Who's reading comics on their ipad? Which ap you using?

[samurainoir]

Which ap are you using to read cbr files? What features does it have that make it friendlier for you than the other aps? Anyone have any recommendations for an ap that has the easiest way to access hundreds of different books in your library without scrolling through pages and pages to find the one you want?

With my new ipad, I'm at the point where I am probably ready to abandon most traditional sized comics and graphic novels. The exception might be an oversized book where the fine detail might be better appreciated large sized... I'm thinking stuff like Geoff Darrow's Hard Boiled or Rusty and the Big Guy.

Between the ease of use in reading online stuff, and the tactile interface for turning pages and zooming, I'm finding it a much superior experience to previously having to constantly resize and tab across using the widescreen of the laptop. With the ipad, I just turn it to portrait (which is most traditional pages) or landscape (for double splashes). The clarity and resolution are terrific as well.

Best of all, the portability and no longer worrying about damaging comics through casual reading. No more messing with bags and boards and trying to avoid the tape getting stuck on the book. No concern over finger smudges, spine creases, getting food on the pages or accidentally tearing a page or the cover off.

I read a couple of dozen manga volumes and trade paperback graphic novels on a plane recently, and in the old days I would be lugging those darn books with me the entire time I was away (and constantly be concerned with my weigh restrictions).

I've also been going digital with my comics-evangelism. I no longer have to keep track of the trade paperbacks I lend out to friends, or worry that they get damaged/lost. I just send them a digital file copy for them to read on their own iphone or ipad.

[argent007]

The Ipad screen is large enough for comic reading? I have a ton of .cbr files but I assumed the screen (despite excellent resolution) would be too small for reading word balloons.

[samurainoir]

I was surprised as well since I was always zooming in on the cbr files reading on my netbook, but yeah, the resolution for one single comic book page is fine for reading turned to portrait dimensions. It's about 75% the size of a printed comic page, so unless your eyes are really bad, you can read word balloons quite easily.

For double page spreads, I do have to zoom in on the text after turning the ipad so that it shifts to "Landscape" to appreciate the artwork. But given how friendly the touch-interface is, it's not really too big a hassle zooming in and out by simply spreading your fingers out and in on the screen.

Right now I'm using Bookmon (a free ap) to read, and the only drawback is the way I have to scroll/tab through miles of comics to get to the one that I want. I'm assuming that there are other aps that have a friendlier method of accessing your library, which is why I'm seeing if anyone has any recommendations before I buy an ap with more features.

[argent007]

Very cool.

I did some poking around and this app isn't free, but it had very good reviews and an "itunes style" format.

I think I'd give it a try when I pull the plug on an ipad.

[argent007]

Oops here is the link: ComicBookLover.

[pmwasson]

I just got an iPad for Christmas and got the free app called CloudReader for reading comics. Its pretty basic, but is works well and supports cbr/cbz files. You can pinch to zoom and it will display 1 page in portrait and 2 in landscape. 2 pages isn't good for reading, but if there is a 2-page spread, you can see it all at once. I've already read a dozen comics on it and get lost in the comics and forget I'm reading it on a screen. Since its free, you should give it a try.

[Brazoo]

I've been waiting to try it out - I've been obtaining some digital comic files for this reason - now I need is some extra dough!

[pmwasson]

I previously read comics on a netbook, and although it worked, it was obtrusive. I find the iPad to "disappear" as I get into the story, which is exactly what you want! Its really the perfect device for comics.

[samurainoir]

I use ComicBookLover on my desktop machine, where the large sized monitor makes it a luxary, but I'm bound to my desk.

When I got my ipad, I installed Cloudreader and Bookman at the same time. Cloudreader was a bit bare-bones combared to Bookman, but they are both free. They are well suited for the casual reader.

With the amount of comic material I have on various hard-drives taking up space, I really do need to find an ap that makes sorting through thousands of cbr files a bit less cumbersome. I might just start by purchasing Comicbooklover, although I understand that there are some programs out there that also help you organize your non-digital floppy comics collection as well.