Discussion about
So it's got an LCD screen?...so basically useless as an e-reader...
So... the computer screen most of us (not sure about you) look at for 8-12 hours a day is somehow not good enough to read on? Huh. So I've been doing it wrong the last 30 years after all...
...the pictures flashed on the screen of book pages were very pretty...unfortunately, Apple doesn't understand -- or perhaps doesn't care -- the simple concept of backlit screens causing eyestrain...anyone who wants to experience what it's like reading an e-book when it's backlit should try standing a couple of feet away from a bare light source and staring at it for a few moments...it's none too pleasant...and it's discouraging that people who don't know better are going to fall for the hype and be discouraged when they find e-reading on the device an unpleasant experience...human eyes are made for reflected light -- that's all there is to it...and e-ink is currently the only technology currently available that provides a true hard copy experience...it's unfortunate that color e-ink is still a year or more away...
I agree. I have no interest in reading a book on a backlit LCD. There is an eyestrain problem, especially when reading a black on white page. I enjoy reading on my Kindle 2 because it's light, easy to hold in multiple reading positions, and easy on the eyes. You can't say that for a 10 inch backlit tablet. Have fun holding this thing up while you read in bed. And reading through the finger smudges.
As for the rest of the functionality... right now it's not very compelling. It's a souped up iPod touch. Just bigger. Maybe I'll get one some day, but probably not at launch.
As for the rest of the functionality... right now it's not very compelling. It's a souped up iPod touch. Just bigger. Maybe I'll get one some day, but probably not at launch.
I really want an apple ipad but I too am concerned about a backlit screen for reading with, but I will be using it for more then just reading. I am looking forward to playing games for the iphone on a bigger screen and I am looking forward to games/ apps that are made specifically for the ipad. I am also really excited to see what extra content could be used in say magazines or newspapers that are on a device like this.
...that's true...my concern is that it's being hyped as an e-book reader...and people inexperienced with such devices are going to be buying it for such a purpose...and instead of getting the experience of reading a REAL book that e-ink provides, they're going to be disappointed with the discomfort of trying to read from a backlit screen...I think e-ink is truly a revolutionary discovery and look forward to its future development...I only wish color e-ink were available now and hope Apple's moves don't hinder its progress...I'm also a little ticked at Jobs pumping it as an e-reader -- wasn't this the guy quoted as dissing e-readers because "no one reads anymore"...
...as i posted elsewhere , looking at a computer screen as most of us typically do is NOT the same as reading a book...typically, as in web browsing, your eyes move back and forth across the screen, you periodically look elsewhere, you -- perhaps not realizing it -- close them for a few seconds every couple of minutes to let them rest...this is NOT like reading a book where the eyes focus on a point for prolonged periods of time...there is even research being done on the issue:
www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_...
...the etiology of the problem is yet unclear...regardless, as a Kindle user, I state with confidence that e-ink is exactly like reading a hard copy and decidedly more pleasant than using an LCD...
www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_...
...the etiology of the problem is yet unclear...regardless, as a Kindle user, I state with confidence that e-ink is exactly like reading a hard copy and decidedly more pleasant than using an LCD...
Maybe it's just me, but I really don't see how reading articles on the web is not the same as reading an ebook. Both are text, and both requires the same amount of concentration from me. If anything, I would probably get more eye strain reading articles online than an ebook since the text is smaller.
I typically read for 2-4 hours per session. I read all day at work and my eyes never get tired until the afternoon. Maybe the Kindle would be better for those that sit there and read for 8 hours straight...
I typically read for 2-4 hours per session. I read all day at work and my eyes never get tired until the afternoon. Maybe the Kindle would be better for those that sit there and read for 8 hours straight...
I agree. I read on the computer/laptop all day long and my eyes never hurt. They didn't hurt at all after watching Avatar in regular 3D and IMAX 3D either... Some people are just susceptible to this and some aren't.... no biggie...
Do you read articles that are around 30 pages long regularly on a computer screen? Do you ever get the 'too long, didn't read' feeling when you get a few paragraphs into an article? That is quite possibly because you are subconsciously uncomfortable. I don't like reading long articles online and I never figured out why. After getting an e-ink reader I started converting articles to .epub and reading them on my ereader. And I discovered that my attention span for reading large articles expanded when I switched to the e-ink screen.
