Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Ghost31

macrumors 68040
Original poster
Jun 9, 2015
3,577
5,575
I've used iBooks since just about the beginning just because it was dead simple and already on my iPad. Not to mention with amazon kindle it's a bit of a pain to try to buy the books somewhere on amazon instead of just using my fingerprint to instantly buy a book.

I always hear kindle is the bees knees, but I've tried it and it doesn't seem like a big difference. What do you all think? I wouldn't mind a book subscription though like amazon has
 
I only use Amazon Kindle for books. Been that way for about 8 years now. The app works well on iOS and Android, and even has a dark mode, too...!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Donfor39
I've used iBooks since just about the beginning just because it was dead simple and already on my iPad. Not to mention with amazon kindle it's a bit of a pain to try to buy the books somewhere on amazon instead of just using my fingerprint to instantly buy a book.

I always hear kindle is the bees knees, but I've tried it and it doesn't seem like a big difference. What do you all think? I wouldn't mind a book subscription though like amazon has
I haven't used Kindle for a long time, so it may be better now, but I didn't like the interface. I prefer iBooks, and do most of my reading through it. Some PDFs go to other readers if I need to mark them up, but that's a different use case.

I just wish iBooks on the Mac was as nice as it is on iOS. In particular, I'd like a vertical scroll option, rather than it being so page centric.
 
  • Like
Reactions: AlliFlowers
Kindle app. Was a Kindle 3rd gen owner before I was an iPad owner and still do quite a bit of reading on my Paperwhite. Using the Kindle app allows me to go back and forth between Paperwhite and iPad. Also like the Whispersync functionality integration with Audible audiobooks - love my lunch hour walks with my audiobooks.

Nothing wrong with iBooks, just think Amazon have the whole ebook thing down so well.
 
Kindle app. Was a Kindle 3rd gen owner before I was an iPad owner and still do quite a bit of reading on my Paperwhite. Using the Kindle app allows me to go back and forth between Paperwhite and iPad. Also like the Whispersync functionality integration with Audible audiobooks - love my lunch hour walks with my audiobooks.

Nothing wrong with iBooks, just think Amazon have the whole ebook thing down so well.
What do you like better about amazon?
 
Like Brewster, I like Kindle because of its integration with Audible. For me, this integration is the primary reason to use Kindle and Audible over other cross platform eBook and AudioBook platforms. Out of interest, are there any other platforms which have such integration?

However, the above only really applies to novels, biographies and other books that I read linearly and are not rich in images. For textbooks and technical books I'm not a fan of Kindle. This is because for these types of books I prefer having the page and images laid out in the print format, rather than reflowed. For these types of books I've tended to use Google Play Books. I use this instead of iBooks to avoid platform lock in.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Donfor39
Kindle

Which reminds me-eye for an eye

Sunday reading via ipp pro 10.5 120hz truetone display.

Amazing

Edited considering Subway breakfast.
 
Last edited:
What do you like better about amazon?

Using the Kindle eco-system rather than Apples own iBooks gives a certain amount of platform independence. The iPad makes an excellent ereader but not always the most appropriate one. My Paperwhite is lighter, works better in direct sunlight and can go where I’d be reluctant to take an iPad Pro (large public events etc).

Their ebook selection is arguably the largest going (for me personally at least), whispersync means 8 can switch between the Paperwhite, my iPad and my iPhone and always be able to pick up on one device where I left off on another.

Voice sync means I can have the audiobook on my phone and the kindle ebook of supported titles and do the same sync to furthest page read across the two formats. Does need Audible membership (which I have; it’s arguably the most valuable subscription I have) or the same title purchased on both formats. Amazon/Audible frequently offer discounts on such titles though.

Ultimately whilst the Kindle/Audible ecosystem works beautifully for me It may Not work as well for others. For those who use only Apple products for dreading, iBooks may well work equally well for ereading.
 
  • Like
Reactions: rui no onna
iBooks and whatever is required for ebooks from my library (Overdrive, cloudLibrary, etc.)
 
I use the Kindle app primarily, mostly because I have the Kindle Unlimited subscription. I read a lot, especially from new/unknown authors and it fits me well. But I also have a significant library in iBooks, so that is the secondary reader.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Donfor39
I use a combination of the two. I buy my ebooks in Kindle since it easier to break the DRM on them using Apprentice Alf's tools. That way I have a backup of them if I want. Sometimes I will convert them to epub and move them into iBooks. The big thing I like about the Kindle is I can store a book in multiple collections; iBooks limits you to one.

All of my PDF magazines go into iBooks.
 
  • Like
Reactions: rui no onna
IBooks for me. I just like its interface personally. Plus all my devices are Apple devices so I don’t really have a need for cross platform functionality. I have all my regular books, audiobooks, textbooks, PDFs, magazines, and manuals in there and it fits my needs well.
 
  • Like
Reactions: AlliFlowers
What apps does everyone use to read PDFs?

I've tried iBooks and Adobe Acrobat - they don't actually go full screen. There's always those edges on both sides which is so frustrating.
 
What apps does everyone use to read PDFs?

I've tried iBooks and Adobe Acrobat - they don't actually go full screen. There's always those edges on both sides which is so frustrating.

I often just use the PDF reader in Dropbox.
But if I want to annotate whilst reading I use Readdle Documents
 
What apps does everyone use to read PDFs?

I've tried iBooks and Adobe Acrobat - they don't actually go full screen. There's always those edges on both sides which is so frustrating.
PDF Expert, in most cases...
 
I use OverDrive mostly. While the app is not nearly as friendly as iBooks, the OverDrive App gives me the ability to checkout eBooks from my local county library. Since I am paying county taxes I want to get my money's worth. It seems more and more library systems are subscribing to the OverDrive service and it is getting better every year.
Saving money is not a crime.
 
I use OverDrive mostly. While the app is not nearly as friendly as iBooks, the OverDrive App gives me the ability to checkout eBooks from my local county library. Since I am paying county taxes I want to get my money's worth. It seems more and more library systems are subscribing to the OverDrive service and it is getting better every year.
Saving money is not a crime.
You might want to check if your library supports Hoopla Digital, too. With Hoopla, you're usually limited to 10 books a month or so but the nice thing is there's no waiting list unlike with OverDrive.
 
I've used iBooks since just about the beginning just because it was dead simple and already on my iPad. Not to mention with amazon kindle it's a bit of a pain to try to buy the books somewhere on amazon instead of just using my fingerprint to instantly buy a book.

I always hear kindle is the bees knees, but I've tried it and it doesn't seem like a big difference. What do you all think? I wouldn't mind a book subscription though like amazon has
I only use iBooks.
Drag and drop PDF of book to iCloud on Mac, Save to iBooks on iPad, if I cannot directly get the link via iPad.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.