I'm thinking of buying a tablet for reading comics...

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Fudgepuppy

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I want to read more comics, but living in a small town in Sweden, it's very expensive acquiring comics, and not efficient at all. If someone says "You should read these comics and these chapters", we're talking about trade-paperbacks for ~100$ that I have to order. It's like it was trying to experience as much music as possible before the internet and without a record-store in town.

So I'm thinking of buying a tablet to fix this, but I have questions:
1. What online-services for comics are available for Europe? I'm expecting fees so payment is not an issue.
2. What tablet should I get? I want one with a good and big screen, but I'm not looking for a powerful tablet as I'm only going to use it for comics.
3. Which comics should I read? I want to get into the general Marvel-universe, I want to read about the infinity war for starters.

Halp plz
 
1. Buy Marvel Unlimited subscription
2. Buy iPad or iPad Mini depending on desired screen size. (I'd recommend an Android tablet for price but aside from the Nexus 9 which is pretty disappointing, they aren't in a 4:3 aspect ratio which makes it bad for comics)
3. Buy Marvel Unlimited subscription, read Infinity War there and anything else that gets your interest.
 
Honestly, look no further than the 2nd gen iPad mini.

1. Great for holding with 1 hand, with all-day battery life on an IPS panel that has the perfect weight.

2. 8 inch 4:3 screen gives you that perfect manga-sized size for all your favorite comics, and makes 2-page spreads fit PERFECTLY if you turn it 90 degrees.

3. Has apps for it such as Comixology and Madefire, as well as Comic Zeal, the BEST mobile CBZ/CBR/PDF comic library app.

4. Euro trouble? Use USA accounts!
 
Ugh, I've ditched everything Apple and don't feel like paying that much for an iPad. Are there no Android-tablets with the desired aspect-ratio?
 
HUELEN10 said:
Honestly, look no further than the 2nd gen iPad mini.

1. Great for holding with 1 hand, with all-day battery life on an IPS panel that has the perfect weight.

2. 8 inch 4:3 screen gives you that perfect manga-sized size for all your favorite comics, and makes 2-page spreads fit PERFECTLY if you turn it 90 degrees.

3. Has apps for it such as Comixology and Madefire, as well as Comic Zeal, the BEST mobile CBZ/CBR/PDF comic library app.

4. Euro trouble? Use USA accounts!
Click to expand...

What's the difference between an iPad mini 2 and 3?
 
My iPad mini 2 + comixology has worked like a dream for me. Especially after switching from the nightmare scenario (for comic reading purposes) that was my Surface Pro 1. The Windows 8 Comixology app is embarrassingly unsupported.

Its a good bit smaller than a standard comic book page would be, but I've had zero issues reading from it.

Zeyphersan said:
What's the difference between an iPad mini 2 and 3?
Click to expand...

Virtually nothing. 3 has a thumbprint reader.
 
I have an iPad mini 3.
Comixology is probably the best App available(disclosure: they pay my rent.)
There is a general free section on the comixology app that you can check out.
 
I use an iPad 3. My wife JUST got a Samsung Galaxy Tab 4, 8". I am really impressed that even shrunk down to that size, the comics look great and text is still readable without zooming, which you can still do anyway if need be.
 
Until my son dropped it and cracked the screen into a billion pieces, I used a 2nd gen Nexus 7 and it was amazing. Great screen quality (PPI) and fast to boot. I don't think you can get a 7 as new, but maybe a used one?
 
I get by just fine with my Nexus 7! I am no tablet expert though, I really do prefer physical comics/trades. But from my limited experience here, this works great.
 
MikeDip said:
I get by just fine with my Nexus 7! I am no tablet expert though, I really do prefer physical comics/trades. But from my limited experience here, this works great.
Click to expand...

Same, I have a 2013 Nexus 7. Reading comics on it via Marvel Unlimited is fine, though a bigger screen would be nice of course.
 
I read my comics with the Marvel unlimited app on my Asus Transformer TF303CL (10" full HD).

I started reading the Avengers Disassembled event, now reading House of M...
 
Ipad + Comic Rack has worked great for me. I went from not having read comics in decades to reading several every night in bed thanks to today's technology.

I have 3 long boxes and 2 short boxes full of comics I need to get rid of. Does anyone even want physical comics anymore, or are am I better off donating them?
 
Zeyphersan said:
What's the difference between an iPad mini 2 and 3?
Click to expand...
100 USD and Touch ID, that's literally it.

Get a 2 or 3 Mini, which is cheapest. I got a 3 because I got in the cheap.

Love me 64 GB 3, posting from it right now!
szSoISt.jpg
Click to expand...
Fudgepuppy said:
Ugh, I've ditched everything Apple and don't feel like paying that much for an iPad. Are there no Android-tablets with the desired aspect-ratio?
Click to expand...
honestly, not much.

