iPad vs. Kindle DX Graphite

[Zorz]

Originally Posted by Maggie Leung

I wonder how much dedicated-device preference is tied to people preferring a "book-like" reading experience. I've edited on computer for two decades. I'm comfortable reading on screen for work and leisure, without any book-like appearance. I started editing on amber screens, lol.

For me I have to use eink because all LCD monitors (except PVA panels) make my eyes scream. CRT monitors dont, but all LCD's do. Ive never used a plasma.

Im a programmer and have to deal day in and day out with computer monitors. They make my eyes water and strain. I wish they had eink computer monitors, id buy one pretty quickly.

[Sweetpea]

Originally Posted by Zorz

For me I have to use eink because all LCD monitors (except PVA panels) make my eyes scream. CRT monitors dont, but all LCD's do. Ive never used a plasma.

Im a programmer and have to deal day in and day out with computer monitors. They make my eyes water and strain. I wish they had eink computer monitors, id buy one pretty quickly.

I've never had problems reading from a monitor, except when there's too much light, or not enough (compared to the lightness of my monitor). You should look in to that. And don't forget to blink, which is a major reason for a lot of people getting sore eyes: they don't blink as often.

[mgmueller]

Originally Posted by Bremen Cole

Yeah.... that's it...

anyway,

People that want an iPad, get an iPad.... people that want something else, will get something else. As I say over and over..... no right/wrong choice, no better or worse, just personal choice. No "toy" or "reader", just what the individual wants to use it for.

Still.....
With the exception of 1 colleague, who already owns Sony 600, none did show any interest to purchase one or the other anytime.
It just was simple interest in some toys.
And then I really would have expected way more curiosity for the iPad.....

[Maggie Leung]

Originally Posted by Talldog

That's certainly the case for me. I'm a long time IT professional who was doing PDA and smartphone tech support for a large corporation when they first became a big thing. I'm used to spending many hours looking at backlit screens, and they don't really bother me, but when I want to relax with a book at the end of the day, I'd much rather look at an e-ink screen.

It will be interesting to see how the future of dedicated devices plays out. If it's mostly preference, rather than need (such as eye problems), dedicated devices seem more likely to disappear sooner.

My thinking: If someone depends on e-ink because of a health problem that cannot be resolved, he has no choice but to stick with e-ink. If e-ink is just a preference, then that consumer is more likely to switch to whatever the mainstream product is, depending on price point, features and availability.

Basically, e-ink's survival depends on enough readers continuing to need it and being willing to perhaps pay a premium for it, in order to keep profits high enough to keep hardware makers in the game even if demand shrinks overall.

[Maggie Leung]

Originally Posted by Zorz

For me I have to use eink because all LCD monitors (except PVA panels) make my eyes scream. CRT monitors dont, but all LCD's do. Ive never used a plasma.

Im a programmer and have to deal day in and day out with computer monitors. They make my eyes water and strain. I wish they had eink computer monitors, id buy one pretty quickly.

This sounds like a serious problem that not only might affect longer-term health, but your livelihood as well. Have you seen an eye specialist?

[Zorz]

Originally Posted by Maggie Leung

This sounds like a serious problem that not only might affect longer-term health, but your livelihood as well. Have you seen an eye specialist?

yeah, been to an ophthalmologist. Said by eyes are fine. He also said a lot of people(his patients I guess) have a lot of problems with computer monitors. Its becoming more and more common.

[Maggie Leung]

Originally Posted by Zorz

yeah, been to an ophthalmologist. Said by eyes are fine. He also said a lot of people(his patients I guess) have a lot of problems with computer monitors. Its becoming more and more common.

Wonder what the trigger is. I've edited for 20 years on computer, along with hundreds of colleagues, but that type of eye problem hasn't been an issue. Instead, many of my colleagues have developed hand and wrist problems, such as carpal tunnel syndrome. There are plenty of older people in my workplaces whose eyes seem to be doing fine (otherwise there would be complaints, as with the hand and wrist problems). We have ergonomics people work with everyone when they start, and as needed after, because we don't want to be sued. Our health coverage also includes annual eye exams and free computer glasses if needed.

[Shaggy]

Originally Posted by mgmueller

But iPad with its color screen, multimedia capabilities, speed, games, .... would have more to demonstrate.

On the other hand none of those are things that they haven't already seen countless times on PCs/laptops/etc. The Kindle may have grabbed their attention more because it's something they hadn't seen before, assuming that was their first exposure to an eInk device.

[mgmueller]

Originally Posted by Shaggy

On the other hand none of those are things that they haven't already seen countless times on PCs/laptops/etc. The Kindle may have grabbed their attention more because it's something they hadn't seen before, assuming that was their first exposure to an eInk device.

Most of them have seen some of my other eReaders ("what's in your suitcase this time?). I usually have 1 or 2 with me on each trip.
I guess the concept of the screensaver was new to them. And it's smartly done by Amazon. The pic perfectly demonstrates the contrast - maybe even better than actual books.
iPad I would have to start to show anything at all...

[JSWolf]

Has anyone seen the new Kindle TV advertisement? They get a dig in at Apple and the iPad at the end when Amazon flashes up the words....

Even in direct Sunlight

[JaneD]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Has anyone seen the new Kindle TV advertisement? They get a dig in at Apple and the iPad at the end when Amazon flashes up the words....

Even in direct Sunlight

Yeah I saw that! Pretty amusing. Though kind of biting the hand that feeds you: the iPad has been a huge platform for the Kindle app, through which Amazon has already sold loads of books. I don't think it's any coincidence that ebook sales have been growing so much since the launch of the iPad.

[Talldog]

Originally Posted by JaneD

Yeah I saw that! Pretty amusing. Though kind of biting the hand that feeds you: the iPad has been a huge platform for the Kindle app, through which Amazon has already sold loads of books. I don't think it's any coincidence that ebook sales have been growing so much since the launch of the iPad.

It isn't just the iPad. Amazon says their Kindle hardware sales have gone way up since their price cuts. No question though that the iPad Kindle app has been a good thing for Amazon.

[mgmueller]

Originally Posted by Bremen Cole

Yeah.... that's it...

anyway,

People that want an iPad, get an iPad.... people that want something else, will get something else. As I say over and over..... no right/wrong choice, no better or worse, just personal choice. No "toy" or "reader", just what the individual wants to use it for.

I guess, I didn't comment enough.
NONE of my colleagues ever (at least not in the near future) will get an iPad or an Kindle. With the exception of a single colleague, none of them is interested in eBooks, not even the slightest bit.
But they always are kind of curious (anything is more interesting than starting the meeting) about the newest gadgets out there.
And then I would have expected iPad to be kind of interesting. 2 years ago for example my UMPC has been kind of interesting ("what's that now?").
Maybe iPad ist just too common, neither tiny nor of strange form factor.
But then, Kindle DX has more or less the same measurements and looks...

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Has anyone seen the new Kindle TV advertisement? They get a dig in at Apple and the iPad at the end when Amazon flashes up the words....

Even in direct Sunlight

Perhaps Apple's adverts should end with

Even in the dark!



I know that personally, being able to read in bed in the dark is much more useful than being able to read outside in sunlight.

[leebase]

Originally Posted by Talldog

It isn't just the iPad. Amazon says their Kindle hardware sales have gone way up since their price cuts. No question though that the iPad Kindle app has been a good thing for Amazon.

Actually, they said their "growth rate" had tripled. If their growth RATE had been very very tiny....then tripling it would still be very tiny. You can't know how good the sales are from that statement.

Lee