What's so wonderful about having an iPad for Logos?

Bill Moore
Bill Moore Member Posts: 974 ✭✭
edited November 21 in English Forum

I've been toying with the idea of getting an iPad for months, especially to read my Logos books. Having all these electronic books but having them basically for research (I'm not much for reading through a book on a notebook display) seems a less-than-optimal return on the investment.

I realize I can convert them to be readable on my Kindle, but with an iPad I understand that I would be able to access links such as Scripture references and footnotes, something I don't think my conversion to Kindle would support. That would be my basic reason for buying an iPad.

What is there about your iPad that makes you curl up in a fetal position at the thought of no longer having one? Is it that great or is it merely nice to have but you really could live happily without it?

Thanks.

Pastor, Cornerstone Baptist Church, Clinton, SC

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Comments

  • Jacob Hantla
    Jacob Hantla MVP Posts: 3,871

    For me, the real proof of the joys of having Logos on my iPad is that I have begun reading tons more since I have purchased it. Almost all of that is in Logos. It will be so much better once highlighting and notes are present too.

    Jacob Hantla
    Pastor/Elder, Grace Bible Church
    gbcaz.org

  • Randall Hartman
    Randall Hartman Member Posts: 502 ✭✭

    For me the single most needed improvement for the IPad app is to highlight while reading.  Until this happens I personally would not buy an IPad.  It is SO frustrating to read, not be able to highlight, and then go to my laptop and try to find the places I wanted to underline while reading.  The IPad is nearly with me all the time but not my laptop.  Highlighting is a must.  I eagerly await that improvement!

  • Bill Moore
    Bill Moore Member Posts: 974 ✭✭

    I can certainly see how highlighting will greatly improve the use of Logos.

    I am rarely without my laptop, but reading on a laptop is just not my idea of reading. Holding a tablet seems to be much more conducive to reading, as Jacob implied.

    Pastor, Cornerstone Baptist Church, Clinton, SC

  • Lionel B Dyck
    Lionel B Dyck Member Posts: 117 ✭✭

    While reading on the iPad is great because of the excellent display you may find it a tad heavy when you're holding it.  Getting the right case for it can help as some have a hand grip but otherwise cases can make holding the iPad more of a challenge.

    Having said that, I too have found I'm reading more on my iPad than on my laptop (or iPhone).

    as with anything ymmv

  • Jonathan Pitts
    Jonathan Pitts Member Posts: 670 ✭✭

    It's nice to have all the footnotes and hyperlinks at the tip of my fingers. I used biblia.com the Kindle for several months, but it was never ideal. My new iPad 2 is much more functional.


    Although when doing original-language work or searches I would still want the use the computer, for just reading book or commentary (with most of the links easy to find) it is great. It is also much easier to read an iPad than a laptop in bed!

  • Rev Chris
    Rev Chris Member Posts: 570

    I used to have a Kindle, then sold it to help pay for my iPad.  I definitely read a lot more now than I did pre-Kindle.  For me, Logos on iPad is great because it not only gives you a decent ebook reading app, but because you can also do word studies and text searches on it.  Sometimes I miss having my Kindle for its light weight and easy reading.  But, the iPad gives you so much more than just a ereader that it's definitely worth it (IMO).  If it's a book that I am not going to use in research I'm more likely to buy it on Kindle still and use the free Kindle app on the iPad - simply because the Kindle app has more functionality as an ereader and the books are generally cheaper.  But I like being able to download my commentaries from Logos and take them with me to a Bible study.

    Pastor, seminary trustee, and app developer.  Check out my latest app for churches: The Church App

  • Dan Francis
    Dan Francis Member Posts: 5,335 ✭✭✭

    I only have an iphone but i really like the ability to copy and past from iPad, placing something into an email or note is great. Yes you can easily do it with a computer too but the thing is you can do it without your computer and I like that..

     

    -Dan

  • JT (alabama24)
    JT (alabama24) MVP Posts: 36,489

    Bill - 

    First, Although I am a Mac Fanatic, due to financial constraints I would not have purchased an iPad. However, my folks surprised my wife and I at Christmas with one. Before I purchased Logos last month, I was doing my regular devotional reading through the "Bible App" by YouVersion. I loved it. I have since switched to using the Logos app. For what its worth, I preferred the Bible App for just using a devotional reading plan. The primary reason I switched over was because Logos is so much more powerful. I love discovering and reading books from my library on my iPad. 

