Asking for comparisons of the reading experience (books) on an iPad vs an iPad Mini before I buy

ipad and mini have the same number of pixels giving the min ia look of higher res as the pixels are closer together. However main book apps like ibooks and kindle have size settings where you can make text as big or small as you want.

techtonicted wrote:

ipad and mini have the same number of pixels

iPad mini is 1024-by-768 resolution at 163 pixels per inch (ppi)

iPad (retina) is 2048-by-1536 resolution at 264 pixels per inch (ppi)

Obviously the retina display is going to have a higher res, that is the point. You yourself felt the need to add "retina" to your post to make the distinction. Notice that neither of our post mentioned the retina display. Furthermore if a comparison is to be made it doesnt make since to compare a retina against a mini. If you want hi res, you get a retina, if you want max portability you get a mini.

Since the question here is about READING, I stand by what I said. The reading capabilities are not stunted by the smaller screen size of the mini.

techtonicted wrote:

You yourself felt the need to add "retina" to your post to make the distinction. Notice that neither of our post mentioned the retina display.

Note it is just "iPad". I added retina in parentheses because it is not part of the name.

I added retina to distinguish it from the non-retina iPad 2.

Most people asking about getting an iPad will be referring to the newest one available and referring to it by it's name.

iPad.

I stand by what I said

and I was simply correcting what you said.

iPad is much higher rez & ppi than iPad mini.

Troll (Internet), an internet term for a person who, through willful action, attempts to disrupt a community or garner attention and controversy through provocative messages

Chris CA wrote:

and I was simply correcting what you said.

You made an assumption about what I said. On the website the retina display iPad IS labeled and distinguised as such. Not only were you wrong in your assumption that I meant the retina and not the 2, but you provided no information addressing the original question, which I did.

wonder if the screen is too small for prolonged reading?

However main book apps like ibooks and kindle have size settings where you can make text as big or small as you want.

How about you look for questions that need to be answered, instead of try to make corrections based on assumptions viewed from your singular perspective and completely ignoring the original question.

If posible try to go to a store that has both so that you can compare their screens and their overall sizes and weight. The iPad Mini will be easier to hold in one-hand and read from, but if reading ebooks will be your main activity then a proper e-reader (e.g. Kindle, Kobo etc) might be better as their screens are designed for reading for long periods - iPad's screens are glass and are therefore reflective and not ideal for direct sunlight (though an anti-glare screen protector might help to a degree)

Reading on a glossy glass LED backlit LCD is sometimes difficult for some people - they report eye strain and headaches and such. If you are like that, then for a dedicated ereader, that pretty much rules out any tablet with a glass LED lit screen (iPad, iPad mini, Kindle Fire, Nook tablet, Kobo Arc, and so on).

If you do not like using glass LED/LCD screens for long periods, then a B&W eINK screen might be much better for you - like an original Amazon Kindle model, or a Nook Simple Touch or a Kobo Touch.

As long as the screen is alright to your eyes, and if you want to read magazines or enhanced eBooks with color art and such, then you would want an LCD screen, the choice between iPad or iPad mini is mainly a choice about the size and weight of the device. One nice thing about an iPad is reading in landscape mode on the big screen as that just works well with certain formats or book layouts (and is much better for magazines, IMO). However, the iPad mini is much smaller, lighter, more comfortable to hold for long periods and more easily slipped into a coat pocket or bag.

While I love my iPad, I actually use my Nook Simple Touch (the original model) if sitting down to read for a long time. It is the lightest ereader I've ever held, and the size is perfect for one hand holding while reading. The eINK is superb for text only novels and such, and it is a non-glare glass screen (it does not use capacitive touch for control - the touch control is via infrared LEDs mounted along two sides of the device, forming an infrared grid over the screen). My Nook Simple touch is about 1/3rd or less the size of an iPad weighs right about 7.5oz, while an iPad is a bit over 23oz. That difference may not seem like much, until you've been sitting holding it for a half hour trying to read. The iPad mini is only about 11oz, so maybe a nice compromize weight, as long as you like the screen for long periods of reading.

P.S. I do read a lot on my iPad too, as glossy LCD screens do not bother me, but if settiling down on a weekend to read a novel, I'll tend to pick up the Nook ST instead.

That also begs the question of whether you want a truly (or mainly) dedicated ereader, or do you also need tablet functions as well (email, web browsing, other apps/functions). eINK readers are pretty much ereaders-only, as the screen technology is really only good for displaying text, and is much slower to refresh than an active matrix LCD is.

I haven't used a kindle or nook much but simply looking at the display, they (the black & white versions, not color) seem much easier on the eyes for reading.

You should really check them out yourself to get the best perspective.

winkon, it is a bit of a challenge given the sheer variety of devices on the market, espeically if the primary use is an ereader.

For basic reading (e.g. novels or text-only books) I really do like the eINK screen, it is much more like reading a book on printed paper. I've also been really happy with my Nook ST, it has proven a very nice little device (I've had the Nook Simple Touch since it first shipped in 2011, as I pre-ordered when it was announced). It lasts several weeks on a single charge too.

My iPad is also a daily use device for me. I read, mark up and take notes on PDFs, word documents, and so forth for work just about every day (along with a number of other uses every day). And for magazines it is very nice, although I'm still not wholly sold on electronic versions of magazines (although that seems to depend a lot on how much thought and effort the publisher has put into the layout - some are clearly better designed for a tablet than others, IMO).

So, for my uses, I think if starting over, I would still pick the same two devices, as no one would fully satisfy my wants and uses. I really see my Simple Touch as complimenting my iPad and it remains my primary ereader, at least as far as recreational reading goes. Luckily it is small enough and light enough that I can stick it in my backpack alongside the iPad and not really notice carrying a second device with me. I also have the Nook app on my iPad, and my entire library content sync'd there too anyway.

However, my only experience with the iPad mini has been the demo units in the Apple store - I have no daily use experience with it. As primariyl an ereader, but one with decent web/email/data capabilities, it may be just the ticket for many people. The iPad mini is very similar in size to Barnes and Noble's Nook HD, and I know several people with those who love them, so that size of a device seems very popular,

winkon wrote:

Again, Mr Black, your considered response is appreciated. Exactly the perspective that I was looking for. I'm thinking the Kindle Paperwhite might be a good choice and I will consider the Nook ST. Thank-you. Regards.

Wink, here's a good piece of advice. Go to an Apple store and compare the two devices for yourself. What's OK for Mike Black might not be good for you. In my case, I was really leaning towards getting an iPad mini as a replacement for my iPad 2 -- that is, until I tried to read on it. It was OK, but the full sized iPad was better for me. You can read specs all day, but until you actually use one and see the screen, you'll never know for sure.

Tgara wrote:

What's OK for Mike Black might not be good for you.

Where did I ever say it was? I was asked for an opinion, and I gave mine, based on my own experience. I never said it was the only or even the best option, but simply things to consider.

Michael Black wrote:

Tgara wrote:

What's OK for Mike Black might not be good for you.

Where did I ever say it was? I was asked for an opinion, and I gave mine, based on my own experience. I never said it was the only or even the best option, but simply things to consider.

You are mis-reading my comments. I was just pointing out that the OP should go see for themselves what works best for them and not rely solely on opinions of others.