But the eyestrain! Does no one else suffer with eyestrain? For serious reading surely you don't want to be doing it on an ipad?

I could never give up paper books for something general like a tablet because there are way too many distractions. Your #3 benefit is my #1 downside. I've tried reading books downloaded on my phone, and if I'm not on a subway and cut off from the internet, it's practically impossible to focus on the book.

how about... i'm ditching printed books and ereaders for android tablet????

I have both a Kindle Touch and an iPad. To me, they are completely different things and I would never user the iPad for reading books (though I know friends that do). The iPad is great for magazines, browsing, email, plus all the awesome apps. But the Kindle was MADE for reading: no eye strain, no shiny glare, lightweight, easy to toss in purse and open it up to the exact page you were on.

Does it matter to anyone how much danged thing costs?!

I wish I could use the ipad for book reading. As others have said, the eye strain is just too much to do any serious long time reading on it. Even when I put the brightness down, it's not enough. Now if there were an Ereader that does both, Amazon and Barnes, then I'd get it.

I'm also not giving up my e-reader for a tablet. The back lit screen is my enemy. I get regular headaches, so it's important for me to have a break from that kind of thing. I also like the smaller size of the e-reader. If I need to have emergency access to my books, I just open up my Kindle app on my phone.

Sounds like an advertorial to me!

I may be the only person in the world who doesn't get eyestrain when reading off a non-eInk display.

I read Kindle books on my Mac display screen at home, on my Dell display at work, and my iPad when at school - I never get eyestrain, and it helps when i'm writing an essay on the material. Usually i'm reading for a couple of hours going back and forth from writing.

I can't wait to see the new retina display on the new iPad.

I just had to comment....Okay here goes...

1. Really? Higher pixel count is going to make text that much better to read vs whatever tablet/e reader you have now? If you're not holding it up to your nose like you said, there's not difference and the publishers are going to have to reformat all the ebooks to make use of that extra space so what's the point? I'd still rather have a book in my hands like the others said.

2. Rather go to my local bookstore or library and still get the books for wayyy cheaper if not free, I don't need to read it right when it comes out.

3. Unless I'm doing research on my topic I could care less about the extra stuff that the ebook would point to. I'm reading a damn book with a plot, not reading a wikipedia entry trying to get distracted by everything.

In the end, hell, if you have the money to spend, it's a nice little toy to have but to each their own. I bought a HP touchpad for $99 and put ICS on it and still don't touch it but yeah sure at least properly formatted magazines/pictures/videos/movies/websites that utilize all those extra pixels on the new iPad will look nice for you.

My mom gave me her Nook when she upgraded; I've had it a few months now. Just Saturday I was at the B&N, looking for something to buy, and realized something: if I want to OWN a book, I want a real book. If I don't want to keep the book in my permanent collection, I just want to check it out at the library.

I've decided to keep the Nook and load it up with cheap/free classics (B&N is always discounting classics) to read on planes/vacations. Other than that, I'm a failed e-reader. Long live the library.

I had an original nook and now have a nook color. In between these two I received a hand-me-down original iPad as a birthday gift. The original nook was crapping out on me (it got a LOOOOOOOT of use), so I intended to use the iPad as a replacement.

Or at least that was the plan. It's too big and heavy to comfortably hold while reading, and every time I picked it up to read I ended up getting distracted and doing something else on it instead. I spotted a refurbished nook color on sale for a great price and picked it up. I read on that now, and am much happier with it for that purpose. The iPad is great, it just was not a good reading device for me.

And each step in my tech reading was faced with a lot of hesitation on my part, from real books to e-ink, and then from e-ink to color e-reader. The lighter carrying load is a godsend (not only in daily travel, but also because I move a lot), and as convinced as I was that my eyes would hate me for the change to color, it just never ended up causing me any problems.

I had an iPad 2 for a week before I returned it. I could not read on it for any length of time without getting headaches. As others have said, it's fine as a tablet (I loved checking my email and watching Netflix on it) but it does not work if you want to actually read with it. Too much glare, too heavy & awkward to hold, too much eyestrain. I bought a Kindle instead and have never looked back.

