What is the best tablet for me?

[Himu]

Does anyone have any suggestions on the best tablet for me? iPad or an Android tablet? I want a tablet for reading comics (manga and western). I'm leaning on IPad because it also has exclusive iPad HD games and as a gamer that's a big plus. On the other hand, if I remember, certain Android tablets have comic exclusivity or some bullshit. Are Marvel, DC, and the rest of the big boys like Image, Vertigo are on Comixology? Comixology was recently bought so what does that mean for comic exclusivity? Basically, I want a tablet for apps and comics, and the occasional web browsing. Help?

As an aside, I thought I'd mention I'm switching to iphone this fall when my current phone contract expires. So is getting an iPad redundant? I was thinking iPhone + android tab is the best medium, but I dunno.

[benjipwns]

Marvel, DC, etc. are on there. They have an app for Kindle, Android and iPad.

Most everything with western comics supports all "three" that I've seen. The Amazon comics let you do panel by panel on the Kindle Fire but I assume most anything actually lets you do that too, I only tested it out because they have some free ones on there.

I admittingly don't read them on my tablet because I prefer a two page view and mine is too small to do more than one page well.

[Human Snorenado]

This topic is like made for Eel. I'm sure he'll give you good feedback on everything.

Since I don't have anything to add re: comix, I'll just chime in and say that you'll probably be happier gameswise if you go iOS. Personally, I love the shit out of my 2013 N7, but I don't really give a shit about games, and I know you do so I imagine that would be a minus in your eyes.

[Himu]

So how much of Marvel and DC stuff does Comixology exactly have?

[Himu]

Here's an article on comics and iPad

http://ipad.appstorm.net/general/opinion/the-state-of-comics-on-the-ipad/

[benjipwns]

I want to say that Comixology (and Amazon) leans towards recent and "classic" more than has a complete library. Like for Batman there's Grant Morrison's run and everything after. And then there's really really old 1940's stuff. But then inbetween is more hit or miss, and I think they're working backwards, so they were at like Knightfall which still leaves a 40+ year gap. Though they have "big" stuff like Year One and so on in there.

[pilonv1]

This topic is like made for Eel. I'm sure he'll give you good feedback on everything.

Since I don't have anything to add re: comix, I'll just chime in and say that you'll probably be happier gameswise if you go iOS. Personally, I love the shit out of my 2013 N7, but I don't really give a shit about games, and I know you do so I imagine that would be a minus in your eyes.

Couldn't agree with this more, N7 is awesome as consumption device but if you want games you'll be a bit disappointed.

[pilonv1]

There will be some very tough decisions made on the day I have to replace my iPad 2

[Eric P]

Here's an article on comics and iPad

http://ipad.appstorm.net/general/opinion/the-state-of-comics-on-the-ipad/

i suggest the ipad.  I use my ipad predominately as a PDF and comic reading device.

do you have any interest in classic marvel or do you need to read marvel comics which are up to the minute releases?  I suggest Marvel Unlimited which is their all you can eat platform for comics which comes to $70 a year (or $5.80 a month, cheaper than buying two comics a month).  This gets you a hell of a lot of comics.  I'm currently reading Captain America from the beginning and it's been great.

comixology is good but sometimes modern comics reliance on two page splashes can be a pain in the ass.  the sales are usually p good (but if you have Marvel Unlimited they tend to work more as "oh i should read that at some point" reminders).  comixology has all the major publishers (except dark horse) and many many many minor digital only publishers which tend to sell comics on the cheap allowing you to dip your toe in something that sounds interesting w/o a huge financial commitment.

comics on kindle kind of suck compared to comixology (which may be why amazon bought comixology) but Amazon will frequently have the cheapest TPB releases.  Kindle on ipad doesn't have the comics page as full in the frame as it is on comixology for American comics (and forget trying to read Judge Dredd that shit's super tiny).  The Kindle manga releases however are great.  I don't know if it's the files being provided by the publishers or what.  I am transitioning buying my manga on my ipad when I can (currently reading Deadman Returns and One-Punch Man that way).