Also, as others have said, reading on a computer is not the same as reading a book. I am at a computer all day, and my work involves mostly writing and reading text on a PC monitor. But I hardly ever spend large blocks of time reading on an LCD without interruption. My eyes spend a lot of time looking at paper, people's faces, my phone, the coffee machine, etc. throughout the day. Many people I work with have pointed out at one time or another that they get up from their desk because of sore eyes every hour or so. Many prefer to print documents to paper for reading as it is easier on the eyes (among other reasons), and I do that myself quite often.
I think the iPad (and the dozens of other devices the iPad copies it's form factor and capabilities from) will be fine for reading for some people. Let's face it, most people don't read, and most people that do read don't read a lot. A colour LCD capable of pictures, video and animation certainly has its advantages, especially for the unwashed masses (who Apple are obviously targetting).
Also, as others have said, reading on a computer is not the same as reading a book. I am at a computer all day, and my work involves mostly writing and reading text on a PC monitor. But I hardly ever spend large blocks of time reading on an LCD without interruption. My eyes spend a lot of time looking at paper, people's faces, my phone, the coffee machine, etc. throughout the day. Many people I work with have pointed out at one time or another that they get up from their desk because of sore eyes every hour or so. Many prefer to print documents to paper for reading as it is easier on the eyes (among other reasons), and I do that myself quite often.
I think the iPad (and the dozens of other devices the iPad copies it's form factor and capabilities from) will be fine for reading for some people. Let's face it, most people don't read, and most people that do read don't read a lot. A colour LCD capable of pictures, video and animation certainly has its advantages, especially for the unwashed masses (who Apple are obviously targetting).
Well, I comfortably read books and magazines (because digital editions are all that I've bought for years now) on my LCD computer for perhaps three hours a day, and I'll be perfectly happy to trade the minor benefits of e-ink for the iPad's color, display speed, and vastly greater versatility over a Kindle. I'm really, really looking forward to having a large-screen portable reader that's not as awkward to hold as the lightweight but clumsy Vaio laptop that I'm using now.
But, it's a big world, so to each his own.
But, it's a big world, so to each his own.
one thing I wonder about the ebook reading experience on an LCD vs regular reading while on the web is... you won't be scrolling all the time. so I wonder if the fixed page will cause less eye strain. it seems to me that the think my eyes always have the most trouble with while reading on the computer (on the web or even word or pdf) is that my eyes are always "chasing" after the text as I scroll, so they're doing extra work and it's tiring and annoying. So if the words are stationary, like on an ebook page, maybe reading on the LCD won't be that bad. just a thought.
If I look at an LCD screen for too long my eyes hurt a bit. If I read a printed book for that same amount of time my eyes hurt. In the past year or so I've read 20 or so books on an iPod Touch and later an iPhone. That kinda makes my eyes hurt. I saw "Avatar" in 3-D, that made my eyes hurt too. If you use your eyes repetitively for more than an hour or two doing anything, you're gonna get eyestrain.
I own a Sony Reader - but I don't love e-ink.
It is too slow for anything other than reading novels. And in terms of usability e-ink is a step backwards from good old paper.
If you use a reference book or a textbook - then you need to rapidly flip through it. Skimming sections and advancing to the right section. That needs fast and fluid navigation. Something that can never happen with an e-ink display where it takes at least a second to update - and some pages take two or more.
A high quality LCD screen is much faster, able to support all sorts of highly-responsive navigation methods. At least the iPad offers the possibility of fast navigation, with both a fast update and a user interface capable of rapid interaction.
And as has already been pointed out. Most of us spend 8 hours a day reading an LCD - and might spend an hour a day reading from paper. The "eye-strain" argument is bogus.
And I haven't even mentioned color!
C.
It is too slow for anything other than reading novels. And in terms of usability e-ink is a step backwards from good old paper.
If you use a reference book or a textbook - then you need to rapidly flip through it. Skimming sections and advancing to the right section. That needs fast and fluid navigation. Something that can never happen with an e-ink display where it takes at least a second to update - and some pages take two or more.
A high quality LCD screen is much faster, able to support all sorts of highly-responsive navigation methods. At least the iPad offers the possibility of fast navigation, with both a fast update and a user interface capable of rapid interaction.
And as has already been pointed out. Most of us spend 8 hours a day reading an LCD - and might spend an hour a day reading from paper. The "eye-strain" argument is bogus.
