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Ereaders...Which should I get? HELP
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There are rumors of a Kindle 3 coming out in August, so you might want to wait a bit. ;)
I have a Kindle 2. I'm completely in love with it, but it took some learning to get to this point. Definitely read the manual (click here to read the software version 4 of the manual PDF). Recently, with v.5, they added some really great features like being able to categorize your stories. I've never used any other eReader, but I'm really happy with my Kindle and can answer questions if you have them.
Mod
I particularly like the AllOfWiki Offline app which installs the entire Wikipedia site locally (text only), which makes researching concepts, places etc while reading out in the woods a breeze.
Ralph wrote: "There are rumors of a Kindle 3 coming out in August, so you might want to wait a bit. ;)"Its out Ralph and it holds over 3,500 books and a one month battery, sounds like heaven, but I just bought my kindle 2 around mothers day so I will have to wait.
SEW
Kernos wrote: "I have a Kindle 2 and an iPad. The Kindle has not been used since I got the iPad, which I find to be a MUCH better e-reader for me, besides doing so much more. I use the Kindle app for Kindle books..."That's one good reason for me to get the Ipad instead of another e-reader!
Anyone use the Nook or an iPod Touch as an ereader? I'm especially interested in the latter, since it's more than just an ereader, but not as pricey as the iPad, which sounds great.
I have a Sony PRS-300. It's a comfortable size, easy on the eyes and not as expensive as other e-readers. I also use my iPhone as an e-reader. The downside of that is that I have to constantly charge it. It would never work on a long flight.
Nancy wrote: "I have a Sony PRS-300. It's a comfortable size, easy on the eyes and not as expensive as other e-readers. I also use my iPhone as an e-reader. The downside of that is that I have to constantly c..."Mine is a Sony PRS-600, the touch-screen.
It's so indispensable to me that I want to buy a back-up but I haven't come across any that's touch-screen which is why I'm looking at the Ipad.
My sister-in-law has a Nook and loves it as much as I do my kindle.
Debbie wrote: "Anyone use the Nook or an iPod Touch as an ereader? I'm especially interested in the latter, since it's more than just an ereader, but not as pricey as the iPad, which sounds great."
Debbie, I read a book on my iPod touch. It was good, but not the most comfortable reading experience, I should say. I'm really fancying a Kindle 3, though. I considered an iPad, but it's just too expensive to be used just as an eReader. Besides, the extra functions it has don't seem to be so crucial that I can't live without it.
Debbie, I read a book on my iPod touch. It was good, but not the most comfortable reading experience, I should say. I'm really fancying a Kindle 3, though. I considered an iPad, but it's just too expensive to be used just as an eReader. Besides, the extra functions it has don't seem to be so crucial that I can't live without it.
Lucas wrote: " I considered an iPad, but it's just too expensive to be used just as an eReader. Besides, the extra functions it has don't seem to be so crucial that I can't live without it. "That's my hesitation in getting the iPad. I just want a reader with touch screen as I read in bed and I like it that I can swipe anywhere on the screen to turn the page. I don't need the bells & whistles on the iPad but considered because of color - my Sony is b&w and the screen is a not a bright white, which I prefer.
Elaine wrote: "That's my hesitation in getting the iPad. I just want a reader with touch screen as I read in bed and I like it that I can swipe anywhere on the screen to turn the page..."The touch screen is a nice feature that I wish Sony had. I also wish for the pages to turn just a little faster. The plain black and white screen is nice, though. Easy to see and no eye strain even after hours of reading.
One thing I should mention is that yesterday I got my hands on an iPad for the first time. One very important thing that I noticed is that it's not exactly the lightest reading device either. It weights as much as a thick paperback in my opinion. Another thing is the the glossy screen, which is pretty, but strains the eyes after sometime.
The cheapest way to read ebook I am using so far is Kindle on my MacBook or iPod Touch... no comfort though. =/
The cheapest way to read ebook I am using so far is Kindle on my MacBook or iPod Touch... no comfort though. =/
The iPad weighs 1.6lbs versus the Kindle's 8.5 oz
Ralph wrote: "The iPad weighs 1.6lbs versus the Kindle's 8.5 oz"That's a little too heavy for traveling. Even the weight of a few paperbacks adds up after a while, especially after a long and exhausting trip.
Does the Kindle easily accommodate all e-book formats?
Nancy wrote: "Does the Kindle easily accommodate all e-book formats? "
What I know so far is that Kindle has its own format, which, if I'm not mistaken should be the ".mobi" extension. I've heard that there are ways to convert books to that extension. I also know it can display PDF as well. I just wonder if it can display the epub format.
