Words/screen on iphone vs others?

darkmonk · 01-17-2009, 05:27 PM

Hey guys, I've been thinking real hard about what I want to buy, and I recently saw a photo that pretty much made my mind.

Is it true? Can the iphone display as much as a kindle? Because I can read tiny words no problem, I know that. And really, the question is, do you find yourselves flipping pages on the iphone enough for it to be annoying?
Thanks.

JSWolf · 01-17-2009, 05:42 PM

Do you want to read your eBooks on a device that you have to look through a haze of fingerprints to see? Also if you notice, you get LESS on screen as a Kindle. With the Kindle you get 7 lines in the first paragraph and the iPhone takes 10 lines. Plus, the battery life of the iPhone is not good. So as you read, you'll be easily draining the battery and then if you want to make a call, good luck. This is no joke.

lilac_jive · 01-17-2009, 05:43 PM

Not to mention how fast it will die. The battery life when you are using the touch screen is not very long.

JSWolf · 01-17-2009, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lilac_jive

Not to mention how fast it will die. The battery life when you are using the touch screen is not very long.

The iPhone is a do it all but not for very long.

darkmonk · 01-17-2009, 05:54 PM

I wasn't aware the battery was that bad; I though you could get a full day's usage from it. Could I read for 5 hours in a 16 hour cycle?
I have no problem with daily charging.

JSWolf · 01-17-2009, 05:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darkmonk

I wasn't aware the battery was that bad; I though you could get a full day's usage from it. Could I read for 5 hours in a 16 hour cycle?
I have no problem with daily charging.

No way you'll get 5 hours read time. You'll be lucky to get 3 hours.

darkmonk · 01-17-2009, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

No way you'll get 5 hours read time. You'll be lucky to get 3 hours.

Really? Even with 3G turned off? If I can only use it for 3 hours of intensive use, then I'd disgusted with the iphone. It's not even an option.

ficbot · 01-17-2009, 06:13 PM

I have an iPod Touch (the non-phone model) and the battery life is pretty good unless I play certain games on it. eReader app is just great and can go for hours. I take it with me all the time when I babysit.

The only time I prefer a larger screen is when I am trying to read on the treadmill or some other situation where I am in motion. For that, I prefer the eBookwise. Other than that though, I have no complaints.

lilac_jive · 01-17-2009, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darkmonk

Really? Even with 3G turned off? If I can only use it for 3 hours of intensive use, then I'd disgusted with the iphone. It's not even an option.

Mine drains pretty fast and I don't even use it much. But like ficbot, I'm playing games. And I have no 3G.

HarryT · 01-18-2009, 04:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darkmonk

Really? Even with 3G turned off? If I can only use it for 3 hours of intensive use, then I'd disgusted with the iphone. It's not even an option.

It's the backlight that kills the battery.

However, I think that 3h is a little pessimistic. For video playing (my primary use for my iPod touch) I can easily get 4h from a battery charge, and reading should be less CPU-intensive and hence use somewhat less battery power.

bwaldron · 01-18-2009, 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

It's the backlight that kills the battery.

However, I think that 3h is a little pessimistic. For video playing (my primary use for my iPod touch) I can easily get 4h from a battery charge, and reading should be less CPU-intensive and hence use somewhat less battery power.

On the 2nd Gen Touch, you can definitely read for more 6 hours (with medium screen brightness) on a charge w/ WiFi turned off. That's as much as I've done, and there was power remaining.

Not great, not as good as other PDAs I've used in the past, but not completely horrible.

Still, I prefer my Cybook for long reading sessions.

speedygonz · 01-28-2009, 05:03 AM

Depending on the occasion, I switch between a PRS505 and my handy Nokia cellphone with its tiny 2" screen. I typically read novels on the 505 and short stories on the cellphone.

Sweetpea · 01-28-2009, 06:25 AM

It's not only the amount of letters (and thus sentences) you can get on a screen, but also the readability.

I have a HTC something (my work phone, it's an ugly thing, but, hey, it runs mobipocket) and it will hold only slightly less characters than my PDA. But the letters themselves are much smaller. Which makes it a bit harder to read.

If I look at that picture you added, I'd say it was the same there. The letters are slightly smaller, which makes the letters all crawl up together. Also, the line length is much smaller, which makes it less easy to read (more eye movements as you mustn't only go back to the left, but also have to find the next line).

