What do you use to read?

[P.J.]

Hi guys,

I was just reading about the news that Amazon will be releasing a Kindle tablet in November (fingers crossed globally, so I can get my mitts on it here in the UK), so it got me thinking.

What does everyone use to read?

Do you have a Kindle? Or a Nook? Maybe an ipad or one of the android tablets?

With authors like myself moving solely to epublishing, there are a number of books that will never be published as a physical novel.

[Scott, Fabled Reviewer o' Tales!]

I use my Kindle mostly, but also the app on iPad and my iPhone. For PDF's I use the iBook app on the iPad.

I would really have to see what features an Amazon tablet would offer to see if I am interested. The Kindle has everything I need plus the lightweight and good battery life. Also the Kindle really is nice for reading outside in the sun while the iPad is very difficult.

[P.J.]

Cool. I'm looking at getting a Kindle soon myself. I've used the app on my iphone, but to be honest, I don't enjoy the reading experience on it, simply because of the backlight, whereas I've found the times I've tested the Kindle to be really pleasant.

Apparently, the tablet's going to be using a heavily customised android OS, and will have access to the amazon android appstore, as well as having the kindle app, video/music apps and a web browser. It'll be a 7" tablet, and way cheaper than the ipad.

I think I'll get the Kindle ereader, and consider getting a tablet like the Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7. Assuming Apple don't manage to get it banned in the UK!

[Kriss]

I use my kindle, but since I started off with using my Kindle app on my iPhone you will find me using that a lot, especially when reading before bed. If I read my Kindle in bed and fall asleep it is more apt to end up on the floor where my iPhone is always in a death grip no matter how dead to the world I am. But the Kindle certainly is better for reading outside. I hate reading on my computer because the screen is so large and the glare is worse. I convert the PDF's and read them on my iPhone with iBook. I would read on my iPad if I had one haha!

[Kriss]

Oh and as far as back-light with iPhones P.J.? I turn my brightness down and set it to sepia and have not had any issues.

[P.J.]

Same here. I guess I just don't find the small form factor of an iPhone 3GS all that conducive to reading.

I'd find using a tablet better, say something like the galaxy tab 7.7 or the kindle tablet coming out in November, but I think if I'm going to switch to an ereader, I think I'd prefer something like a kindle ereader. Having had a play, I find the experience far better than a reflective, backlit screen. But that's just me, and everyone has their own preferences!

[Jeffrey, Lentarian Fire Thrower]

I started with a Palm m130, then bought a Palm TX (still have, still use!), then it was my iPod Touch.

Now I've upgraded to my iPad 2. I bought my wife a Nook Color, so she uses that and my old iPod Touch. And on my iPad, I have apps for Barnes & Noble, Ereader, Kindle, and iBooks, of course.

[G.]

Hmm, I'm still with ink and parchment. Used to be scrolls, but I've recently upgraded, lol.
Was supposed to get a Kindle for my birthday, but other events shot that plan down. I still plan on getting a Kindle or Nook soon (since I don't have a smart phone either, hehehe).
I'll make it into the 21st century eventually.

[Steve]

I switched over to the nook touch this summer. It is awesome; definitely the best ebook reader on the market right now.

[Jeffrey, Lentarian Fire Thrower]

My wife loves her Nook. We've got several magazine subscriptions that automatically "deliver" the latest editions when they are released. It's really cool.

Then again, I'm partial to my iPad. :)

[Scott, Fabled Reviewer o' Tales!]

Steve wrote: "I switched over to the nook touch this summer. It is awesome; definitely the best ebook reader on the market right now."

What did you switch from Steve?

[B.]

Personally, I am hooked on the "eInk" display and could never go back to LCD. I am using a Kindle 3, and so far it's done everything I've wanted it to. I'm very happy with it.

[P.J.]

Unfortunately, the Nook isn't available here in the UK. which is a shame, as I quite like the look of the new Nook touch.

That really leaves me with a choice of a Sony ereader - not fantastic, and mainly tied to Waterstones, which charges ridiculous amounts for ebooks (on average, £7-£8, or about $13-$16) and not that good a store. Admittedly I can download any book in epub format, but the ereader is still typically expensive for a Sony product.

Or there's the Kindle. Downside is it's tied to the amazon kindle store, but it is cheaper, as are the books.