    In a ministry context, the iPad is much better for taking notes in a casual setting. It is great for sending email. With an adapter, you can use your iPad as a "teleprompt."

    The iPad is also a lot of fun!

    I don't know if I would "curl up in the fetal position" if I didn't have one... but I really do like it.

    Justin

    macOS, iOS & iPadOS | Logs |  Install

  • Mike Childs
    Mike Childs Member Posts: 3,117 ✭✭✭

    Today was a marvelous example of why I love Logos on my iPad.  I was stuck at a hospital for about five hours.  I took my iPad, and was able to do some productive study.  I have been asked by several young adults in our church to prepare a sermon  in response to Rob Bell's Love Waits, and a book by UM Bishop Will Willimon that is semi-universalist.  In the hospital I pulled out my iPad and read a marvelous article in Themelios by N. T. Wright on universalism.   I was able to cut some wonderful quotes and paste them into a notepad, which I then emailed to myself.  Wright's article led me to several passages that I was then able to exegete and take notes.  Then I was able to follow up my exegesis with Word Biblical Commentary and NICNT.  All my notes I emailed to myself.  My iPad kept me from wasting a day.  What a wonderful tool! 


    "In all cases, the Church is to be judged by the Scripture, not the Scripture by the Church," John Wesley

  • Ryan Schatz
    Ryan Schatz Member Posts: 147 ✭✭

    I'll second (or third) the idea that without highlighting and notes, reading with Logos on the iPad is very limited.  I use the iPad app to do research, reading while in church and looking thinks up... but when I'm reading, I need to be able to highlight, as others have stated, and take notes.

  • Keep Smiling 4 Jesus :)
    Keep Smiling 4 Jesus :) MVP Posts: 23,114

    Thankful for Logos app on an iPad: during communion, looked at John 19:28 in NET bible, found a thought provoking footnote (# 84).  Thankful for split screen so can have a Bible and Commentary open (e.g. UBS handbooks).  An iPad has replaced my paper Bible for Church service.

    Likewise Thankful can use iPad to view Logos videos.  Thankful for forum tip about using Handbrake to reduce video size.

    Apple offers refurbished 1st generation iPads, starting at $ 349 (with 1 year warranty) => http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/specialdeals/ipad

    Looking forward to highlighting and notes in Logos app.

    Keep Smiling [:)]

  • Wild Eagle
    Wild Eagle Member Posts: 1,587 ✭✭✭

    For me the single most needed improvement for the IPad app is to highlight while reading.  Until this happens I personally would not buy an IPad.  It is SO frustrating to read, not be able to highlight, and then go to my laptop and try to find the places I wanted to underline while reading.  The IPad is nearly with me all the time but not my laptop.  Highlighting is a must.  I eagerly await that improvement!

    Agree. As soon as I see a highlight feature for IPad, I would buy it

    "No man is greater than his prayer life. The pastor who is not praying is playing; the people who are not praying are straying." Leonard Ravenhill 

  • Bill Moore
    Bill Moore Member Posts: 974 ✭✭

    . . .

    Apple offers refurbished 1st generation iPads, starting at $ 349 (with 1 year warranty) => http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/specialdeals/ipad

    Looking forward to highlighting and notes in Logos app.

    Keep Smiling Smile

    Thanks to everyone for responding thus far, and more are certainly welcomed. I've seen the refurbished 1st-gen iPads. That seems like the way to go at the present. I'm wondering if 32 GB may be the "sweet spot" in the capacities.

    Concerning highlighting, being able to cut and paste and send that to oneself via email seems like a great way to work around the lack of highlighting.

    Pastor, Cornerstone Baptist Church, Clinton, SC

  • Stephen
    Stephen Member Posts: 237 ✭✭

    I just got a 32 GB iPad2. One of the main reasons was for reading with the Logos app. I have a lot of books in my Logos library that I would like to read but just don't like extended reading on a laptop or having to tote it with me. Well today I spent 8 hours traveling and was able to do quite a bit of reading on the plane and while waiting between flights. I have used the Logos app on my iphone but the screen is really too small form me and the iPad worked great. 

