So, how about that iPad, hey? Have you got one yet? Me – no.
Sure they’re the raddest thing since BMX racing, but I just can’t find a legitimate reason to buy one yet.
“But what about for reading ebooks?” one geek-chic colleague pointed out to me.
“Um, I kinda prefer just reading plain ol’ vanilla book books, made of paper and stuff”, I replied, while printing off a stack of PDF documents that kept burning holes in my eyes every time I tried to read them on the computer monitor.
And new research from everyone’s favourite usability expert, Jakob Nielsen, shows that I’m not alone.
By conducting tests on people reading a short Hemingway novel on the iPad, Kindle 2 and as a paper book, Nielsen found that reading an e-book takes more time than reading a regular book. The iPad took 6.2% more time to read than the book, while the Kindle took 10.7% more time to read.
In his summary, Nielsen noted that participants felt that the iPad was too heavy and disliked the Kindle’s less-crisp grey-on-grey letters. He also stated that they “disliked the lack of true pagination and preferred the way the iPad (actually, the iBook app) indicated the amount of text left in a chapter”.
But perhaps the part that resonated most for me were the comments that “users felt that reading the printed book was more relaxing than using electronic devices; and they felt uncomfortable with the PC because it reminded them of work”.
Now, it doesn’t look like Nielsen’s sample size was all that large for this testing at only 24 participants, so I’m going to throw it open for my own research. Do you prefer one book ‘platform’ over another? Is reading a book more relaxing than reading the same thing on an iPad or Kindle? And have you noticed a difference in the way you read with ebooks vs actual books?
Or am I just being a bit too lo-fi, and a bit too precious about my eyes?! Would love to hear what you think!
Scott Esdaile is BCM’s Social Media Manager
It appears the study also said that despite being a slower read, the iPad and Kindle rank just as highly (in fact, slightly better) than the book in likability…
“The study also asked each user to rate how they liked each format on a scale of 1-7. The iPad, Kindle 2 and printed book were nearly tied at 5.8, 5.7 and 5.6 respectively, while the PC monitor ranked last at 3.6 points.”
Which I guess means that the slower read may leave more time to smell the touch-screen roses.
Although I haven’t done a scientific study or any rigorous behavioural comparisons my personal experience is that reading on a Kindle is faster than reading the analogue version. Its also less expensive, more portable ( who wants to carry 6 books away on holidays) and you get 24/7 access to a huge bookstore, with immediate delivery.
Give me an iPad and I’ll give you my thoughts!
pangie
Ok here’s what you do Scott. Go to iTunes, select Audiobooks, search the book you want and download. It only takes a second or two. Then plug in the ear buds, select the book from iPod, close the eyes, kick off the shoes, scrunch your bum back into that special sweet spot on the couch and have someone else read the book to you.
And best of all, you don’t even need an iPad to do it.
I’m totally backing you on this one Scott. I have been trying to justify why I would need an ipad. I have an iphone & a macbook… why do I need something in between? If the big seller for ipads is to read ebooks, I agree stick to a plain old book. Sure you can fit many many books on an ipad… but you only ever read one book at a time. You don’t jump on the bus with a collection of 20 books to choose from, depending on what mood you are in. Once you start reading a book you keep reading it until you are finished, and then you no longer take that book on the bus and you start taking a new book.
I would love to hear what some e-book readers have to say on the matter.
I find reading onscreen tiring, and yes, reminiscent of work, whereas I find reading a paper book very relaxing. I like the feel and smell of paperbacks.
I have a few iPads/Kindles in my family though and guess I should check it out for myself before knocking it.
Do you get used to it after a while? Do your eyes hurt and get tired from reading ebooks?
I always used to print out forests of paper to read articles online or PDF reports as I had difficulty reading on the screen for long periods.
But the last couple of months that I have had an iPad, I have decreased my polar bear drowning behaviour of printing and increased my overall amount of reading.
Not sure if I read slower on the iPad but being able to read almost everything on the one device switching between RSS readers or iBook or Kindle and being able to share content and highlight or make annotations have made it such a useful reading device.