I never thought I'd be able to give up my real books for online, and then I downloaded the Kindle app for Mac to my MacBook Pro. For most books, I like the download better. I've taken a few hundred books to my library as donations (I'm now the favorite patron of my local library staff) and don't miss them. For design/arch books, I'll still go the traditional route, but most everything else is now electronic. Thinking about a Kindle for the size/convenience/long battery life/eyestrain.

I also use the Kindle app on my iPad 2. I also use iBooks and DropBox to sync PDFs or other documents. I simply turn the brightness down to about 40% and use an antiglare screen protector. No problem to read on it for me.

Nobody mentioned the battery life?

One of the primary aspects of having a Kindle is the battery life. I can read several books on one charge which makes it particularly attractive to travel with. One less thing to have to recharge. In a pinch I can even check my email with it - should I have neglected or not been able to re-charge my other electronic devices.

I have got both a Kindle and an Asus TF2. I bought an anti glare static screen for my tablet, which made a huge difference and I read books on them both depending which one is closer to reach.

Too bad Apple is part of an investigation into colluding with major publishers to drive up the price of ebooks. Oh and can I just say that people need to stop obsessing about the newest gizmo and throwing away perfectly good devices that end up polluting the earth? You really DONT need a new cell phone every year or two - and you certainly shouldn't be viewing any e reader device that's still working as "old" or "obsolete" !

I love reading on my Kindle. Reading with the backlight on my iPad or iPhone hurts my eyes after a while. It is fine for a few pages, but for a nice long relaxing read, the Kindle is just far better. Since you mention the pros of the backlight in this post, you might want to add the cons too.

@TELLAGRAHAM - don't give up on the nook so easily. i thought i would get no use from the e-reader...but it turns out you can get library books on your nook - and the kindle, too, i think. i hate paying $ for books but love that i can get library books on the nook. also, no late fees b/c when your term is up, you just can't read it on your device anymore.

I'm still on an iPad 1, but I love it for reading in bed with a sleeping husband next to me. I put it on the black background setting with grey font and it's the best of for reading. I actually find it really relaxing. I also have a fetish for terrible YA fiction and re-reading classics from high school Lit class, so it's perfect for those instant gratification downloads. I don't want a 99 cent hard copy of "I'm In Love With The Vampire From Gym Class" cluttering up my bookshelf, but I certainly enjoy downloading it for a quick evening read when my brain needs a break. (What? Don't judge.)

However, if I'm buying a book that's really well reviewed and something that I think I'll want to share with others, I will buy the paperback version so I can actually give it to somebody when I'm done with it.

I have an Android tablet that I'll read on in a pinch, but my Kindle is my go to device for it. It's lighter, easier to read, and the battery life is incredible. The two are complimentary devices for me.

Tablet PC's aren't for reading - sorry guys! Even that kindle fire isn't for reading in my opinion. You need either e-ink or REAL ink... major strain on the eyes otherwise. That back-lit display does a real number on me - headaches, eye strain, blurred vision. Either get a e-reader or keep your real book, skip the tablet. If you want a versatile mobile computer, buy a laptop with some power! Not an overwrought, under-powered, overpriced, branded, piece of e-waste.

I "read" with my iPad (1). I have the settings on a sepia tone page with a low light and have never had any eyestrain. Did you also know that you can "borrow" books from the library on e-readers? I still read books now and again but if the book is good and I am "engrossed" in the story the format really doesn't seem to matter.

Oh Lord! I entered the vortex...
It took me several years to get it, but I love my Kindle AND I still love my books, too! Most I donated to our local library and charity, but a few treasures I kept because I just love reading books.
NOW, I'm drooling over the new iPad2! So steely in resolve was I b/c it's not a necessity -- but lo, a few years and updates later, my older eyes are having trouble with the iPhone for browsing and IP2 has the upper hand on portability v my MBPro...especially for travel (however, I can't say it would replace my Kindle). Never thought I would be getting one, but I have to say....I may be a three-apple girl after-all.

I love love iPad, but I'm sticking with Kindle for bare-bones book reading. The backlight on the iPad irritates my eyes when reading for more than 30 min at time, and, although I'm a techy gadget girl, I actually love that my Kindle is not only an escape from everyday life, but it's an escape from email, web, texts, blips, bleeps, etc.! It's the one device that I actually don't want multi-tasking ability!

It's all about the eye strain for me.

So e-ink is always going to win over any tablet.

