Daniel Ho’s Musings

Why the iPad Hasn’t Killed Kindle – Newsweek.

This article has a lot of reasons why the iPad hasn’t killed the Kindle…yet.  I read a LOT on eBook devices, and originally I thought the same thing.

In an attempt to travel with less devices, I started reading on the iPad. Yes, it may be a bit heavier, you’ll need to recharge the iPad more often, and there is a bit more eyestrain if you don’t adjust the brightness of the iPad if you are reading in the dark…

Even so, I find the ONLY real benefit to the Kindle and the other eInk eReaders is that they are much easier to read in bright sunlight.  This is because eInk depends on light reflecting off the screen like normal paper–the more light, the better!  In contrast, the iPad screen generates the light that you are seeing, and bright sunlight reflecting off the screen actually overwhelms the light being put out by the device and makes the screen harder to read.

This isn’t a big problem normally as I read mostly indoors, but it can be an issue if you do a lot of reading outdoors at the beach or lounging by the pool.

This article also misses a point.  Actually I think the writer was a bit confused when writing that section of the story.  With Apple iPad you are NOT locked to just Apple’s bookstore.  The fact that the iPad can run Apps means that it can run Amazon Kindle reader, the app for Kobo, etc.

The variety of sources for reading makes it the best eReader available.  I just finished reading a couple of Kindle books on the iPad and it worked well–actually better as the iPad has a touch screen that I could swipe to change pages.

Amazon likely doesn’t care either.  They’re making their money selling eBooks.  The Kindles are only a delivery and consumption mechanism.  If they can increase their eBook revenue stream without producing, selling, or supporting hardware, in my view that’s a big bonus!

Just found a neat service called DailyLit. The idea here is that they take books that are now in the public domain, they chop it up for you into installments, and then based on your subscription frequency, sends one to your email (or RSS reader).

Being a nerd, I’m often carrying a book. Even then, there are times where I find myself without reading material while waiting for meetings, or stopping to grab a quick bite, etc. BUT, another side effect of being a nerd/geek is that my Blackberry is always with me…

I’m thinking that I can sneak some reading in during the day. I’ve subscribed to James Joyce’s Ulysses in 332 installments. Let’s see if I can get through it this time. When broken up, it almost seems manageable doesn’t it?

Photo from ExpertTorontoGirl on Flickr

From Torontoist

Just as the winter doldrums seem to be dragging on a little bit longer than they should, Balfour decides to brighten up the world by selling all of it’s books at half-price. In the past, the sale has lasted for four days, but this year they’ve extended the sale for a full week. It’s enough to lift any of us out of our bout of seasonal affective disorder and with all the money we save…

I used to spend a LOT of time there when I lived in the neighbourhood. It is one of the last general interest used book stores in Toronto with over 20,000 titles.

Paul just lives at the other end of the street, but I think he’s off on his travels for March Break with the kids. I’m going to have to play hooky some time this week and go for a visit especially when the weather forecast has Toronto out of the sub-zero weather and into the teens later on in the week!

Save a tree…buy used books! Sale ends Friday March 16th.