Still, with books, I have only read business or technology titles on the iPad, anything that I am reading purely for pleasure I still buy and read in physical form.
I wouldn’t expect anything less from you Mr Esdaile – you retro car loving, jazz tooting hipster!
I am an iPad convert and have honestly never read more in my life because:
1) My books are always with me
2) I can read in bed later because there is no nagging about leaving a bedside light on
3) I buy more books because I’m always in an (online) bookstore
4) I can highlight, save and reference sections which are particularly relevant to me for easy access later
5) I’m not embarrassed about reading romantic short fiction on public transport because no one can see the cover
My initial iPad impression was: good for YouTube (I was surprised by the basic sound quality). Second impression: good for magazine apps. Third impression: even better for comics and graphic novels. And that’s where the impressions ended – to me it’s still a screen (and an awfully glare-prone one – reading outside wasn’t very pleasant) and hence part of the computer way of reading. Like Mr Dever, I used to print out reams of articles because the CRT screen didn’t cultivate good reading – and I’ve still got reams of lever arch folders full of articles to prove nothing with.
But in all honesty, besides being a highly stylised reader we ‘already know how to use’ – I think that’s the limit. It doesn’t make us better readers or writers per se, it doesn’t really make us smarter or more artistic but it does rack up a few small & newish conveniences that’ll slowly go to changing the general reading habits of some people.
(Luddite Disclosure: it won’t be replacing my typewriter any time soon. Noy even that wacky typewriter app turned my eye.)
Great post Scott! I am in the same boat and am yet to purchase an iPad however I am thinking about giving into peer pressure and getting one.
I have seen my fellow colleagues using them, heard about all the great apps they have and obviously how great they are for reading e-books. There are a lot of pros for owning them, including all the reasons people have mentioned above.
Taking all this into consideration I still like to read a book. I like to read when I have finished work for the day, I am comfortable, relaxed and all rugged up in bed. The thought of bringing an electronic device to bed is just a bit creepy to me!
Also I like the idea of when finishing a book you can add it to your bookshelf as a trophy of sorts for all your friends to admire.
So when it comes to reading books I will stick to the paper kind.
I’m with Nathan – well said.
Also there is the whole ‘burn a bit of coal instead of cutting down a tree’ to get your literature fix argument.
I said I’d never get go ‘digital’ with books – until my dad “leant” me his Kindle to test out. I’m now a 100% converted.
When you read approximately 3 books per week the Kindle is perfect. Not only does it mean you don’t have to buy or build a 4th bookcase, it also means that when you’re stuck in bed with bronchitis and not able to get to the bookstore the bookstore can come to you!
My only problem is that I seem to go through a lot more books than before and that looks a lot more scary on my credit card statement than it did when I paid with good old anologue cash.
As a “real reader” (versus a techno-geek that just likes gadgets) I don’t think the iPad that is back-lit will ever have the true reading appeal of the Kindle (or a good old fashioned paperback) – simply because it is hard on your eyes.
PS: Never lend your Kindle to anyone if you actually expect it back.
PPS: The Kindle copes much better with sleep drool than traditional books.
What is this “kindle” that Kev and Sarah speak of?
I’m a Kindle convert too. I read at least one book per week so I guess that puts me in the ‘heavy user’ category. I loved the tactile nature of books and wasn’t at all convinced that I’d like the e-book experience. I was wrong.
It’s so easy to grab a new book to read, convenient to travel with (carry heaps of books in a package smaller than a short novel) and loses nothing in the reading experience. I’m never going back!
Thanks everyone for your comments, suggestions and heckles… some good points from both sides of the fence, but my mind hasn’t changed… yet. Well at least not until sheet music becomes readily available on the iPad!
I would love to never have to lug a bag full of ‘jazz standards’ books, each the size of a phone book, to gigs ever again (they’re called Real books or Fake books for those playing at home, and pretty much cover off every song you could ever get as a request). That and never having to do the scramble to turn pages, or have the sheet music fall off your music stand at outdoor gigs.
As an aside, Amazon has just announced that electronic books have started to outsell hardcover books… are we starting to see the tipping point?