Reading for long periods of time on an e-ink nook is so much easier on the eyes than on a tablet or computer. I also love the ability to check out e-books from the library and lend books to my friends who also have nooks. Living in a small apartment and looking at all the books collecting dust on my shelves has made me a believer in going to an e-reader. I really did like it a lot more than I thought I would when I switched.

I don't think anyone has mentioned this yet but there's an app/service called OverDrive that's free and can be used on multiple devices. It allows you to download e-books from your local libraries onto your devices. As in with real books, there's a waiting list and you get two weeks to read the book before you lose access. I use it on my iphone and Ipad and haven't purchased a book in months. Most recently I read several newer books. If you create a reading list in your account, you'll constantly have books becoming available to read as others have finished them. I have no problems with the eye strain but then again I never had a Kindle.

@hrhprincessfiona It's actually slightly heavier due to the way the Retina display is built.

Random thoughts:
*I wonder if the people who complain about "lugging around books" are the same people who lift weights at the gym?
*At least people aren't likely to arrange their e-readers by color on their bookshelves.
*These gadgets are the opposite of environmentally friendly. I'm guessing that many of the "oh so thirty seconds ago" models are accumulating in landfills as we speak.
*Trees are a renewable resource. The best time to plant one? Ten years ago. Second best time? Today.

Sounds the same to me, @honeybee!

I received an iPad2 as a gift, and while it is a fun gadget and great for games and reading magazines, it is my very last choice for long-term book reading. I dislike the backlit screen and overall size and weight of the iPad--it is uncomfortable to lounge with. Choosing the black background and light text is easier on the eyes and makes reading on my phone bearable, but e-ink on a basic Kindle is my favorite way to read a book. It's even more comfortable than paper books, though I still keep a physical library of my favorites. I certainly don't need resolution more crisp than the print in the faded old paperbacks I grew up reading.

Wait, since when is a backlight a PRO? I hate reading on tablets. It's just too obviously not a book.

And seriously? Amazon and B&N both lock you in with DRM so you can't go to their competitors without losing your books. To heck with them. I like Google Books, personally, especially since I can buy them through my local bookstore and they get a cut, too.

I love my little wireless-less Sony reader. It's tiny, the battery lasts for weeks and no one can "disappear" my ebooks when they realize they screwed up like Amazon did with, ironically, 1984. It's not quite a book and I would have sworn up and down that I wouldn't really like e-readers, but it's pretty awesome. Storage space for books is at a premium and my free hours almost never overlap with my library's open hours so buying them it is. At least the electronic ones only take up harddrive space (AND never have to be dusted!).

Oh, and one more thing: once I'm home, I do very little reading online. I'm much more a story person so the allure of internet reading just isn't there. I love the lack of distraction inherent in reading a book. It's a beautiful thing; one that's also there on basic e-readers but not tablets.

My 73 year old employer shook her head at me when I said I can't bring myself to go digital. Apparently she owns a nook or some other doohickey. I like to think that if my plane goes down and I'm trapped on a desert island, that the one or two books I have in my bag, though water damaged, will be readable til I die, unlike something that needs to be charged. Haha. Yeah my hubby is the techie and has tried to show me the light but I'm all about the tangible despite my sci-fi roots, I wanna know that what is in my hands is has been around since almost forever and that despite it being a bit battered, it isn't going to crap out on me or be an embarrassment when I need an upgrade.

iPad for me, all the way. I'm a student who gets a lot of supplemental reading in the form of online articles, online book excerpts and .pdfs. The iPad makes it a heckuva lot easier to read them than on my laptop, AND the annotating and organization capabilities of .pdf and website capture apps makes organizing research material so much easier.

As far as eye strain, I don't experience any significant differences between print and screen. Bear in mind that I'm in my twenties and I've grown up reading on a computer.

That said, I got the iPad1 as a gift and will use it until the day it dies. It's still going strong and it really grates my nerves to see that we're on the iPad 3 now - and that people are dumping one and two to get three. Not passing on to other people, but legitimately putting it out of use. Seriously? That's, I'll be honest, excessive and really, really gross.

