What I Read On iPad vs. Nook

Last night Todd wrote a post about his first impressions reading technical books in the Kindle eBook format. Todd didn't specify which device he is using, but I assume that it is the iPad. As I have written many times, I use a Barnes and Noble nook for the majority of my eBook reading, but I also own an iPad that one can use to read eBooks form Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Borders, Kobo, eReader, and Apple. While I find reading books on the nook to be much more comfortable in terms of weight and eye strain, I do have a strategy for reading books on the iPad. My strategy is to buy and read technical books on the iPad for the following reasons. One is that the iPad's screen is larger and therefore able to display pages more faithfully to the printed layout. Most technical and reference books have pictures and diagrams that simply display better on a color LCD than on a black and white eInk display. I tend to highlight and make notes in the technical books that I read, and the iPad's touchscreen makes it much easier to do both. Using the Pogo Sketch stylus to highlight in an eBook on the iPad is almost as easy as using a highlighter with a physical book. Another reason why I consider the iPad better for references and technical books is that I carry my iPad to more places than the nook. While the nook is smaller, the iPad has more capabilities and therefore is more useful for me at work. Todd points out that it is more difficult to jump around in an eBook than with a paper book, but I haven't found that to be much of a problem. The table of contents makes it easy move to different sections, and you can move back and forth in a book using a slider at the bottom of the screen in both the Kindle and nook apps. It is also easy to create bookmarks with important sections and you can also jump to items that you highlight much easier than finding them in a printed book. I guess I have a different point of view about reading on the iPad than most. I view the iPad as a lean forward, quick reference, short term reading device, and eBook readers like the Kindle and the nook a lean back, long term reading device. I think both eReaders and general purpose tablets have their place, and the good news is that with the lower prices of the eBook readers, it's not too difficult to own both.

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What I Read On iPad vs. Nook

Frank McPherson

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Frank McPherson