I think that IPhone could be a nice backup (in case you don't want to take your reader with you), but I wouldn't want to use it for a primary reader.

S.Canton · 01-30-2009, 12:25 AM

I think reading off of the iphone would get pretty uncomfortable rather quickly, but that's just based on the image you've posted. I've never actually used an iphone to read books from.

Andybaby · 01-30-2009, 02:27 AM

for light reading, the iphone is pretty good. less than 1 hour a day.

the Iphone/touch is also a great all round device that just does every thing.

if you plan on reading more than 1 book a week, than a eink device is in order.

01-17-2009, 05:27 PM	#1
darkmonk Connoisseur Posts: 58 Karma: 12 Join Date: Jan 2009 Device: none	Words/screen on iphone vs others? Hey guys, I've been thinking real hard about what I want to buy, and I recently saw a photo that pretty much made my mind. Is it true? Can the iphone display as much as a kindle? Because I can read tiny words no problem, I know that. And really, the question is, do you find yourselves flipping pages on the iphone enough for it to be annoying? Thanks.

01-17-2009, 05:42 PM	#2
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 73,897 Karma: 128597114 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Do you want to read your eBooks on a device that you have to look through a haze of fingerprints to see? Also if you notice, you get LESS on screen as a Kindle. With the Kindle you get 7 lines in the first paragraph and the iPhone takes 10 lines. Plus, the battery life of the iPhone is not good. So as you read, you'll be easily draining the battery and then if you want to make a call, good luck. This is no joke. Last edited by JSWolf; 01-17-2009 at 05:44 PM.

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01-17-2009, 05:43 PM	#3
lilac_jive Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,870 Karma: 27376 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Pennsylvania Device: PRS-505	Not to mention how fast it will die. The battery life when you are using the touch screen is not very long.

01-17-2009, 05:54 PM	#5
darkmonk Connoisseur Posts: 58 Karma: 12 Join Date: Jan 2009 Device: none	I wasn't aware the battery was that bad; I though you could get a full day's usage from it. Could I read for 5 hours in a 16 hour cycle? I have no problem with daily charging.

01-17-2009, 06:13 PM	#8
ficbot Wizard Posts: 2,409 Karma: 4132096 Join Date: Sep 2008 Device: Kindle Paperwhite/iOS Kindle App	I have an iPod Touch (the non-phone model) and the battery life is pretty good unless I play certain games on it. eReader app is just great and can go for hours. I take it with me all the time when I babysit. The only time I prefer a larger screen is when I am trying to read on the treadmill or some other situation where I am in motion. For that, I prefer the eBookwise. Other than that though, I have no complaints.

01-28-2009, 05:03 AM	#12
speedygonz Junior Member Posts: 5 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2009 Device: Sony Reader PRS-505	Depending on the occasion, I switch between a PRS505 and my handy Nokia cellphone with its tiny 2" screen. I typically read novels on the 505 and short stories on the cellphone.

01-28-2009, 06:25 AM	#13
Sweetpea Grand Sorcerer Posts: 9,707 Karma: 32763414 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Krewerd Device: Pocketbook Inkpad 4 Color; Samsung Galaxy Tab S6	It's not only the amount of letters (and thus sentences) you can get on a screen, but also the readability. I have a HTC something (my work phone, it's an ugly thing, but, hey, it runs mobipocket) and it will hold only slightly less characters than my PDA. But the letters themselves are much smaller. Which makes it a bit harder to read. If I look at that picture you added, I'd say it was the same there. The letters are slightly smaller, which makes the letters all crawl up together. Also, the line length is much smaller, which makes it less easy to read (more eye movements as you mustn't only go back to the left, but also have to find the next line). I think that IPhone could be a nice backup (in case you don't want to take your reader with you), but I wouldn't want to use it for a primary reader.

01-30-2009, 12:25 AM	#14
S.Canton Groupie Posts: 174 Karma: 12 Join Date: Jan 2009 Device: Kindle 2	I think reading off of the iphone would get pretty uncomfortable rather quickly, but that's just based on the image you've posted. I've never actually used an iphone to read books from.

01-30-2009, 02:27 AM	#15
Andybaby Wizard Posts: 1,279 Karma: 1002683 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: New York Device: PRS-700	for light reading, the iphone is pretty good. less than 1 hour a day. the Iphone/touch is also a great all round device that just does every thing. if you plan on reading more than 1 book a week, than a eink device is in order.

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