[K9-Lovers]

Loving to read, maybe I'll get The Nook from Barnes & Noble. But, loving to check my email, web surf and look at TOTV, maybe I'll get an IPad.

Help me out here . . . can you see well enough with an IPad to use it as an e-reader?

I've never had a Mac product before so that is uncharted territory for me.

Or, should I get both??

[Avista]

Oh my, I don't envy you your decision. I have a Nook and just love it. My grandson has an I Pad which I have played with, and I want one of those too.

I think I would prefer reading on the Nook. It is smaller, lighter and fits into my purse. There is no back light so it's easier on my eyes.

The I pad is heavier and larger. That being said, I would like an I Pad to replace my laptop especially for traveling.

When we cruise, I always have my Nook with me with a couple of new book freshly loaded. I use a library for many of my books to keep the expense down. I think you can use a library with the I Pad too.

So to answer your question, I as a woman would want both. Harder to carry a I Pad around in a purse on a ship. But next time I shop for a laptop, I think I will get a I Pad instead.

ps Love your dachshund pic. Besides our Boston, we have a 10 year red old long
hair miniature dachshund.

[vj1213]

I have a Kindle ...love it. I wanted an Ipad (my son has one) but since I had just bought a new Mac laptop I didn't think I needed it right now.

[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by K9-Lovers

Loving to read, maybe I'll get The Nook from Barnes & Noble. But, loving to check my email, web surf and look at TOTV, maybe I'll get an IPad.
Help me out here . . . can you see well enough with an IPad to use it as an e-reader?
I've never had a Mac product before so that is uncharted territory for me.
Or, should I get both??

I bought an iPad a couple of months ago. I've never had a Mac product before but it's easy peasy. Once I discovered the online user manual, I was good to go. Now I just love it. Very fast for surfing. I take it everywhere. It is so light and convenient .. did I say I just love it?

I haven't used it as an e-reader yet, but that is definitely my intention. I loaded "Alice in Wonderland" as an experiment (it was free), and it works just fine as an e-reader. I'll be loading it with current books for my trip to The Villages at the end of the month. Usually I buy a bunch of books and haul them along. It takes 26 hours for the trip and we usually stop twice overnight. This time I'll have my books loaded on the iPad. Definitely get one, you'll love it too.

Non technical Bare

[villages07]

I have an IPAD...bought it as a toy, a lark...my first Apple product, but, like Ms Bare, I love it. It can be an ereader (includes apps for Nook and Kindle as well as Apple's Ibooks) but it can do so much more. All your web surfing with an HD quality display, streaming movies, email, all the apps that are out there, and it's just wonderful for devouring content. Not so great for a lot of writing with the touch keyboard but even that gets easier over time. Another great feature is 10 hour battery life...far longer than all laptops although I don't know how this compares to kindle/nook. I knew within the first two hours playing with it that it was something really cool.

So, if money is no object (IPAD 500-800 vs $150'ish for Kindle/Nook) I'd vote for getting an IPAD.

My little Acer Netbook is gathering dust...

[ijusluvit]

I have an I-Pad too and think it's as good or better than the Kindle or Nook as a a reading device. Then there's the other I-Pad stuff; internet, mail, etc., which simply leaves the competition in the dust.

I was pretty sure I made a great decision getting an I-Pad, but after reading the posts from Barefoot and Villages 07 (whom I think are really smart people), I'm positive!

[Avista]

More thoughts: If you are mostly going to be reading at home and not carrying your I-Pad around with you--to doctor's offices or anywhere you have to wait, on a ship etc., AND if you don't think the back lighting would bother you, the I-Pad would probably serve you well as an e-reader as well as a netbook type computer. Oh, also remember--if you read at the pool the I-Pads back lighting won't work in the sunshine. That is another instance where you would be able to read your Nook with its e-ink background.

I am always tossing my Nook in my handbag in case I have to wait anywhere--like you would a paper back book.

I do plan to get the I-Pad. I would not give up my Nook for it, though.

[K9-Lovers]

Avista, one question for you:

As you may tell from my alias, I am a K9 Lover. How did you teach your Boston to hold those cards? My poodle keeps dropping hers and mumbling something about opposing thumbs.