And I haven't even mentioned color!
C.
...a simple experiment everyone interested in ebook readers should try...first, pick up a hard copy of any book and assume your usual reading position...next, use a tape to measure the distance from your eyes to the page...for most people, this distance is around 14 inches give or take...then, pop over to your favorite backlit screen, position yourself so your eyes are about 14 inches from the screen and spend half an hour reading your favorite book...now sit back and consider how your head and eyes feel...none too pleasant, I bet...finally, pick up your e-ink reader and repeat the process...ooooooooh!...doesn't that feel so much better?
Technology advances quickly. E-ink is currently only good for novels due to the speed like you said. But do you not expect that e-ink will get a lot faster with better contrast in the next couple of years? Or another technology will become the standard.
You're spot on with text books and reference books. Electronic readers don't have a solution to flipping through pages yet, but that doesn't mean the technology is useless. I think we will change the way we read with ebooks in the next few years. Hyperlinks, searching, hover-over footnotes, etc. will replace flipping through pages.
There are also devices that have both e-ink and LCD in a book form factor (e.g. Entourage Edge). This seems like a good solution. Read the bulk of text on e-ink with low battery usage and view pictures, videos, etc. on the LCD when necessary.
Now if a company can get both displays on the same panel somehow I will be impressed.
You're spot on with text books and reference books. Electronic readers don't have a solution to flipping through pages yet, but that doesn't mean the technology is useless. I think we will change the way we read with ebooks in the next few years. Hyperlinks, searching, hover-over footnotes, etc. will replace flipping through pages.
There are also devices that have both e-ink and LCD in a book form factor (e.g. Entourage Edge). This seems like a good solution. Read the bulk of text on e-ink with low battery usage and view pictures, videos, etc. on the LCD when necessary.
Now if a company can get both displays on the same panel somehow I will be impressed.
No, it does not feel better.
Lighting and contrast are critical to the reading experience too and many bedroom layouts do not allow you to put an effective reading light behind you (the ideal position)... more likely, the light is to your side creating a peripheral hot-spot or directly above which is rather unpleasant to look into if ever on your back (which is fairly common in, well, bed).
That means a self-lit display with good contrast (rather than the greys one gets from reading in the shade or indirect lightning, the orange one gets from incandescent lightning, the irritating hum of low quality florescent lighting, etc) is a much more pleasurable experience and one which I've used to consume many a public domain book.
The only place I've preferred e-ink to LCD is outdoors and even there glare can be bad on devices...
Lighting and contrast are critical to the reading experience too and many bedroom layouts do not allow you to put an effective reading light behind you (the ideal position)... more likely, the light is to your side creating a peripheral hot-spot or directly above which is rather unpleasant to look into if ever on your back (which is fairly common in, well, bed).
That means a self-lit display with good contrast (rather than the greys one gets from reading in the shade or indirect lightning, the orange one gets from incandescent lightning, the irritating hum of low quality florescent lighting, etc) is a much more pleasurable experience and one which I've used to consume many a public domain book.
The only place I've preferred e-ink to LCD is outdoors and even there glare can be bad on devices...
...yeah, right...holding up a one and a half pound flashlight and staring directly into it for an hour isn't a problem but a "hot spot" over your shoulder is just too annoying...brother!...that sounds every bit as authentic as Jobs during the presentation saying how "awesome" the iPad is...maybe someone should suggest he take a few acting lessons before the next one...
You're losing more credibility by the second.
All laptops and most netbooks have adjustable brightness settings and certainly the iPod/iPad do. An LCD is never going to be a eyestraining "flashlight" no matter how bad an App maker wants them to be. By contrast the lux, nits, candella, etc. of a lamp are magnitudes brighter.
Stop embarrassing yourself in defending e-ink. The tech is a dead end soon to be replaced by transflective and fully-reflective LCD like Pixel-Qi (capable of backlighting) or full-video/color biomimicry displays like Mirasol, while LCD is better than fine for all of us who aren't patently disabled such that they can't bring themselves to look at the number one display technology- bar none- yes, even for reading- in the world, period. The responsiveness and resolution of LCD is vastly more important to the reading experience of most than displays which literally need secondary sources of light.