What I know so far is that Kindle has its own format, which, if I'm not mistaken should be the ".mobi" extension. I've heard that there are ways to convert books to that extension. I also know it can display PDF as well. I just wonder if it can display the epub format.
That sounds like it may be a little too proprietary for me. I use epub most often and it's easy to download on the Sony, no conversion necessary.
I have a kindle and love it. I just buy my books if the mobipocket prc. format and it works on kindle. You can also email different fomats to amazon and they can convert them for you.
Kindle reads multiple formats: .AZW and .TPZ which are two encrypted formats used only by Amazon
.Mobi and .PRC (unsecured) these are the Kindle friendly formats most people buy
.PDF and .TXT self explanitory.
It's easy to convert any ebook to a Kindle compatible format. You can either use the library software Calibre which most people use to keep their ebooks organized. Or a dedicated software like Mobipocket Creator.
The easiest way however, is to email the file to Amazon and they will convert it for you. They'll either email you the file back for free. Or they'll transfer it right to your Kindle via Whispernet for 15 cents.
The majority of ebook retailers sell .Mobi format. The only exceptions are the big players in the ebook Reader market (Sony, Barnes and Noble, Apple). But Fictionwise, AllRomanceeBooks, publishers, etc. all sell a Kindle compatible format.
Ralph you are the King of Information instead of King of Thieves.
Nancy wrote: "The touch screen is a nice feature that I wish Sony had."Nancy, my Sony PRS-600 (the Sony Reader Touch Edition) is a touch-screen, which is precisely why I chose it over all the other ereaders in the market. I was only considering the iPad because of color and the touch screen feature but after what Lucas and Ralph said about its weight, I won't bother anymore. I will wait for Creative Tech who is coming out with a touch-screen reader, or whoever does first. Failing which, I'll just buy another Sony PRS-600!
If you love your Sony as much as I do, I'd recommend you upgrade to the PRS-600. Here's a video review of the features if you care to check it out.
Thanks, Elaine. I decided on the PRS-300 originally because it was my first e-reader and it was less expensive. I wanted to try it out first before going for the best model. At some point I will upgrade, but I'm not sure if I want to stick with the Sony or get a Kindle.
Barnes & Noble is coming out with a color version of the Nook around Thanksgiving. It also has a larger screen.
BloodyHorror wrote: "Barnes & Noble is coming out with a color version of the Nook around Thanksgiving. It also has a larger screen."It's also an LCD screen and weighs a lot more than the Kindle. If I want to read on an LCD screen, I'll read on my laptop and save myself a couple hundred dollars.
I was in Staples last night and held a Kindle in my hands for the first time. I couldn't believe how light it was, but it feels kind of flimsy compared to my Sony. Is it pretty sturdy, or will it snap in two if I throw it in my bag with other stuff?
Nancy wrote: "I was in Staples last night and held a Kindle in my hands for the first time. I couldn't believe how light it was, but it feels kind of flimsy compared to my Sony. Is it pretty sturdy, or will it..."It's fairly sturdy, but I wouldn't go throwing it around at walls. I'd also highly recommend some kind of case to protect it even further, but I'm paranoid considering I spent almost $200 on the thing. But either way, Amazon's customer support is wonderful and will replace a broken Kindle quickly. =)
Oh, yeah, I would definitely get a case and I wouldn't think of throwing it at a wall even if I didn't like the book. ;)If I bought a Kindle in Staples, would Amazon still support it?
I have a Kindle and like it very much. If you buy one, I would definitely get a good cover for it. I ruined the screen on my first one by putting it in the seat pocket of an airplane. No problems since I bought the cover.
I got on the ebook bandwagon a bit early. When I bought my Sony PRS-300, the Kindle had just been made available internationally (but not in Canada), and the Kobo wasn't yet available. Having said that, I absolutely love it.I've thought about investing in a Kindle, just to get access to the exclusive content on the Amazon site, but I don't like the size/design. There seems to be a lot of wasted space compared to the Sony.
I would agree about Amazon's customer support. After I ruined the first one, they over-nighted a replacement to my hotel.
My partner bought me as a birthday surprise the Nook Color http://www.barnesandnoble.com/nookcolor/ It's not even out yet, I hope to play with it at the store before mine arrives. They're calling it the "poor man's iPad" and it sounds pretty good, especially when their flash upgrade for the web hits next year. I'm a constant reader, but doubt I'll use the ereader part of it much for books (I'm old school, I like the feel, texture, smell of books) except for the interactive books for my kid. eReader for magazines, newspapers, blogs though, yes. I'm also looking forward to its web browser, music player, and games (time to learn chess!). Curious to see if I end up liking it.Any Nook users out there? I tried one in the store and liked it better than the Kindle, which I read one book on and didn't like.