[Jeffrey, Lentarian Fire Thrower]

I really like my wife's Nook, especially when they released a firmware upgrade and essentially turned it into a "reader tablet". You haven't experienced life until you play Angry Birds on a bigger screen, then of course you play it in HD on an iPad. Woohoo!!

I don't think I can read the iPad too well outdoors, but then again, who would want to read outdoors when it's 100+ outside? I'll take my comfy AC house any day.

[Scott, Fabled Reviewer o' Tales!]

I always take my Kindle outside and read while I have the dogs out doing there business. I tried with the iPad a few times and it fails unless I can get a good shady spot.

[Jeffrey, Lentarian Fire Thrower]

I can only imagine an iPad wouldn't be the best choice outside.

Out of sheer morbid curiosity, how long does it take your dogs to do their business if you have to take your Kindle outside? :)

[Scott, Fabled Reviewer o' Tales!]

If I rush them they make stinky presents on my wife's shoes. It's funny at first but gets old quick. I also like to let them run around and tire themselves out so they don't come inside and roughhouse near the baby.

[Scott, Fabled Reviewer o' Tales!]

Also I get bored very easily I take my kindle to read while I brush my teeth lol. My brain doesn't shut off very well and I need some kind of distraction at all times.

[Jeffrey, Lentarian Fire Thrower]

Ah. Makes perfect sense. What kinds of dogs do you have? I only have the one. I bought her for my wife, and the dog bonded with me. :)

She's pretty much our kid. Sure acts like one. We know if she doesn't get enough attention, or play time, she'll keep us awake at night. Toys everywhere. She makes me laugh all the time, though.

[Scott, Fabled Reviewer o' Tales!]

Also I get bored very easily I take my kindle to read while I brush my teeth lol. My brain doesn't shut off very well and I need some kind of distraction at all times.

[Steve]

Scott wrote: "Steve wrote: "I switched over to the nook touch this summer. It is awesome; definitely the best ebook reader on the market right now."

What did you switch from Steve?"

I started with the original nook. When the nook Touch came out, I couldn't resist.

[Scott, Fabled Reviewer o' Tales!]

Steve wrote: "Scott wrote: "Steve wrote: "I switched over to the nook touch this summer. It is awesome; definitely the best ebook reader on the market right now."

What did you switch from Steve?"

I started wi..."

I see. I was wondering if it was from the Kindle or Sony reader or something. I haven't played with any kind of Nook so I have no comparison to my Kindle. At this point though I've spent enough on Kindle books that I'm pretty sure I'm a customer for life lol.

[Kriss]

I love the Nook but I have also spent so much on Kindle Books that I am going to stick with that one unless I end up with a windfall. But to be honest I think that I would rather use a windfall for an iPad or a new MacAir!

[Christopher]

I use my Kindle at home, ipod when I'm out (especially when I'm waiting for a meeting to start, etc). My wife reads on her iPad with the Kindle app.

[Patricia]

My hubby got a sony ereader and a nook. He likes to read on the Nook and I uploaded my books to the Sony ereader but have yet to read on it. Most ebooks I read on my computer. Of course, might be getting a kindle soon since hubby knows a new one is coming out and I've been d/l'ing a lot of kindle book. (If you're going wow, the reason hubby is about ereaders, he's a computer nerd and loves getting new toys.)

[Jeffrey, Lentarian Fire Thrower]

My wife would say the same damn thing about me. I love the toys, and I love to tinker with 'em.

In my line of work, I have to. :) Sooner or later I'll get a client that'll get a new device and will expect me to be an expert on it.

Fortunately, it doesn't take me long at all to learn the nuances of an electronic device.

[Patricia]

My hubby's job at times requires him to be the same too. Or at least that's the excuse he's given a few times. XD The main reason he got a nook was we were at B&N and he picked it up and didn't want to put it back down. =\

[P.J.]

My partner says the same about me. She's surprises I've waited this long to decide whether to get a kindle, when it combines two of my favourite things: technology and reading!

[Patricia]

Well, hubby decided to wait since he knew Amazon was releasing a new version soon.

[Jeffrey, Lentarian Fire Thrower]

Dude, I need to lay off ye olde cans o' caffeine... Maybe I'll watch a movie on this thing. My iPad has a good charge.