E-readers are a joke market where even the leader refuses to state their installed user-base and is getting taken to school by their content providers given an competitive alternative. I have no love for the iPad but trying to pretend like the lack of e-Ink matters is beyond stupid when its target market are individuals who HAVE to tether their machine to another one which- undoubtedly- has an LCD display as well.
btw, your response to beau is equally inane since he specifically mentions footnotes... non-linear reading, requiring responsiveness, is a horrible experience in e-ink, moreover the inability to scroll- LCD's answer to the skimming pageflip- makes it almost useless for research. Nevermind the necessity of color or resolution for a vast array of content (PDFs to say the least).
The only thing that grants devices like the Kindle a second look is their "unlimited" net access (which is getting capped with the introduction of the Kindle App store) and its content partnerships which have been completely undermined by competition, otherwise it's the same decade-old broken technology that no one asked (as Sony will attest) for until Amazon revived the market.
All laptops and most netbooks have adjustable brightness settings and certainly the iPod/iPad do. An LCD is never going to be a eyestraining "flashlight" no matter how bad an App maker wants them to be. By contrast the lux, nits, candella, etc. of a lamp are magnitudes brighter.
Stop embarrassing yourself in defending e-ink. The tech is a dead end soon to be replaced by transflective and fully-reflective LCD like Pixel-Qi (capable of backlighting) or full-video/color biomimicry displays like Mirasol, while LCD is better than fine for all of us who aren't patently disabled such that they can't bring themselves to look at the number one display technology- bar none- yes, even for reading- in the world, period. The responsiveness and resolution of LCD is vastly more important to the reading experience of most than displays which literally need secondary sources of light.
E-readers are a joke market where even the leader refuses to state their installed user-base and is getting taken to school by their content providers given an competitive alternative. I have no love for the iPad but trying to pretend like the lack of e-Ink matters is beyond stupid when its target market are individuals who HAVE to tether their machine to another one which- undoubtedly- has an LCD display as well.
btw, your response to beau is equally inane since he specifically mentions footnotes... non-linear reading, requiring responsiveness, is a horrible experience in e-ink, moreover the inability to scroll- LCD's answer to the skimming pageflip- makes it almost useless for research. Nevermind the necessity of color or resolution for a vast array of content (PDFs to say the least).
The only thing that grants devices like the Kindle a second look is their "unlimited" net access (which is getting capped with the introduction of the Kindle App store) and its content partnerships which have been completely undermined by competition, otherwise it's the same decade-old broken technology that no one asked (as Sony will attest) for until Amazon revived the market.
well, the AOA seems to think computer displays, regardless of type, causes eyestrain:
www.aoa.org/x9217.xml
...they even warn of the threat it poses to students:
www.aoa.org/x8526.xml
...of course, I guess you could care less if all the rest of us and our children go blind using LCD screens, right?...and at least one study has claimed to demonstrate that LCDs cause more eyestrain than plasma displays:
www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_...
...by the way, I have an ordinary table lamp on my bedside table....it houses a 60 watt light bulb and, by George, do you know that I'm able to read my 10 OUNCE Kindle with NO DIFFICULTY whatsoever?!...and, gosh, I don't feel ANY heat from the light bulb!...none at all!...really!
www.aoa.org/x9217.xml
...they even warn of the threat it poses to students:
www.aoa.org/x8526.xml
...of course, I guess you could care less if all the rest of us and our children go blind using LCD screens, right?...and at least one study has claimed to demonstrate that LCDs cause more eyestrain than plasma displays:
www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_...
...by the way, I have an ordinary table lamp on my bedside table....it houses a 60 watt light bulb and, by George, do you know that I'm able to read my 10 OUNCE Kindle with NO DIFFICULTY whatsoever?!...and, gosh, I don't feel ANY heat from the light bulb!...none at all!...really!
Your citations are inane... not only are they out of date and mere surveys consisting of tiny samples, they're by an association with an agenda who's *first* line of defense against LCDs is -"pay our association members to have your eyes checked regularly"... yeah, clearly objective organization there.
Remember what you're White Knighting... e-ink. Note that not ONE of their recommendations is to stop using LCD altogether in favor of e-Ink. Heck, there's not ANY endorsement of e-Ink period... but I'm sure if Amazon threw them some bones they'd sell out happily.
Also, again your credibility plummets in your anti-LCD hysteria. "Your children will go blind." Hilarious. Keep being so shrill as to reduce your relevance. The issue has never been LCD but reading PERIOD (mind you a scientific study- rather than a survey- by an objective party, with a magnitude larger sample size, spanning 30 years- and released recently):
www.wired.com/wiredscience/2009/12/nearsightedness...
