Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Geeky stuff

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

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:
maighdlin · 21/06/2011 23:07

buy the kindle and then apple will have not gained your soul.

VforViennetta · 22/06/2011 00:37

I want an ipad so bad, I was against apple on principle Grin because it was popular and overpriced, however I had an iphone 4 which I did like, apart from the teeny screen, I gave it to Dp and got an android phone, worst decision ever.

My android phone is so frigging laggy and crap, I want my iphone back waaaah. I don't miss the convoluted crapness that is itunes, but I could put up with it for a nice shiny ipad. I have a laptop, but I do really want one . I have seen kindles and they seem a bit small and even viewing over the shoulder on a bus, slow.

NetworkGuy · 22/06/2011 07:27

"buy the kindle and then apple will have not gained your soul."

LOL. Watched a BBC prog (Secrets of Superbrands with Alex Riley [of BBC R7 fame]) and on the bit about Apple they showed the opening of the Covent Garden Apple Store, and went into the almost religious fervour (along with stonework and arches that the store uses... really did have similarities with a church!) and a brain scan showed triggering in same areas as religious believers when an Apple enthusiast (blogger) was shown images of Apple devices.

The phrase "gained your soul" may be more significant than you thought !

NetworkGuy · 22/06/2011 07:28

VforV - which Android phone did you get ?

RustyBear · 22/06/2011 07:39

Interesting that we have one poster saying that iBooks are cheaper than Kindle & another saying the complete opposite! I have both & check both sources before buying - I've generally found Amazon gets cheaper quicker than iBooks store, but often you'll find a book is available on one or the other, but not both.

I find reading very easy on the iPad, with no eyestrain problems, though I do have the brightness turned down all the time (saves battery too) It's not good in bright sunshine, true, but then neither am I, so that doesn't bother me too much. I have wondered about getting a Kindle with waterproof case simply for reading in the bath, but think that may be just a little bit too self-indulgent...

fastweb · 22/06/2011 07:42

Can i sneak in a supplementary question here.

I'm British, but live in another country. When I had a look at the ebooks for kindle on amazon.co.uk they all said only customers in the UK could buy them. Not sure why but am assuming some kind of copyright\publication licensing issue ?

Would I have similar issues with an ipad, in the sense that the bulk of the lovely tempting apps and other stuff is going to be off limits to me because there are geographical limitations ?

It's doing my head in on one level, a digital format breaks down the physical barriers to stuff by not having the problem of people not wanting to deliver abroad, yet appears to have greater restrictions of sale than the stuff than needs to be packaged up and posted.

I don't want Italian ebooks and apps. They are in Italian which takes all the fun out of it for me, helps me not one bit in maintaining my son's bilingualism and they are FEW.

Original poster
bigbadbarry · 22/06/2011 08:00

Too late for my soul - I already have an itouch :)

OP posts:
MmeLindor. · 22/06/2011 08:13

Fastweb
I am in Switzerland and am logged into the UK kindle store so can read English books at a fraction of the price of buying a paperback here.

With the iPad it is slightly different. It seems (as far as I can tell) to depend on where you register for iTunes. So when I bought my pc we were still in Germany thus I am on German iTunes store. This meant that I could not get some music titles and apps, but mist were available to me. Eg. Rumer's album came out later on German iTunes store. Charity singles that are aimed at UK market might not be available at all.

iBooks was the same, there were less English titles available.

There is a workaround. You simply log out of iTunes and create a new account using a UK address. For thecredit card payment you need a card registered to a UK address so of you don't have this, buy a UK iTunes voucher on eBay and pay it into your account.

I am going home to UK soon and I will buy several UK iTunes gift vouchers for the next year's purchases.

MmeLindor. · 22/06/2011 08:16

Oh and as to the kindle, not sure why they are saying that only UK customers can have one - I ordered mine from US before they were available in Europe and at some point was offered to switch to UK store.

GooseyLoosey · 22/06/2011 08:20

Whoever asked about the browser on the Kindle - it's not great. It does not render web pages very well and if you want to type in a particular field, it can be quite hard navigating to it. Amazon say that it is an experimental app and I would agree, it still needs some work.

For an e-reader, it does what it does fantastically. The battery life is fab and the screen is really easy to read. It was designed for optimal battery life so dispensed with any frills that would use battery.

The I-Pad is not such a great e-reader. The screen is very reflective and ours usually has greasy finger prints all over it which take some getting off. However, as a web browser and family entertainment gizmo its great. DH is a computer nerd and resisted getting an I-Pad for ages (on the basis that it's just a big I-Phone that doesn't make calls). However, now he has one, the kids have to prise it off him!

shineoncrazydiam0nd · 22/06/2011 08:38

You need both!

fastweb · 22/06/2011 08:40

and create a new account using a UK address

But I haven't got one )=

My sister got her fingers burnt by my mum using her address when mum came to live in Italy, I'm not entirely sure what happened, but I know she was furious and upset. I don't want to even ask her cos it will put her in an awkward position cos I know she'll want to say no, but might not feel she can.

