eBook reader novice needs help

[Gaspode]

I was sat on the train coming home this evening, happily reading my Kindle. The guy next to me had an iPad, and was reading on it - or rather, trying to. The combination of low evening sun and glass screen seemed to make it very difficult for him to find a decent viewing angle, he seemed to try al combinations of tilting, squinting, and shading it with his hand. It all seemed a bit of a cavil compared to my Kindle.

I was thinking of asking him about it, but to be honest I couldn't think of a way to do so without appearing to be trying to start a "My Kindle's better than your iPad" type of discussion.

[Blue Meanie]

The kindle is better than the ipad for reading. Its a given really. The screen on the ipad needs to cater for other things as well.

[Gaspode]

Blue Meanie said:

The kindle is better than the ipad for reading. Its a given really. The screen on the ipad needs to cater for other things as well.

Yes, that's my conclusion. If you need an iPad, then a Kindle is never going to be good enough. If you just want an e-Reader, then the Kindle is a much better bet.

[Blue Meanie]

Gaspode said:

Blue Meanie said:

The kindle is better than the ipad for reading. Its a given really. The screen on the ipad needs to cater for other things as well.

Yes, that's my conclusion. If you need an iPad, then a Kindle is never going to be good enough. If you just want an e-Reader, then the Kindle is a much better bet.

[pdV6]

Gaspode said:

Blue Meanie said:

The kindle is better than the ipad for reading. Its a given really. The screen on the ipad needs to cater for other things as well.

Yes, that's my conclusion. If you need an iPad, then a Kindle is never going to be good enough. If you just want an e-Reader, then the Kindle is a much better bet.

The Kindle is a very accomplished ebook reader, but that is practically all it does. Can't argue with the price, though, as they can afford to subsidise them through ebook sales. They really are very VERY good for reading text on.

Having said that, I went the iPad route and use it constantly for everything PLUS reading books. In fact, my software of choice is the Kindle app; it's just as good as, if not better than iBooks and the books I buy are consistently cheaper than the Apple Store and usually on a par with supermarket paperback prices (or less).

As for battery life, yes the Kindle etc last for weeks, but when do you NEED that much runtime, except in the desert? With average use, the iPad can last me a week between charges, but that's moot as it usually lives in its dock linked to the stereo when not being used for something else.

Not trying to come across as a fanboi here (probably failed there, though) as I really like the Kindle, just can't see it replacing a tablet. Will be interesting to see where the Android tablets get positioned in terms of price... somewhere nearer the Kindle and they'll clean up, even if they're not quite up to the standard of Apple. I did think it wa telling that a lot of anticipated devices quietly went away when the iPad was released - I suspect a lot of companies when back to the drawing board once they'd seen how high the bar had been set.

[RobDickinson]

I have a kindle, it works well I get pretty much the 1 month battery life and thats reading plenty.

Great in bright light, easy to use tho a bit quirky. Build quality isnt stellar but is plenty good enough and its light enough.

If you want to read books its a top device, its not an iPad and an iPad isnt a kindle.

If I had an iPad I'd be forever drifting off onto the web or another app to check something too...