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Original poster

Do I get an ipad or a kindle?

124 replies

bigbadbarry · 20/06/2011 14:50

I know they are quite different but I am going to buy myself...something...and can't quite decide. DH has a kindle so there is one in the house already - plus I have a big pile of paper books waiting to be read. But I keep thinking how it would revolutionise packing to go away if I didn't have to fill my case with books! So I giess what I am really wondering is, what is it like to read on an ipad? Is it manageable? Will it give me a headache?
Any other thoughts?

OP posts:
LeggyBlondeNE · 21/06/2011 10:25

Can you load .doc files onto a Kindle?

theyoungvisiter · 21/06/2011 10:40

Yes, but they don't always display perfectly. You can ask Amazon to convert them into a kindle-friendly format (which they'll do for free via email) and they look and work a lot better.

jasper1980 · 21/06/2011 10:42

I have a kindle and love it. Its perfect for the garden etc as it doesn't get glare.

No idea about the ipad as its only just on order from apple...why does it take sooooo long!!!!

Browser wise I find the kindle slow, its not great for it!

VivaLeBeaver · 21/06/2011 10:56

I have both. I read on the kindle and do Internet on the iPad. I don't think I could read for long on the iPad, not in bed holding it up anyway. The kindle I can as it's so light and effortless.

The browser on the kindle is fairly useless. I only use it to log into wifi hotspots. Well actually I don't even do that anymore as Ive kind of tethered it to my mobile phone and it gets wifi through the phone.

TheBolter · 21/06/2011 11:01

I think it depends on what you want from it. If you're just going to use an ipad for reading, you'd be better off with a Kindle. If you want a gadget that does a million and one other things, then it's a no brainer - get an ipad!

minipen · 21/06/2011 11:27

kindle users: any tips for taking it on holiday, I am concerned about getting suncream on it but I have coordinated my bikini to my kindle case so that should be ok (just realised that, maybe I need to get a black case so I don't look too odd)

vnmum · 21/06/2011 12:02

minipen there are some waterproof cases on amazon or if all else fails put it in a ziplock bag, just keep an eye out for condensation build up. You do need something i think though, just to protect from sand etc

sis · 21/06/2011 12:07

If you go for an ereader as opposed to an ipad, bear in mind that you can borrow books for e readers but the system that my library (and I suspect, many other library also use) are not compatable with kindle. On that issue alone, i wish I had bought another e-reader rather than a kindle.

dragonfly42 · 21/06/2011 12:29

I have an ipod touch which i love and use a lot for games, internet, music obviously and other apps. I couldnt decide between an ipad and a kindle but I mainly wanted one to read books on. After a lot of careful considering and reading reviews I chose the kindle and I'm really glad I did! It's great to read books on as it has a completely different screen to an ipad, its more like reading a real book. The ipad charge will probably only last a day, my husband has one, where as the kindle will last ages! It's lighter too and smaller to carry round. I found that if you have an ipod touch its not really much different to an ipad apart from the obvious size difference, so i thought go for the kindle and you have the best of both!!

trifling · 21/06/2011 12:48

Kindle for reading on holiday, brilliant, and it's cheap enough that I don't overworry about screen scratches etc. Holidays for us also mean long evenings for reading so do need two for that, and I think you can share books deviously between two accounts.

dragonmother · 21/06/2011 13:03

Interesting Dragonfly. I have a laptop I use for work and at home so was wondering about getting an Ipod Touch instead of an Ipad as it'd be more portable and more complementary to the laptop.

Is it possible to play games and watch movies okay on the Touch? Hey I could get a Kindle AND a touch for the same cost as an ipad couldn't I?

Wordsmith · 21/06/2011 13:22

Wow! Mumsnet proves its usefulness again! I never knew there was a Kindle app for iPhone, just downloaded it and it looks brill. But whee are all the free books? Only 3 came up on my screen.

VivaLeBeaver · 21/06/2011 13:31

Go onto amazon and into their kindle section. Tink they have a free kindle book list. You can set your phone up into your amazon account so then when you get a book via the amazon site it will send it to your phone.

MrsJamin · 21/06/2011 13:44

I have an iPad and DH has a kindle. I love the iPad but is a luxury - I don't think I've ever used it when something else wasn't available to do a similar function. DH loves his kindle as he commutes by train and so he uses it a lot. BTW iPad and iPhone have iBooks which has lots of free books like all of Jane Austen, etc.

Wordsmith · 21/06/2011 13:47

Thanks VLB!