[Brandy]

I actually haven't picked up an e-reader yet - I nearly had my hands on one of those HP tablets that went on ridiculous sale, but I was one of the unfortunates they oversold to. /sadface

I think I'm going to save up to buy an iPad with my christmas bonus this year from work, so that I can have access to pretty much every e-reader marketplace. That, and it'll allow me something I can be mobile on for editing and writing, rather than spending half the amount for a device I can only really read on. Both of my current roommates have iPad 2s, and I really like how smooth it is.

At the moment though... I read e-books on my tiny screened Droid X. I'm sure it's terrible for my eyes! But I enjoyed all of the first Bakkian Chronicles while I jogged every morning at the gym, so having something small like that actually works out!

[Jeffrey, Lentarian Fire Thrower]

Brandy -

You'll love the iPad 2!!

I use mine for everything, so much so that I've noticed I'm using this more than my laptop. iPad 2 wifi w/ 32 GB. Black.

[P.J.]

Really? That's cool.

I've only got an underpowered Samsung NC20 (netbook), so I can't actually do much on my laptop beyond writing (trying to watch a video is a bit like being in a nightclub with the lights flickering rapidly).

That means I tend to use my iphone to watch videos, etc. but the screen is sometimes too small!

What do you tend to use your ipad for, Jeffrey?

[Jeffrey, Lentarian Fire Thrower]

P.J. -

What do I use my iPad for... Let's see. I find that if I ever need to look up anything online, I'll go for my iPad first. Laptop is getting (gasp!) too bulky.

When I know I'll be working a couple of hours updating websites, I'll put in the earphones and either listen to a movie or listen to some music. I have an iTunes library that rivals most DJs, I kid you not.

Also, I have an app on my iPad that is synched with my laptop, which allows me to work on my book. I make a change on my laptop and I'll synch it to my iPad. I do some work on my iPad and then synch it with my laptop. That way I have the most recent copy of my book in both places. As such, since I've worked on my book before on my iPad, I bought one of those cases that has a small built-in bluetooth keyboard. Comes in handy. :)

Oh. Can't forget Angry Birds, which I am the king. :) 3 stars on every level that's been released so far, plus the eagle feather. That's on Angry Birds and Angry Birds Seasons. Then my wife has Angry Birds Rio on her phone. I've gotten 3 stars on every level of that one, too. She beats the levels, then I go back and get three stars on them all.

[P.J.]

Wow, I didn't realise there was an app like that! Sounds very handy. I think I'll definitely get a kindle for reading, but if tablets are moving more into functional work tools, then I may consider getting one as well. I'm debating android or iPad, as I particularly like the asus transformer.

I suppose, if you can get ms office (used pages, hate it - no offence guys, but I hate the fact that it's not regionalised. Say what you want about Microsoft, but at least their word processor has UK english) I may consider an iPad.

[Elixa]

I downloaded kindle on my smartphone. Reading on the small screen took some getting used to, but now that I've been using it for some time the small size doesn't really bother me anymore. The only thing that I really hate about using the phone is how reading off of it drains the batttery quickly.

Have a great week everyone,
Elixa

[Jeffrey, Lentarian Fire Thrower]

The very first ereader I had was a Palm m130. Talk about small screens, and even smaller print. Still, I thought it was cool as hell to have over 200 books with me at all times.

Now, I use my iPad 2. The only way to read a book if you're an old fart who's tired of squinting at the screen. :)

[Patricia]

I don't think I could read on a smartphone. The small font would be bad on my already bad eyesight. On my ereader, I usually up the font. (FYI I've had bad eye sight since second grade.)

[Elixa]

Patricia wrote: "I don't think I could read on a smartphone. The small font would be bad on my already bad eyesight. On my ereader, I usually up the font. (FYI I've had bad eye sight since second grade.)"

Using the phone took some time to adjust. However, it's really not overly bad. I just compared the text size to that in a paparback and I'm guessing it's roughly 60% of the paperback print size, however, the text being lit does help. You only get rougly 5-6 words per line and maybe 15 lines per page for easier reading. I just like the convenience of it. Phone, e-reader and internet all in one.

[Jeffrey, Lentarian Fire Thrower]

Yeah, I hear that. Sprint is supposedly going to be carrying the iPhones next month. If so, I'm totally upgrading and will get one. As such, I'll have my iBook library to go along with it. I may be getting old, but my eyes aren't that bad. Well, at least not yet!

[B. Justin]

Novels? Kindle DX

Textbooks? photocopies folded around my Honeycomb Nook and jammed into a white coat pocket : )