Kindle DX or Ipad?

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allblur

101 posts

Master Geek

#81375 12-Apr-2011 10:39

Hi guys, i was wondering if you guys can give me a rough review of your experiences with either the Ipad2 or Kindle DX as an ebook reader. Some of my friends insist me on buying the ipad2 since it has more features and so on, but all i want is a decent reader that i can carry around instead of a bulking package, thats said how are your experiences from migrating from heavy 500+ pages to electronically flipping through virtual pages??

So just to make it simple, i'd like details on:
-Page turns? Fast enough to not get annoyed at? ipad2 or kindle?
-Contrast, easier to read?
-Holding for a long time, reading in bed? Any disconforts?
-Expandibility? Will it be easy to access a book i want simply by turning on the device and choosing?

I know the Ipad2 is really not a fair comparison, but say if you were only to use the device as an ereader, what sort of highlights would you bring up?

Thanks a bunch guys!!

kyhwana2

2553 posts

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#457734 12-Apr-2011 10:44

I only have the 7" Kindle3 (wifi) but..

If you show the kindle page turns to people who haven't seen e-ink in action before they might complain that it's "too slow" but honestly, you get used to it/don't even notice it. (The e-ink display on the K3 is supposed to be one of the better ones)

Since the Kindle uses e-ink, contrast isn't an issue. :) You just need light to read it, like a normal book.

I have no problem holding my K3 for hours on end, you might have trouble with that using an ipad. (Dunno about ipad2)

The K3 has ~3.3GB of user accessible storage, which is heeaps of books. When you turn on the Kindle it goes back to whatever you had open before, so if you're in the middle of a book, it'll go back to that. If you want to read something else, you just hit the home key, select the new book and you're off.

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nakedmolerat

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#457735 12-Apr-2011 10:45

kindle, if you want a dedicated ereader ONLY (no web browsing, games etc)

kyhwana2

2553 posts

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#457747 12-Apr-2011 10:57

nakedmolerat: kindle, if you want a dedicated ereader ONLY (no web browsing, games etc)

You can do web browsing on the Kindle3, but it's really only good for doing a quick tweet/FB entry or looking something up on wikipedia, etc.

nate

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#457766 12-Apr-2011 11:32

nakedmolerat: kindle, if you want a dedicated ereader ONLY (no web browsing, games etc)

I did a stack of research when looking for a Christmas present for my better half - it was either an iPad or a Kindle.

All of the forums I read came up with the same conclusion - if you want a device solely for reading, a Kindle is the way to go. It's very light, battery goes forever, and it's very easy on the eyes when you read it for hours on end. I went with a Kindle and my partner loves it.

iPad, obviously, does everything, but the glossy, back lit screen makes reading in bed not as enjoyable.

It really depends on what you are trying to do.

eracode

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#457804 12-Apr-2011 13:08

nate:
nakedmolerat: kindle, if you want a dedicated ereader ONLY (no web browsing, games etc)

I did a stack of research when looking for a Christmas present for my better half - it was either an iPad or a Kindle.

All of the forums I read came up with the same conclusion - if you want a device solely for reading, a Kindle is the way to go. It's very light, battery goes forever, and it's very easy on the eyes when you read it for hours on end. I went with a Kindle and my partner loves it.

iPad, obviously, does everything, but the glossy, back lit screen makes reading in bed not as enjoyable.

It really depends on what you are trying to do.

+1. Did the same research and ended up buying a Kindle for my wife, who is a big reader, and she just loves it.

I now have an Ipad 2. I'm not such a big reader but the iPad does heaps of other stuff that I like, that Kindle won't.

The iPad really ends up being pretty heavy to hold while reading bed but, unlike the Kindle it does not need ambient light to be able to read, so you can read in bed with no light on.

If you just want a really good e-reader, go with the Kindle. If you fancy the ocassional game of Angry Birds between e-book chapters, go with the iPad.

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nickb800

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#457806 12-Apr-2011 13:14

I recently got a Kindle 3, its been great but the two lessons learnt were:
- Get a bigger screeen (DX) if you plan to look at lots of pdfs (i put assignments/readers from uni on it) as these are preformatted so a bit harder to zoom in/scale up than pure ebooks.
-Get a lighted case if you can, its just super handy

trig42

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#457810 12-Apr-2011 13:33

I just got given a KindleDX, and am halfway through my first book on it. It is really easy to read (just like a book, no eye strain or anything), reasonably light and easy to use. I like the fact that it uses eInk and you only need light (as with a book) to read it. Works great outside.

Battery life seems great too.

ScottStevensNZ

245 posts

Master Geek

#457813 12-Apr-2011 13:40

-Page turns? Fast enough to not get annoyed at? ipad2 or kindle?
=>On the kindle, the entire page will quickly flick to black and then display the text (which is a function of how eInk works) -> if you have a sony style nearby or a whitcoulls with a Sony reader then have a play with that because the page turns are comparable

-Contrast, easier to read?
=>I find it much easier to read than an LCD screen, even one with a massively high pixel count; there is no refresh rate on a kindle, once the text is on the display it will stay there - so no need to redraw the screen. Be aware that its not black text on a white background, it is more akin to newsprint

-Holding for a long time, reading in bed? Any disconforts?
=>Never had a problem, if you get a kindle cover it holds just like a book - very light - just be aware you will need a bed side lamp or get the kindle cover with the built in light - just like you do with a real book. Handy also because the page turn buttons are on both sides of the device so you can always angle yourself under the blankets and turn pages without getting cold.

-Expandibility? Will it be easy to access a book i want simply by turning on the device and choosing?
=>Standard kindle has no SD card slot - however, books are small...*small* so 2GB will last a very long time. (212 books on mine, at about 120MB/2GB)

In short - I'd not go past a e-ink device for reading (I do a lot of reading, and Cryptonomicon on the kindle just feels sooooo right) and I am in the market for an android tab for everything else

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allblur

101 posts

Master Geek

#458154 13-Apr-2011 10:43

Thanks everyone for the reviews, just another question though, with the DX, are you able to flip the orientation and get two pages on one screen ? thanks

kyhwana2

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#458166 13-Apr-2011 11:25

Not sure about the DX, but you can't do that on the kindle 3.
(Although I believe you can switch the orientation, but you still only get the one page)

trig42

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#458182 13-Apr-2011 11:50

The DX will switch orientation when you rotate it, but still only one book page per screen. I believe if yo purchase online magazines/newspapers it will display two pages on one screen in landscape.