MNHQ
Tech · 21/06/2011 14:04

I have an ipad, and while it's great, it's pretty much unusable in bright sunshine, whereas I think kindles are OK in the sun. Not that that's much of an issue in Britain of course Wink

Original poster
bigbadbarry · 21/06/2011 14:09

Hmm. We are going to Spain this summer, where I hope to see some sunshine...though I don't mind sitting under a parasol some of the time. I think it might be a bit silly to base the decision on a mere fortnight though! Somebody told me the backlit screen can be a bit headachey, but this doesn't seem to be a big factor on this thread?

OP posts:
NotjustaMummy · 21/06/2011 14:28

I have both, (I actually do the whole ebook publishing thing for living). I absolutely adore my ipad and find I use it as my primary device, using my kindle app to read accross the kindle, ipad, iphone blah blah blah. plus as a mac user all the other myraid of things it does cause me to have sever nerdgasams each time I touch it. The kindle now tends just to go places I wouldn't want to take the ipad out, like the tube or the beach, the e-ink screen is better in sunlight. Kindle battery also lasts so much longer...

However yesterday I got my paws on the Asus eepad transformer thingy. They retail for half the cost of an ipad and the whole experience was remarkably good. again you can pop the kindle app on for reading and it was very nice. If you were someone who doesn't really do a lot of PC work, such as word, excel etc but wanted something to read on, plus do the email, internets etc and aren't an Apple devotee, I'd really consider thinking about one of these...

LadyGok · 21/06/2011 14:48

Your kindle will last the month only if you turn of the wifi connection cos if you don't it drains the battery within the fortnight.

I have both iPad and kindle. It's no brainer with the iPad as it does loads not just as a book. Kindle is a book and is lighter. I also like the kindle cos it reads to you cos my lad struggles to read and loves it. Yes the voices are annoying but he loves the fact it reads and it's encouraging him to read to.

For both I would recommend a cover for them and insurance too for peace of mind.

Also did you know if you sign up for mobile me it can find your iPad,iPhone,iPod and you can remotely turn it off change things on it even set an alarm on it. Very handy I find if it gets nicked.

Now who is a mac lover here as I am seriously thinking of a PC but have been told I cant access flash player not that I use it often I have to add. Are they worth the money or is it all Apple hype. I have found no faults with the iPad at all and it's a first generation one not 2. I really need another cos I always seem to find it in someone elses mitts here lol!!!!!

LittleMissFlustered · 21/06/2011 14:58

I have an iPad and a kindle. I need another two iPads and another kindle. As there just aren't enough devices to go round me and the kids. I carry both about with me, and am using the iPad to nosy on MN right now. I like the iPad, but for reading it has to be the kindle. The headaches from trying to read for too long on the iPad are vile, but I must say that I do have issues with headaches so others mayn't have the same problems.

MindySimmons · 21/06/2011 15:27

Really surprised by everyone saying how much of a pain it is to read using an iPad or it's weight?! The kindle is light but the iPad is hardly hefty, I love the kindle app on it and especially using the black background in poor light with white font, it's superb. If you already have a kindle in the house, it's got to be an iPad - I use mine everyday as a reading device as well as for tons of other things besides. The only drawback I would personally consider is I love the iPad so much, I'm not sure I would want to risk trashing it on a beach. My iPhone is a complete state from being used in every possible environment and temperature! (During the mini heatwave we had in the UK late spring I left it in the garden and it told me it was too hot and had to cool down! A hour in the fridge and all was well!)

NotjustaMummy · 21/06/2011 15:28

LadyGok, the ipad won't do flash, but the Asus tablet will, I had a play with one earlier and it was very slick and half the price of the ipad2. if you don't need to be mac, it is worth having a go one one!

HannahForever · 21/06/2011 15:30

iPad everytime - kindle is completely pointless

BadRoly · 21/06/2011 15:31

I have just got a kindle after debating the same thing for a while. My laptop is on it's last legs however and an iPad is not a replacement for a laptop so I have a kindle and am hoping that I'll get a macbook for my birthday/Christmas if I am really good!

MmeLindor. · 21/06/2011 15:37

I had the same decision to make last year and bought the Kindle.

Then DH bought me an iPad.

:o

I don't find the iPad a pain to read on, the back lit screen is sometimes an advantage, eg. reading in bed without having to put the light on.

For taking to the beach, the Kindle wins hands down.

Not only lighter, and less bulky but easier to read in the sun. And most importantly - not as expensive. It would be annoying if it got pinched or damaged, but not as much of a loss than the iPad would be.