer app on the iPad (which I own for an iPod Touch my daughter uses) and other odd apps. Remember, Apple is selling the experience and not trying to solve world hunger with the iPad. For what I need it to do, I'm expecting it to be a great experience. Can't wait for its release. I'll look to pick up the wifi version upon release.

03-08-2010, 11:36 PM	#105
olddumbguy Member Posts: 13 Karma: 272 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: SoCal, USA Device: Kindle 3, HTC EVO, iPad, Sony PRS-505, Sony PRS-700, Ipod Touch	I started out with the PRS-505, upgraded to the PRS-700 and used them both for nearly a year. I havent read a paper book in a year in a half. I tried to do it with Stephen King's 'Under the Dome' due to the delay in the ebook release and I ended up putting it down after 200 pages and got he audiobook from Audible. Last May I got my first Ipod Touch and within a few weeks figured out how to work Calibre with it and Stanza and quickly got to the point where I was doing all my reading on my Ipod Touch. I no longer use my Sony readers at all. So I am selling both my Sonys to help pay for the ipad. My 32gb Ipod Touch has about 10gb available and about 8gb of whats on there is audio. I'm going to get the 64gb ipad without the 3G. I have a Sprint MiFi that I already pay for and I'm sure it works much better then ATT's 3G. The Ipad will become my primary book reader and I'll constantly be using Calibre to add to and update my Ipad library. I'll probobly have about 10-15gb of movies/tv shows, a few gb of pictures and the rest will be apps and room for more books. I have 80 or so apps I've purchased and will move them all over to the Ipad as well. So some games, lots of web surfing and more hours spent reading then on any of all the other uses combined. I'm really hoping (and expecting) Stanza and hopefully Amazon's Kindle app and the B&N app will sync my Ipod Touch and Ipad together. I have had no problems with eye strain reading on my Touch. I'm very excited about this.

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