Apple has sold its millionth iPad in just 28 days • Hacker News Board

Re: Apple has sold its millionth iPad in just 28 days

#111

Post by mike463 » Tue, May 04, 2010, 3:50 AM UTC

jgerman wrote: post #39

smakz wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you ever tried to actually read on an iPad you would understand why. The glossy screen means you can't read in natural light, and the backlit screen causes eye strain. For long stretches of reading, iPad can't replace books the same way the Kindle can. Although I'm personally not surprised that books aren't that popular on iPad, but I was curious if people would overcome the above deficiencies with the form factor…

I've been reading on the iPad since release. It's not difficult to read on at all and I have yet to suffer any eye strain. You can read just fine in natural light, direct sunlight is the only real issue...sit under a tree. The idea that the iPad is difficult to read on has been spread mostly by.. surprise surprise... people that haven't actually read on it. I'm sure some people may not be able to look at the screen f…

I have an iPad, a Kindle 2 and a Kindle DX.

I prefer the Kindle DX by a wide margin when reading books.

The iPad is not unusable for reading, but the kindle with a bright reading light is much nicer. The Kindle is superior outdoors.

I can read without my glasses with the Kindle DX, but I always need glasses for the iPad.

The iPad is much better for everything else.

Re: Apple has sold its millionth iPad in just 28 days

#112

Post by mike463 » Tue, May 04, 2010, 4:00 AM UTC

tzs wrote: post #101

smakz wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you ever tried to actually read on an iPad you would understand why. The glossy screen means you can't read in natural light, and the backlit screen causes eye strain. For long stretches of reading, iPad can't replace books the same way the Kindle can. Although I'm personally not surprised that books aren't that popular on iPad, but I was curious if people would overcome the above deficiencies with the form factor…

"The glossy screen means you can't read in natural light, and the backlit screen causes eye strain" This is commonly claimed, but I've never seen a cite to any science to back it. All I've been able to find is scientists saying its a myth.

The science: - dilated pupils make focusing harder. - Higher contrast makes reading easier.

So: Reading on a kindle with a bright light closes down your pupils and makes it easier for your eyes to focus on the words without using the muscles in your eyes for focusing. This is especially important for readers over 40 who are starting to get farsighted.

An iPad has a glossy screen, which limits the contrast. (comparing signal to noise, well the reflection is all noise)

An e-ink screen has very high brightness and contrast, even (epecially) in bright sunlight.

I'm not saying it's impossible to read with the iPad or iPhone or a computer. Just realize it may take more unconscious effort for some people.

I have both an iPad and a Kindle and love both.

Re: Apple has sold its millionth iPad in just 28 days

#113

Post by mike463 » Tue, May 04, 2010, 4:03 AM UTC

jsolson wrote: post #25

vtail wrote: post #6

What's interesting is that they have only sold 1.5M books, or 1.5 books per device. Amazon Kindle should be safe.

> Amazon Kindle should be safe. This presupposes that people will be willing to buy (and carry) multiple devices or that they'll prefer a reader over a more general purpose device with a less pleasant reading experience. It's possible that they'll buy an iPad and stick to paperbacks. Another possibility is that they'll simply forego reading altogether. Why read when I can just as easily kill the time playing Harbor M…

I have both a Kindle 2 and a Kindle DX. I prefer the DX.

I know it sounds simplistic, but I can make the words bigger or show more of them.