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It's no eBook reader
- Thread starter TheSeagull
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the thing is you DO NOT READ all day on your computer. You read a small chunk then you read another small chunk then you read a different small chunk
Try reading something like this on a screen monitor and you will know what true READING is... http://www.3gpp2.org/Public_html/specs/C.S0005-E_v1.0_cdma200_1x_Layer_3-090925.pdf
trust me, it ****ing hurts... and I dig this sort of information.
E-ink myths
I have two e-ink readers and one backlit one with an LED screen. There is, in my experience, no difference whatsoever in strain on the eyes. I believe someone told me that it's the small size of type that strains the eyes. In any event, the real advantage of the iPad is its size -- much bigger than my Sony 505. This, plus the ability to enlarge the type, means it should cause no eyestrain at all. More important is the feel of the thing: is it comfortable to hold for long periods of time? One great disadvantage of e-ink is that the background is still gray, not white.
I have two e-ink readers and one backlit one with an LED screen. There is, in my experience, no difference whatsoever in strain on the eyes. I believe someone told me that it's the small size of type that strains the eyes. In any event, the real advantage of the iPad is its size -- much bigger than my Sony 505. This, plus the ability to enlarge the type, means it should cause no eyestrain at all. More important is the feel of the thing: is it comfortable to hold for long periods of time? One great disadvantage of e-ink is that the background is still gray, not white.
I was hoping it would have one of the Pixel Qi screens.
http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/08/pixelqi-screens-to-be-used-by-major-manufacturer-in-2010/
That would have dropped some jaws.
http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/08/pixelqi-screens-to-be-used-by-major-manufacturer-in-2010/
That would have dropped some jaws.
THANK YOU! Great information, and I'll definitely take your advice and try converting my PDF's then putting them on my iPhone. Thanks again. =)
According to this article:
http://www.maclife.com/article/feature/ibook_therefore_i_am_ipad_vs_kindle_and_nook
The iPad will be able to check books out of local libraries since it uses ePub. This is a huge benefit in my mind when evaluating it as an ereader.
http://www.maclife.com/article/feature/ibook_therefore_i_am_ipad_vs_kindle_and_nook
The iPad will be able to check books out of local libraries since it uses ePub. This is a huge benefit in my mind when evaluating it as an ereader.
have you looked at the e-books at your local library? for my local library, the selection is HORRIBLE. it's pretty much limited to those books that are free anyway that you can download because they no longer have any copyright
Interesting. If they are able to check books out of Library's its likely they are using the Adobe DRM as most library's are using that or Mobipocket via overdrive.
However has apple confirmed this, or it just maclife's speculation based on the mention of EPUB which is just the container but does not specify which DRM is used.
Seeing as though it took 12 months for iTunes to be released in UK after USA and 18 months for Ireland (and we still don't have proper video content), the fact that iBooks is unavailable outside of USA is the real reason this is no eBook reader for me......
Crosses fingers and hopes for licencing to be in place within 6 months, but realistically it'll be sometime next year probably...
Crosses fingers and hopes for licencing to be in place within 6 months, but realistically it'll be sometime next year probably...
Funny. I have had mine for months and the e-ink simply isn't enough to make me stick with the Kindle. I use my Air for reading more than my Kindle. Which is why the Kindle is going on eBay tonight.
I like what I have seen about the iPad.
Does anyone know if it will be able to read one's Kindle library as can the iPhone? If it can I'm in!
Does anyone know if it will be able to read one's Kindle library as can the iPhone? If it can I'm in!
I don't think a preference for e-Ink is limited to hardcore readers. There are some irrefutable advantages to e-Ink. Try reading an LCD screen on the beach in bright sunlight for example.
The price point Apple is releasing it at is on par with the higher end Kindle DX, not the paperback-sized Kindle 2.
The cheapest iPad with 3G ability is $629 and then a minimum of $14.99/month data service. This is in sharp contrast to the Kindle's free global 3G coverage.
If you say so.
I have no doubt Apple is going to sell a lot of iPads. I might get one myself, eventually. I am still going to keep my Kindle 2 though and I doubt it's in any imminent danger of extinction.
Question for anyone who has a Kindle. Does it allow you to download free e-books from other sources? I use the Stanza app on the iPhone to download free e-books (I have enjoyed reading many classic books that are free).
This would be another big advantage of the iPad over the competition -- not being limited to only paid books.
