OT: Kindle Paper White vs iPad Mini for reading purposes

I own a iPad mini which is used mostly for reading. Most of it is done on the Kindle app for books I do not own on Logos. However the iPad mini screen is not great for reading and because I spend most of my day in front of the computer I seem to get a very sensitive eye later in the day.

My question for those that own a Kindle Paper White is: would it help with my eyes strains or is the change to a e-ink screen not noticeable enough? Bear in mind that I have never owned an e-ink device before.

Thanks

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DMB

Yes; the PW reduces eyestrain. Also longer battary life. But to check it out, visit a Best Buy or similar ... your eyes are the issue.

The PW shines the light from the side, so it's reflecting indirectly (which results in a not completely white due to side reflectance).

Tablets shine from behind the text, plus the refresh rate tends to tire your eyes.

Of course a PW can be read in sunlight; a tablet takes practice.

Also the PW is lighter and easier to hold; I especially like the add-on case (+$) which turns it on/off by opening/closing the lid.

JT (alabama24)

Here is an answer from an all-things-apple fanboy...

The iPad is much more useful for any number of things, and it is more fun. The paperwhite (which I have seen, but do not own or regularly use), would be better as a dedicated reader… but just for that… a dedicated reader. It would not be great for taking notes & highlighting, for example. Even if Logos creates an "export to kindle" feature, you would not be able to have notes and highlights sync. You should also know that the iPad mini isn't a "retina" display. I have used both a 1st Gen original iPad and a 3rd gen iPad. The difference between the two displays is significant. The mini is slightly better than the original iPad display, but it isn't the same as the 3rd & 4th gen retina displays.

I think I would really enjoy a paperwhite… but not for any reading/studying. It would be conceivable that I would use the kindle's highlighting capabilities (whatever they are) and manually re-create them within Logos later… in fact, I am doing that now with a resource I purchased on a flash sale on Amazon.

DMB

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/523935#Comment_523935

Responding to Alabama, highlighting is a misnomer; on the PW it's a darkened swipe and quite boring. But one also can send the selected text to friends, etc.

Kindle syncs across platforms, so my 'highdarkening' shows up on my PC kindle as yellow.

Another nice feature I like is that I (or others) can email me pdf's, ebooks, etc with Amazon automatically putting them on my PW.

There is a very basic browser I view as for emergencies. It can read Biblia.com but 1 book at a time.

But as Alabama emphasizes, you 'read'. No music, no email, FB, etc. Quiet time!

Jon

My question for those that own a Kindle Paper White is: would it help with my eyes strains or is the change to a e-ink screen not noticeable enough? Bear in mind that I have never owned an e-ink device before.

I went through a very similar thought process about 3 months ago, I also spend a lot of time looking at screens and end up getting "tired" eyes. The "conventional wisdom" seemed to be that e-ink reduced eye-strain, though it seems there's a fair bit of debate online which rejects that. I was used to reading from a 3rd gen (retina) iPad and got a Kindle Paper White to try it out.

For my eyes it made no difference with eye-strain, it seems my eyes will get tired if I spend all day reading whether its on LCD, eInk or paper — I think that's probably just normal. Some aspects may have actually made it worse — the lower resolution of the kindle PW makes the text look fuzzy compared to the retina iPad (there's also an issue there with the screen not completely refreshing on every page load which is a trade off between clarity and speed). The PW screen is monochrome black on white, it can't be inverted for "night-mode" like you can with the iOS app and it is very "contrasty" (I prefer the sepia setting in iOS Kindle app during the day and the white-on-black at night).

John

My question for those that own a Kindle Paper White is: would it help with my eyes strains or is the change to a e-ink screen not noticeable enough?

I own a Nook Simple touch, which was on sale and only $50. The e-ink display is far superior for reading than my Android tablets, Nook HD+ and my wife's iPad mini.

I looked at the Paper White at a best buy store recently, and it did look bright white. It took a few minutes but I found the control that adjusts the lighting and turned it off. With the light off, it looked about the same as any other e-ink device. I was tempted, but decided just to stick with the Nook.

Keep in mind that with the e-ink display, you do not have the responsiveness that you do with a good LED tablet. Display update is slow and touch response is not good. And there is no multi-touch zooming (at least on the Nook). It is strictly for reading material in sequential order. Jumping to other books, indexes etc can be done but not as quickly or easily. The trade-off is that the display is the best available for reading text.

