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iPad 1 as a book reader - which app and store are best?

dmk1974

dmk1974

macrumors 68020
Original poster
Sep 16, 2008
2,489
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My MIL wants an iPad so she can read books while on vacation (as well as much of the other great stuff an iPad can do). But my question is...which ebook reader app and book store is best for use with the iPad? iBooks, Kindle, or Nook? Ease of use and book selection are most important of course. Thanks!
 
MacDawg said:
Why limit yourself?
All of the Apps are free

I use iBooks mainly, but if I can't find something, I will buy in the Kindle App
Click to expand...

If it were me using the iPad for reading, I have no problem with the multiple apps. But for her, I'm thinking one app would be best. Maybe she'll surprise me and become more adept to the iPad than I expect :)
 
I would recommend the Kindle app. Their store has a much bigger selection than the iBookstore. Also, she can read her Kindle books on other devices. Right now, you can only read books from the iBookstore on iOS devices.
 
If you don't think she'll be adept enough to use two or more applications, perhaps you are spending about $400 too much to accomplish your goal? ;)

Kindle seems to have the biggest selection. But I only buy from iBooks, because I like it better, and I want to have all my books in one place.
 
I have bought books in both iBooks and Kindle. The Kindle store has a larger selection at the moment, and often the books are less expensive than iBooks (although I have seen some cheaper in iBooks). I however prefer reading books in iBooks, however Kindle has the advantage that you can read books on your Mac, PC or Kindle as well.
 
iPad outside

I have all kinds of Apple hardware, and am very pleased with it. I do not have an iPad or any device to read books and magazines. I still use the type that is actually printed on paper. (Give me a break, I am 60.) I really want to get the iPad 2, but my understanding is that reading an iPad outside is very difficult because of glare compared to a device such as the Kindle. Would someone please give me a little advice? Many thanks.
 
You are correct. If you want to read outside in direct sunlight, the Kindle will be the better device. LCD screens are very difficult to see in direct sunlight.
 
You say she wants to use it for reading as well as all the additional things you can do with the iPad but you're not sure of her ability to use more than one book reading app? That's a little bit of a conflict there it seems to me. I'd obviously vote for a Kindle instead of the iPad if she's simply wanting to read and not too technologically savvy.
 
Kindle and iBooks are all you'll need to build a great library... er, e-library... i-library? I do miss the book smell. Maybe the iPad 3 will have a nozzle that emits a "ed du book" aroma :D
 
Keep in mind that the DRM used in all the e-book stores means that if some other company brings out the ultimate e-book reader at some point you'll have to buy all your books again or strip the DRM. The Kindle and nook DRM can be removed, the iBook one can't be at this point.

I personally buy all my books for the nook and read them in Stanza on the iPad or on my nook. Buying locked-down books seems short sighted to me.
 
I would suggest kindle they have a great selection but also I use stanza for the ebooks I have already bought before and read it with that app.
 
dmk1974 said:
If it were me using the iPad for reading, I have no problem with the multiple apps. But for her, I'm thinking one app would be best. Maybe she'll surprise me and become more adept to the iPad than I expect :)
Click to expand...

This guy thinks he's one of the few smart enough to navigate an iPad.
 
dmk1974 said:
My MIL wants an iPad so she can read books while on vacation (as well as much of the other great stuff an iPad can do). But my question is...which ebook reader app and book store is best for use with the iPad? iBooks, Kindle, or Nook? Ease of use and book selection are most important of course. Thanks!
Click to expand...
Sounds to me like she would be better off with a Kindle, but you want to force her down the iPad route.
 
I probably should have clarified better her capability. :) It's not that she can't figure out how to use multiple apps, but it would be much easier for her I'm guessing if all her books are in one app instead of bouncing between 3 of them to know which has which. I know it only takes maybe 10 seconds max to get that answer by tapping all the apps, but just want to keep it simple if possible.

She actually said that she didn't like the kindle and was considering buying a NookColor at the local store. I just think for the money difference, getting the used iPad for only $40 more (net) is much more worth it. After testing the iPad I used to have, she likes that she can do e-mail easily on it, browse sites, watch videos, view photos of her grandkids, and listen to music as well.
 
Another thing you might consider is that with the iPad you can "check out" books from your local library for free (DRM protected), at least I can up here in the Pacific Northwest. You cannot with the Kindle. I have a Kindle2 and recently purchased a Sony E-Reader just to get library books from my local library.

The Kindle is definitely a better reading "experience" than the Sony, but I haven't used it for about six months now.

I will be getting an iPad2. The deciding factor was the library book option. Also with the Kindle app, I can upload all the previously purchased books from Amazon and read them again.

Just another option!

Ron
 
dmk1974 said:
I probably should have clarified better her capability. :) It's not that she can't figure out how to use multiple apps, but it would be much easier for her I'm guessing if all her books are in one app instead of bouncing between 3 of them to know which has which. I know it only takes maybe 10 seconds max to get that answer by tapping all the apps, but just want to keep it simple if possible.

She actually said that she didn't like the kindle and was considering buying a NookColor at the local store. I just think for the money difference, getting the used iPad for only $40 more (net) is much more worth it. After testing the iPad I used to have, she likes that she can do e-mail easily on it, browse sites, watch videos, view photos of her grandkids, and listen to music as well.
Click to expand...
Gotcha, that makes more sense. If I had to pick only one of the available book store apps for buying as well as obviously reading, I'd choose the Kindle App hands down. I like iBooks, but Kindle's is clearly better in design and interface imho.
 
I would buy them in Kindle form- it's transferable to many devices ( besides Apple). I found it interesting while I didn't have an iPad for a bit that there was not even an iBooks program in the " mac app store" for reading on my MacBook Pro, but a Kindle app is available...:rolleyes:
 
If it HAS to be only one, Kindle because it has the best prices and biggest selection. However, if the book is available in both for the same price, I tend to buy from iBooks. I prefer the iBooks page-turn animation to the Kindle one: iBooks looks like a page turning, while in Kindle it just slides across. iBooks also has a border that looks like a book and uses page numbers - Kindle is just a plain white or sepia background and shows you what percentage of the book you've read. Those things all make me miss real books a little less ;)
 
Simplicity, then somewhat off topic

MacDawg said:
Why limit yourself?
All of the Apps are free.
Click to expand...

I assume that was a rhetorical question, intended to make us go "Why, there's no reason to limit ourselves to one app! Thanks, MacDawg!".

The reason to limit yourself to one app is simplicity. If you have one app, and you want to read a book, you know to just tap that app and you're off on a magical literary journey.

As others have indicated, the MIL may not want to have to pick which of three or four or more apps has the particular book she wants to read.

Of course, there are situations where other issues outweigh simplicity. For example, a given book may not be available in a given app. Or you may have a huge giant brain and not be afraid of multiple book apps. Or you may want to have the maximum number of apps you can on your iPad, to impress any potential ladyfriends - "Behold, woman, the awesome splendor of my iPad! Tremble in amazement as I swipe through page after page, laden with the sweet fruits of hundreds of poor, miserable app developers! Come closer to me, that I may smell your delight in my presence and allow you to put a shy finger on my iBooks app, which is right next to my Stanza app, close by my Google Books app!"
 
I use the iBookstore. It's connected to iTunes, has a great interface, and offers fair prices. And now that Random House has signed on, there are few books I can't find.

Apple created a fantastic ebook app, and it takes advantage of the iPad's capabilities. The Kindle interface is fine, but the iBooks app is quite slick and fun to use.
 
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