E-readers Recommendations

scoobydoo


Joined: 10/11/2008
Posts: 2434

Message Posted:
11/04/2010 18:55

Does anyone have one and if so what would your recommend to look for when buying one.



I am fed up with paying excess baggage fees everytime I go to UK, so am thinking of buying one.

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11281

Message Posted:
11/04/2010 18:58

Buy the best. Buy the most innovative. Buy Apple's iPad: http://www.google.com/search?q=ipad&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8

malsancak


Joined: 23/08/2009
Posts: 2874

Message Posted:
11/04/2010 19:00

Highly recommended is the Sony PRS-505, have a look at the reviews on http://www.play.com/Electronics/Electronics/4-/5261015/Sony-E-Reader-PRS-505-SC-Digital-Reader-Book-Silver/Product.html

I bought mine on ebay after bidding for several and finally buying one for £100 plus postage.

malsancak


Joined: 23/08/2009
Posts: 2874

Message Posted:
11/04/2010 19:13

iPad will cost about £450-500

Tootie


Joined: 28/08/2008
Posts: 2037

Message Posted:
11/04/2010 19:18

If you get the Apple ipad, dont bet tight and pay the extra for the 64 Gb.



Or if you wait a while Apple will bring out an updated version with better features, They did it with the i-phone.

Everyone went out and bought the first release, 6 months later they introduced an updated model with better camera and more standerd memory, Yep same price.....

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11281

Message Posted:
11/04/2010 19:23

Tootie, everything Apple you buy is old-fashioned or outdated when you take it from the shop, because updated hardware is on its way to that same shop. But everything Apple you buy is still good stuff several years after you purchased it. Not many companies dare to claim that. Apple doesn't do it either - it's the users who'll tell you.

Tootie


Joined: 28/08/2008
Posts: 2037

Message Posted:
11/04/2010 19:37

Of course Hans, The Yanks get it first and we have to wait a little while but at least they can find any faults before we get the product.



We get the best of faultless German/Swedish/Dutch Technology before they do.

mikemans


Joined: 12/04/2009
Posts: 103

Message Posted:
11/04/2010 20:57

I have the Sony latest ereader (the more expensive one), it is excellent but expensive for what it is. Strictly reading only pictures saved are in black and white and poor quality, chip facility waste of time,you can buy a case with light attahced in leather, good for on planes or in bed with lights out, clarity is really good and you can enlarge print if eyes are not so good. You can mark pages and put in comments so good on research for students. Retail about £230 in Sony shops and main stores. Better than Ipad at the moment, no doubt Sony will upgrade to be useful for other things at some stage. I loaded 50 books free of charge in one go from a web site, all the latest may I add, Patterson, Grisham etc. I have downloaded books from my local library using my normal library card, these last for 3 weeks and can be extended (check your own library terms). It definitley saves carrying lots of books and no doubt as things progress students will all have them in place of satchels filled.

HildySmith


Joined: 02/07/2009
Posts: 1708

Message Posted:
11/04/2010 23:48

My husband has the Sony 550 and he thinks it is great. He downloaded 2800 books but found it was slow so he put them back on this computer and loads 100 at a time. As said above, great with the cover and light for reading in bed with the lights out. He requested his as a retirement present. However, he would recommend the Sony 600 which is a better model than he has and he researched it but as the firm bought him that model he is happy. The 600 has a touch screen for everything - no buttons.

TheSaints



Joined: 28/01/2009
Posts: 1369

Message Posted:
12/04/2010 00:28

I have a Sony PRS 300 if you shop around you should get one for under £200 now.

I have loaded 382 books onto it and never leave home without it, it fits in my pocket.

If anyone is short of ebooks I have a library of approx 32,000.



Mike

kimig


Joined: 04/02/2008
Posts: 103

Message Posted:
12/04/2010 06:28

Mike - is that actual physical books or e-reader downloads, please?

trnc55


Joined: 28/11/2009
Posts: 14

Message Posted:
12/04/2010 12:49

I was told the reflection with the Sony touch version - 600 ? is quite bad even if you try to shade it - has anyone only comments as I`m also looking to purchase one but did not realise how many e-readers are actually available apart from the Kindle, Sony and E-Cooler- many thanks

flightholiday


Joined: 19/07/2007
Posts: 3217

Message Posted:
12/04/2010 13:19

I would (will) wait another 12/18 months as by then there may be tablet PC's and ebooks working far better probably in one unjit. The screen technology is developing and getting less expensive quite fast and that seems to be a stumbling block to the next quality level.