The paper white looks very nice, but for now I'm sticking with the Nook Simple Touch along with an old fashioned lamp for lighting.

TCBlack

From a wannabe deserter:

I bought a paperwhite and use it all of the time. It reads well enough to make me happy. It also satisfies the battery life desires I bought it for. Amazon markets the battery at 8 weeks, which is based upon 1/2 hour per day. That makes it about 28 hours give or take. The best tablets give you somewhere in the ballpark of 10-12 hours. For me the kindle works, and I will continue to use it.

HOWEVER:

I wish I had a tablet, preferably a larger 10" tablet because in exchange for battery life I gain a crisper display, the ability to highlight with Logos, see popup footnotes, sync my notes, and take notes easier.

FWIW while I'll keep using my kindle, I'm going to start laying Nexus 10 pictures around the house for my wife to find in time for Christmas.

Bruce Dunning

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/524028#Comment_524028

I'm going to start laying Nexus 10 pictures around the house for my wife to find in time for Christmas.

So that's you secret strategy! [:)]

DMB

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/524030#Comment_524030

I agree the PW is a MAJOR compromise. But it illustrates the tablets still have some areas to tackle (battery life, weight, possible eyestrain, etc).

The PW does have multitouch for 'zooming' the fonts. But the handling of PDFs is abysmal (zooming).

After this thread started, I wondered why I like the PW so much, since we have an unused Nexus7 in the livingroom. I 'decided' (1) instant on (the display is actually never off) which fits an interupted lifestyle (2) it feels like paper so much that before sleep, I reach to turn the pages, and (3) convenient size, weight, battery-life, buying cheap books, etc

I'm researching an iPod Touch ... all the things a PW doesn't do! After NSA and Google's 'we read your mail' but caution their emplyees 'do no evil', I guess I'm ready for Apple.

Bruce Dunning

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/524072#Comment_524072

I guess I'm ready for Apple.

Don't let Alabama know. [;)]

Keith Larson

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/524077#Comment_524077

Here is my two cents: I own both a Paper White and a second generation iPad. I have come to the conclusion that for me the iPad was to total waste of money. ( Purchased it for reading ebooks, and hardly use any of the other Apps I have installed). It weights too much to hold it like a book for any extended period of time, so I have to use a cover and prop it up (thus making it a small laptop). Before I purchased my Paper White I went back to my old 17inch Windows laptop for reading because it is much easier to turn pages by hitting the space bar and note taking is much easier on a real keyboard. I now realize the money I spent on my iPad would have been much better used towards an 11 inch Macbook Air. As it is, my iPad sits unused for weeks at a time!

Now as for the Paper White: I love it for reading! I have cut and pasted the contents of several Logos books into MS Word, converted them to MOBI and then sent them to my Paper White. (Depending on the length of the book this take between 5-20 minutes). The Paper White is by far the best way to read any ebook. I can actually hold it in my hands like a real book and I find it much easier on my eyes. The down side is the Scripture and footnote links don’t work.

In conclusion, if you are not going to use the iPad for anything other than reading you are better off spending a few hundred dollars more and getting a MacBook Air. (The Air does not weight that much more than an iPad+cover). The PaperWhite is defiantly worth having if you are a reader, just be aware that it has limitations.

Filipe Moreira

Thank you very much for all the opinions and suggestions. I'm still evaluating the pros and cons of the Kindle. Once (and if) I decide to get a Kindle PW I will certainly update this thread with my initial impressions. Once more, thank you all!

L.A.

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/524090#Comment_524090

Now as for the Paper White: I love it for reading! I have cut and pasted the contents of several Logos books into MS Word, converted them to MOBI and then sent them to my Paper White. (Depending on the length of the book this take between 5-20 minutes). The Paper White is by far the best way to read any ebook. I can actually hold it in my hands like a real book and I find it much easier on my eyes. The down side is the Scripture and footnote links don’t work.

So, the Kindle PW does (not) support Logos (android etc)? I'm confused... Even 5-20min seem a lot of time...

DMB

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/524172#Comment_524172

The Pw has no android system; simply a text reader. Keith was converting to MOBI format. The PW does however have a basic browser that can access Logos books through Biblia.com

Sleiman

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/524178#Comment_524178

The Pw has no android system; simply a text reader. Keith was converting to MOBI format. The PW does however have a basic browser that can access Logos books through Biblia.com

Denise, your posts as well as others' here have enticed me enough to consider getting the new PW. Probably for Halloween. If it's not much trouble, would you (or anyone who owns a PW) please oh please [insert begging smiley here] get a snapshot of how Biblia.com site looks like in PW?