Oh yeah, that said, if it wasn't for the sheer volume of extra reading we get, I'd probably not use my iPad all that much (mom uses it more than I do during breaks). I tend to like reading paper books, but the few times I've downloaded preview chapters off of Amazon and needed to figure out what happens next, I've bought and finished e-books on the iPad, no problem. I think it really just depends what you're used to and what you use it for. I tried doing the things I typically do on my iPad on my friend's Kindle, and I really don't think the kindle will meet my needs. The kindle fire I haven't tried yet, so I can't say one way or another.

I've got a new iPad on pre-order but I don't see any possibility of ditching my Sony T1 Reader any time soon. The text is crisp and there is no backlight on your typical reader which limits eye strain.

I expect to make great use of the iPad for magazine content, but not for books.

@thetrickstr: I have be using computers since a kid and now in my late 30's, which is probably why I get eye strain. :-P The fact is that the younger set may have less issues with a backlight display.

The whole eye strain thing isn't a real concern: http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-18438_7-20021227-82.html

I'm not anti paper book (I used to work in a library lol) but e-readers/ipads are better on the environment. The paper/trees, the shipping of books between locations. You don't have to worry about storing e-books either. I buy tangible versions of books I really like though, so I'm a semi-hypocrite. I still buy CDs sometimes too (they're actually cheaper sometimes, and I'm still not into looking at the digital booklets on my computer).

I've read dozens of books with the Kindle and Nook apps on my Android phone, happily, switching to my iPad 1 when convenient. I've never had what I would call eyestrain, despite being of an age to use reading glasses -- but I do wonder if this reading is contributing to my chronic dry eyes. I also work in IT -- so I'm in front of some kind of computer screen for over eight hours a day. On weekends, when I get a computer break, for the most part, my eyes are less dry. I'm thinking of getting an e-ink reader to alternate, to see if it helps my dry eyes, when I don't feel like lugging around one of the many paper books I plan to read then release into the wild.

I love e-reading, on whatever device is handy; it's freeing up some of my overcrowded shelves. Still, I'd never by design-oriented books on anything but paper. And I can't imagine an ereader replacing a nice stack of coffee table books.

I'm still unplugged. Technology is ok, but books are fine, as is.

I have a Kindle as I live in Argentina and it is hard to get book in English here but oh oh the thrill of touching a real book. I am like a kid in a candy store when I get to read from a real book.

I enjoy reading on my iPad and I have super sensitive eyes. I still get the majority of my books the public library because of cost, but preview them on the iPad. I have used an older nook and it is great to read from but klunky to operate. When I first started e-reading I thought I would miss the feel of a book but as soon as you are into the story you don't care.

I have a kindle that I bought due to the amount of travelling I do and how quickly I read my books. After being trapped in a hotel room with 10 paperback books which I zipped through in my first 3 days of being there, I love the idea of carrying around hundred of books in something that fits into my purse.

I've used my library loan of ebooks to download books while I'm travelling. Additionally Amazon typically has free books available every day. I currently have over 1300 books on my "cloud" so if I'm travelling and bored with what I'm reading, I can access the cloud and download something. (most of the things on my cloud were free)

For eye strain, I can change the font on the kindle to make the font as big (or small) as I want and haven't had any problems.

Along with novels, I can use the convert option to send .pdfs of knitting patterns. I have over 50 knitting patterns to play with the next time I travel with my needle and yarn. I use calibre to convert my friends' unpublished novels into the kindle format to carry around and read, rather than trying to keep track of 200+ loose papers.

Finally, at home, I have a converted bedroom that has over 1000 paperback and hard cover books.

The bottom line is that I am avid (my husband would say "obsessed") reader.
I definitely don't feel that just because I've gone over to the digital world, I'm giving up the print product - they both work well together in my life.

Is it me or are the writers of unpluggd apple products fanatics? They have like two out of ten reviews that are non apple product/ apple product counterparts. This is the only thing that I don't like about this site. I'd like to see some variety in products featured and reviewed here. Maybe it's just me or maybe the writers get paid enough to afford to keep up with the latest apple products. I'm an avid reader of unpluggd since I have it bookmarked on my google reader. It's my daily routine to check the latest post on here early in the morning.

Tablet or phone reading all the way! I own a kindle but it's never used because I can't stand the lower resolution. The only time I pull it out is when I'm reading in the bath and don't want to risk getting the tablet wet.

Another one for the E-Ink display. i went for the kindle touch over the kindle fire (which is only $10 more dollars) just because of eye strain.