    I am also waiting for notes and highlighting. The other thing I would like to see is prayer lists. Some people don't like syncing them to the "cloud" because of personal information but I try not to include peoples personal information (I keep that generic) in mine. I can't wait until I can access prayer list on the iPhone/iPad from Logos. Right now I am trying several different apps but would love to be able to do it all in Logos.

     

  • Friedrich
    Friedrich MVP Posts: 4,772

    appreciate all your comments.  I am considering an ipad for use as a hospital chaplain.  As much as I would like iPad 2, I will probably get the refurb 16 gig.  Maybe in a year or two, I will upgrade to iPad 3 (or 4!).

     

    I like Apples.  Especially Honeycrisp.

  • Pastor Mick
    Pastor Mick Member Posts: 68 ✭✭

    Like many posts below, the iPad will be almost complete when it has 'highlighting' and 'notes'. Would be even better if those features synched with my laptop Logos app. So if I am studying on my iPad and make a note it will be synched to my laptop, same with a highlight. Having said that, I carry my iPad everywhere and conduct Bible Studies using my iPad. I rarely carry my Bible anymore as I like the opportunity to see multiple versions on my iPad. I use my Verizon phone as a 'hotspot' so I can access Internet anytime and anyplace.

    When note taking is available then I will do the majority of studying and writing on my iPad. I haven't used my iPad for Bible study presentations with a projector yet but will be preparing to implement that before fall Bible study classes start.

    What I would like to see from Logos is a project schedule. Not that I would like to have something to hold them to but just a genera idea of what they are working on and what possible target dates they are shooting for.

    Lastly, I still use my Kindle a lot. I use it for a resource library for books I cannot get from Logos. Also many books are cheaper on Kindle. I choose the Kindle because you can underline 'clippings' when you are reading and then move the clipping to your laptop. I keep a database of resources and citations on my laptop for writing purposes and the Kindle works very well for this.

  • Alan Charles Gielczyk
    Alan Charles Gielczyk Member Posts: 776 ✭✭

    appreciate all your comments.  I am considering an ipad for use as a hospital chaplain.  As much as I would like iPad 2, I will probably get the refurb 16 gig.  Maybe in a year or two, I will upgrade to iPad 3 (or 4!).

     

     


    I don't think an iPad will make a very good hospital chaplain. It has no self awareness so I think it would be very cold and impersonal making it better suited to be a tool of a hospital chaplain, but I could be wrong.

  • Jacob Hantla
    Jacob Hantla MVP Posts: 3,871

    Like many posts below, the iPad will be almost complete when it has 'highlighting' and 'notes'. Would be even better if those features synched with my laptop Logos app. So if I am studying on my iPad and make a note it will be synched to my laptop, same with a highlight. 

    When notes and highlighting go live they will definitely sync. 

    Jacob Hantla
    Pastor/Elder, Grace Bible Church
    gbcaz.org

  • Randy Lane
    Randy Lane Member Posts: 490

    About 50% of my justification for acquiring the iPad was the comfortable readability when compared to a laptop/desktop. About a month ago I culled out of my office almost linear feet of books that I have had in print and Logos format for years but always kept the printed books on the shelf because reading from a laptop or desktop is so uncomfortable and confining. I am far more inclined to by electronic books now than I was previously.

    Similarly I bought an iPad because I could use one device to read not just Logos material, but also Kindle (when Logos formatted book not available or too pricey), epub (format used for Nook), iBooks, and PDF.

    I also get lots of use on-the-spot at church functions with instant research that is not as imposing on others as a laptop would be (my church allows me to use its WI-FI for connectivity with my iPad).

    I also enjoy using my iPad as a DNLA client to listen to my extensive music library (far larger than any Ipod can store) via WI-FI and would be sad if I lost that ability.

  • Robert Pavich
    Robert Pavich Member Posts: 5,685 ✭✭✭

    I used to have a Kindle, then sold it to help pay for my iPad. 

    Same here. Except i went Android. [Y]

    Robert Pavich

    For help go to the Wiki: http://wiki.logos.com/Table_of_Contents__