Kindle 3 e-reader versus IPad

penrhyn

There are a ton of video reviews on the You Tube.

scubaangel

I sat and read for four hours last night on my Kindle (3g so the heavier one) and didn't find the weight an issue in the slightest when holding it with either hand.

buglawton

With tech improving every day, e-readers will converge with ipad type devices, the battery life and weight of the e-reader and the power and colour display of the smart pad. Something to look forwad to in about 5 years time!

StumpyPumpy

buglawton wrote: »

With tech improving every day, e-readers will converge with ipad type devices, the battery life and weight of the e-reader and the power and colour display of the smart pad. Something to look forwad to in about 5 years time!

Five years? They're already here! (almost)
http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/08/hanvon-to-be-first-with-color-e-ink-reader-sizes-it-at-10-inche/
Though personally, I'm not too interested in colour. I don't read many paper novels printed in colour (apart from The Very Hungry Caterpillar, and I haven't read that in months:rotfl:) and colours in newspapers don't impress me much. If I had the choice between two otherwise identical eReaders, one in b/w, one in colour, I'd only pick the colour one if it was the same price, and more importantly, the quality of the text was at least as good as the b/w one.

Loobeylou: It is a shame you can't try a Kindle out anywhere. (I don't like doing it myself but someone is bound to point out the under the distance selling regs, you could buy one from Amazon and send it back if you don't like it.) All the different eReaders have their fans and critics and it is difficult to filter out what is important to you when reading a review. What I would say is make a trip to your local high street and find some random eReaders to play with in the shop (Waterstones' and Smith's have them as well as electrical retailers) Not to find an alternative to the Kindle, but to answer the more generic questions such as "Am I happy to read for long periods with this?"; "Is the screen too small/big for me?" then at least you will know what the likelihood of a Kindle quickly finding a home in a dusty drawer is.
I do concur with others in thinking that if you want a device primarily as an eBook reader that an iPad would be a poor choice as would any of the "i"s. But if you wanted a device that does a number of things and can also be used to read eBooks, then they come back into the equation.

SP

penguingirl

Apparently John Lewis now stock kindles so might be worth going and having a look.

I'll declare myself now as a kindle-lover and not an ipad fan. It sounds like you've made up your mind- but here are my thoughts. I got a wi-fi only kindle as I have wi-fi at home and work and will always stock up etc. before I go on hol so didn't see the need for 3G. The browser on the kindle does work with other sites apart from Amazon, but tbh it's not great. The only time I found it really useful was on holiday when a bar had open access (free) wi-fi and I was able to check my emails, the news etc. quickly. But if I'm honest the OHs smart phone is much much better for browsing (and he checked his emails at the same time with more ease). Obviously the screen isn't colour either, can't do videos etc. But as an 'add-on' it's pretty cool. But if it's browsing you primarily want an ipad is ahead.

When it comes to reading a kindle is fantastic. There is no glare from the electronic paper and it was brilliant on my holiday. I travel a lot for work and it so handy to pop in my bag and get out on the train. If I end up delayed etc. and finish my book I always have another (many free/less than £1) to start. It's also incredibly easy to hold in one hand and is very lightweight. My OH has just got an ipad from work and I can't say the same for that. I found after 10 minutes it gets heavy and awkward and I certainly wouldn't want to hold it for 2+ hours a day on the train, which definitely put me off.

I can honestly say that getting a kindle has completely changed my reading. I used to read a lot, but then stopped because I never had any books etc. but now I'm reading loads again and loving it. (and no I don't work for amazon!)

buyitall

I saw them in John Lewis today. Although they have sold out, they did have the display models. It has made up my mind - I'm definitely getting one! They are really light, the screen is very easy on the eye and they look very simple to operate. The sales assistant said that the stock they did have absolutely flew off the shelves, and they are expecting a big delivery towards the end of next week. Think I will ask them to reserve me one, as I'd like to buy from JL if possible. I'm going to go for the wifi model, don't think I need the 3g function.

Ken68

Got this e mail from the public library today....

Dear Ken

The Libraries, Archives and Information Service are currently working on implementing a pilot e-lending service, which it is hoped to launch in the New Year. This would enable the service to assess the demand for this type of format and how it might be developed. However, there has just been an announcement by the Publishers' Association which has set out restrictions on the lending of e-books by libraries. Currently those public libraries which offer an e-book lending service manage the service by remote downloads, whereby users (who have to be members of the library service) use their library borrower numbers and PINs as authentication. The proposals by the Publishers' Association would mean that users would need to come into a library to download an e-book. Discussions will now get under way to find a way forward and we will be following this closely to see how it will impact on our potential service offer.

It is my current understanding that Kindle is an entirely separate system and is not interchangeable with other systems.

tillymint

I'm a total bookaholic, taking at least 6 or 7 books on holiday and hoping that there will somewhere to swap them. Hubby bought me a Kindle last week for my birthday and I absolutely LOVE IT. The worry was being a diehard "paper" book person would I enjoy using it, and the answer's yes! On more than one occasion I have become so engrossed reading it I have gone to physically turn the page over instead of pressing the next page button ! LOL! I carry it about in my bag and have plenty of reading at my fingertips. :j

StumpyPumpy

I might be completely mistaken about this - I only have my own ebook lending library to go on - but I don't believe the Kindle is supported as a device by the public libraries because of the type of copy protection it employees.
To be honest, the system my library (Surrey) uses is clunky to put it mildly, and it needs to be online to be useful. They work the same system as they do with a physical book - they have one (or more) copies of an eBook which you take out for 2 weeks, if someone else has taken it on loan, you have to reserve it and wait for it to come back in. For something that you only notionally take away this seems very odd to me, but I assume this has something to do with the publishers as well. The new proposals by the publishers would mean I'd have to walk to my library (not hard, it's about 200 yards away from my house!) but then I'd need to use their computer, find out if the book is available, if it is, somehow connect my eReader to their computer - meaning the library computer cannot be secure btw - download the book and go back home. And I'm still left wondering how you'd return an eBook. Frankly, it is not a system I would use, but maybe that is what the publishers really want.
I am, however, totally sold on eBook reading and as I like reading classics http://www.gutenberg.org has become one of my favourite sites with its 30,000+ free book downloads.

Loobeylou

I am so excited by this (it doesn't take much these days!) and I just can't wait for my order to arrive - its on its way as I type... I have downloaded Kindle for PC and have been browsing books.

I find the sample option absolutely excellent, and it does give a good indication as to whether to purchase a book or not.

Felt the cover was rather expensive - although it is meant to be leather - and ordered one without the light which at a staggering £49.99 was almost half the cost of the cheaper Kindle! Even the lightless one was almost £30. Shame they have not thought it necessary to lump a case in automatically with the Kindle sale.