iPad as an eReader

I really like reading books on my iPad...it is much heavier than a Nook, but rotates and allows side-by-side pages if you like. The heavier weight does not bother me, just put it on my lap if too tiring. And the fact you can resize makes text really easy to read.

You can control the brightness if the amient light sensor is not adjusting to your liking.

Overall, I much prefer the iPad to the Nook and Kindle, both of which I have used.

I prefer it to my Sony Reader. The Sony ended up sitting on a shelf so I sold it.

One thing I really like is I can read in bed and not disturb my spouse. With my e-ink device, I needed a bright light on the screen which my spouse found annoying. With the iPad, I put it in night mode and can happily read.

Another benefit to the iPad is you're not locked into one format since there are apps for iBooks, Kindle, Nook, etc.

your going to get most of us saying we like the ipad better here. You might also want to go to forums for the other devices and get their users point of view.

Personally I like the brightness control at night, it goes much lower than the manual control for the ipad itself, so its really easy on spouses. That and what the other poster said about apps for the other digital book stores makes it an all-in-one reader for wherever your books are stored.

Jason

I've used both the iPad and the Kindle and much, much prefer the iPad for pretty much all of the reasons above and also because, well, the buttons and all that on the Kindle and the seeming acres of plastic. It is way lighter than the iPad, which can be good, but it also feels like it couldn't stand too much abuse. I've already managed to bang the iPad around more than I meant to and it's come through with flying colors.

That said, the next time I'm lucky enough to spend a few weeks in an Outer Banks beach house I'll seriously consider picking up the cheap Kindle to use there. I tried the iPad on the beach a few times in August, but the glare was killing me and the thought of having that machine around all of that sun and salt and sand and beer and suntan lotions and etc ..... well, that was just freaking me out too much to enjoy it.

Hello all,

I have to say that my wife and i found out that by turning the view to black gave the ipad the same feel as using the eink that the kindle dx uses. She found it much easier to read during the day and night. The brightness of the back light was not an issue anymore. I also us that on the iphone while reading to.

I have an iPad and a Nook, and I prefer the Nook for anything that would be printed on matte paper rather than glossy... novels and so on. I prefer the iPad for anything that would normally be printed on glossy paper (magazines, textbooks, etc.). For me, the eyestrain of the backlit screen is an issue, but I know that not everyone has this problem.

+"I've used both the iPad and the Kindle and much, much prefer the iPad for pretty much all of the reasons above and also because, well, the buttons and all that on the Kindle and the seeming acres of plastic."+

I've also got an iPad and a Kindle. Both have their merits. I much prefer the Kindle out of doors where the display is easily readable in direct sunlight when the iPad screen is washed out.

The beauty of the iPad has an ebook is the colour screen and also the size of it's screen, pages are showing great side by side.

I have subscriptions with a range of magazines, reading these on the iPad is just like reading the paper equivalent due to the iPad showing it in colour.

The only negative I have read with the iPad been used has an ereader is that it is difficult to read in bright sunlight, whereas the Sony and the Kindle for example can be read. But it is possible to read the iPad in a dark room, whereas the same cannot be said for the usual types of ebook, i.e Kindle, Sony etc, thats what I have heard from friends of mine. So both have their pros and cons.

consider this; iPad has iBooks, Kindle and then specialist Apps like T3 magazine and Zinio etc
For me that was all i needed to hear! LOL!
now i read my books on ipad, download my magazines on ipad and even catch up on the occasional issue of T3 (with all its awesome digital content and stylised content).
As a reader ipad is out classing everything on the market to date simply because it can do everything, whilst the rest are limited by various factors.
The cost of that is simply the cost of the ipad! usually 4 times the amount of a standard ereader!
the question you have to answer is "do you pay for the extra functionality?"

Tobman wrote:
yes, but the big advantage to the Kindle (or Nook) is cost. The Kindle is cheap, the iPad is not cheap. I would not want to take the iPad to the beach. An iPad might be in my future, but for now I'm going with a Kindle, WiFi only. Thanks for all the input.

If cost was the big concern, there was no need to ask to begin with 🙂

As an eBook reader, the iPad is primitive compared to the new Kindle. The Kindle is lighter, has a MUCH longer battery life, is much easier on the eyes and can be used in bright lighted areas.

BUT the Kindle can only read eBooks, the iPad can do much more. I suggest having both if you read a lot of eBooks.

Anyone who's held both an iPad and a Kindle in their hands would never call the iPad the primitive one. Acres of plastic, ticky-tacky little buttons ...

It's much better to take your Kindle to the beach, for sure. Glare won't be a problem at all, and it's cheap enough that you won't be as freaked out by all the salt and sand and all. OTOH, pretty hard to read a Kindle in the dark ...

I would call the Kindle primitive compared to the iPad. For you, it's easier on the eyes. For me, e-ink is hard on the eyes unless I have extremely bright light. I also find the Kindle to feel very cheap in the hand. It does not feel like a solid, well made device plus I find that silly little plastic keyboard a waste of space.

A big drawback to the Kindle or any e-ink device is you need bright light to use it. If you want to read in bed without your spouse hating you, the iPad is the way to go.