My nookcolor arrived Wednesday night. Despite the learning curve, I like it. I haven't read anything on it yet, but the other parts are great. I did download a book from the library, but haven't tried it yet. That part doesn't appeal to me much, I'm still attached to the paper book.
Ive had them all.The Kindle Paperwhite is the best.
I have a Kobo touch and don't really recommend it: it's glitchy.Here's what I really want from an e-reader: not back-lit, able to display ePub and PDF well (I get most of my ebooks in those formats and I don't want to have to convert every single one), and hopefully able to highlight/add notes easily in multiple formats.
I am prejudiced against the Kindle because I don't particularly like Amazon, and I'd rather not be so dependent on them.
How do these other eReaders actually display PDF? Because lots say that they support it, but it shows up too small to read. The Kobo can zoom in to view PDFs more clearly, but it is sort of annoying.
The Sony looks like probably the best bet for me when my Kobo eventually dies. But by then maybe there will be even more out!
I have a feeling eReaders are not going to survive long, and will be replaced by tablets, but I really don't want something that's backlit and strains the eyes. Also, I don't want to be distracted by a million other features and the internet. Otherwise I'd just read on my laptop.
Looking at the Sony PRS-600 video review, it looks like it flashes to black every time it flips a page. Is that true? I really dislike that. The Kobo does that about every 5 page turns, not every page.
Pros of the iPad and the iPod Touch (both of which I own):* Lots of variety in e-reader apps. You're not forced to accept a single e-reader system.
* Good screen. Terrific screen if you own one of the versions that has a Retina display.
* Can be easily used for non-reading tasks.
Cons of the iPad and iPod Touch:
* Can be easily used for non-reading tasks. This can be a problem if you're easily distracted from reading.
* As other people here have noted, the iPad is heavy. It's roughly the weight of a hardback.
* There's no flash drive slot, so you have to go through a few hoops to transfer files.
* Apple products are fairly pricy.
I got the iPod Touch when I had an illness that prevented me from picking up anything even moderately heavy. I still use it for reading in bed. I mainly use the iPad at the dinner table, where its bigger screen comes in handy; I prop it up on a stand, so its heaviness isn't a problem there. I use it on the couch occasionally too.
The choice in e-reader apps that Apple offers me is the make-or-break issue for me. The other e-readers just don't give me as much choice in fonts, layout, and e-book formats as some of the e-reader apps I can obtain through iTunes. I can switch between apps if I want. The e-reader apps I use are Stanza (for ePub), Tomes (for ePub and HTML), Instapaper (for HTML), and GoodReader (for PDF).
Mod
I agree it can get heavy, esp holding one-handed. I generally use a lap table to set it on or read on my side in bed.
I supplement it with my iPhone for looking things up, words in a dictionary or concepts on Wikipedia or the All of Wiki app. I find this more efficient than switching programs on the iPad.
I went the Cheapo route and got a Sylvania refurbished tablet for $40 from New Egg. Using an Android Kindle app it reads kindle books just fine and is a lot lighter than my brother's iPad. I also transferred a number of PDF files from my PC to the tablet using a USB cable and they read just fine but I miss the appearance controls one has with true Kindle books. (And I miss the cover art)
One the down side... 4 month's after my purchase... just long enough for all warranties to be well and truly expired, the Wi-Fi receiver konk'd out and now I'm stuck with the decision to make all over again.
I CAN still bring things down to my PC and tranfer via USB to the tablet but that's a hassle and getting my tablet repaired would be more expensive than just buying another one but what's the reliability of the other units like? You know that OLD standard Bio-Optic Organized Knowledge or B.O.O.K. never had these kinds of problems!
It would be better to get an iPad or a mini because it becomes more than just an e-reader. The iPad also hosts Kindle, Nook and of course, iBooks, as well as apps that give you access to many free books! But if Apple isn't your thing then I suggest the Kindle fire.
I have both, actually. The problem with reading on the iPad for me is that it is too easy to get distracted with the internet, games and other apps.But I love that I can get books from anywhere in all different formats.
I have a desk top at home which is where I do a bulk of my internet activities but I own a Kindle fire second generation. I enjoy it greatly but like all products it has its troubles.
The type of things that I use my kindle fire for:
I read my books on it, and use many apps like to get my emails, USTV to watch live television online, twitter app, radio apps and of course I browse the internet off it when I am not at home or at night when I am in my bed.
The price for a second generation is pretty low ($159.00) compared to other tablets with similar abilities.