[Eel O'Brian]

Himu, you should look into getting an iPad refurb from the official Apple store. You get a new back shell and battery, the same one-year warranty as a new one, and you save a lot of money:

http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/specialdeals/ipad

[Himu]

Eel that is what I plan on doing. I did that when I got my iPod.

[Himu]

Here's an article on comics and iPad

http://ipad.appstorm.net/general/opinion/the-state-of-comics-on-the-ipad/

i suggest the ipad.  I use my ipad predominately as a PDF and comic reading device.

do you have any interest in classic marvel or do you need to read marvel comics which are up to the minute releases?  I suggest Marvel Unlimited which is their all you can eat platform for comics which comes to $70 a year (or $5.80 a month, cheaper than buying two comics a month).  This gets you a hell of a lot of comics.  I'm currently reading Captain America from the beginning and it's been great.

comixology is good but sometimes modern comics reliance on two page splashes can be a pain in the ass.  the sales are usually p good (but if you have Marvel Unlimited they tend to work more as "oh i should read that at some point" reminders).  comixology has all the major publishers (except dark horse) and many many many minor digital only publishers which tend to sell comics on the cheap allowing you to dip your toe in something that sounds interesting w/o a huge financial commitment.

comics on kindle kind of suck compared to comixology (which may be why amazon bought comixology) but Amazon will frequently have the cheapest TPB releases.  Kindle on ipad doesn't have the comics page as full in the frame as it is on comixology for American comics (and forget trying to read Judge Dredd that shit's super tiny).  The Kindle manga releases however are great.  I don't know if it's the files being provided by the publishers or what.  I am transitioning buying my manga on my ipad when I can (currently reading Deadman Returns and One-Punch Man that way).

Great post!

Can you give a preview of what manga looks like on the 'Pad? I prefer manga to western comics so it is my main priority. What manga services are on there besides Viz?

[Eel O'Brian]

As for apps, there are the official apps like Comixology and others mentioned above, but if you've got .cbr or .cbz files of your own, I recommend an app called ComicGlass.  You can load your comics like regular through iTunes if you want, but they also have a little server program on their website you can download to your pc/mac and connect via the app to either download or "stream" comics to your ipad without taking up storage space.

If you're at all interested in old comics, there are two sites you should check out. These are public domain titles you can either download straight from the site, or read right on the web via their built-in readers:

http://digitalcomicmuseum.com/

http://comicbookplus.com/

I like comic book plus a bit more, their layout is nicer and they have some cool old stuff like pulp magazines and comic strips in addition to comics.

[Eric P]

Can you give a preview of what manga looks like on the 'Pad? I prefer manga to western comics so it is my main priority. What manga services are on there besides Viz?

most american publishers

Yen, Kodanshan, Manga Box (cool free indie manga), Viz etc.

my comic reading app is Comic Zeal.  I hadn't heard of ComicGlass.  My Ipad storage is mostly comics (heh), so I should probably pick that up for the "streaming" service from a server

[Himu]

Oh. Wow. Wowowow. Kodansha?!

Do they have their own apps? Or are they on a one big app?

[Eric P]

Own apps, but really you should price check them against the very same books on Amazon kindle.

example, most Viz books are $7 on Viz app, same book is $5.79 on Kindle app
Vinland Saga is $14 elsewhere, I bought it for $10 through Amazon.

[Eel O'Brian]

Can you give a preview of what manga looks like on the 'Pad? I prefer manga to western comics so it is my main priority. What manga services are on there besides Viz?

most american publishers

Yen, Kodanshan, Manga Box (cool free indie manga), Viz etc.

my comic reading app is Comic Zeal.  I hadn't heard of ComicGlass.  My Ipad storage is mostly comics (heh), so I should probably pick that up for the "streaming" service from a server

Comic Zeal has more features, and ComicRack has this great "remove borders" option which is awesome for reading old comics without the white spaces around the outer panels, but I have found ComicGlass to be the most stable.  Other apps would choke and crash on certain files larger than 100mb, while ComicGlass never crashed on me once.

