>…jim also complains about the closed nature
of the ipad, and
prefers his netbook, albeit hasn't reported on whether or not
the added weight of the netbook hampers his use of the unit.
LOL, thank you for the intelligent
summary! However, I *have* reported here previously on my
experience with the added weight of a netbook: Namely that when I try to hold
it and read one-handed it weighs enough that my hand falls asleep. A
bigger problem is the attached keyboard that I don’t really need when I
am reading a book, except that the attached keyboard has the page-turn buttons
located in really stupid and unhelpful locations, such that when simply reading
a book one-handed on a netbook turning pages is a pain in the *ss! Weight-wise
iPad is slightly bigger thicker and heavier than a Kindle DX which is my
current go-to preferred reading device, and the iPad is about the size and
weight of the non-keyboard half of a netbook – which means overall a
netbook is about 2X the size and weight of an iPad.
Again, problems
with the Kindle DX:
Slow and
unreliable AT&T “whispernet” wireless connection
Slow and crappy
basic web browser
Slow PDF loads
and page turns
Difficult to
use to write even basic notes – for example if one wants to take notes of
the problems one sees when doing an SR.
DRM policies of
the books you buy from Amazon (as opposed to free books) are overly
restrictive.
Low contrast
display when in low-light situations.
Problems with a
netbook:
Too heavy
Battery life
too short
Keyboard is not
useful and is awkward when one just wants to read a book.
Screen door
effect
Problems with
iPad:
Can’t use
wifi to download a ePub or MOBI book to the iPad, must download to a desktop
computer and from there to iTunes to USB to iPad.
Screen door
effect
ePub and MOBI
reader apps on iPad not as good as those available on other platforms.
We don’t
really know yet in practice how restrictive Apple DRM policies will prove to be
[on purchased books] – in practice on free ePub and MOBI books they are very
annoying.
3G monthly
wireless prices are pricey – and once again comes from AT&T! [At
least Kindle’s 3G wireless is free – and worth every penny!]