The size of the kindle fire is practical. It is not too heavy and easy to carry in my purse. I rarely leave home without it.
I have tried a larger android tablet and found it to be too heavy /too bulky for me and it was just plain inconvenient to take it to work or out when I do errands like doctors appointments.
Back to the kindle fire second generation, my personal experience is that the battery life varies between three to four hours of hard usage, meaning I am using my energy zapping apps like USTV.
It takes about two solid hours to recharge. You can use it when you are recharging it but it will take longer to recharge.
I love how easy it is to pick up a book/app/song from Amazon.
I love to have my books read to me by the kindle fire as I crochet, or do house work or when it is slow at work. The reading feature is awesome!
I love the photo gallery feature, I keep mine full of photos of my granddaughters, trips that I have taken and of course my Cats!
My complains list is short, typing into forum off my kindle fire is a frustrating experience because the software often fails to recognize the format. For example like in this box that I am typing now, I run into limited views for what I just typed so long replies or long review are nearly impossible to due, Also the kindle keyboard often suffers from over sensitive responses, whether I am online or off.
The goodreads app for kindle fire is a joke and I do not recommend/or us it.
When it is charging it is too hot to hold, but I solve this by using a stand which I got pretty cheap from Big Lots.
My girlfriend has a kindle fire HD. I will say that her speaker quality is richer in depth than mine and when she is watching movies or using the USTV app she has a clearer picture but then she also has cable internet while I have dsl.
She had to break down and by a cover specifically for the kindle fire HD for 49.99 due to the bubble butt that it has, while I can and have gone with a generic cover but then her cover is pretty nice looking.
Since I do not own an HD I can not tell you if there are any other benefits other than to point out the price difference between it and the Ipads.
Mod
When I do read an e-book, I use my iPad 3 which had sufficient contrast and brightness for my aging eyes. I find e-ink hard to read.
But really I'd much rather have a physical book.
I have tried all the Nooks and kindles now and have to be honest and say that the nook Touch screen keeps having odd periods where the screen goes dark or you can see the last page through the new one.You can fix it by turning it off and on but it shouldn't happen!I had the earlier nook in white and loved it.The fact you could use the touch screen at the bottom to swipe pages , once the screen was 'off' was a neat surprise..as was the internet browser. Having an Sd card slot was nice.
I mainly use a kindle as I love the battery life of 2 months.The paper white is fantastic with built in lighting and is super light with a great case that turns the device on when you open it!
My favourite e-ink is the samsung galaxy tab with e-book app, from samsung. It has lovely interface, you can have the app read anything out loud,adjusting the speed and tone, you can highlight, cut, copy,add notes, use a dictionary.I found it better than the ipad ibooks app, by 100 percent!In fact I sold my ipad to get the samsung galaxy note,as i can use it to get library books out, download any book I want from nook, kindle, kobo, amazon, wattbooks, (yes ipad can too, but...what is different.On android you can use torrent downloaders, so you can find a book and download it in seconds.then share it with a friend.You can not do that on apple products.
If you want a smaller e-ink I highly recommend the Nexus 7 tablet, beautiful for reading. great size and super fast. Not too bad in the sun either!The ipad mini is also light but impossible to read outside in the sun,just like the bigger version that I sold..
The smaller samsungs are great too, such as the galaxy tab, which I used with the keyboard dock to turn the pages:P It means in winter I can wear gloves and still turn the pages, and the glass stays smudge free.
The galaxy note phone, or the samsung galaxy player 5.0 is also awesome . They can fit in your hand while waiting in lines at supermarket and airport !
The only disadvantage with the e-ink devices is the battery life of only a few hours,plus the fact they are near impossible to read in the sun.
so after all that rambling.I pick the kindle paper white 100% as the number one.I prefer the fact that you can see the book covers on the touch version, as well as the fact it has a built in light which is useful in many situations. Second would be the cheap version with the side buttons. The screen is crisp and the battery life is awesome.
E-ink.samsung galaxy tabs with the ebook app from samsung.BRILLIANT, just download it as an apk. awesome!
I use the free Kindle app which I've downloaded both to my phone and my tablet.When I'm out, I always have a book with me. Plus if I have insomnia, I can read in the dark.
It seems that the besting selling Ereaders are the Kindle 2.5 and the Nook from Barnes & Noble. I have been reading and reading about these devises, think I have narrowed it down to just these two but am having a tough time deciding. Although I'm sure a few weeks after I make my purchase there will be new devices and updates, I want to get the best that is offered now.
So please, if you have an Ereader let me know your opinion. I appreciate the input. HELP!