Wired: The Kindle in the tablet world

DMcCunney · 10-06-2010, 11:05 AM

http://www.wired.com/magazine/2010/0...tories+2%29%29
______
Dennis

SensualPoet · 10-06-2010, 06:04 PM

If you are serious about long-form reading, the Kindle is an awesome, inexpensive device to enjoy books on.

If you want to read newspapers and magazines, a good sized desktop screen or large screen laptop is ideal.

If mobility and multimedia is important, and you have an affordable data connection, a tablet such as an iPad is a good solution.

Can you read books on an iPad? Sure. Can you surf the web with a Kindle over wifi at the airport? Sure. But neither is optimal nor a good reason to acquire the device for these purposes ... it's just a nice perk.

Kali Yuga · 10-06-2010, 06:37 PM

Well, at least some of the tech media are recovering from the idea that the Kindle is "dead meat" in a tablet world....

leebase · 10-06-2010, 09:10 PM

Comparing the experience of reading on an iPad to surfing the web on a kindle? Interesting.

The kindle has it's winning points for sure....price, battery life, reading in full sunlight. For some folks, it's eInk screen is comfortable on their eyes while a tablet is not. But that's only some people.

But the iPad is a terrific reader heads up against the kindle for most people in most lighting situations. Not just for color, not just for the web, or magazines. The only scenario where the iPad is a poor reader is in direct sunlight. I read outside in the shade all the time, and for hours on end.

The kindle's new price point will keep them in business.

Lee

Viseguy · 10-06-2010, 09:44 PM

Thanks for the link. The relevant points, for me, were suitability for sustained reading and the absence of distractions. Old-fashioned, bookish virtues that need rescuing in this era of relentless multitasking.

leebase · 10-07-2010, 09:25 AM

It would be a nice virtue perhaps (freedom from distraction), but it is not inherrently a virtue of the kindle. Still have that cell phone in your pocket, tv across the room, soda or beer in the fridge calling your name. Merely reading on a kindle does not free you from distraction.

If you are the type to go find a quiet place specifically to be free of distraction, then you can certainly avoid distracting yourself when reading on an iPad. If you don't have the discipline to read on iPad, I seriously doubt you have the discipline to remove all the other distractions available to even kindle readers.

Lee

Kali Yuga · 10-07-2010, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leebase

It would be a nice virtue perhaps (freedom from distraction), but it is not inherrently a virtue of the kindle.... Merely reading on a kindle does not free you from distraction.

I believe the sensory deprivation tank is a 3rd party accessory.

The iPad isn't quite as distracting as I thought it was going to be, but IMO it does offer more opportunities for distraction than a Kindle. It may just be a mental thing, but I've found that if I hit a particularly slow patch in a book, I'm a little more likely to switch to "Angry Birds" if I'm using an iPad.....

Maggie Leung · 10-07-2010, 10:27 AM

Doesn't matter whether others can or can't concentrate on a specific device. All that matters is using what works for you.

I don't have trouble concentrating. iPad, Kindle, print, whatever. It's all reading to me.

leebase · 10-08-2010, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kali Yuga

but I've found that if I hit a particularly slow patch in a book, I'm a little more likely to switch to "Angry Birds" if I'm using an iPad.....

Or turn on the tv...or go get a beer....or stare off and day dream.

But yeah....it's actually NICE to have Angry Birds at your beck and call, and email, and the internet, and Netflix....

Lee

David71 · 10-09-2010, 09:02 PM

The Kindle is perfect for me. I simply have no need for a tablet. My Kindle and iPod take care of all my multimedia needs when I'm away from home. Well, okay, my reader gets a lot of use at home, too. Heck, I might make a phone call with my cell phone once a week or so. I don't think I've ever even tried to go online with it.

I can certainly understand that other people have different needs than I do and I respect that. Someone I work with was watching a movie on their phone the other day and I thought that would drive me crazy. I love watching movies at home on the little home theater I've put together but have no desire to watch them on a portable device. I'm just glad that there are options for whatever a person might want or need and hope that continues to be the case.

GhostHawk · 10-10-2010, 07:34 AM

Well I've only had my hands on an ipad once. (TY cousin bob) It had exactly the problem I expect all touch screens to have. the screen was covered in fingerprints and smudges.

My jetbook has menu buttons, and side # buttons so I never have to touch the screen, so except for a once a month wipe with a soft damp cloth I never have to touch it.

The two other problems are cost and battery life. 10 hours is ok if you are where you can charge it up every night, and make a habit of doing exactly that. As for cost, cousin bobby had the tricked out ipad that cost over 650$.

You know how many Jetbooks I can buy for that?

L.J. Sellers · 10-10-2010, 10:06 AM

The iPad looks fun, but even if I had one, I'd don't think I'd use it much. I like reading on my Kindle, and I like using my computer at my desk, with my large monitor and keyboard. Maybe it was designed for people with more free time than I have.

L.J.

Maggie Leung · 10-10-2010, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by L.J. Sellers

The iPad looks fun, but even if I had one, I'd don't think I'd use it much. I like reading on my Kindle, and I like using my computer at my desk, with my large monitor and keyboard. Maybe it was designed for people with more free time than I have.

L.J.

Maybe. I don't enjoy sitting at a desk unless I'm working. I also make sure I have lots more free time than most people. I highly recommend it, iPad or not, lol.

L.J. Sellers · 10-10-2010, 11:04 AM

Maggie, I'm moving in that direction (more free time). Meanwhile, I feel fortunate that I enjoy my work.
L.J.

Maggie Leung · 10-10-2010, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by L.J. Sellers

Meanwhile, I feel fortunate that I enjoy my work.
L.J.

Yup, definitely. Love my work. Love my free time. Love my iPad, at least for now, lol.