I got the new iPad arriving on Friday, but you'll have to pry my Kindle from my cold, dead hands. While the iPad is technically capable as an e-reader, it's not a *good* e-reader. Eye-strain is one issue, but it's also too heavy in my opinion.

It took Amazon a few tries to get the Kindle light enough for me to bite, but I'm sure glad they did.

I love my iPad And read on it constantly. As someone else mentioned, I just turn down the brightness and use the sepia tone on the Kindle app.

It doesn't bother me at all to read books on my iPad. I used to read books on my Droid before I got my Kindle and my iPad. I've begun to read more on the iPad because there's a great app called Ebook Search that links you directly to Project Gutenberg, FeedBooks, etc., and lets you download kindle versions of free ebooks directly into the Kindle app on the ipad. It's really easy to use and so great for getting free books. Whereas with my Kindle (Kindle 3 keyboard) if you want to get books from Feedbooks or Manybooks, you have to connect the Kindle to a computer, download the ebooks and load them on the Kindle.

maybe when the smaller iPad comes out. Otherwise, I agree - too big for e-reading for me. That, and too expensive to be an e-reader (yeah, yeah, I know, you can do other things with it, as well, but still pretty expensive for all those things combined, as well)

Yep, another eye-strain/headache victim here - I'm on my computer for 8 hours a day, five days a week. The very last thing that I need is to sit and stare at another backlit screen for a few more hours when I get home. Because, if we're all being honest, if you're only reading for a half hour, it's a lousy book.

Also love the lightweight design and the ridiculously long battery life on my Kindle. Charged last night for the first time since...January? I think. Love it.

Also... Textbooks.

To each their own. I haven't tried the retina display on the ipad but might give it a whirl. I still love my Kindle though and lug it with me on the bus. The bonus is, no one who's into stealing anything is going to take that over an ipad so I've always felt safe about it. I'm not sure what that says about the device, but since I love it...who cares!

And who wants switzerland over a company (amazon) that actually goes to bat for their customers as far as pricing?? I'm going to stick with the company that is actually willing to fight the good fight on that front!

For me, the benefits of the Kindle are:

1. It is much easier to read in the sun
2. It is smaller and easier to carry around
3. It is less conspicuous, so it is less likely to get you robbed
4. It is cheaper, so I don't mind taken it everywhere I go (beach, pool, etc..)

Other than that, I would pick the iPad for everything else. In other words, don't throw out your Kindle.

Books are heavy. Books are paper, and believe it or not they are made of a renewable resource. they are also recyclable. You can also share books. For all who say that Ipads and the like are better for the environment...what environment? Our environment or the environment in China? How often do you hear of "mining" being environmentally friendly.Rare earths are needed to make these electronics, toxic acids are often needed to refine them and may lead to environmental problems. But consumers don't think about that. Just keep that in mind when you buy the next gadget and call it environmentally friendly.

I completely agree with CHLAMERS. I have a Kindle and iPad, the Kindle for books, the iPad for news, blogs, web, etc.

In many ways the eReaders (nook, kindle, etc) are the better option.
They beat the iPad with regard to glare, weight, pocketability, battery life, and very importantly... COST. There's also the peace of mind to know you're reading... and don't need to check your email, look at facebook, take a photo, play with some angry birds, facetime, etc. Twitter notifications won't bother you on your dedicated e-reader either.
They beat the paper books in some ways too: carry many books in your pocket, borrow e-books from your library (if you turn off the wireless signal, you can keep them past the "due" date). I understand why people have both devices. I use a B&N Nook Color with CyanogenMod 7 on an SD card. That way i can load up my dedicated e-reader or plug the chip in and have a full-featured Android Tablet. My wife prefers the black & white Kindle Touch. To each their own... and can't we all just get along?

People don't realize that the reason people have just a nook or just a kindle, its usually because they can't afford the iPad, which comes with a price almost triple than that of B&N's or Amazon's newest tablet!

Help me out folks - I have had a Kindle forever and will only give it up for newer lighter Kindle with eInk. Its so great for all the traveling I do. I've considered a tablet for when I finally retire and no longer have to lug the employer's laptop with me but have been considering jumping on that or a Nook or something sooner for one reason...magazines. I subscribe to a variety of magazines and would love to do away with the clutter they bring to my house. But I'm just not sure which way to jump - Nook, Kindle Fire, iPad, or Android tablet. Thoughts?

