Digital readers... what tablets do you use?

lorddunlow · Post by **lorddunlow** » Fri Dec 27, 2013 6:24 pm

Carson wrote:
I use Comixology for my VEI titles, which has literally no sorting functionality and it drives me CRAZY!

I honestly don't know how anyone with a library bigger than 50 books even uses Comixology. I can search in the ComicRack app by storyline, publisher, penciler, colorist, character, etc, etc.

I can make lists to sort my books into any order of my liking. You can make smart lists that autopopulate with new books based on any number (or combinations) of factors. The PC software is beautiful, but the Android (and I would say the iOS app as well) are even better for ease of use. The app can sort via lists or by any other aspect. Order books by series or by published date. It's great.

It will even download and convert Web comics into an ecomic for your tablet that updates whenever you sync it.

There are many reasons we need a drm-free solution for all publishers (not just Image), not the least of which is freedom to actually own the file.

Sorry about the soapbox.

Carson · Post by **Carson** » Fri Dec 27, 2013 6:36 pm

lorddunlow wrote:
Carson wrote:
I use Comixology for my VEI titles, which has literally no sorting functionality and it drives me CRAZY!

I honestly don't know how anyone with a library bigger than 50 books even uses Comixology. I can search in the ComicRack app by storyline, publisher, penciler, colorist, character, etc, etc.

I can make lists to sort my books into any order of my liking. You can make smart lists that autopopulate with new books based on any number (or combinations) of factors. The PC software is beautiful, but the Android (and I would say the iOS app as well) are even better for ease of use. The app can sort via lists or by any other aspect. Order books by series or by published date. It's great.

It will even download and convert Web comics into an ecomic for your tablet that updates whenever you sync it.

There are many reasons we need a drm-free solution for all publishers (not just Image), not the least of which is freedom to actually own the file.

Sorry about the soapbox.

Agree 100%! The ONLY comics I buy through comixology are Valiant. The user experience is bollocks.

DirtbagSailor · Post by **DirtbagSailor** » Mon Dec 30, 2013 3:38 am

If I'm going to be a bit more honest about Comixology (and other digital comic readers), it would be to say that I have a love/hate relationship with them.

I enjoy the access and ability to read anywhere and anytime needed. This has been wonderful for me, as I frequently deploy to various locations often for long periods of time, and such apps allow me to enjoy my favorite story-lines and to watch the Valiant universe grow and expand week-by-week.

At the same time, I also fear the impact that such a media will have on the comicbook industry. How much does it hurt actual sales of actual books-in-hand? How much does this hurt the market, and also the next generation of collectors insomuch as their ability to actually "hold" a printed masterpiece from their childhood and then grow with it over the years? My daughters read EVERYTHING in electronic format, yet there is nothing to show for it. No books on a shelf or in a box to go back to 5 years from today. I waited nearly 30 years to get my hands on some key-issues (e.g. Hulk #181, ASM #129, Silver Surfer #4, etc.) and thank god such things were still available. Imagine if someday most issues are direct-to-digital and by-pass print all together! I fear that day, and pity a generation who might not know the joys we have all experienced.

Carson · Post by **Carson** » Thu Jan 02, 2014 10:29 pm

^ AMEN. This is why I still buy floppies and digital. I just can't see letting go of the tactile comics experience.

Sir Sandrick · Post by **Sir Sandrick** » Fri Jan 03, 2014 1:57 am

I absolutely love Comixology for the fact that I can instantly be exposed to a ton of titles and publishers that I wouldn't be otherwise. I love that many times these are .99 or free too! I may not have given Stray Bullets a try and found out how awesome it is if not for the first 4 being free!

That along with the need to save money and space told me that it was time to go digital. I still visit my LCS for certain special items, but the days of "I'm gonna get everything" are over. Also, no stress about keeping them in mint condition, the need to get them slabbed, etc. I have some gems that I will always cherish and that is enough.

I agree that the perfect model would be to have the option to download all purchases to a hard drive and actually own them as well as have access to them. I hope that as more sites start doing this it will put some pressure on Comixology to go that route as well. I do worry about the impact that Digital sales will have on LCSs, but I also think that it will be great at saving all that paper. It breaks my heart when I see the incredible amount of books that don't sell, are destroyed, and then thrown in the trash on a constant basis. Not even recycled because there is no profit in it. It has always seemed like such a colossal waste.

Still not sure which tablet I am going to go with. Waiting until we both have steady jobs again to decide, but for right now the laptops are working.

Another consideration for me is that I would like to have a a tablet that I can also use with my photography shoots, which I believe takes the Kindle off the list. I have heard that the iPads and Samsung may be the best for this route. If there are any other photographers that also use their tablets out there...