10-06-2010, 11:05 AM	#1
DMcCunney New York Editor Posts: 6,384 Karma: 16540415 Join Date: Aug 2007 Device: PalmTX, Pocket eDGe, Alcatel Fierce 4, RCA Viking Pro 10, Nexus 7	Wired: The Kindle in the tablet world http://www.wired.com/magazine/2010/0...tories+2%29%29 ______ Dennis

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10-06-2010, 06:04 PM	#2
SensualPoet Wizard Posts: 2,302 Karma: 2607151 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Toronto Device: Kobo Aura HD, Kindle Paperwhite, Asus ZenPad 3, Kobo Glo	If you are serious about long-form reading, the Kindle is an awesome, inexpensive device to enjoy books on. If you want to read newspapers and magazines, a good sized desktop screen or large screen laptop is ideal. If mobility and multimedia is important, and you have an affordable data connection, a tablet such as an iPad is a good solution. Can you read books on an iPad? Sure. Can you surf the web with a Kindle over wifi at the airport? Sure. But neither is optimal nor a good reason to acquire the device for these purposes ... it's just a nice perk.

10-06-2010, 06:37 PM	#3
Kali Yuga Professional Contrarian Posts: 2,045 Karma: 3289631 Join Date: Mar 2009 Device: Kindle 4 No Touchie	Well, at least some of the tech media are recovering from the idea that the Kindle is "dead meat" in a tablet world....

10-06-2010, 09:10 PM	#4
leebase Karma Kameleon Posts: 2,934 Karma: 26616647 Join Date: Aug 2009 Device: iPad Mini, iPhone X, Kindle Fire Tab HD 8, Walmart Onn	Comparing the experience of reading on an iPad to surfing the web on a kindle? Interesting. The kindle has it's winning points for sure....price, battery life, reading in full sunlight. For some folks, it's eInk screen is comfortable on their eyes while a tablet is not. But that's only some people. But the iPad is a terrific reader heads up against the kindle for most people in most lighting situations. Not just for color, not just for the web, or magazines. The only scenario where the iPad is a poor reader is in direct sunlight. I read outside in the shade all the time, and for hours on end. The kindle's new price point will keep them in business. Lee

10-06-2010, 09:44 PM	#5
Viseguy Just a kid from Bklyn Posts: 135 Karma: 4448 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: NYC Device: Kindle 3 Wi-Fi; Samsung Galaxy Tab 7	Thanks for the link. The relevant points, for me, were suitability for sustained reading and the absence of distractions. Old-fashioned, bookish virtues that need rescuing in this era of relentless multitasking.

10-07-2010, 09:25 AM	#6
leebase Karma Kameleon Posts: 2,934 Karma: 26616647 Join Date: Aug 2009 Device: iPad Mini, iPhone X, Kindle Fire Tab HD 8, Walmart Onn	It would be a nice virtue perhaps (freedom from distraction), but it is not inherrently a virtue of the kindle. Still have that cell phone in your pocket, tv across the room, soda or beer in the fridge calling your name. Merely reading on a kindle does not free you from distraction. If you are the type to go find a quiet place specifically to be free of distraction, then you can certainly avoid distracting yourself when reading on an iPad. If you don't have the discipline to read on iPad, I seriously doubt you have the discipline to remove all the other distractions available to even kindle readers. Lee

10-07-2010, 10:27 AM	#8
Maggie Leung Wizard Posts: 1,449 Karma: 58383 Join Date: Jul 2009 Device: Kindle, iPad	Doesn't matter whether others can or can't concentrate on a specific device. All that matters is using what works for you. I don't have trouble concentrating. iPad, Kindle, print, whatever. It's all reading to me.

10-09-2010, 09:02 PM	#10
David71 Enthusiast Posts: 29 Karma: 12 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Ashland, AL Device: Kindle Touch	The Kindle is perfect for me. I simply have no need for a tablet. My Kindle and iPod take care of all my multimedia needs when I'm away from home. Well, okay, my reader gets a lot of use at home, too. Heck, I might make a phone call with my cell phone once a week or so. I don't think I've ever even tried to go online with it. I can certainly understand that other people have different needs than I do and I respect that. Someone I work with was watching a movie on their phone the other day and I thought that would drive me crazy. I love watching movies at home on the little home theater I've put together but have no desire to watch them on a portable device. I'm just glad that there are options for whatever a person might want or need and hope that continues to be the case.

10-10-2010, 07:34 AM	#11
GhostHawk Data Privateer! Posts: 586 Karma: 62887 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Fargo ND Device: Ectaco Jetbook& Jetbook Lite	Well I've only had my hands on an ipad once. (TY cousin bob) It had exactly the problem I expect all touch screens to have. the screen was covered in fingerprints and smudges. My jetbook has menu buttons, and side # buttons so I never have to touch the screen, so except for a once a month wipe with a soft damp cloth I never have to touch it. The two other problems are cost and battery life. 10 hours is ok if you are where you can charge it up every night, and make a habit of doing exactly that. As for cost, cousin bobby had the tricked out ipad that cost over 650$. You know how many Jetbooks I can buy for that?

10-10-2010, 10:06 AM	#12
L.J. Sellers Novelist Posts: 287 Karma: 387979 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Eugene, Oregon Device: Kindle	The iPad looks fun, but even if I had one, I'd don't think I'd use it much. I like reading on my Kindle, and I like using my computer at my desk, with my large monitor and keyboard. Maybe it was designed for people with more free time than I have. L.J.

10-10-2010, 11:04 AM	#14
L.J. Sellers Novelist Posts: 287 Karma: 387979 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Eugene, Oregon Device: Kindle	Maggie, I'm moving in that direction (more free time). Meanwhile, I feel fortunate that I enjoy my work. L.J.