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iPad or Android tablets just for reading

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Bromio

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jun 6, 2014
311
30
Hi:

I've been thinking of buying a tablet, as my iMac is too powerful (and sometimes uncomfortable) to simple tasks such as browsing or reading.

The most important use I want to give my future tablet is reading eBooks and PDF. As I'd like to read foreign books in its original language, I also need the possibility of having quick access to bilingual dictionary, whether it's in-app or through external app/web.

For this purpose, which tablet would you choose? iPad or Android ones (by the way, probably a Samsung Galaxy Tab S)?

Thank you.

PS: I like the iPad choice as I am an iMac owner, but I don't want this fact to determine your recommendations.
 
Newtons Apple

Newtons Apple

Suspended
Mar 12, 2014
22,757
15,254
Jacksonville, Florida
Well, the iPad or Android tablet would be more versatile. If you ONLY want to read and never do anything else, I would also check out the Kindle as it's display uses less power and is very easy to read, even in direct sunlight. The Kindle is also WAY cheaper.
 
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Rodster

macrumors 68040
May 15, 2007
3,177
6
I personally prefer Android tablets when it comes to reading. My preference is the Amazon Kindle Fire HD/HDX. The primary reason is the customization of the reader and nighttime mode. My second choice are the Samsung tablets. They also have a nighttime reader mode built into their browsers. You can buy the Kindle Fire HDX which is on sale at Amazon.
 
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Bromio

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jun 6, 2014
311
30
Newtons Apple said:
Well, the iPad or Android tablet would be more versatile. If you ONLY want to read and never do anything else, I would also check out the Kindle as it's display uses less power and is very easy to read, even in direct sunlight. The Kindle is also WAY cheaper.
Click to expand...

Thanks, but Kindle doesn't fulfill at all. I forgot saying that I will use my future device not just for reading epubs, but also for PDFs with a lot of graphics and diagrams. So I need the versatility offered by a tablet.

However, in terms of reading eBooks, which will be one of my main activities, I don't know what is better.
 
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Bromio

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jun 6, 2014
311
30
Rodster said:
I personally prefer Android tablets when it comes to reading. My preference is the Amazon Kindle Fire HD/HDX. The primary reason is the customization of the reader and nighttime mode. My second choice are the Samsung tablets. They also have a nighttime reader mode built into their browsers. You can buy the Kindle Fire HDX which is on sale at Amazon.
Click to expand...

The problem with Amazon Kindle Fire HD/HDX is that I will need a 4G connection, because I don't have Internet access several hours a day.

Doesn't iPad have those traits about reading that are present in Amazon/Samsung tablets?

Thanks.
 
kingalexthe1st

kingalexthe1st

macrumors 6502
Apr 13, 2013
477
166
If it's primarily for reading then I'd say either the kindle or an android. I have a macbook air with an android tablet and you don't need to worry about syncing, you'd be surprised by how much you *think* you need it when in reality there are plenty of 3rd party apps that work around it. I use my tablet primarily for reading and watching movies and it's great. The iPad will be way too expensive and over-equipped for your needs.

Alex
 
R

Rodster

macrumors 68040
May 15, 2007
3,177
6
Bromio said:
The problem with Amazon Kindle Fire HD/HDX is that I will need a 4G connection, because I don't have Internet access several hours a day.

Doesn't iPad have those traits about reading that are present in Amazon/Samsung tablets?

Thanks.
Click to expand...

The Kindle Fire HDX are both available with 4G (AT&T and Verizon).
 
P

Primejimbo

macrumors 68040
Aug 10, 2008
3,295
131
Around
If you have an iPhone also, I would get an iPad. This way all you apple stuff will work in harmony. I had an galaxy tablet at one time and I hated the fact that it didn't work with my other stuff.
 
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Bromio

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jun 6, 2014
311
30
Rodster said:
The Kindle Fire HDX are both available with 4G (AT&T and Verizon).
Click to expand...

Not in my country, unfortunately.

----------
Primejimbo said:
If you have an iPhone also, I would get an iPad. This way all you apple stuff will work in harmony. I had an galaxy tablet at one time and I hated the fact that it didn't work with my other stuff.
Click to expand...

I don't have iPhone, but an iMac. Would this make an iPad considerably more preferable over a Samsung Galaxy?

I'll also use my tablet for browsing the web, Twitter, taking notes and, may be, editing Word files. But those activities will be secondary when compared with reading. I certainly won't watch any movie and play any video game.

Thanks.
 
R

Rodster

macrumors 68040
May 15, 2007
3,177
6
Bromio said:
Not in my country, unfortunately.

----------



I don't have iPhone, but an iMac. Would this make an iPad considerably more preferable over a Samsung Galaxy?

I'll also use my tablet for browsing the web, Twitter, taking notes and, may be, editing Word files. But those activities will be secondary when compared with reading. I certainly won't watch any movie and play any video game.

Thanks.
Click to expand...
I own a Mac and have both Android and iOS tablets. So it doesn't matter unless you are locked into the iOS ecosystem, which it doesn't sound like you are. For reading I prefer Samsung, for web viewing I prefer the iPad because of the 4:3 aspect ratio. A Samsung tablet in an 8-8.4" format is even better. My LG Pad 8.3 Google Play Edition arrives today. It's going to be used primarily for reading, web and streaming audio.
 