Most CBR/CBZ/PDF reader software on Android either has permission concerns or isn't smooth, and the screen aspect is not optimal. I had an iPhone, and thought an iPad would be redundant, so I looked into non-Apple options but everything was either more or made too many compromises.

Now, Windows?

Played with a Surface 3, not Pro 3 mind you, the new 3 coming out...

If you have the money and want a 10 inch device, go for it; I am confident you'll be happy with its 3:2 ratio for your comic needs.
 
Yeah, totally worth it. Bought an Ipad Air 2 for Marvel Unlimited and been having a blast for the last half a year. Worth every penny.
 
Toki767 said:
1. Buy Marvel Unlimited subscription
2. Buy iPad or iPad Mini depending on desired screen size. (I'd recommend an Android tablet for price but aside from the Nexus 9 which is pretty disappointing, they aren't in a 4:3 aspect ratio which makes it bad for comics)
3. Buy Marvel Unlimited subscription, read Infinity War there and anything else that gets your interest.
Click to expand...

HUELEN10 said:
Honestly, look no further than the 2nd gen iPad mini.

1. Great for holding with 1 hand, with all-day battery life on an IPS panel that has the perfect weight.

2. 8 inch 4:3 screen gives you that perfect manga-sized size for all your favorite comics, and makes 2-page spreads fit PERFECTLY if you turn it 90 degrees.

3. Has apps for it such as Comixology and Madefire, as well as Comic Zeal, the BEST mobile CBZ/CBR/PDF comic library app.

4. Euro trouble? Use USA accounts!
Click to expand...

What. The. Hell.

A comic book page is essentially the same aspect ratio as a 16:9 Android screen (technically they're drawn at 15:10, but it's close enough), so 4:3 makes no sense at all, and turning it landscape on a 4:3 is gonna make it tiny as hell. OP, go buy a Samsung Galaxy Tab or Note Pro 12.2, it's like every comic is an oversized/Absolute edition, it's great. You can thank me later.
 
Go for an android tablet with a 16:10 screen. I don't read much US comics but I usually use comixology when I do. If you want to read manga crunchyroll's subscription service is pretty good and a lot of publishers but manga volumes on kindle.
 
TangoAlphaLima said:
What. The. Hell.

A comic book page is essentially the same aspect ratio as a 16:9 Android screen (technically they're drawn at 15:10, but it's close enough), so 4:3 makes no sense at all, and turning it landscape on a 4:3 is gonna make it tiny as hell. OP, go buy a Samsung Galaxy Tab or Note Pro 12.2, it's like every comic is an oversized/Absolute edition, it's great. You can thank me later.
Click to expand...

Nope, you're wrong. 4:3 is better because for single pages for 1-hand holding, your hand NEVER obstructs the content regardless of bezel width, see?
fy9Om7r.jpg
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And for 2 page spreads regardless of ratio?

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Hard to beat this. 2 page spreads fit amazingly on a 4:3 device, for most all comic ratios!
 
I use an old as hell Nexus 7 and the app Komik. It doesn't have any advanced features, so I use other apps and my computer for transferring and labelling and stuff, but it fits most of my needs. I need to upgrade the tablet though.
 
1. Comixology is available everywhere. They do a $1 = 0.89€ conversion, which is fair. You can still pay in USD if you want to. They host Marvel, DC, Image, IDW and Dynamic so almost every big publisher. Dark Horse have their own app and store. There's also Marvel Unlimited, which is pretty much Netflix for Marvel comics.

2. I use an iPad Air daily for this. I've been reading 99% of my books digitally on iPad and I can't say I miss floppies.

3. I'd recommend trying a month or two of Marvel Unlimited to read whatever you want, you can get Marvel recommendations in the Comics OT. For anything else, a Steam approach is great: there are sales all the time, pick stuff on sale for cheap and see if you like it. Typically, Comixology are running right now a sale on Image books that won Eisner Awards, there's some great stuff in there.
 
HUELEN10 said:
Nope, you're wrong. 4:3 is better because for single pages for 1-hand holding, your hand NEVER obstructs the content regardless of bezel width, and for 2 page spreads?



Hard to beat this. 2 page spreads fit amazingly on a 4:3 device.
Click to expand...

First, how big are your hands? I've never had mine obstruct my tablet viewing.

Second, if I really want a 2 page spread, I can turn my 12.2" screen to landscape and still view a larger image than you can on a 4:3 9.7" screen. And when in portrait mode, my 12.2" screen is filled nearly entirely with the comic page, unlike the portrait mode on a 4:3 tablet, which has significant black bars.
 
The best hint I can give OP is definitely don't go below a 10 inch screen size. As far as resolution, anything HD or higher is fine but you want something that's burn-in resistance because your UI elements, if you read enough comics, will burn into your display if its a cheap one.
 
