Apple iPad 4

[Shades]

I still prefer to read a book on the iPad... Bigger screen and readily accessible external (web) research available on hand.

If you're a book lover, Kindle hands down. If you're more into magazines and textbooks, I'd go with an iPad and a good PDF reader app (I can recommend a few).

Thanks for this input...I have been leaning towards the iPad because I am interested in both magazines (would love to get the economist on line, make recycling days easier!) and books. The Kobo and the Sony that I have looked at feel closer to a book experience than the iPad but are one task wonders.
So the dilemna...go for broader functionality or go for the book? I like the idea of a multi purpose device like the iPad...but my iPhone does most of this, just on a smaller screen and with the bonus of a phone and camera. The iPad not fully multipurpose no telephone, no camera (for taking pictures); the iPhone not good for books or magazines but fits in my pocket!
Talking to myself here, but I think I am begining to make the case for a Kindle or some such device and accept carrying multiple devices for multiple purposes...and still taking the old magazines out in the trash.
Thanks for the great input...other thoughts are always appreciated.
Cheers
S

 

[The Options Menu]

On this I think we disagree, I will say the analyst that follow the stock are on my side here. I read a report today that the stock was undervalued because of Jobs taking medical leave and some analyst put a $550 target on the stock......

We shall see.

OTB

The track record of markets, beyond a fiscal quarter, is often pretty dodgy. Going beyond Steve Jobs' health:
-Apple products (both computing and consumer electronics) are too expensive for most people in emerging markets.
-On the hardware consumer electronics side competitors have been pretty steadily closing the industrial design gaps (while often allowing for more out of the box functionality).
-On the embedded consumer OS side, Apple only uses iOS on it's own devices, and other vendors (all of them) have have closed most of the big gaps, while iOS is settling into it's 'mature' phase.
-On the general computing OS side, OsX is bound to it's hardware, which as mentioned, pretty much binds it to a very specific niche. (Yeah, they have server products, but you won't see them outside of the back of an all Mac shop, and Apple Anything is pretty much priced out of the emerging markets and non-consumer embedded markets.)

As far as the Op goes, if you want and iPad and have the money: 1) I'd wait for the next version, as Apple does OK with feedback. 2) If it does exactly what you need it to do in a package you like, go for it. 3) If it doesn't do exactly what you like, either learn to love carrying a sack of crap, or just find a device that does do what you want.

 

[onthebottom]

Thanks for this input...I have been leaning towards the iPad because I am interested in both magazines (would love to get the economist on line, make recycling days easier!) and books. The Kobo and the Sony that I have looked at feel closer to a book experience than the iPad but are one task wonders.
So the dilemna...go for broader functionality or go for the book? I like the idea of a multi purpose device like the iPad...but my iPhone does most of this, just on a smaller screen and with the bonus of a phone and camera. The iPad not fully multipurpose no telephone, no camera (for taking pictures); the iPhone not good for books or magazines but fits in my pocket!
Talking to myself here, but I think I am begining to make the case for a Kindle or some such device and accept carrying multiple devices for multiple purposes...and still taking the old magazines out in the trash.
Thanks for the great input...other thoughts are always appreciated.
Cheers
S

You should look for a used Kindle cheap then, it's a dead technology as the tablet market that has been spawned by Apple is about to take off. The good news is all the tablets (iPad and others) will support any Kindle books you buy so you'll be able to take those with you to the new technology.

OTB

 

[onthebottom]

The track record of markets, beyond a fiscal quarter, is often pretty dodgy. Going beyond Steve Jobs' health:
-Apple products (both computing and consumer electronics) are too expensive for most people in emerging markets.
-On the hardware consumer electronics side competitors have been pretty steadily closing the industrial design gaps (while often allowing for more out of the box functionality).
-On the embedded consumer OS side, Apple only uses iOS on it's own devices, and other vendors (all of them) have have closed most of the big gaps, while iOS is settling into it's 'mature' phase.
-On the general computing OS side, OsX is bound to it's hardware, which as mentioned, pretty much binds it to a very specific niche. (Yeah, they have server products, but you won't see them outside of the back of an all Mac shop, and Apple Anything is pretty much priced out of the emerging markets and non-consumer embedded markets.)

As far as the Op goes, if you want and iPad and have the money: 1) I'd wait for the next version, as Apple does OK with feedback. 2) If it does exactly what you need it to do in a package you like, go for it. 3) If it doesn't do exactly what you like, either learn to love carrying a sack of crap, or just find a device that does do what you want.

What he wants is to read books, you don't need a sack of crap to do that, and a netbook would be a weak ass solution..... it's either iPad or Kindle.

The next iPad will be better than the current one, that much is true, it will be interesting to see if Apple keeps the iPad 1 on sale at a lower price like they do with the 3Gs phone now......

OTB

 

[AnimalMagnetism]

if you plan on doing a lot of reading, definitely get a kindle or other eReader
$139 is nothing for comfort, size and convenience
http://www.amazon.com/Kindle-Wirele...pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=1286503722&pf_rd_i=507846

Nooks are nice too
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/nook/index.asp

at those prices you can have both an eReader and tablet device, but as stated earlier hold out to see what the iPad2 and competing devices offer before you decide on a tablet.

