e-BOOK READERS: Which one is your choice..?

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11281

Message Posted:
28/06/2011 11:22

"Kindle vs. Nook vs. iPad: Which e-book reader should you buy?

A recent wave of price cuts makes it harder than ever to choose between the Kindle and the Nook - even as the more expensive iPad and other tablets beckon. What's the best choice for you? It depends."

Read this before you buy:

▶ [ http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-20009738-1/kindle-vs-nook-vs-ipad-which-e-book-reader-should-you-buy/?ttag=fbw ].

No1Doyen


Joined: 04/07/2008
Posts: 16617

Message Posted:
28/06/2011 11:38

The Kindle does everything I want it to do. I can't fault it.

Clarissa2


Joined: 12/06/2009
Posts: 1476

Message Posted:
28/06/2011 11:45

Re : Msg 2,

Do you use it though?

herindoors


Joined: 13/01/2007
Posts: 138

Message Posted:
28/06/2011 12:32

Love my kindle..over 400 books downloaded and I use it every day, but then I use it only to read books.

Bought the lighted cover too as I like to read in bed without disturbing himindoors.

flightholiday


Joined: 19/07/2007
Posts: 3217

Message Posted:
28/06/2011 12:36

I am waiting for the new technology to hit the streets - the tablet with the added benefit of the low power consumption "ink" screen so that the batteries last. (In my view too few of these devices have a restrictive battery life and you cant change the battery for a spare in case they run out of power.)

herindoors


Joined: 13/01/2007
Posts: 138

Message Posted:
28/06/2011 13:06

I charge my kindle up every 3/4 weeks which I think is great given the amount of time I spend on it. But you are right in saying new technology is getting better all the time and hopefully it will be the customers who benefit from this.

DoctorW


Joined: 28/11/2010
Posts: 334

Message Posted:
28/06/2011 13:31

I use my kindle all the time. As an ebook it is excellent, unlike a computer screen it can be seen in direct sunlight. No more carrying a rucksac full of books when I come to TRNC, just a kindle which can hold up to 3000 books. I have tried the intenet option but find this difficult to use and there is little control over what you play if you want background music. To me this is not a problem as I have an ipod and a laptop. If you want a coloured screen, internet access and mp3 player, this is not for you. However if what you want is something easy to carry, that holds all your ebooks then this is ideal. You can download kindle for PC and for Mac free from Amazon and give it a try. Batteries last 3 - 4 weeks and charge quickly. Have got the case with lights but find that I never use the light. I have also discovered loads of classics from my childhood that call all be downloaded for free from Project Gutenberg and Amazon itself.

smoggyjim


Joined: 21/07/2007
Posts: 214

Message Posted:
28/06/2011 14:31

Kindle for the wife and myself

erolz


Joined: 17/11/2008
Posts: 3456

Message Posted:
28/06/2011 14:37

I chose a Sony - PRS505 and have been happy with it to date. At the time I bought it it was considerably more 'open' than the Kidle in terms of formats it supported ditectly. I am not so keen on the newer Sony models as they are all touchscreen and this is not a feature I think adds anything to an e-reader but does reduce the screen contrast a bit.

flightholiday


Joined: 19/07/2007
Posts: 3217

Message Posted:
28/06/2011 14:41

Trevor Msg 7 Barbara Msg 6 - The same screen technology is available on one tablet (maybe more) in the States so when it becomes more readily available and better priced the Kindle and other similar e-book readers from Sony etc will have some true competition. Even better if a tablet could work for weeks!

Although we have a large library of books (there's nothing like leafing through paper) I have enjoyed using e-books for years going back to using my trusty Psion's

waddo


Joined: 29/11/2008
Posts: 1966

Message Posted:
28/06/2011 14:47

Bought an Android tablet from Tescomar for my birthday, more than an e-book reader as I can almost use it as a tablet PC as well so it has a lot of benefits. E-book reading is no problem with a selectable day/night display as well. Not much of a memory internal but up to 32Gb on an SD Micro card means I can put as many books on it as I wish and still never be able to read them all in my lifetime. Very good display (color) and the software for ebook reading that comes with it is just right for me. Millions of free ebooks available on line and currently working my way through all of Stephen King but have also downloaded 108 Dean Koontz novels yet to install - all free.



Bought it here so at £130.00 expensive compared to Kindle but still worth every penny. Plays audio books as well and only downside is battery life - but as I can not read for more than 3 hours at a time it is no problem and re charges in under an hour.

DoctorW


Joined: 28/11/2010
Posts: 334

Message Posted:
28/06/2011 15:06

As with any technology there is always something better around the corner. This being true we would never buy anything as no matter when we go to buy it will only months until a newer and better model becomes available. Personally I got my kindle last year, nothing better for what I want is here yet and even when it comes my 'old' technology will still do the job I bought it for.

flightholiday


Joined: 19/07/2007
Posts: 3217

Message Posted:
28/06/2011 15:36

Trevor Msg 12 - I agree about technology but in my case I need / want it to do what I want so am willing to wait a while.

mark&beck



Joined: 08/01/2009
Posts: 303

Message Posted:
28/06/2011 16:22

Kindle are great for the money...and loads of cheap books on ebay

waddo


Joined: 29/11/2008
Posts: 1966

Message Posted:
28/06/2011 16:27

Do you require a reading light to use Kindle in low lighting?