This would be another big advantage of the iPad over the competition -- not being limited to only paid books.
Since it uses the Kindle app, which can read Amazon's DRM, and the Kindle app should be able to run on the iPad. I think it will work. Unless Amazon decides to lock user's out to sell more Kindles.....
My local library is in a consortium with about 20 other libraries and the selection is quite good. There isn't much for catalog titles, but hot new releases show up pretty quickly. It also has been steadily growing (I think they added 200 new ebooks since I first checked in mid-Dec). With the Sony, Nook and now the iPad using the format, the selection should continue to grow.
I haven't seen anything from Apple but I think it was the same when the Nook came out. People speculated that it would work since it was the ePub format and the Nook does work. I don't know if on the hardware side (B&N/Apple) it needs to be added or if it is a function of the software. Hopefully Apple will come out soon and address the question.
The Kindle Store at Amazon has many free books.
For anything else, you can't download directly from other sources via 3G but the Stanza Desktop app for Windows or Mac will allow you to save any book in Kindle format which you can then send to the Kindle via USB.
I love the Kindle concept, but I am not crazy about the hardware. If the iPad can read my Kindle library it will become my main e-reader in place of my Kindle most of the time.
And Amazon continues to make money from iPad "defectors."
This product does not threaten the Kindle line in any way.
Will they allow other ebook apps unto the iPad?
I know that apple has had issues with competing apps in the app store. meaning, there is not another sms app, or phone dialing app. Will they have such a problem with say the kindle iPhone app, or stanza being ported over to iPad?
this would be a HUUUGE deal to me. I currently read ebooks on my iPhone every single day, about 40 min to an hour. I have bought a handful of kindle books, and many pdf books in stanza. The iPad would be wonderful for my useage. I plan on using the apple iBook app for new books, but wondering if Apple will have a problem with other apps competing in the market they have gone into.
discuss. i am thinking about emailing stanza.
I know that apple has had issues with competing apps in the app store. meaning, there is not another sms app, or phone dialing app. Will they have such a problem with say the kindle iPhone app, or stanza being ported over to iPad?
this would be a HUUUGE deal to me. I currently read ebooks on my iPhone every single day, about 40 min to an hour. I have bought a handful of kindle books, and many pdf books in stanza. The iPad would be wonderful for my useage. I plan on using the apple iBook app for new books, but wondering if Apple will have a problem with other apps competing in the market they have gone into.
discuss. i am thinking about emailing stanza.
I am curious about this as well.
I think it would suck for Apple to block them, but something tells me they will, since they reserve the right to limit any apps that compete with them.
Obviously they would still work on the phone, but given how they want to launch this iBook app and store, it seems like they would not.
I can't see them letting the Kindle App exist, for example, on the iPad. It would be nice if they surprised us. I still plan on taking them up on it, but I think some third parties could do some amazing things with this device as it relates to delivering all sorts of content that Apple may not deliver themselves.
I think it would suck for Apple to block them, but something tells me they will, since they reserve the right to limit any apps that compete with them.
Obviously they would still work on the phone, but given how they want to launch this iBook app and store, it seems like they would not.
I can't see them letting the Kindle App exist, for example, on the iPad. It would be nice if they surprised us. I still plan on taking them up on it, but I think some third parties could do some amazing things with this device as it relates to delivering all sorts of content that Apple may not deliver themselves.
Barnes and Noble has an eBook app for the iPhone. Assuming Apple doesn't artificially limit the apps that can be installed on this thing, there are already competitors to the iBookstore.
Let me take this a step farther, however. What happens if Apple starts featuring their iBookstore much like Microsoft was featuring WMP... it is a tricky slope Apple is starting to go down.
Let me take this a step farther, however. What happens if Apple starts featuring their iBookstore much like Microsoft was featuring WMP... it is a tricky slope Apple is starting to go down.
This is my one and only real worry.
I use the Kindle app a lot... (also have a Kindle but I don't always carry it)
The words "Virtually every app" scares me. I will be happy to buy iBook store books, but please don't take away my Kindle app. I have at least 50 Kindle books.
Other than that, I think the device is perfect.
Can't wait to own one.
I use the Kindle app a lot... (also have a Kindle but I don't always carry it)
The words "Virtually every app" scares me. I will be happy to buy iBook store books, but please don't take away my Kindle app. I have at least 50 Kindle books.
Other than that, I think the device is perfect.
Can't wait to own one.
