@joshuapsteele I wonder about this a lot. Every time I ask I get a “yes” probably because the only people who reply are those who have both!

@JMaxB I usually read on my tablet and occasionally on my phone. I am investigating buying a Kindle, mainly for the screen, so I can reed also in plain sunlight.

@joshuapsteele For long reading I think it is. But, depends on your style. For theological/academic reading I can’t do Kindle. Too much of a pain to highlight and take notes.

@joshuapsteele yes. I am more focused on the Kindle and the reading is easier. It's slightly slower to highlight/note, but the tradeoff is advantage: Kindle.

@joshuapsteele Kindles are pretty cheap and easy on the eyes. iPads (other than Mini) are bigger, heavier, and get REALLY bulky with protective wrapping like Urban Armor (and scary to tote around without it). I just got a new Paperwhite and like it a lot. iPad I use for other things.

@ReaderJohn thanks! I’m most interested in reducing eye-strain and reading distractions, compared with the iPad

@toddgrotenhuis thanks! Just curious, do you use Kindle for library books via Overdrive?

@marmanold yea I would stick with iPad or physical books for my research. This would be more for general reading.

@JMaxB I’m most interested in the potential reduction in eye strain and reading distractions. Even with NightShift blue light reduction on and my willpower straining, my eyes usually get tired and I eventually check email or something.

@ChrisJWilson are those people virtuous, smart, good-looking, etc.? 😁

@joshuapsteele Yeah, the papery 'look', and not having a screen shining in your face are strongly appealing.

@joshuapsteele Yes, I do. (Technically with Libby, but same back-end.)

@joshuapsteele I was also wondering the same thing, since I already have an older 9.7 inch iPad was it worth getting a Kindle, then I tried to read on the ipad sitting outside and quickly decided that a new Kindle was a good idea

@jeroensangers same! Which Kindle are you leaning towards?

@klandwehr @joshuapsteele Quite a few years ago I wondered the same. The iPad screen is hard to see outside. More important though was the day I was reading in the sun and the iPad shut down because it overheated. My Kindle has never done that and is easy to read outdoors.

@joshuapsteele I think so. I dislike SO much about the kindle, but still, nothing beats it for reading fiction for me. I also like that this is the only thing I use it for - so if I’m reading, I’m reading. No distractions. I use iPad for text books etc as much better ui for that- for mark up, sharing etc

@joshuapsteele The Kindle is great outdoors and living Hawaii, that is a benefit. It lives in the bag we take to the beach. The other thing is the battery life. that's all I use it for, but for that narrrow use case, it works.

@joshuapsteele Absolutely! Kindle is designed for reading. Its type is hi-res, like a printer. Your eyes won't get tired on a Kindle. Books on an iPad are like books on a computer: it's hard to stay focussed.

@joshuapsteele I guess the Paperwhite is the best option

@joshuapsteele I use Kindle for reading stories and relaxing (especially in the dark when my wife is sleeping). For serious study (and everything else), it’s iPad.

@joshuapsteele Arguments against the Kindle:

1. It’s from Amazon, a predatory would-be monopolist run by the richest man in the world;
2. It offers a small selection of ugly fonts;
3. eInk made sense in the days of CRT monitors — unfortunately it arrived too late;
4. It’s been years since I had trouble reading an iPad (or similar) screen outdoors;
5. If you really have difficulty reading a screen outdoors, another alternative is printed books.

@artkavanagh fair arguments. I’m quite familiar with printed books! Lol. Which iPad do you currently use for reading digital books?

@joshuapsteele For the past few months, I’ve had the current iPad Air 10.5in, which has a very good screen. Last year, I had the entry-level 9.7in iPad, whose screen is, admittedly, its weakest component. (For one thing, it’s not laminated and feels a bit plasticky to the tap.) I read several books on the 9.7in screen, though I don’t recall having tried to read outdoors for any length of time. I’m sure I used it to look at a map and to view photos I’d just taken, though. I’ve never owned a Kindle or similar eInk reader. Most of the people I know who have them seem to be very pleased with them, it has to be said.

@marmanold @joshuapsteele Oooo! Forgot the point @marmanold makes about highlighting and note-taking. I find that orders of magnitude easier on iPad, preferably a large one (for virtual keyboard size). My original answer envisioned pleasure reading.

But you can export your highlights from a Kindle-kindle. I do it regularly for my digital “book notes" folder.

@joshuapsteele Let me throw a wrinkle in: If you are interested mainly in using it for books checked out via Overdrive, have you considered Kobo? I've been coveting one but my 1st Gen Nook still works so I use that.

@artkavanagh @joshuapsteele. I prefer reading books on the Kindle. The size is just right, it's lighter and smaller than even an iPad mini, and there is no possibility of distraction.

To elaborate on the last point: I have my phone notifications trimmed down to the bare minimum, and I don't think I get any notifications on the iPad. But on those devices, the Web is RIGHT THERE, tempting me.

@MitchWagner @joshuapsteele The web distraction problem is a real one. I recommend printed books as a way of avoiding it — and for other reasons

@artkavanagh I like the convenience of ebooks and don’t find any diminishment of the reading experience.

I also like not adding to our already cluttered house, as I am incapable of throwing away books.