@JuneauAKGirl: I would look into which of the magazines you subscribe to are available on which device, and go with it. Here's a link that might be a bit helpful. http://ebook-reader-review.toptenreviews.com/

Personally, if magazines were my main reason for purchasing, I'd get a Kindle Fire.

In regards to magazines, I downloaded the Zinio app onto my ipad. They have a huge selection of magazines. I no longer buy non e magazines. It is amazing how much less clutter I have in the house.
I wonder if we will be having this discussion on books vs ebooks in ten years. My guess would be no,....I think other than for decorating or as a novelty item we won't be seeing too many books in the future.

I have the $79 Kindle and it's pretty great. Tiny and lightweight and can hold up to 1,000 books. I use Calibre to convert formats to .mobi so I haven't had any issues yet with being locked into reading certain books. The only thing I don't like about it is I have to have a light for it if I'm not in a really bright area, but that's because I have bad eyesight, not the e-ink's fault.

However, once I have money I'm going to buy the Nook Color. It's a great e-reader and I can buy a rooted SD card to use when I want a more full-blown Android tablet experience. That seems like the best of both worlds to me.

As for the iPad...seems like it would be great for mindless fun, but it's too expensive and too big/heavy to use as an e-reader. If i really wanted to use an Apple product for reading I'll just stick with my iPhone and various apps.

good luck killing your eye sight by giving up a product that isn't backlit...

To me paper is the best. An e-reader is nice, but i mostly read on the bus, so a Kindle or Ipad (to me) atracks way more attencion than a regular paperback does (to me using an ipad on the subway or the bus seems like an innecesary risk...) . If i want to read at home an e-book, then i probably would use my lap, no need for an extra fancytoy...

I've had a Kindle Fire for several months and read on it for upwards of an hour at a time. I've never experienced any sort of eye strain. I work on a computer for 9+ hours a day so maybe I'm used to it, though my wife doesn't do nearly as much work on the computer as I do and she's also gone through at least 3 books reading for a couple hours at a time after the kids are in bed.

We typically read with the white text on a black background. We've experimented with the fonts and font sizes. Right now the font size is one up from the middle option (of 7 or 8 if I'm remembering correctly). We've also adjusted the margins and line spacing to reduce the chances that letters blend with one another. Finally, we're using the font with smaller serifs. Caecilia, which I believe is standard. That was after trying out the other fonts to see if anything was easier to read.

With this set-up It's not hard at all on the eyes, especially when reading at night. We don't need an extra light source and the brightness isn't enough to wake anybody sleeping in the same bed, but more than enough to read without having any sort of trouble.

In short, I read lots of complaints about backlit readers, but if you're considering one, know that at least some people, who actually own and use one, are able to read on it for good amounts of time, with no headaches nor noticeable strain on the eyes.

I have a tablet that I read on. I have both Amazon and B&N loaded on it. Don't get me wrong, I love books in print, I have always been a huge reader! That said, I live in an area where there is no bookstore. Trust me, Walmart does not carry a good selection. Our country library has been shut down due to budget cuts.

The only way to get a book is to drive seventy miles east of us to the Barnes & Nobles there and then seventy miles back. Given the price of gasoline these days, that's just not economical. The ability to go onto the internet and buy a book your dying to read and have it immediately instead of waiting three to five days for shipping from online, is priceless.

I've had the new iPad (3rd gen) for a few days and although the screen is superb, I still prefer my e-Ink Sony Reader for books. The reader is so small and light - the iPad way too heavy.

Now for magazines (Zinio of PDF files), the iPad is simply amazing. And I can imagine it would be very useful for text books, particularly books heavy with pictures, etc.

I will continue to use my e-ink device for books and the iPad for everything else. :-)

iPad one. Read books. Listen to music. Watch movies. Play games. Read NYTimes (also subscribe to print ed). Read blogs. Write. Email. Text. Edit photos. No eye strain. Love. It.

Last week I had been thinking about buying an e-reader. But I looked into prices for e-books and I was taken aback. I thought e-books were huge money saving devices. Some of the new books I want to read are in the $15-25 range. Don't get me started on e-books over $25.... am I missing something?

I'm sticking to the Library, thrift stores and bookstores... in that order.