In which case e-Ink doesn't help you at all. By the way, accessing such studies and navigating the research is far more effective on LCD than e-ink.
As for "hot-spot" it's a lighting technical term that has nothing to do with heat... so good job there too.
Remember what you're White Knighting... e-ink. Note that not ONE of their recommendations is to stop using LCD altogether in favor of e-Ink. Heck, there's not ANY endorsement of e-Ink period... but I'm sure if Amazon threw them some bones they'd sell out happily.
Also, again your credibility plummets in your anti-LCD hysteria. "Your children will go blind." Hilarious. Keep being so shrill as to reduce your relevance. The issue has never been LCD but reading PERIOD (mind you a scientific study- rather than a survey- by an objective party, with a magnitude larger sample size, spanning 30 years- and released recently):
www.wired.com/wiredscience/2009/12/nearsightedness...
In which case e-Ink doesn't help you at all. By the way, accessing such studies and navigating the research is far more effective on LCD than e-ink.
As for "hot-spot" it's a lighting technical term that has nothing to do with heat... so good job there too.
You may be right that e-ink itself is a dead-end, but that doesn't have anything to do with its readability over LCD. In fact, the main reason the new technologies you mention are being developed is that there is a market for displays that don't strain eyes, require less power, and mimic the look of a physical substance.
E-ink can do colour, and the speed of page turns can be increased. Newer technologies are already demonstrating paperlilke looks with refresh rates close to that of LCD.
E-ink readers are a niche market, but almost everyone who owns one loves them and prefers the screen over alternatives (I am a member of a website dedicated to ebook reading in all shapes and forms). Just because something isn't mainstream doesn't make it worthless.
I wouldn't use my ebook reader for research purposes, but I wouldn't read a PDF of a book on my laptop for research either. All media formats have their strengths and weaknesses. E-ink's main weakness is its refresh rate. LCD has plenty of weaknesses when used for reading - eye strain, power consumption, heat output.
If e-ink (or similar technology) was as fast and colourful as LCD with the same cost I couldn't imagine anybody preferring the look of LCD, FWIW.
E-ink can do colour, and the speed of page turns can be increased. Newer technologies are already demonstrating paperlilke looks with refresh rates close to that of LCD.
E-ink readers are a niche market, but almost everyone who owns one loves them and prefers the screen over alternatives (I am a member of a website dedicated to ebook reading in all shapes and forms). Just because something isn't mainstream doesn't make it worthless.
I wouldn't use my ebook reader for research purposes, but I wouldn't read a PDF of a book on my laptop for research either. All media formats have their strengths and weaknesses. E-ink's main weakness is its refresh rate. LCD has plenty of weaknesses when used for reading - eye strain, power consumption, heat output.
If e-ink (or similar technology) was as fast and colourful as LCD with the same cost I couldn't imagine anybody preferring the look of LCD, FWIW.
You can get e-ink devices with built-in lights (I have one, and even with the lights it is more pleasant to read than LCD).
Any location that you can read a paper book in is suitable for reading e-ink (depending slightly on the device you're using).
And outdoor glare is nothing to do with e-ink. An e-ink display doesn't have glare. It reflects light like paper. Some models (e.g. the model I have) have screens that do have glare, but that isn't a failing of e-ink.
I took my ereader and laptop out onto my balcony the other day. I could read my reader perfectly well, but could only see my face reflected off the LCD of my laptop due to the bright sunlight.
Any location that you can read a paper book in is suitable for reading e-ink (depending slightly on the device you're using).
And outdoor glare is nothing to do with e-ink. An e-ink display doesn't have glare. It reflects light like paper. Some models (e.g. the model I have) have screens that do have glare, but that isn't a failing of e-ink.
I took my ereader and laptop out onto my balcony the other day. I could read my reader perfectly well, but could only see my face reflected off the LCD of my laptop due to the bright sunlight.
I've read Kindle books on my iPhone and will do so in the future. It's actually better than reading on an e-ink screen if you're reading something with a ton of footnotes as you can bounce from footnote to main text much faster.
Can't see why I would have a problem if I get an iPad.
Can't see why I would have a problem if I get an iPad.