If you do buy it (it's $2.99 for the app, $1.99 in-app purchase for media streaming), here's the link to download the PC server program:

http://comicglass.net/download/toolsdownload/

[Himu]

Own apps, but really you should price check them against the very same books on Amazon kindle.

example, most Viz books are $7 on Viz app, same book is $5.79 on Kindle app
Vinland Saga is $14 elsewhere, I bought it for $10 through Amazon.

What the fuck.

So I need Kinde Fire to buy those books at 5? 7 is a rip off.

[Himu]

Manga Box looks like it may have a lot of raws.

[Shaka Khan]

[Eric P]

Own apps, but really you should price check them against the very same books on Amazon kindle.

example, most Viz books are $7 on Viz app, same book is $5.79 on Kindle app
Vinland Saga is $14 elsewhere, I bought it for $10 through Amazon.

What the fuck.

So I need Kinde Fire to buy those books at 5? 7 is a rip off.

no, the kindle app for the ipad

[Eric P]

Can you give a preview of what manga looks like on the 'Pad? I prefer manga to western comics so it is my main priority. What manga services are on there besides Viz?

most american publishers

Yen, Kodanshan, Manga Box (cool free indie manga), Viz etc.

my comic reading app is Comic Zeal.  I hadn't heard of ComicGlass.  My Ipad storage is mostly comics (heh), so I should probably pick that up for the "streaming" service from a server

Comic Zeal has more features, and ComicRack has this great "remove borders" option which is awesome for reading old comics without the white spaces around the outer panels, but I have found ComicGlass to be the most stable.  Other apps would choke and crash on certain files larger than 100mb, while ComicGlass never crashed on me once.

If you do buy it (it's $2.99 for the app, $1.99 in-app purchase for media streaming), here's the link to download the PC server program:

http://comicglass.net/download/toolsdownload/

just grabbed it and it's kind of overwhelming.  i just dicked about on my iphone, but it looks pretty cool

[Himu]

Kindle app for iPad isn't trash for manga?

On my kindle paper white there's shit for manga.

[Himu]

If it is the kindle app then that seals it. IPad it is.

[Eric P]

different books can be read on different devices.

kindle is kind of weird because it has to serve several different devices.

[Himu]

So what's the benefit of having both an iPad and an iPhone? Any cool quirks?

Also, what's the best iPad model for these needs? IPad Air?

[Eric P]

i have an air.  i'm happy with it but then I bought it at $100 off during Black Friday.

I have a total Mac environment (except for my pc which i use strictly for gaming) but there aren't any cool perks i can think of but then my ipad and iphone usage is v basic.

[a slime appears]

If you have an iPad and an AppleTV you can easily stream content to your HDTV with minimal hassle.

[MyNameIsMethodis]

i bought an air a few months ago and its ace. i dont use it every day but its cool. maybe not worth $500 but im not a businessman with a job that requires it so if you are then its prob worth it

[Shaka Khan]

Wow, what a great audience.

[Himu]

[Himu]

I posted that earlier because I was working and couldn't watch and wanted a place to watch it later.

Boring ass nerds boring the fuck out of me

Watching this instead.



How powerful is the iPad Air? I know that the Mac Air laptops are way weaker than the regular line.

EricP, can you snag a pic of how your ipad looks on your ipad?

[Pringo]

How powerful is the iPad Air? I know that the Mac Air laptops are way weaker than the regular line.

The iPad Air is quite powerful for an ARM tablet. There is no equivalent Pro line for iPads (at least not yet). The Air is the best performing Apple tablet on the market right now.

[Eric P]

EricP, can you snag a pic of how your ipad looks on your ipad?

i don't understand

[Himu]

Your manga Not iPad

Sorry.

Mind grabbing a snap of a double spread in Deadman Returns and a single page as well?

[Eric P]

http://imgur.com/a/du0f2#DQQYwjt

i can't figure out how to change the photos to horizontal

in dual page spreads you can see that the image is slightly smaller than a normal manga book
but in single pages it's far larger

[Himu]

holy poop

[Eric P]

yeah.  I think manga looks very good because you don't have to worry about low quality paper or trying to read a vertical image on a horizontal screen.