Sir Sandrick · Post by **Sir Sandrick** » Fri Jan 03, 2014 1:59 am

Totally agree that the user experience still needs some tweaking on Comixology though - it is better than it was, but by no means is what it should be.

lorddunlow · Post by **lorddunlow** » Fri Jan 03, 2014 10:02 am

So I'll apologize up front for going on about Image digital comics again, but I need to point out something I noticed in the books I purchased during the recent sale. Issues that have variant covers contain all the covers. Surely VEI could follow that practice? Just put all the variant covers in the file you send to Comixology. Please?

chriskay99 · Post by **chriskay99** » Thu Nov 20, 2014 10:29 pm

Anyone have any updates on this? Leaning towards switching to digital for some of my pull list.

I liked the look of the Trio Tablet I saw at Best Buy and it was only $79, but I also may go with an Amazon Fire since it's a bigger name brand and Amazon owns Comixology. Pretty much just want to use the tablet for Comixology, and occasional Netflix or Hulu Plus.

Sir Sandrick · Post by **Sir Sandrick** » Fri Nov 21, 2014 3:10 am

Thanks for asking! Since first posting this we actually ended up going with an ipad and we have loved every second of it. Comixology is a breeze to use and I love reading in full page view. If I am getting tired I switch to horizontal panel by panel, but mostly I like seeing full page because I like seeing how artists and writers transition from one page to the next.

Absolutely, no complaints whatsoever. I do miss going to my LCS, but I cannot deny that I have discovered so much more independently published and interesting comics in addition to all of the Valiant titles that I know and love. No more worrying about if they got the issues in and if they are in pristine condition. The colors are much more vibrant and the digital versions contain more extra pages than the print editions. Also, now that all Valiant is DRM free on Comixology, what is not to love?

Be sure to post what you end up going with and if you like it. I am curious to know what other readers are like and pros and cons that people find. We have one ipad that we share between us... but having my own reader someday would sure be great too! We both end up fighting over it most Wednesdays

krylox · Post by **krylox** » Fri Nov 21, 2014 5:01 am

does any of you has a tablet at least bigger than 12"?
i don't really like the panel-by-panel reading and most consumer tablets feel to small for really enjoying full-page-reading. especially after getting used to the supreme reading experience of oversized hardcovers and omnis...

TheFerg714 · Post by **TheFerg714** » Fri Nov 21, 2014 5:01 am

Sir Sandrick wrote:Thanks for asking! Since first posting this we actually ended up going with an ipad and we have loved every second of it. Comixology is a breeze to use and I love reading in full page view. If I am getting tired I switch to horizontal panel by panel, but mostly I like seeing full page because I like seeing how artists and writers transition from one page to the next.

Absolutely, no complaints whatsoever. I do miss going to my LCS, but I cannot deny that I have discovered so much more independently published and interesting comics in addition to all of the Valiant titles that I know and love. No more worrying about if they got the issues in and if they are in pristine condition. The colors are much more vibrant and the digital versions contain more extra pages than the print editions. Also, now that all Valiant is DRM free on Comixology, what is not to love?

Be sure to post what you end up going with and if you like it. I am curious to know what other readers are like and pros and cons that people find. We have one ipad that we share between us... but having my own reader someday would sure be great too! We both end up fighting over it most Wednesdays

I really just wish there was more customization options in Comixology. If I could do whatever I wanted with the look and feel of my library, I might go digital exclusively (excluding a few favorites obviously).

I bought a Surface Pro (1) earlier this year and this 1080p screen is great for comics. Although I have to admit it's very heavy, and not a perfect fit to the hand in portrait mode.

Carson · Post by **Carson** » Fri Nov 21, 2014 8:05 am

krylox wrote:does any of you has a tablet at least bigger than 12"?
i don't really like the panel-by-panel reading and most consumer tablets feel to small for really enjoying full-page-reading. especially after getting used to the supreme reading experience of oversized hardcovers and omnis...

Nope. Best I could find was my 11" lenovo Lynx a year or so ago. It runs windows 8.

They keep making bigger ones, so I'm sure you can find a 12" one by now.

ilzuccone · Post by **ilzuccone** » Fri Nov 21, 2014 11:48 am

TheFerg714 wrote:
Sir Sandrick wrote:Thanks for asking! Since first posting this we actually ended up going with an ipad and we have loved every second of it. Comixology is a breeze to use and I love reading in full page view. If I am getting tired I switch to horizontal panel by panel, but mostly I like seeing full page because I like seeing how artists and writers transition from one page to the next.

Absolutely, no complaints whatsoever. I do miss going to my LCS, but I cannot deny that I have discovered so much more independently published and interesting comics in addition to all of the Valiant titles that I know and love. No more worrying about if they got the issues in and if they are in pristine condition. The colors are much more vibrant and the digital versions contain more extra pages than the print editions. Also, now that all Valiant is DRM free on Comixology, what is not to love?

