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EBOOK Reader suggestions? New to this kind of thing
tro44_1
Member Posts: 1,819
Any suggestions for a good Ebook reader? Iam looking into buying my first Ebook reader.
I have a few questions. Do they have Color?
What other features do most Ebooks readers have?
whats the biggest concern that Ebook reader owners have with their Ebook reader?
Comments
Sony Reader vs Kindle?
Anything better then both?
no
I believe thats it as far as readers go, and even if there were something other than those two and I havnt heard about it.. I would recommend it at all
as for which one is better? Read this article and decide
I wont promote one over the other, even though I do own one of these. Id rather you make your own decision based on that article or other resources. Pay close attention to the bottom of the article in the conclusion. I dont like to be "that fanboy" guy who tells others to buy something just because he happens to own it.
"If you want a picture of the future, imagine a robot foot stomping on a human face -- forever."
no
I believe thats it as far as readers go, and even if there were something other than those two and I havnt heard about it.. I would recommend it at all
as for which one is better? Read this article and decide
I wont promote one over the other, even though I do own one of these. Id rather you make your own decision based on that article or other resources. I dont like to be "that fanboy" guy who tells others to buy something just because he happens to own it.
Thank You, but please tell me the common things Ebook reader owners look for.
For example,, a Computer buyer would look for nice Ram and Graphic Card, and Dual Core, etc..
Well what should a Ebook Reader buyer look for in these terms? Thats what I need to know
no
I believe thats it as far as readers go, and even if there were something other than those two and I havnt heard about it.. I would recommend it at all
as for which one is better? Read this article and decide
I wont promote one over the other, even though I do own one of these. Id rather you make your own decision based on that article or other resources. I dont like to be "that fanboy" guy who tells others to buy something just because he happens to own it.
Thank You, but please tell me the common things Ebook reader owners look for.
For example,, a Computer buyer would look for nice Ram and Graphic Card, and Dual Core, etc..
Well what should a Ebook Reader buyer look for in these terms? Thats what I need to know
anyway, those are my key features. They both have the same type of screens in that its like looking at paper and not a monitor. They both share several features actually, but the kindle has a browser. It also has free internet via 3g (yes.. free as in no account needed) so you can browse papers, magazines and purchase books pretty much anywhere (my wife did it on a cruise ship last year)
I see what you did.. im turning into that guy
good luck!
"If you want a picture of the future, imagine a robot foot stomping on a human face -- forever."
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/nook/index.asp
ok the Nook doesnt have a Browser, which seems liek a cool feature, but has pub libuary feature.
http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&langId=-1&categoryId=8198552921644523779&N=4294954529#contentUniverse
Does this have Browser?
http://www.amazon.com/Kindle-Wireless-Reading-Display-Generation/dp/B0015T963C/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=fiona-hardware&qid=1264261054&sr=1-1
This have Color?
Another thing thats getting at me, is the way the books are downloaded.
Do Ebooks follow their own download brand, like the I-POD does with it's MP3 format on I-tunes? Where you cant read books from certain download sites?
Like Trading Card Games? Click Here.
I personally own a Kindle and I've gotten way more use out of it than I thought I would. I did take a lot of time to decide which eReader to get though.
Three things to look for:
Price - Sony currently has the cheapest eReader with the Pocket clocking in at $198. It's so cheap you can buy it at Wal-Mart. Kindle and Nook are tied at the low end with each costing $250. Kindle has a $400 high end version with a 10 inch screen that can hold 3,000 books, but I really don't see the reason to go that far.
Battery life - Right now, the Kindle goes the longest with three weeks on one charge. The Sony readers come to around that with the Nook going for about ten weeks on a charge due to the color LCD thing along the bottom.
Selection of books - Nook appears to be ahead here since they claim over 1 million books as compared to Kindle's 390 thousand, but if you look closer you'll see that Nook pads the numbers because it can access Google Books. Many of the books on Google books are already available for free as PDF files in other places. Kindle lets you email PDF files to your kindle account and converts them to AZM files to the tune of about 15 cents per meg.
Price of books - Right now, books are cheaper through Kindle than Nook or Sony.
Access - Sony's eReader requires you to be hooked up to a computer in order to buy books and put them on the device. Nook requires you to be near a WiFi hotspot in order to buy books and put them on the device. Kindle has free wireless service through Sprint so you can buy books and download them from anywhere that there is Sprint wireless coverage.
Also keep in mind that there are places like ManyBooks and the Baen free library where you can get books for free. It's cheapest and easiest to put free books on the Sony reader since it supports SD cards. Not sure how Nook would work in this regard. Kindle will let you transfer, but at a cost.
Then there's also the fact that, if you own a Nook, you can loan books to your Nook owning friends. But unless you know alot of people a Nook, that's not really a selling point.
I'd really, really suggest getting a netbook or notebook for the price.
For example: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834115584&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-Netbooks-_-Acer+America-_-34115584
250 bucks, ten dollars less than the smallest Kindle. Twice the screen size of the smallest Kindle. If you want to use the Kindle software, then just download it for PC: http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html/ref=kcp_pc_mkt_lnd?docId=1000426311
Once you're lookin' at the 9 inch screen Kindle for 450+, there's really little excuse to not get a really good notebook or decent laptop. If you like the aesthetics of the Amazon, there's some Windows 7 tablet PCs out in that 450 price range as well. I know Asus has a few. Like: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002GCR04Y?ie=UTF8&tag=astapcbl-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B002GCR04Y
in short...the Kindle PC software is in beta and will be released soon. Seems unnecessary to get a device that's specifically for it, especially now that Windows 7 is out and has encouraged a plethora of netbooks, notebooks and multitouch tablets.
you cant compare reading on something like a kindle or a nook to a notebook or tablet. Its not even in the same realm.
bottom line is these devices are made specifically for reading and mimicing what you see on paper. they do a great job of it. backlit LCD screens do not.