No1Doyen


Joined: 04/07/2008
Posts: 16617

Message Posted:
12/04/2010 13:36

I remember seeing a report on these readers in one of the Sunday supplements. Although the most expensive, the Sony came out top.

kibrissibel


Joined: 18/02/2008
Posts: 562

Message Posted:
12/04/2010 14:24

Sony, Kindle, iPad all have good reviews and are obviously big companies. There are so many on the market now, and soon colour ereaders will be in force! This is a good website to check for people's opinions on ereaders: http://www.mobileread.com/forums/



And if your looking for a couple of ebooks to download, why not try my novels? http://www.sibelhodge.com/



Sibel

scoobydoo


Joined: 10/11/2008
Posts: 2434

Message Posted:
12/04/2010 16:33

Thank you for your replies.



I think I will avoid the ipad for now due to the price and also after looking at independent reviews it appears that it is not as good as the e-readers for reading books, it may well be the bees knees for its other applications.



Msg 8: Mikemans - could you tell me which website you use for downloading all your latest books from. Thank you for your info and great tip to look into the library facilities when I go to UK, I can borrow my mum's card.



Thank you to everyone else for their input, I am now checking out all your comments!



Scoobydoo

TheSaints



Joined: 28/01/2009
Posts: 1369

Message Posted:
12/04/2010 17:18

Kim



They are in pdf format and can be read on your E-reader, computer and even some smart phones.





Mike

malsancak


Joined: 23/08/2009
Posts: 2874

Message Posted:
12/04/2010 18:20

Not all libraries allow ebook downloads, Essex libraries do though.

kibrissibel


Joined: 18/02/2008
Posts: 562

Message Posted:
12/04/2010 18:55

There are lots of sites to download ebooks:

Sony: http://www.sony.co.uk/hub/reader-ebook/5

Amazon Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/

Kobo: http://www.kobobooks.com/?utm_source=TSA&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=google&refcd=GO2207812S_kobo&tsacr=GO4481652190&gclid=CMS6_Z_CgaECFYmY2Aodcjouhw

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/ebooks/index.asp

Smashwords (indie authors): http://www.smashwords.com/



Some are in PDF format, some are in the popular Epub format, RFT format, Kindle format etc



Sibel

http://www.sibelhodge.com

TheSaints



Joined: 28/01/2009
Posts: 1369

Message Posted:
12/04/2010 20:06

Or why don't you download them for free from;



http://www.gutenberg.org/wiki/Main_Page



http://manybooks.net



http://www.feedbooks.com





Mike

mikemans


Joined: 12/04/2009
Posts: 103

Message Posted:
12/04/2010 20:29

Tomorrows technology today or yesterdays tomorrow, you pay your money and have your choice. I checked mine it is thre PRS600 and screen is excellent in sun as well as shade. I download from Essex libraries so check your own out on this. I think it will stay beeter than the Ipad inasmuch as it's size makes it attractive where the Ipad is larger and slightly more cumbersome and not so pocket friendly in carrying.



Unless you get books fro free the purchase price does not really save much on downloads say £5.99 per book best seller and would never recoup savings over the useful life of the product, you must download freebies where possible to make it effective as outlined by Mike. Per haps a new swap web site for ebooks could be launched by some young enterprising person (subject to copyright etc). Kind regards and good reading



Michael

malsancak


Joined: 23/08/2009
Posts: 2874

Message Posted:
12/04/2010 21:03

if you are confident with a PC you could use http://www.torrentz.com, type in "author ebook" e.g. "koontz ebook" and download them using utorrent. If that makes no sense then I wouldn't try it.

PoppinBar


Joined: 02/04/2010
Posts: 52

Message Posted:
12/04/2010 21:33

Can you get popular authors on ebooks, Lesley Pearse/Martina Cole, James Pattersom etc?

scoobydoo


Joined: 10/11/2008
Posts: 2434

Message Posted:
13/04/2010 06:58

I think I am going to be lucky as my mum is a member Essex libraries, so will definitely check this out (or get her to!), thank you for the suggestion.



We are definitely going to stick to the e reader, the ipad actually doesn't seem to do that well in the reviews for the e reader application due to its screen. I am not a computer person but it appears the e readers have a much better screen plus the battery life on an ipad is only about 10 hours whereas an e reader's will last much longer (up to 2 weeks depending on the amount of books and reading you do).



