Do I get an ipad or a kindle?

[bigbadbarry]

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?

I love my iPad ... but then I use it for everything: lists (I'm a list freak), internet, games, TV (TV Catchup ... not an app but a website that you can make appear as a shortcut on your screen and it streams live TV to your ipad) and it is useful for night-time silent reading when you don't want to wake your OH with either the light on or rustling.

But if all you want it for is reading, then I'd go for Kindle. You can put that in your pocket.

This might sound a silly question - if you read a book on the kindle iphone app does it use your data allowance or is it completely downloaded and not communicating 'as you read'? Sorry if that doesn't make sense, I am still feeling my way round data allowances and apps.

Wordsmith
You mean does it use up your data allowance as you read it? No, it downloads completely and is on your Kindle. You can do this at home through your wifi network (or in a cafe with free wifi) to save your allowance.

I have 1gb allowance and have never gone over my allowance. And I am addicted use it a lot.

I have seen the ASUS advertised but wasn't sure about it and I have seen the blackberry advertised with the naff ad for it saying it does flash, but I wanted a PC or laptop my PC is on it's last legs as its over 6 years old and that's old for one.

I have both. The kindle is the best option for reading if you get the cover with the light. I have the iPad kindle app but don't tend to read much with it as the back lit screen does make my eyes tired and it's rubbish in sunlight, you have to put the brightness right up which drains the battery. Someone above mentioned using a dongle for wifi but I don't think you can as it doesn't have a USB port, just a port that allows you to dock it with your computer. you can buy the 3G version but it is pricey and you have a monthly contract.
It's brilliant for surfing and if you have a fast enough internet connection iplayer is very good, oh and the apps look much better on the big screen as opposed to the iPhone or iPod.

It very much depends on what you want to do, if you already have a kindle I would get the iPad for the additional features not for it's ereader capability, that in my view is it's weakness.

You can get a wireless dongle from 3 which is compatible with the older Ipads, we use one with ours and it is handy to have as an emergency internet access at home if yours goes down as you can use it with any computer. Not sure if the new Ipad has USB.

The security thing is definitely another worry with the Ipad, I would be far more alarmed to have the Ipad stolen than the Kindle, which might be a consideration if you want to use it out and about or on holiday. I had the Ipad before the Kindle and didn't really get started with reading on it, but having tried both now I much prefer the Kindle for reading.

As someone said, you can keep the battery going for much longer on the Kindle by turning off Wifi, but it won't keep page places synced with other devices if you do. Even with it switched on it lasts weeks rather than days/hours with the Ipad.

Also, the 3 dongle means you aren't tied into a contract, it costs £2 a day or £10 a month for 3G, we just stick £10 on it when we are going on holiday but apart from that don't take the Ipad out of the house very often, we didn't feel we wanted the 3G Ipad because of the contract.

My ipad has more than earnt its keep. It has entertained the children in more places than I can remember, I ripped a load of DVDs and converted them to the right format and put those on, I use it to view my digital photos, I read books on it (no headaches) and i adore the way the iBooks app actually turns a page. The Kindle app isn't nearly as nice

Premature posting... I love the way the iBooks app seems to remember where I am wether I am on my phone or the ipad. It means I always have my book with me, although I probably wouldn't want to read for hours on the phone.

I standee corrected re the dongle. I didn't know the port on iPad 1 was compatible. Shall investigate further as only have wifi version and would be handy for limited browsing on holiday. thanks

The iBooks app is nicer than the kindle for iPad app, but I find iBooks more expensive than amazon so I have only downloaded free books on it. If you link your kindle and all your kindle apps onto the one amazon account it syncs all versions to the furthest read page, I love that! When it first did it I thought it was some sort of black magic!

NotjustaMummy - thanks for the comments on the Asus eepad - sounds to be good value.

But I don't think I would take a kindle on holiday to read on the beach or by the pool. What do you do with it when going in the water, to get a drink, go to the loo etc? You can leave an old paperback on your towel but you wouldn't want to leave a kindle in full view of everyone who has seen you read it.

Dongle. It is completely wireless, you don't plug it into the Ipad (or whatever device) just have it within a metre or so, it needs to be plugged in itself periodically to charge.

That is a very good point about leaving it on the beach while you go in the water, but I worry about my keys/money etc for that anyway, it would be one more valuable to worry about.

I LOVELOVELOVELOVELOVE my ipad. In a divorce, it would come with me. In a fire, its first out 'nuff said.

I have one of those mifi wireless dongles. You can unlock it from the Three sim card and put overseas cards in when you are abroad. I use it when I go to visit PILs in Germany with a card from local shop.

Leaving on beach is a concern but as the oh doesn't like going in the water he gets to guard the tech, not that I would ever take the iPad down the beach it's my precious.

Amicissima How do you mumsnet on a Kindle??

I've got a kindle and would love an ipad too! Think they are like trying to compare chalk and cheese. They are both good at what they do so if its mainly for reading and packing Kindle is the one.

Books on the ipad look a bit fuzzy to me. The resolution of text on the Kindle seemed better.

i have a kindle and DH an ipad. presents from each other - he bought me the kindle first, i wasn't sure but i LOVE it. i then got him an ipad for his 40th.

i'm a book reader and LOVe the kindle.. i have an iphone too so don't need it for email/web/facebook.. i read a lot and even have a waterproof case for the kindle to take it camping/travelling/in the bath

DH reads a bit but isn't a real book worm. i got him an ipad for digital magazines and web browsing, gaming and kindle app..

big difference is that kindle battery lasts a month whereas ipad lasts a day!!!

i will take my kindle (in waterproof case) when we go to peru for three weeks, with guidebooks as well as novels on it. DH will not take his ipad. ditto with camping.

iPAD for me! Totally love it. X

iBooks is generally better and cheaper (Inc free books) than the Kindle App. for iPad. X

I've tried MN on the Kindle and would agree, much easier to read than write, also pretty hard to navigate around the screen compared to Ipad or mouse. Emergency only is a very good description!