Be sure to post what you end up going with and if you like it. I am curious to know what other readers are like and pros and cons that people find. We have one ipad that we share between us... but having my own reader someday would sure be great too! We both end up fighting over it most Wednesdays
I really just wish there was more customization options in Comixology. If I could do whatever I wanted with the look and feel of my library, I might go digital exclusively (excluding a few favorites obviously).

I bought a Surface Pro (1) earlier this year and this 1080p screen is great for comics. Although I have to admit it's very heavy, and not a perfect fit to the hand in portrait mode.

agreed the comixology library is a joke

Carson · Post by **Carson** » Fri Nov 21, 2014 12:18 pm

ilzuccone wrote:
TheFerg714 wrote:
Sir Sandrick wrote:Thanks for asking! Since first posting this we actually ended up going with an ipad and we have loved every second of it. Comixology is a breeze to use and I love reading in full page view. If I am getting tired I switch to horizontal panel by panel, but mostly I like seeing full page because I like seeing how artists and writers transition from one page to the next.

Absolutely, no complaints whatsoever. I do miss going to my LCS, but I cannot deny that I have discovered so much more independently published and interesting comics in addition to all of the Valiant titles that I know and love. No more worrying about if they got the issues in and if they are in pristine condition. The colors are much more vibrant and the digital versions contain more extra pages than the print editions. Also, now that all Valiant is DRM free on Comixology, what is not to love?

Be sure to post what you end up going with and if you like it. I am curious to know what other readers are like and pros and cons that people find. We have one ipad that we share between us... but having my own reader someday would sure be great too! We both end up fighting over it most Wednesdays
I really just wish there was more customization options in Comixology. If I could do whatever I wanted with the look and feel of my library, I might go digital exclusively (excluding a few favorites obviously).

I bought a Surface Pro (1) earlier this year and this 1080p screen is great for comics. Although I have to admit it's very heavy, and not a perfect fit to the hand in portrait mode.
agreed the comixology library is a joke

Just buy and download the PDF from comixology. Then get a windows tablet and organize your books however you want!

lorddunlow · Post by **lorddunlow** » Fri Nov 21, 2014 6:43 pm

Carson wrote:
krylox wrote:does any of you has a tablet at least bigger than 12"?
i don't really like the panel-by-panel reading and most consumer tablets feel to small for really enjoying full-page-reading. especially after getting used to the supreme reading experience of oversized hardcovers and omnis...
Nope. Best I could find was my 11" lenovo Lynx a year or so ago. It runs windows 8.

They keep making bigger ones, so I'm sure you can find a 12" one by now.

Samsung makes a Tab Pro 12.2 that has a great screen and awesome specs. It costs around $500 though, so it's out of my "toy" price range. Once my Nook HD+ (which is awesome, but hard to find now) gives up the ghost in about a year or so, I'll upgrade to one of these.

lorddunlow · Post by **lorddunlow** » Fri Nov 21, 2014 6:49 pm

TheFerg714 wrote:
Sir Sandrick wrote:Thanks for asking! Since first posting this we actually ended up going with an ipad and we have loved every second of it. Comixology is a breeze to use and I love reading in full page view. If I am getting tired I switch to horizontal panel by panel, but mostly I like seeing full page because I like seeing how artists and writers transition from one page to the next.

Absolutely, no complaints whatsoever. I do miss going to my LCS, but I cannot deny that I have discovered so much more independently published and interesting comics in addition to all of the Valiant titles that I know and love. No more worrying about if they got the issues in and if they are in pristine condition. The colors are much more vibrant and the digital versions contain more extra pages than the print editions. Also, now that all Valiant is DRM free on Comixology, what is not to love?

Be sure to post what you end up going with and if you like it. I am curious to know what other readers are like and pros and cons that people find. We have one ipad that we share between us... but having my own reader someday would sure be great too! We both end up fighting over it most Wednesdays
I really just wish there was more customization options in Comixology. If I could do whatever I wanted with the look and feel of my library, I might go digital exclusively (excluding a few favorites obviously).

I bought a Surface Pro (1) earlier this year and this 1080p screen is great for comics. Although I have to admit it's very heavy, and not a perfect fit to the hand in portrait mode.

I'm fairly sure a Surface Pro will run ComicRack (as it is a Windows program) which is the best reader in my opinion. Since Image, VEI, and many others are now DRM-free in Comixology, you can download the cbz files and load into ComicRack.

Carson · Post by **Carson** » Sat Nov 29, 2014 12:39 am

I just bought the 12" surface pro 3, upgrading from my 11" lenovo ideatab. 1" doesn't sound like a huge difference, but the aspect ratio does make for a much larger full page view.

Anyone want to buy the ideatab? I'll sell it for $150 with the keyboard dock. I paid ~$550 for the Lenovo and Dock/keyboard les than 2 years ago.

Carson · Post by **Carson** » Sat Nov 29, 2014 12:40 am

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