eBook reader novice needs help

[bobfather]

Hi folks, I'm considering getting an eBook reader but thought it wise to ask here first to see if there's any advice for me. I want to buy a pad like those offered by Amazon but I wondered if there are better options out there and whether file types are specific to the pad manufacturer. The downloads also look expensive on Amazon, 2 or 3 times more than the equivalent paperback, is that the same for all eBook sellers?

[Blue Meanie]

Kindle is by far the best ebook reader. Lovely screen for reading with, but that is really all it does. The web on it ok, but again, black and white interwebs is a bit poor.

[eztiger]

bobfather said:

Hi folks, I'm considering getting an eBook reader but thought it wise to ask here first to see if there's any advice for me. I want to buy a pad like those offered by Amazon but I wondered if there are better options out there and whether file types are specific to the pad manufacturer. The downloads also look expensive on Amazon, 2 or 3 times more than the equivalent paperback, is that the same for all eBook sellers?

- Other (not necessarily better) options...Sony line of E-ink ebook readers, ipad, other tablet devices (soon to be a raft of 'cheap' android platform ones).

- Specific devices support specific file types, and specific types of DRM on top. The kindle supports most formats *except* the almost ubiquitous epub. It uses it's own (/ex-mobipocket) format for it's own books bought from the kindle store. If you're feeling frisky it's relatively trivial to convert any format to any other without too much fuss.

- Prices vary, wildly, from store to store. There is a huge ebook pricing war brewing both between publishers and retailers (most notably the recent heads up that publishers are pushing for agency style fixed pricing of ebooks on amazon instead of amazon setting their own selling price) but there are plenty of cheaper than print books out there. Plenty of sales and plenty of deals. But it's not the obvious across the board cheaper format you intuitively think it should be (and I think you're correct). Things will balance in time but ebooks are really starting to hit mass market now.

I own a kindle for what it's worth. I'd also like an ipad but I can't justify the cost for what it does / will do for me.

I also love my kindle

[Gaspode]

Another very satisfied Kindle user here. I'm really not sure what you mean about Kindle editions costing 2-3 times the paperback. I have found that even allowing for the VAT, Kindle books are at least a couple of quid cheaper than the equivalent paper book.

[bobfather]

I'm starting to think Kindle is the simple and obvious choice, I also like that it can be read in sunlight. I know the next gen devices are just around the corner and will be full colour and have more functionality; such is the pace of any tech. Waiting for the promise of tomorrow means I'll never get one.

Does the Kindle only download by Wi-Fi or is there a route using the micro USB

[eztiger]

bobfather said:

I'm starting to think Kindle is the simple and obvious choice, I also like that it can be read in sunlight. I know the next gen devices are just around the corner and will be full colour and have more functionality; such is the pace of any tech. Waiting for the promise of tomorrow means I'll never get one.

Does the Kindle only download by Wi-Fi or is there a route using the micro USB

It appears like a 'normal' usb drive, you can just copy books (in the appropriate format) to it.

Check out calibre : http://calibre-ebook.com/

It can manage your books for you and send to the kindle converting if necessary.

[tenohfive]

Gaspode said:

Another very satisfied Kindle user here. I'm really not sure what you mean about Kindle editions costing 2-3 times the paperback. I have found that even allowing for the VAT, Kindle books are at least a couple of quid cheaper than the equivalent paper book.

I use a Kindle app on my HTC Desire (lovely big screen) and have found the same - Kindle books are almost always cheaper than the paperback equivalent.

[clonmult]

Blue Meanie said:

Kindle is by far the best ebook reader. Lovely screen for reading with, but that is really all it does. The web on it ok, but again, black and white interwebs is a bit poor.

I was considering the Kindle, but am now probably going to go for the Sony PRS-350.

Same screen tech as in the Kindle 3, but a tad smaller. Overall footprint of the device is considerably less - about 2/3rds of the weight. Touch screen works incredibly well, and at least on the previous generation models theres been an active hacking community giving extra features (games!)

Waterstones are doing them for £130, and something like the Calibre library application is a cracker for handling the synch process, downloading feeds for transfer.

But swmbo is taking her time in buying it for me .....

[Fletch79]

I looked at the Sony and the kindle, ended up with the kindle because it was cheaper and the books on Amazon were considerable cheaper

There is also a handy 'community' out there that produces handy software for backing up kindle books
I believe you can also use calibre with the kindle .. i'll test that tonight to be sure!!