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Primejimbo

macrumors 68040
Aug 10, 2008
3,295
131
Around
Bromio said:
Not in my country, unfortunately.

----------



I don't have iPhone, but an iMac. Would this make an iPad considerably more preferable over a Samsung Galaxy?

I'll also use my tablet for browsing the web, Twitter, taking notes and, may be, editing Word files. But those activities will be secondary when compared with reading. I certainly won't watch any movie and play any video game.

Thanks.
Click to expand...
For me, I think helps. A few times I used my iPad to control my Mac with the remote app, streamed a movie a few times (I said I wouldn't use it for this, but needed up doing so) from my Mac using Home Sharing/Airplay and with iOS and OSX updates coming, you'll be able to do more.
 
R

RickTaylor

macrumors 6502a
Nov 9, 2013
816
332
I was in your situation just over a year ago. I had a punch of pdfs I wanted to read, and I'd print them out on paper and put them in three ring binders and lose track of them.

I got the iPad mini when it came out and it was perfect. I've used it daily ever since. It's a bit small, and sometimes one has to fiddle with a pdf to read it comfortably, reducing the margins, but for me, the portability of the device was worth it (although iPad Air is certainly wonderfully svelte itself). I typically wear a suit jacket and the mini fits comfortably in a pocket. I did upgrade to the retina when it came out, and while the original worked fine, the additional resolution certainly is nice.

I haven't used an Android tablet, so it's difficult for me to make a comparison. I will say however the iPad has a reputation for great software, and certainly it has marvelous pdf readers one can purchase; I use pdf expert myself. In addition, in my opinion the 4:3 aspect ratio of the iPad is better for reading (especially if you choose the smaller device). Finally, both iPads are so svelt and well designed, I think they're great tablets.
 
C

cynics

macrumors G4
Jan 8, 2012
11,959
2,156
If reading was the main thing I'd be doing and my options were limited to an iPad or Android tablet I would pick an iPad. I prefer the aspect ratio for reading of the iPad.
 
B

Bromio

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jun 6, 2014
311
30
Thank you everybody.

It seems that, except Rodster, you all prefer iPad for reading due to its aspect ratio.

And, from the point of view of apps for reading, are there any differences?
 
S

Saturn1217

macrumors 65816
Apr 28, 2008
1,360
1,048
Do you want to do more ebook reading or more pdf reading?

For ebook reading I would actually prefer a more narrow aspect ratio such as the Nexus 7 has because it is MUCH easier to hold than an iPad mini (I have a Nexus 7 and my fiancé has an iPad mini).

For PDF reading however the iPad Air is amazing. I read a lot of technical articles and textbooks and I have fallen in love with how well the iPad Air is for reading these kinds of documents. I've been using iAnnotate myself because I like the way it handles cloud integration (you don't have to make a copy of a file and edit it. You can instead add annotations directly to the original file). GoodNotes is another good one if you like handwritten annotations.

For ereading I would recommend Google Play books. The apps for both iOS and Android are top notch, and unlike most other apps by the major ebook stores it will sync your reading position even for documents you upload yourself (aka you don't have to buy from Google play books to get the full benefits of the app). If you are just reading (and don't care about annotation) pdf ebooks then ibooks does a decent job.

I don't know so much about foreign language support so sorry I can't be of much help there.
 
B

Bromio

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jun 6, 2014
311
30
Saturn1217 said:
Do you want to do more ebook reading or more pdf reading?

For ebook reading I would actually prefer a more narrow aspect ratio such as the Nexus 7 has because it is MUCH easier to hold than an iPad mini (I have a Nexus 7 and my fiancé has an iPad mini).

For PDF reading however the iPad Air is amazing. I read a lot of technical articles and textbooks and I have fallen in love with how well the iPad Air is for reading these kinds of documents. I've been using iAnnotate myself because I like the way it handles cloud integration (you don't have to make a copy of a file and edit it. You can instead add annotations directly to the original file). GoodNotes is another good one if you like handwritten annotations.

For ereading I would recommend Google Play books. The apps for both iOS and Android are top notch, and unlike most other apps by the major ebook stores it will sync your reading position even for documents you upload yourself (aka you don't have to buy from Google play books to get the full benefits of the app). If you are just reading (and don't care about annotation) pdf ebooks then ibooks does a decent job.

I don't know so much about foreign language support so sorry I can't be of much help there.
Click to expand...

I will read a lot of PDF and scientific and technical papers. Annotations would be a plus. Following your recommendations, it looks like the iPad Air is a good choice. However, I also plan to read ebooks, but not as much as PDF.

Regarding to Google Play Books, does it allow to read ebooks without uploading them to the cloud? I guess I will need access to tons of documents in PDF, many of them considerably heavy, so having to upload them to the Drive every time I want to read them seems not very comfortable.

Thanks.
 
C

cube

Suspended
May 10, 2004
17,011
4,973
12" Galaxy Tab PRO or 12" Galaxy Note PRO

I got a great deal on the Tab
 
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