I also feel that however the ipad improves in the e reader stakes, there will always be e readers 'at a price' simply because the ipad is expensive.



Thank you everyone for their comments and website suggestions, and it certainly had not occurred to me to look at torrent sites for ebook downloads .... so I am off for some more searching!

trnc55


Joined: 28/11/2009
Posts: 14

Message Posted:
13/04/2010 10:56

My thoughts

Most books are available via ebooks as well , the only issue is the price- not that much cheaper if at all then paper versions. However the main point of ebooks is the ability to have a "light" ereader with 100+ of books as opposed to having the physical book. I know when I go on holiday I take 5- 6 books with me and the cost of flying with weight of handhold luggage , suit cases etc it is here the advantage comes in. WH Smiths have a ebook section, Waterstones.com etc

At the moment the differences are



- Two more formats Kindle they use their own version while other support a more open version epub. Only one version can be loaded on to a device at once. Most people are stating the epub will become the main version

- What type of books do you wish to view- novels, techie etc

- Does it need to read PDF files

- What size of memory do sit have - how many books does it support

.................

trnc55


Joined: 28/11/2009
Posts: 14

Message Posted:
13/04/2010 10:56

cont....



- Wireless - Kindle support wireless so you can search Amazon from your sun longer and down load the next book directly . Or down load to your P.C/Laptop and copy across to the ereader



- Storing the books - How easy is it to locate your books in the ereader, does it have folder as in a P.C, If you turn off the ereader and power it back on again does it open the page you left off



- Screen Size Min 6" - PLEASE NO COMMENTS



Some review sites may be helpful



http://www.ereaderguide.info/ereader_table_uk.htm



http://www.ebookreadersreview.co.uk/

stellasstar1



Joined: 02/07/2008
Posts: 1519

Message Posted:
13/04/2010 11:24

It took me a minute or two, to realise you didn't want something for weighing your excess bags on, so now I've got the hang of the thread, I now have to learn about e-books. As I don't fancy reading books off my computer, do they do them as audio books that you can plug into your computer and listen to or download and listen to? I used to really enjoy listening to audio books in England during the day if I was doing something else, and reading books when sitting still.

trnc55


Joined: 28/11/2009
Posts: 14

Message Posted:
13/04/2010 12:38

If the ereader can play MP3`s that that should be ok , but if you only want a audio player then a simple MP3 player would be better and cheaper. The kindle "I think" plays back any book should be loaded on to the kindle by default

scoobydoo


Joined: 10/11/2008
Posts: 2434

Message Posted:
13/04/2010 13:04

stellastar1,



My husband has been looking into different websites, especially after all the positive feedback from members of this forum, and found that some ereaders have an audio application. I can't remember which make as it wasn't something we were looking for but I will ask him when he comes home and if he remembers I will post the make for you (but don't hold your breath). I do know he was also looking a 'bebook as one option so it may well be this and taking into account of trnc's comments, they do support different formats which I can only consider an advantage.



It is because we live here full time that we want an ereader, you can imagine how much excess baggage I usually get charged with 35 books or so plus we are always getting friends and family to bring some for us. I don't mind that the prices, at the mo, are not cheaper that paperbacks, it is the access that is important for us



trnc55 - thank you for your useful comments, will check out these sites.

scoobydoo


Joined: 10/11/2008
Posts: 2434

Message Posted:
13/04/2010 13:38

I have just looked on a site called ahashare.com and most of James Patterson's books are on there, there is only a couple of the really new ones that are not.

TheSaints



Joined: 28/01/2009
Posts: 1369

Message Posted:
13/04/2010 16:41

Yes there are modern authors in pdf or bb format, you mentioned James Patterson I have 55 of his in pdf and many others, every Wilbur Smith, all Ian Rankin, and many many more.

If anyone wants to visit me and bring an external hard drive I can let you have loads.....

malsancak


Joined: 23/08/2009
Posts: 2874

Message Posted:
13/04/2010 17:25

It would be great if, like Extend's movie and music web access for customers, there was local ebook access. Anyone got a couple of Gb for uploads? It would have to be local to avoid legal problems. Torrents are good but direct access is better.

trnc55


Joined: 28/11/2009
Posts: 14

Message Posted:
14/04/2010 12:09

One thing you need to be aware of with PDF`s is what they call reflow and sizing. if you resize a pdf because it may be too small , does it keep its size throughout the read- some do not and the resize is per page. Though saying this , it mostly related to complicated PDF`s as in instructions manuals, technie books etc