As for the touchscreen ... Really, on an ebook ... Why?

[martindower]

Kindle on the iPad. Sorted.

[clonmult]

Fletch79 said:

I looked at the Sony and the kindle, ended up with the kindle because it was cheaper and the books on Amazon were considerable cheaper

There is also a handy 'community' out there that produces handy software for backing up kindle books
I believe you can also use calibre with the kindle .. i'll test that tonight to be sure!!

As for the touchscreen ... Really, on an ebook ... Why?

Nice and easy/natural annotation on some documents if you so require. And I found in trying one that turning the page with a flick seemed quite natural.

There are quite a few stores around and about the web offering drm/epub for the Sony and other readers, whereas with amazon you only have access to ... well, amazon. Although they do offer some of the best prices.

[clonmult]

martindower said:

Kindle on the iPad. Sorted.

Apart from the fact that reading text on an LCD is still nowhere near as easy on the eyes as an e-ink display. Battery life is also considerably better on the dedicated e-readers - 2 weeks on the Sony, 4 weeks on the kindle. The iPad, as good as it is, doesn't even slightly come close to either of those.

[bobfather]

martindower said:

Kindle on the iPad. Sorted.

I thought the iPad was more gimmick than gadget; I've not played with one so I may have misunderstood the point. They look very unwieldy to me, see Jake Humphrey F1 pre race chat holding his by his side, it's so big he can't put it anywhere

[Blue Meanie]

clonmult said:

martindower said:

Kindle on the iPad. Sorted.

Apart from the fact that reading text on an LCD is still nowhere near as easy on the eyes as an e-ink display. Battery life is also considerably better on the dedicated e-readers - 2 weeks on the Sony, 4 weeks on the kindle. The iPad, as good as it is, doesn't even slightly come close to either of those.

device that does a hell of a lot more than a simple e-reader in battery not quite as good shocker.

[clonmult]

Blue Meanie said:

clonmult said:

martindower said:

Kindle on the iPad. Sorted.

Apart from the fact that reading text on an LCD is still nowhere near as easy on the eyes as an e-ink display. Battery life is also considerably better on the dedicated e-readers - 2 weeks on the Sony, 4 weeks on the kindle. The iPad, as good as it is, doesn't even slightly come close to either of those.

device that does a hell of a lot more than a simple e-reader in battery not quite as good shocker.

Aye, not exactly a shocker at all .... but if what you want to do is mainly read books, the Kindle/Sony Reader/etc are much better options. Especially with a display thats tailored to the role.

[Uriel]

I decided that the B&N Nook was the reader for me and I'm more than happy with it.

One thing to consider, which I've never seen mentioned anywhere is that libraries are starting ebook borrowing services. There aren't many that do it at the moment, but it does seem to be on the increase. It looks too good to be true...you log into your local library website, search for the book you want, choose to 'borrow' it and it downloads it to Adobe Editions, DRM'd up the ying yang. But you can transfer it to your reader, read and your pleasure and then you just 'return' it and it'd deleted from your computer/device. If my library picks it up, I can't see me ever paying for a book again!

[FlossyThePig]

A lot of UK libraries now offer eBook lending. They work on Sony but not Kindle, I don't know about the rest.

[clonmult]

FlossyThePig said:

A lot of UK libraries now offer eBook lending. They work on Sony but not Kindle, I don't know about the rest.

Just checked the Basingstoke library services - they're definitely offering the service. Kinda handy doing it like this, as the central library is closed for refurbishment.

[Blue Meanie]

clonmult said:

FlossyThePig said:

A lot of UK libraries now offer eBook lending. They work on Sony but not Kindle, I don't know about the rest.

Just checked the Basingstoke library services - they're definitely offering the service. Kinda handy doing it like this, as the central library is closed for refurbishment.

If it kicks off it might close for good!

[clonmult]

Blue Meanie said:

clonmult said:

FlossyThePig said:

A lot of UK libraries now offer eBook lending. They work on Sony but not Kindle, I don't know about the rest.

Just checked the Basingstoke library services - they're definitely offering the service. Kinda handy doing it like this, as the central library is closed for refurbishment.

If it kicks off it might close for good!

Who knows .... but it'll probably eventually result in the closure of the smaller libraries serving the smaller communities in the area. Which will be a shame as the locations tend to be used for other events - mother'n'baby groups, and whatever sort of random things mothers tend to get up to during the day.

So far they haven't got a huge selection, but its relatively new.