eBooks/eReaders

Jason Ramsey

Jason Ramsey

Admin
So, I've been wanting to get one of these for a while. I initially saw the kindle 2 and was going to get it... haven't yet though. bought some books on it though, that i've been reading on my pc.

Anyways, kind of a tough decision... there isn't really any cross-compatibility (i.e. buy kindle books and use it on a B&N Nook), and DRM makes converting *illegal*

Anyone have any experience with these? any recommendations. I've already bought some kindle books, but that's ok... My main concern is buying one, having it not succeed, and then having a useless reader that I can't get books for anymore in the future.

The main two I am looking at right now are Amazon's Kindle 2, and Barnes and Nobles Nook. Now that some early bugs are worked out, seems like the Nook is a better overall device than the kindle 2, and there seems to be some nice perks with the service over kindle. However, I'm sure amazon will be coming out with a new kindle eventually that will also have improvements. Amazon was talking about 9.99 max price for everythign in their store eventually as well..

Just trying to figure out which system I should buy into that is most likely to have the most longevity and broadest selection of ebooks in the future.

later,
Jason
 
I had one of the first sony's and was very happy with it, until it got stolen. They have a new, larger one out now. I liked the fact that I could put anything on it, PDFs, ebooks, Text...
 
The Astak EZReader reads almost everything. Cheaper direct from Astak, too, usually.

I've got the 6". There's also a 5".

I've had it since Christmas. And have had to recharge 3 times. Whee.

Seriously. It's the best Christmas present I've ever gotten.
 
I got an iPad instead, and got the Kindle app for it, as well as iBook. There is also a PDF reader app available. Haven't checked on B&N yet.
 
iPad.

I hadn't bought a book in three years before getting an iPad. I've bought ten in two weeks. The Kindle and iBooks apps look gorgeous on the iPad screen.

The iPad won't do everything, but I think it is the single best device for "consuming" media of any kind.
 
if i wanted to look at a computer screen when i read, i'll just use my computer... I already read all day on the computer. :)

I'm more interested in a purpose specific device... in this case, one that doesn't have the associated eye strain of a t.v., lcd screen, etc. And, something that is likely to have the broadest access to ebooks, both for purchase and in the public domain. Problem is, there are so many stinking formats, and different devices support different ones of them, and have their own proprietary formats... It's kind of a guessing game as to which one is most likely to have longevity in terms of being able to purchase/find books for it.
 
That's why I got the EZ. Reads 10 formats, and doesn't have a backlight. The "e-paper" LCD thing is cool, unless you're sitting in the dark or a glary environment. Neither one is an issue for me.

And it's the only one that reads MS Reader format, which is what I already have a ton of. (Though I'm converting them, slowly but surely, to .epub)
 
Jason Ramsey said:
if i wanted to look at a computer screen when i read, i'll just use my computer... I already read all day on the computer. :)

I'm more interested in a purpose specific device... in this case, one that doesn't have the associated eye strain of a t.v., lcd screen, etc. And, something that is likely to have the broadest access to ebooks, both for purchase and in the public domain. Problem is, there are so many stinking formats, and different devices support different ones of them, and have their own proprietary formats... It's kind of a guessing game as to which one is most likely to have longevity in terms of being able to purchase/find books for it.
Click to expand...

According to Stu Maschwitz, reading stuff on an ipad is a much better and more organic feeling experience over reading on an iphone or a computer. Says he reads all his screenplays this way now. And it'd be kind of hard to take your 20" PC screen, set it on your lap and read it over a cup of coffee. Maybe if you had enough cord :)

Might play with one at best buy, see for yourself. Would be like a Reader Plus, IMHO.
 
Best Buy just started carrying Nook and Target is going to carry the Kindle, so there will be options to get hands on with these things before buying. I'd definitely test drive them before dropping the cash.
 
I'll agree that there is something more organic about reading on the iPad than on a computer and my next $500 fun purchase will probably be a pad, not a big Sony e-reader.

However there is something about e-ink screens that is like paper and I cherish the memory of it, if I didn't want to show videos and photos I'd definitely get a reader over the iPad. They are truly amazing for the eyes as opposed to any kind of computer(ish) screen.
 
I've had an RCA/Gemstar REB-1100 since 1999....great little eBook reader!
With it's included software I can convert pretty much any document and load it up.
 
Any decision made on this? I don't have the $$$ to support Apple on this, so I'm going with either the Kindle or Nook.
 
I own a first generation kindle and love it. I also find I do a lot of crapper reading on my Kindle Android app. For short reading spurts devices like ipads/iphone/android are fine and not a problem. They suck for reading outside or in a car during the day.
 
Hawk Teflon said:
Any decision made on this? I don't have the $$$ to support Apple on this, so I'm going with either the Kindle or Nook.
Click to expand...

I ended up purchasing a nook. primarily b/c the device is better (with recent firmware updates), imo than the current Kindle offerings, and b/c it also supports e-pub format.... there are something like a million public domain google books using this format.

For me, it is anyone's guess which format will survive, and they all seem to have their own format... The nook seemed to have the broadest support for formats between the kindle and nook. plus, e-book lending, in store reading, etc were some nice perks.
 
Ah. Double checked. They came close to bankruptcy, but put it up for sale, instead. Still, not necessarily good.
 
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