Get a iPad Mini 2.
You can use the Comic Zeal app to read .cbr and .rar comics (such as ones in various Humble Bundles), Comixology to buy comics, and Marvel Unlimited to read Marvel stuff
 
HUELEN10 said:
Nope, you're wrong. 4:3 is better because for single pages for 1-hand holding, your hand NEVER obstructs the content regardless of bezel width, see?

And for 2 page spreads regardless of ratio?




Hard to beat this. 2 page spreads fit amazingly on a 4:3 device, for most all comic ratios!
Click to expand...
I disagree I vastly prefer the 16:9 android tablet over an 4:3 ipad mini for reading comics, now if it is full size ipad vs 16:9 that's more a preference of infrastructure.

The bigger tablet is much better for reading comics but if you want a smaller tablet there are good options. i also used a nexus 7 for a while and it's really good as well.

I do agree with you about Comic Zeal, it is an amazing app.
 
Suggesting an iPad mini for someone who wants to use it soley for comics is stupid.


A full size iPad is the way to go. Get a Marvel Unlimited promo code to start and you'll be drowning in incredible comics.
 
Wow, goddamn nearly everyone in here is wrong.

Look at the Samsung Galaxy Tab S 10.5, its way better than using an iPad. Aspect ratio, SD card support, screen size, screen quality. I've used both for reading comics extensively and its no contest.

15327169035_3d7c881e96_b.jpg
 
Fusebox said:
Wow, goddamn nearly everyone in here is wrong.

Look at the Samsung Galaxy Tab S 10.5, its way better than using an iPad. Aspect ratio, SD card support, screen size, screen quality. I've used both for reading comics extensively and its no contest.
Click to expand...

Now imagine that with an extra 1.7" of screen real estate with the Tab/Note Pro 12.2 and you have absolute perfection. (The Tab S 10.5 is pretty sweet too, I'll admit.)
 
Yeah the note has a slightly bigger screen but is almost twice the weight of the Tab S and I personally don't think the extra screen size is worth the weight increase for a dedicated comic reader.
 
I switched from an iPad 4 to a Fire HDX and while I do miss the aspect ratio on two-page spreads, it's not the dealbreaker some of you guys are making it out to be. If the OP doesn't want Apple, there are plenty of good alternatives.
 
I was using Marvel Unlimited on a 2012 Nexus 7 until it broke a couple of weeks ago.

I've been waiting for Lenovo's new android (tab 2 A8 or A10) tablets to release before I pick between that, and a refurbished iPad mini.
 
Fusebox said:
Wow, goddamn nearly everyone in here is wrong.

Look at the Samsung Galaxy Tab S 10.5, its way better than using an iPad. Aspect ratio, SD card support, screen size, screen quality. I've used both for reading comics extensively and its no contest.

15327169035_3d7c881e96_b.jpg
Click to expand...

oh my god yes, i want that one on the left - biggest screen possible + SD card support and id just fill it with comics, so good
 
Comixology is definitely the best app to use, and has some awesome sales on a daily basis, but just a word of warning. No matter what device you use the app STILL doesn't support SD cards, so no matter how many comics you have and download, you can only save them to your device's internal storage.
 
A bit of an odd choice here - but check out the Barnes and Noble Nook HD+ (that's the 9" version of the Nook "HD") Android tablet.

For your needs it's pretty much spot on:

  • 9" display - 1920 x 1280 resolution, pixel density of 256 DPI.
  • Dirt cheap
  • Plenty fast enough for comic reading
  • MicroSD card slot
  • Dirt cheap
  • Easily rootable (also has Cyanogenmod support for a stock Android experience).
While the Nook HD+ is quite old now and was never that fast in the first place, which makes it hard to recommend as a general purposes tablet, the display is amazing - ideal for comics in particular. Oh and it's dirt cheap.

Check it out :)
 
Personally I use a Nexus 7 and you can find the 2013 model very, very cheap if you shop around.

But if you want a larger model the difference between an Androids and iOS device tends to be personal preference.

Comixology is great, Amazon sometimes has huge kindle discounts, Humble Bundle is amazing, and Marvel Unlimited is also great. To be honest it's almost a little embarrassing how spoiled for value comics readers are digitally now, if you don't want release day titles.
 
People read comics on something as small as a ipad mini? Dear god people maybe it's because I wear glasses but it would be way too small to me.
 
Mindwipe said:
Comixology is great, Amazon sometimes has huge kindle discounts, Humble Bundle is amazing, and Marvel Unlimited is also great.
Click to expand...

Thank you for reminding me about Humble Bundle. I need to fix my newsletters mailings so I know when they are having a comics deal. I always miss them. Which newsletters should I subscribe to so I don't miss any? I checked the Humble Books, should I do the weekly and flash as well? Or are comics only in the books bundle?
 
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