 

[Shades]

Well been doing more thinking/research on this...thanks for all the input. I think an e-reader, Kobo or Kindle is going to be the route for now...the iPad/tablet decision will be put off for awhile.
The dilemna is Kobo or Kindle...I spent time browsing the two sites and must say I like the Kindle...but then you see the "fine" print.
You in Canada, eh!
Then we don't have 750k books and 110 of 120 NYTimes Best Seller lists...no sir, for you in Canada we have 500k books and some of the best sellers...oh yes and some special pricing on the new books just for you in Canada! Just like when you buy a paper book, US and Canadian Prices, guess which is cheaper! And magazines well we can get you the Economist sent to your US Kindle, but, not Canada...we're working on it though...
Ahhhh, to be Canadian.
Time to talk to the Chapters folks about the Kobo and what I can access there from other sites like Amazon!
I notice some of the e readers cases come with little lights...anyone with experience with these...are they necessary for reading in poor light? or just a help?
S

 

[djk]

Well been doing more thinking/research on this...thanks for all the input. I think an e-reader, Kobo or Kindle is going to be the route for now...the iPad/tablet decision will be put off for awhile.
The dilemna is Kobo or Kindle...I spent time browsing the two sites and must say I like the Kindle...but then you see the "fine" print.
You in Canada, eh!
Then we don't have 750k books and 110 of 120 NYTimes Best Seller lists...no sir, for you in Canada we have 500k books and some of the best sellers...oh yes and some special pricing on the new books just for you in Canada! Just like when you buy a paper book, US and Canadian Prices, guess which is cheaper! And magazines well we can get you the Economist sent to your US Kindle, but, not Canada...we're working on it though...
Ahhhh, to be Canadian.
Time to talk to the Chapters folks about the Kobo and what I can access there from other sites like Amazon!
I notice some of the e readers cases come with little lights...anyone with experience with these...are they necessary for reading in poor light? or just a help?
S

I used to own a Sony Reader, now I own a Kindle. I prefer the Kindle because Amazon gets technology. They offer versions of their Kindle app on all major platforms, their whispernet sync means if I read 20 pages on my iPhone, when I access the same book on my Kindle, it updates to where I left off on the iPhone. The Kindle itself is a joy to use. Very good user experience. The UI is polished. Fast speed with opening ebooks, page turns and so on.

The Sony Reader was a nightmare. I couldn't access their store via the web, only within the Sony Reader desktop app. Sync management was poor. The actual reader crashed on me once, too. No secondary apps for my other devices to access my library. It was a death by a thousand little cuts. There was no one fatal blow that ruined the experience for me, but a thousand little glitches, flaws and bad design decisions that made me regret buying the Sony Reader.

Make sure to spend a lot of time with both the Kindle and Kobo before you buy.

 

[Shades]

Good info djk
with your kindle, are you downloading from and have access to the US catalogue and US prices or does it get filtered for Canada?

 

[djk]

Good info djk
with your kindle, are you downloading from and have access to the US catalogue and US prices or does it get filtered for Canada?

Right now, the Kindle library is based off Amazon.com, thus US catalogue with US prices.

Also, I re-read your earlier post and wanted to add additional thoughts.

1) The little lights that come with eBook readers is because the displays use eink technology and are not backlit. Perk is you can read fine in direct sunlight. Con is you need a light source at night time.
2) Educate yourself on both the Kindle and Kobo, don't depend on the retailers. They're usually not well trained and exist to move product. I'd only walk into a Chapters to handle the Kobo if I decided on it.
3) I use my iPad to read newspapers and magazines. I think the design and tech make the Kindle the perfect book replacement. I think the content and format of newspapers, magazines and textbooks are better suited to the iPad. There's the Kindle DX but its $379 USD. At that point, the extra functionality of the iPad makes more sense to me.

Edit: Please clear your inbox.

 

[Shades]

Right now, the Kindle library is based off Amazon.com, thus US catalogue with US prices.

Also, I re-read your earlier post and wanted to add additional thoughts.

1) The little lights that come with eBook readers is because the displays use eink technology and are not backlit. Perk is you can read fine in direct sunlight. Con is you need a light source at night time.
2) Educate yourself on both the Kindle and Kobo, don't depend on the retailers. They're usually not well trained and exist to move product. I'd only walk into a Chapters to handle the Kobo if I decided on it.
3) I use my iPad to read newspapers and magazines. I think the design and tech make the Kindle the perfect book replacement. I think the content and format of newspapers, magazines and textbooks are better suited to the iPad. There's the Kindle DX but its $379 USD. At that point, the extra functionality of the iPad makes more sense to me.

Edit: Please clear your inbox.

Great info...thanks djk. I do appreciate the input. One last question...about the light...can you read your kindle with a normal bedside lamp or living room light, or do you really need the extra light on the case?
Cheers
S
PS...cleared inbox, didn't know it had overflowed!