"I've read Kindle books on my iPhone..."...you understand, of course, comic books don't count...I mean, seriously, surely no one would actually try to read a REAL book on a two inch wide screen, would they?...not to mention "something with a ton of footnotes"?...on a two inch wide screen??...and "bounce footnote from footnote to main text"?!...on a two inch wide screen?????...oh, really!...that hardly sounds credible...put it on youtube and show me...maybe then I'll believe it...
...poor statistical analysis...downloading does NOT equate to using...I would LOVE to see a study wherein the number of minutes an individual actually used an "app" was recorded...I suspect that 99% of non-game apps are left practically unused after downloading...indeed, I believe "apps" are little more than shibboleths for the Apple devout...
To what extent?
I have an ereading app on my phone (larger screen than the iPhone with higher res/clearer image FWIW), but it's for casual 'emergency' use. I have the same books on my phone as on my ereader, and if I happen to be stuck somewhere for 5 minutes with my phone I might read a couple of pages, but I still will read most of my books on my ereader (or paper).
Reading an entire novel on my phone would drive me insane. Flipping 'pages' ever few seconds, light shining in my eyes, reflections on the screen, etc. Horrible experience. I want to be relaxed when I read.
Also, I don't have access to the iPhone app store, but what would you expect to find in the 'books' category other than reading apps and ebooks?
I have an ereading app on my phone (larger screen than the iPhone with higher res/clearer image FWIW), but it's for casual 'emergency' use. I have the same books on my phone as on my ereader, and if I happen to be stuck somewhere for 5 minutes with my phone I might read a couple of pages, but I still will read most of my books on my ereader (or paper).
Reading an entire novel on my phone would drive me insane. Flipping 'pages' ever few seconds, light shining in my eyes, reflections on the screen, etc. Horrible experience. I want to be relaxed when I read.
Also, I don't have access to the iPhone app store, but what would you expect to find in the 'books' category other than reading apps and ebooks?
Actually, yes I have and do read many, even really long, books on my iPhone Kindle app.
I am also a Kindle owner but it's nice to be able to leave the Kindle at home and just bring my one SwissArmyKnife of a phone with me to do some of my reading. I'm a fan of the Kindle and I love that Whispersync talks to my iPhone and my Kindle picks up where I left off reading on my iPhone when I get home.
The ability to change the background to black and the text to white on the Kindle iPhone app significantly cuts down on eyestrain. I wouldn't be surprised to see a similar feature in the iBook application after release, especially since turning all the white pixels to black except for the words on the page would also preserve battery life on the device.
I don't think the iPad is for everyone but for many, MANY people, the LCD screen on the iPad will be something utilized to consume print material for 30 mins up to a couple of hours per day. Most people just aren't going to care and, frankly, probably won't even know about the eyestrain issue at all. The average user does not look at the trolly rants on gdgt.
rrtzmd...this is not a life or death issue. Can't we all just get along and let our unique devices do their thing in the way we want them to? Why do we have to get so pissed off? Let's prioritize our anger to preserve our heart and nervous system health. The Kindle and other e-ink readers will continue to be supported and if you hate the iPad, don't buy one.
Peace yall...literally!
I am also a Kindle owner but it's nice to be able to leave the Kindle at home and just bring my one SwissArmyKnife of a phone with me to do some of my reading. I'm a fan of the Kindle and I love that Whispersync talks to my iPhone and my Kindle picks up where I left off reading on my iPhone when I get home.
The ability to change the background to black and the text to white on the Kindle iPhone app significantly cuts down on eyestrain. I wouldn't be surprised to see a similar feature in the iBook application after release, especially since turning all the white pixels to black except for the words on the page would also preserve battery life on the device.
I don't think the iPad is for everyone but for many, MANY people, the LCD screen on the iPad will be something utilized to consume print material for 30 mins up to a couple of hours per day. Most people just aren't going to care and, frankly, probably won't even know about the eyestrain issue at all. The average user does not look at the trolly rants on gdgt.
rrtzmd...this is not a life or death issue. Can't we all just get along and let our unique devices do their thing in the way we want them to? Why do we have to get so pissed off? Let's prioritize our anger to preserve our heart and nervous system health. The Kindle and other e-ink readers will continue to be supported and if you hate the iPad, don't buy one.
Peace yall...literally!