JT (alabama24)

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/524182#Comment_524182

Halloween? I can hear it now... You're as Paperwhite as a Ghost! Scary. [;)]

DMB

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/524182#Comment_524182

Images below are in low-light (ie use the PW backlight), unaltered.

Library Screen

Notice the Biblia [Library.Faithlife.com] buttons are tight against the edge. To enter a library search term, you touch the Biblia input box and PW supplies a larger entry box. Biblia blue text show up grey-ish.

Resource Screen

Note text uses all of the screen and is clear. You can only view portrait. Since this is Biblia, it opens where you last ended so you don't have to re-library each time. As noted above, it's not fast. But useable. No highlighting, etc. Biblia delivers a good amount of text, so you swipe up to continue and then get another chunk.

While on subject of PW/Kindle, Bibles are resource specific as to accessing book/chapters. I have a Geneva w/notes that can only access books in the TOC. The NET offers a sub-menu of chapters. So best to download a sample first.

Sleiman

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/524189#Comment_524189

Halloween? I can hear it now... You're as Paperwhite as a Ghost! Scary.

[:D]

Note text uses all of the screen and is clear. You can only view portrait. Since this is Biblia, it opens where you last ended so you don't have to re-library each time. As noted above, it's not fast. But useable. No highlighting, etc. Biblia delivers a good amount of text, so you swipe up to continue and then get another chunk.

Thank you Denise! That was very helpful!

L.A.

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/524178#Comment_524178

The Pw has no android system; simply a text reader. Keith was converting to MOBI format. The PW does however have a basic browser that can access Logos books through Biblia.com

Thanks, Denise! So, I'll be fine buying an Android-Tablet working with Logos offline (due to my internet speed).

DMB

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/524202#Comment_524202

This thread just begged for an update. I just got my Voyage (over-priced PaperWhite Kindle) and have played with it some. Here's my observations (in addition to what you can find on google).

- It's unbelievably light. I saw the comparison on Amazon and the difference seemed minor. But not so (from a human-ish standpoint). When I got it out of the mailbox, it felt like they shipped the case instead of the Kindle. As a minimum, it's lighter than a paperback. And smaller.

- Size-wise, it's even more purse-able. For the guys, I'm not sure about how big your shirt pocket is, but if you slipped it into your suitcoat pocket, you wouldn't know it was there. You'd forget and then your wife would find it. No longer yours. Ha.

- It's definitely more white than the PaperWhite. It can be made brighter than the Paperwhite, but at the same brightness levels, the Paperwhite is more yellow-ish. The reviews say it is more consistent; maybe so. They both look consistent (the screen).

- More readable? That's really a matter of taste. Certainly the fonts are more enjoyable (when using the same one on both units). Now if you use your Kindle for art like I do, then yes, the Voyage is better (pictures).

- Adjusting brightness at night. That's been a bit tiresome with the PaperWhite. I know I can turn it down, but slowly automatically turning it down is nice on the Voyage.

- Snappiness. Not often mentioned on reviews, the Voyage is snapper than the PaperWhite, but not remotely as snappy as the iPad (Mini).

- Side controls. Painfully not easy to touch correctly. I don't think they're a big selling point.

Worth It (at almost twice the PaperWhite)?

I'd certainly buy it instead of the PaperWhite (presuming affordability). It's really amazingly light. Almost too light. I like the cleaner screen. Now my PaperWhite looks a bit scrumpy. Would I buy it in addition to the PaperWhite? Well, I did, but I like to assign books to devices/apps since I read 5 or 6 books at a time. But that's me. Plus on Logos, you have to 'pick' on Send-To-Kindle (I think; the units have different email addresses on Amazon).

JT (alabama24)

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/692176#Comment_692176

on Logos, you have to 'pick' on Send-To-Kindle (I think; the units have different email addresses on Amazon)

Correct. The "send to kindle" email address is "per device," and for licensing and security reasons, Logos only allows one address. You can use the "manage your devices" section of the amazon site to download to other devices... You might be able to download from the device itself.