"If you want a picture of the future, imagine a robot foot stomping on a human face -- forever."
you cant compare reading on something like a kindle or a nook to a notebook or tablet. Its not even in the same realm.
bottom line is these devices are made specifically for reading and mimicing what you see on paper. they do a great job of it. backlit LCD screens do not.
Why can't I compare reading on a Kindle or Nook to a notebook or tablet? I've read on all four. Of course its the same realm, there's a screen and there's text.
Bringing up the fact that LCDs are backlit doesn't mean anything. The electronic paper the Kindle uses is only closer to paper because why...? It isn't backlit and requires a good lighting condition like paper? Few would consider that a bonus. The real bonus is that because the Kindle uses electronic paper, it keeps a charge for days. But who ever has to go a week without crossing a power outlet?
If we're talking about an e-reader for a few days of camping out in the middle of the woods, you'd have a point about not being able to compare here. Other than that, dollar for dollar and feature for feature its all worth comparing.
you cant compare reading on something like a kindle or a nook to a notebook or tablet. Its not even in the same realm.
bottom line is these devices are made specifically for reading and mimicing what you see on paper. they do a great job of it. backlit LCD screens do not.
Why can't I compare reading on a Kindle or Nook to a notebook or tablet? I've read on all four. Of course its the same realm, there's a screen and there's text.
Bringing up the fact that LCDs are backlit doesn't mean anything. The electronic paper the Kindle uses is only closer to paper because why...? It isn't backlit and requires a good lighting condition like paper? Few would consider that a bonus. The real bonus is that because the Kindle uses electronic paper, it keeps a charge for days. But who ever has to go a week without crossing a power outlet?
If we're talking about an e-reader for a few days of camping out in the middle of the woods, you'd have a point about not being able to compare here. Other than that, dollar for dollar and feature for feature its all worth comparing.
I'm going to agree with Rayx0r on this one. The Kindle, or even just reading on a page, feels a lot easier on my eyes. I think it has to do with the both the print size and the lack of having a screen shining in my eyes like a flashlight. Ever used your cell phone screen as a makeshift flashlight when the power goes out? I have, and I can't imagine that staring into that for hours on end is good for your eyes.
Also the Kindle is a lot lighter and less prone to crashing and eating everything I have on it. Computers and cell phones are like Swiss Army knives. All those extra functions make them much more prone to failure. Don't forget that computers go obsolete like clockwork. So far, I can see myself still using this kindle five to ten years from now. I don't think I've ever owned a computer for more than a year or two.
you cant compare reading on something like a kindle or a nook to a notebook or tablet. Its not even in the same realm.
bottom line is these devices are made specifically for reading and mimicing what you see on paper. they do a great job of it. backlit LCD screens do not.
Why can't I compare reading on a Kindle or Nook to a notebook or tablet? I've read on all four. Of course its the same realm, there's a screen and there's text.
Bringing up the fact that LCDs are backlit doesn't mean anything. The electronic paper the Kindle uses is only closer to paper because why...? It isn't backlit and requires a good lighting condition like paper? Few would consider that a bonus. The real bonus is that because the Kindle uses electronic paper, it keeps a charge for days. But who ever has to go a week without crossing a power outlet?
If we're talking about an e-reader for a few days of camping out in the middle of the woods, you'd have a point about not being able to compare here. Other than that, dollar for dollar and feature for feature its all worth comparing.
I'm going to agree with Rayx0r on this one. The Kindle, or even just reading on a page, feels a lot easier on my eyes. I think it has to do with the both the print size and the lack of having a screen shining in my eyes like a flashlight. Ever used your cell phone screen as a makeshift flashlight when the power goes out? I have, and I can't imagine that staring into that for hours on end is good for your eyes.
Also the Kindle is a lot lighter and less prone to crashing and eating everything I have on it. Computers and cell phones are like Swiss Army knives. All those extra functions make them much more prone to failure. Don't forget that computers go obsolete like clockwork. So far, I can see myself still using this kindle five to ten years from now. I don't think I've ever owned a computer for more than a year or two.
Can't say I've ever run across an LCD without brightness, contrast and many more settings. eBooks have existed before a Kindle device, and I don't think reading on backlit monitors have been an impossibility up until the last couple of years thanks to the Kindle. People have long since gotten along without eye strain. Saying your screen is bright is no more a disqualifier for backlit screens than another person saying trying to read the Kindle in the dark is a disqualifier for it. The solution for avoiding eye strain on the Kindle and LCD devices is the same; control your lighting conditions, the room around you and the settings of the device you're staring at.
Weight is a legitimate bonus for Kindle if less weight is optimal, but you wouldn't call a notebook, netbook or tablet heavy.
As for the generalization that computers and cell phones are prone to failure...say what? In what way? The way that -all- electronic devices are? Computers go obsolete like clockwork? How so? We aren't talking about gaming, we're talking about eBook reading. I guarantee you've never replaced a computer because new advances in eBooks made it obsolete.
Just to correct something, the Nook doesn't require a WiFi hotspot, it has free wireless as well as the WiFi hotspot access. The WiFi downloads are just faster and when in a Barnes & Noble store you have a few extra features like the ability to read a few pages before you buy the book and access to coupons. I have had my Nook for a couple of weeks now and I love it. The Nook also supports microSD cards.