I read Richard Dawkins' "Greatest Show on Earth" in its entirety on my iPhone via the Kindle app. It was not a terrible experience at all. It was not tiresome or awful. In fact, I agree with the gentleman above that it was an enjoyable experience because of the easy access it provided to footnotes which included beautiful color photographs of plants and animals. I also own a Kindle 2 and it is awesome. It is the exact same as reading a book. I find it quite enjoyable.
It is folly to assume though that anything short of an e-ink display cannot provide an extensive and enjoyable reading experience. I am often the first to sing the praises of e-ink, but LCD is certainly not terrible. To say that a device with an LCD screen is "useless" as an e-book reader doesn't seem reasonable to me.
It is folly to assume though that anything short of an e-ink display cannot provide an extensive and enjoyable reading experience. I am often the first to sing the praises of e-ink, but LCD is certainly not terrible. To say that a device with an LCD screen is "useless" as an e-book reader doesn't seem reasonable to me.
I read books on my iPhone all the time. I have the Stanza, eReader, Classics, and Kindle apps.
The first time I tried one I thought "this is gonna be ridiculous". It wasn't. I have set all the apps so I've got white text on a black screen. That does make it more comfortable for me.
Anytime I have to wait anywhere, for anything, I check my mail, check some RSS feeds, then read a book. All kinds of handy and I read more than I used to. Sister John my first grade teacher would be so proud.
The first time I tried one I thought "this is gonna be ridiculous". It wasn't. I have set all the apps so I've got white text on a black screen. That does make it more comfortable for me.
Anytime I have to wait anywhere, for anything, I check my mail, check some RSS feeds, then read a book. All kinds of handy and I read more than I used to. Sister John my first grade teacher would be so proud.
so apparently people are buying e-readers on the iphone/ipod touch just to look smarter......???
I think this guy works for amazon.com.......
I think this guy works for amazon.com.......
I have some of the worst eyesight a human being can have, but I have used (other peoples) iphones to read websites quite comfortably...
and I know others have much better eyesight than I and would have no problem reading on their iphone/ipod touch. and if they enjoy it then why do you have to have a problem with it?
this is very similar to how I love watching TV/movies on my 50" plasma TV, but other people I know are perfectly happy watching the same things on a 20" TV (even SDTV in some cases)... I don't get all angry about it... its just preference...
and I know others have much better eyesight than I and would have no problem reading on their iphone/ipod touch. and if they enjoy it then why do you have to have a problem with it?
this is very similar to how I love watching TV/movies on my 50" plasma TV, but other people I know are perfectly happy watching the same things on a 20" TV (even SDTV in some cases)... I don't get all angry about it... its just preference...
I agree. The whole "eyestrain" issue is blown WAY out of hand.
I am buying an Ipad as a reader.
I am buying an Ipad as a reader.
and for the record, with full color and multitouch with smooth page transitions, the iPad could be the best comic book reader ever!! I love comics and I have no problem admitting it. I still read and collect comics and a well made comic book reader on the ipad could be amazing........
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I don't think eyesight has anything to do with it. I have perfect eyesight but I find LCDs uncomfortable to read for long periods. There is probably some reason that some people get discomfort while others don't.
I had the same problem watching Avatar. I don't know if it was the 3D or the longwinded stretching out of a very minimal plot, but I was getting very tired by the end of the movie.
I had the same problem watching Avatar. I don't know if it was the 3D or the longwinded stretching out of a very minimal plot, but I was getting very tired by the end of the movie.
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..."if they enjoy it then why do you have to have a problem with it?"...I have no problem at all with whatever anyone enjoys...however, someone claiming to read books -- BOOKS, now, not websites -- on a two inch wide screen is difficult to believe...bear in mind that when I say "read," I'm not taking about glancing over a few lines on a website...I'm talking about multiple, sequential paragraphs of consecutive words uninterrupted by pictures and/or ads...and my point is that an ipad is NOT suited to that purpose because of the effects of backlight...and I find it specious that Jobs, on one hand, dissed the kindle because "no one reads anymore" but NOW his ipad is an "awesome" e-reader because it has a color display...
you still seem to have major problems with how people enjoy their book consumption. and you don't need to elaborate what "reading" is unless you like sounding like an arrogant prick. our point is that a ton of people have no problem with the backlight. I love the fact that you believe you are the end all authority on how everyone should read... I hope you enjoyed reading this.