I am very happy with the paperwhite I picked up before Christmas. The older kindle I had was thinner, but had less functionality. Based on your recommendation, I would love the Voyage... but not at the price. Of course, I only paid $45 out-of-pocket for my paperwhite... maybe this Christmas I can pick up the Voyage on sale. Or next.

DMB

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/692191#Comment_692191

Thanks on the idea of manage-your-devices. I'll have to see what's possible.

Initially, I thought the Voyage would be 'somewhat' better. But after reading during lunch (where I keep it away from my plate to avoid a 'second-plate'), it's far more readable at an angle (kind of like our plasma TV). This is going to cause problems (which books on which device).

JT (alabama24)

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/692202#Comment_692202

Also... Since you probably have "send to kindle" set up to your old device, you CAN contact Faithlife and have them manually change your "send to" email address changed over the phone. To prevent fraud, this capability isn't available to the end user.

Joseph Turner

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/692208#Comment_692208

I just got a Paperwhite, and I went in to manage devices in Amazon and deleted the old device, which then allowed me to change the Paperwhite's email address to the old one, which is the one I have in Logos. That way the Paperwhite just uses the email address Logos already knows.

JT (alabama24)

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/692307#Comment_692307

I just got a Paperwhite, and I went in to manage devices in Amazon and deleted the old device, which then allowed me to change the Paperwhite's email address to the old one, which is the one I have in Logos. That way the Paperwhite just uses the email address Logos already knows.

i did that as well... There is a little risk with that, however, because technically you have to release the email address first. At least that is my understanding.

Joseph Turner

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/692312#Comment_692312

I just got a Paperwhite, and I went in to manage devices in Amazon and deleted the old device, which then allowed me to change the Paperwhite's email address to the old one, which is the one I have in Logos. That way the Paperwhite just uses the email address Logos already knows.

i did that as well... There is a little risk with that, however, because technically you have to release the email address first. At least that is my understanding.

Yes, once you delete the device that has the email address that you want to use, then you can change another device's address to the one you just freed up. It does state that it could take a day or two to release the address, but when I tried it, it was instantaneous. I wasn't concerned, because the worst that would have happened is I would have had to call Logos with the newer address if I couldn't get the old one back, which I was going to have to do in the first place.

DMB

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/692388#Comment_692388

Hmmm. I went and changed all my email addresses. Tidied up the account, you know. Oh well!

Actually my current 'battle' is being unable to get rid of the books on the older Paperwhite. Each device seems to have its own collections. Sigh. Being a 'user' is hard work.

Francis

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/692418#Comment_692418

I have own two android tablets to date. Running the Logos app certainly was a major use I had for them. However, like others, I experienced not only eye-strain but also what may be referred to as light-or-screen-tiredness from reading extensively from e-sources. I purchased the PW last fall in order to help with this. I have found it to be a good solution for me. I hardly use my tablet anymore. I do use it here and then to browse the web or listen to music but since I can do this on my laptop and don't need these on the go, it's not often.

Personally, it is not important to me whether the screen is perfectly white or not. In order to be clear white, I have to up the luminosity to a level that is neither necessary for comfortable reading and in fact gets uncomfortable. I enjoy being able to read clearly without much reflection inside and outside.

For sending docs to the Kindle, I use the inbuilt feature in Logos sometimes. It is the superior solution for complete books. However, often I only want to read an article, chapters or sections of a book. In that case I use the send to Microsoft Word document, remove footers (since they are visually annoying), save to pdf and then use email to send it to my Kindle address. Perhaps not everybody knows that it can be done this way and that putting "convert" as the subject line gets amazon to automatically convert it to Kindle format. It works quite well, except that hyphens and footnotes sometimes don't make it through.

It can take several minutes to come through to the kindle, but 15-20 min is more than my normal experience.

The kindle is not a replacement for a tablet. Likewise, an android smartphone can do a lot that a tablet can too and yet it is not a replacement for a tablet too. Ultimately it should be recalled that the e-ink tablet remains all about reading and I think this (or other competent e-ink readers) provide a welcome alternative to excessively bright screens of regular tablets. Often I read on the PW and have Logos opened on the laptop to enter notes or highlight if I want to: the best of both worlds.

As for other brands, I don't know how convenient their transfer procedures are. I know Calibre can be used to convert docs to epub, mobi and other formats that can then be sent. One has to see what the success rate is, how convenient/burdensome it is for that particular device and whether there are formatting issues. I for my part, am happy with my PW.