My computer always pops up Italian itunes, I just thought it was one of those annoying "we are assuming what language you like to speak based on where you live" things, but browsing for educational ipad apps last night I clicked on one link on blog which magically appeared to open the UK itunes store on my computer, would it be worth trying to buy something really cheap (some stuff is pennies) off there to see if they will let me buy it and then try to transfer it to BIL's Italian ipad to see if it refuses to open on the basis that the ipad is foreign ?

I hope there is a good reason why they have made it so chuffing difficult to buy stuff from just over the alps. Really don't get how come I can buy a paper book from amazon UK and get it sent by mail (for free), but can't buy a digital book and get that sent through the magic of the internet.

MmeLindor. · 22/06/2011 09:12

They never send anything through the snail mail so make up an address. They don't check it.

You have to log out of Italian iTunes and create a UK account.

If I link to a app that is only available on the UK store, then you can look at it but when you try to buy it will transfer you over to the Italian store, as that is where your account is. You can look and see if the app is available in Italy, most apps seem to be available worldwide. The only one that wasn't was the Weightwatchers one and that only because you need a UK address to join WW.

dragonmother · 22/06/2011 09:41

Can someone tell me about Ipod touch vs ipad and the relative merits for a laptop owner (beyond the obvious portability?)

fastweb · 22/06/2011 09:44

so make up an address

A ha !!! This I can do.

Off to see how to log out of Italy itunes and make a uk account, an ipad may well feature in my future (=

YAYYYYYY !! cos i want one so badly I could pop.

RustyBear · 22/06/2011 10:08

GooseyLoosey - ecloths are great at getting fingerprints off ipads - I have one which I have cut to size & keep inside my iPad cover (I have the McAlly bookstand in black, which is a great cover btw!)

EightToSixer · 22/06/2011 10:29

Great thread. Was trying to decide myself between a kindle and a cheap laptop or an iPad and I think I'm going to go for the iPad 2, there is just so much more functionality and I need it for a lot more than reading.

I did just look at the ASUS transformer someone mentioned on page 2 - it's no cheaper at all than an iPad - still £400 ish so even though it has flash capability - it's lack of things in other areas does not make it that worthwhile. I'm not an apple devotee so was quite happy to look at other tablets and do my research, but I have to admit to myself that nothing is quite as good as the iPad 2 (yet).

EightToSixer · 22/06/2011 10:30

Great thread. Was trying to decide myself and I think I'm going to go for the iPad 2, there is just so much more functionality and I need it for a lot more than reading.

I did just look at the ASUS transformer someone mentioned on page 2 - it's no cheaper at all than an iPad - still £400 ish so even though it has flash capability - it's lack of things in other areas does not make it that worthwhile. I'm not an apple devotee so was quite happy to look at other tablets and do my research, but I have to admit to myself that nothing is quite as good as the iPad 2 (yet).

EightToSixer · 22/06/2011 10:30

Great thread. Was trying to decide myself and I think I'm going to go for the iPad 2, there is just so much more functionality and I need it for a lot more than reading.

I did just look at the ASUS transformer someone mentioned on page 2 - it's no cheaper at all than an iPad - still £400 ish so even though it has flash capability - it's lack of things in other areas does not make it that worthwhile. I'm not an apple devotee so was quite happy to look at other tablets and do my research, but I have to admit to myself that nothing is quite as good as the iPad 2 (yet).

VivaLeBeaver · 22/06/2011 10:38

I got an ipad2 rather than a cheaper tablet as the price difference wasn't enough to make up for the lack of lovely apple apps.

SoupDragon · 22/06/2011 10:40

With the whole "foreign" iTunes account thing, you need to be able to set one up which does not require you to put in card details. There is a specific way of doing this and I can't remember if you have to do it via the web or via the appstore app on the iPad.

I have a "free" Canadian account where I live in a bookstore in Toronto for example. It was set up with the "no payment" option. I could, if I wished, add Candian iTunes vouchers onto it but I have no need.

fastweb · 22/06/2011 10:52

With the whole "foreign" iTunes account thing, you need to be able to set one up which does not require you to put in card details.

I was wondering if one work around was getting a visa electron card next time I'm in the UK, and just loading it up in the PO here.

Maybe if my card had the right geographical credentials I could get round the issue.

You know this whole kerfuffle does not seem to be in the spirit of the whole EU free boarders and trade thing.

MmeLindor. · 22/06/2011 11:41

Oh, I forgot about that Soupdragon. Yes, you need to do it though the iPad or iPhone. Not in iTunes. Sorry.

SoupDragon · 22/06/2011 11:46

It is ridiculous, I agree fastweb.

NetworkGuy · 22/06/2011 11:46

"does not seem to be in the spirit of the whole EU free boarders and trade thing."

maybe you should raise it with Amazon (?)

  • or do so with a pseudonym and a free Google Mail account, so they cannot put you on a 'ban from being a UK customer' list :) - or talk to your MEP and local trading standards to see what they think.

If tickets for the London Olympics had to be sold abroad, then I don't see why electronic downloads can be restricted (esp as your chosen language is not the 'default' for where you live). I think it would be an interesting case (although no doubt film, music and e-book publishers might not like the outcome if any buyer in any EU country will [as a result of your enquiry to Strasbourg!] be allowed to buy from any EU company.

Seems the entertainment field loves to make arbitrary rules of their own !