[Avista]

Originally Posted by K9-Lovers

Avista, one question for you:

As you may tell from my alias, I am a K9 Lover. How did you teach your Boston to hold those cards? My poodle keeps dropping hers and mumbling something about opposing thumbs.

Yes, she is quite the card player! :-) She wins too. I owe her quite a bit of money! She keeps her stash in an old coffee can.

[l2ridehd]

I have a Kindle and an I-pad. The I-pad works as a reader, but not well. Two major downsides. Battery life. On the kindle you can read a lot for a couple weeks or longer between charges. I-pad it is measured in hours. If you read a lot the back lit I-pad is a problem. The Kindle is much easier on the eyes.

Now for everything else the I-pad is great. It will do everything your laptop will do and is much easier to carry. I really like it. Apple knows how to be user friendly. But if you think it will be a good e-reader, you are making a mistake. Kindle is now down to $139 so I would not use the I-pad as an e-reader except for a very short period of time.

[memason]

OK, let me be right up front... I'm an iPad bigot! I love it and use it all the time for almost everything.

I do read ebooks on the iPad, but normally for short periods of time. For example, on a long flight, I might read for a couple hours... I don't find the screen too bad for reading, but I'm on a computer much of my day anyway, so not a lot different for me.

Direct sunlight is a problem, as others have stated. It's frustrating at times, but I have figured how to lean 19 degrees to the left [or right], stand on one foot, close one eye and hold the iPad at a 32 Degree angle to the sun to be able to read it. So, no problem ... Seriously though, it is hard to see the backlit screen in direct sunlight. Generally, not a huge problem for me.

I won't even start on the apps that are available, but there are over 264,000 iPhone and iPad apps available. There is something for everyone.

Go to this site, if you want to browse the selection or you can browse it on iTunes. Oh, that reminds me....you will need a PC or Mac with iTunes installed, to use the iPad.

http://www.pcworld.com/appguide/index.html?platform=1

Finally and most importantly, you need to get your hands on the Kindle, Nook and iPad...hold them in your hand, read a little, surf a little (iPad Only) and you'll make an easier decision. Go to any Apple Store to see the iPad and the folks there are very helpful and will NEVER pressure you to buy anything...you can play with the iPad as long as you like...

Good luck with your search and be sure to come back and let us know which way you decided. ..and, of course, why.

[Pturner]

Hi K-9,
If you sometimes get engrossed in a good book and like to read for hours, I would get a Kindle or Nook for reading. (I have Kindle).

But, for the fun apps and netbook capabilities, an iPad is terrific. If you could justify getting both, and if you don't read outside or for more than 30-minutes or so at a time, maybe you could start with the iPad and if the reading experience is a strain, add a Nook or Kindle.

I agree with Memason: keep us posted on what you decide and how you like it.

Whichever you get, I know you will enjoy it!

[Avista]

I get a lot of library books for my Nook and thought the I-Pad accepted library books also. Now I found out that they do not. Just wanted to be clear. I don't think the Kindle accepts library books either.

We're leaving on a cruise and I have 3 library books downloaded and ready to go.

[Vinny]

I listen to music as I read with my iPAd. When I get bored of reading I play the piano or drums or Trumpet or sax on my iPad. Sometimes I compose a song and record it on my iPad. For fun I play air hockey while waiting at my doctor's office or watch a movie on my iPad. I maintain my company's network from wherever I am from my iPad. While taking a short break from reading at night on my lanai I point my iPad where I am looking and it tells me what constellations, planets and stars I am looking at. As I turn it turns with me as it knows where I am at all times. I surf the web and have access to the world from wherever i may be using my iPad. A Nook? You're kidding, right?

[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by Vinny

I listen to music as I read with my iPAd. When I get bored of reading I play the piano or drums or Trumpet or sax on my iPad. Sometimes I compose a song and record it on my iPad. For fun I play air hockey while waiting at my doctor's office or watch a movie on my iPad. I maintain my company's network from wherever I am from my iPad. While taking a short break from reading at night on my lanai I point my iPad where I am looking and it tells me what constellations, planets and stars I am looking at. As I turn it turns with me as it knows where I am at all times. I surf the web and have access to the world from wherever i may be using my iPad. A Nook? You're kidding, right?

Are you serious about pointing it at the stars?? I obviously need to sign up for a Vinny seminar.

Sent from my iPad