erolz


Joined: 17/11/2008
Posts: 3456

Message Posted:
28/06/2011 16:34

waddo, basicaly yes. Devices with e-ink screen do not emitt any light of their own, unlike LCD screens on laptops and tablets. This is, partly, what makes them use much less power and thus have better battery life. It is also why for some such screens are much more comfortable for reading text. The experience is much closer to a real book with an e ink screen, and like a real book you need light to read them.

waddo


Joined: 29/11/2008
Posts: 1966

Message Posted:
28/06/2011 16:42

erolz, thanks. Have just priced Kindle + case + light and that takes the price up another £50.00 on top of the basic Kindle price of £111.00. For that sort of money (£161.00) I think there may be better options around - happy with my android tablet for the moment but they do get warm to hold out here in the summer!

DoctorW


Joined: 28/11/2010
Posts: 334

Message Posted:
28/06/2011 17:01

Cant understand why people buy free ebooks on ebay. Go to Project Gutenberg, download them for free in kindle or other formats. That way you dont buy a disk containing thousands of books that you wouldnt bother to read. Ebay seems a great place for people to sell free stuff that they just download and put on a disk and then charge over the odds. Even Amazon have a large collection of free ebooks that you can look through and have delivered at no cost. Why make someone else rich?

mark&beck



Joined: 08/01/2009
Posts: 303

Message Posted:
28/06/2011 19:28

Msg.18



Because I like to read some books that are up to date, best sellers, auto-biographies, ect. and they are very rarely free.



When you can get all: Martina Cole, Ian Rankin, Dan Brown and many more top authors books on a disk for a couple of quid on ebay I dont see the problem.

erolz


Joined: 17/11/2008
Posts: 3456

Message Posted:
28/06/2011 19:30

Mark&Beck Dan Brown, Ian Rankin, Martina Cole and their publishers might see a problem though ;)

Dawnie1


Joined: 27/09/2008
Posts: 217

Message Posted:
28/06/2011 22:21

I have a Sony PRS 505 because as in message 9, it supported more file formats at the time of purchase. Hubby has Kindle, but I would still choose the Sony again, its a matter of preference but I dont like Kindle interface & buttons.

Look at Smashwords or Feedbooks, lots of free books there & not just the classics either. I have found many indie authors that I have loved reading that did not make it to Amazon.

I would not be without my reader.

dippersgirl



Joined: 04/05/2010
Posts: 795

Message Posted:
28/06/2011 23:06

definitely Kindle

KandF


Joined: 25/06/2010
Posts: 59

Message Posted:
28/06/2011 23:09

You can convert books to the kindle acceptable format using the "Calibre" software which is a free download so all ebooks available via this. You do have to use aPC or laptop though.

scoobydoo


Joined: 10/11/2008
Posts: 2434

Message Posted:
29/06/2011 05:46

We went for Kindle rather than Sony.



There are so many books on the internet and the fact that they hold over 3000 books, you won't ever run out of reading material on holiday.



I have used the free calibre software to change the format of some books so that my Kindle can read them and it is so easy.



I liked the fact that I can get on the internet with the 3G version to do my banking and pick up my emails whilst on holiday without having to go into an internet cafe (which I hate doing when accessing my bank accounts).



I would like to thank those on this board who helped me when I was researching which to buy as this is definitely one of the best buys I have ever made and it is already paying for itself as I have just come back from UK and normally get charged £40 'ish for excess baggage for all the books I bring back and this time ... not a gram over my weight allowance!!

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11281

Message Posted:
29/06/2011 09:04

Question: Is it possible to read e-Books on a computer (PC and Mac) - maybe after converting the format? Did anyone out there do it? Thank you for replies.

Groucho



Joined: 26/04/2008
Posts: 7993

Message Posted:
29/06/2011 09:07

Yes DC you can the Kindle comes with an app for doing so...

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11281

Message Posted:
29/06/2011 09:11

@ msg 26, Groucho: Thanks! Another question: Which are good sites to download serious e-Books (does anyone know where to download history e-Books?)?

Groucho



Joined: 26/04/2008
Posts: 7993

Message Posted:
29/06/2011 09:19

Using the free app Calibre you can convert just about anything to e-book format. Obviously the Guttenberg Project

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

is a good starting point for history.

The world is your lobster..

Groucho



Joined: 26/04/2008
Posts: 7993

Message Posted:
29/06/2011 09:23

http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/search.html/?default_prefix=author_id&sort_order=downloads&query=796



Take a look...

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11281

Message Posted:
29/06/2011 09:25

@ msg 25 & 26: Just received a message from Holland: "To read e-Books on a PC or Mac computer: use the free software programme Stanza". Only have to check now for the better one: Calibre or Stanza!

Groucho



Joined: 26/04/2008
Posts: 7993

Message Posted:
29/06/2011 10:05

Kindle comes with 'Kindle for PC', Calibre is useful for putting some of the more esoteric formats into ones your kindle will be able to handle so that the formatting looks 'book-like'.

waddo


Joined: 29/11/2008
Posts: 1966

Message Posted:
29/06/2011 11:30

Han's, tried to email you some info but got this back:



Technical details of permanent failure:

Google tried to deliver your message, but it was rejected by the recipient domain. We recommend contacting the other email provider for further information about the cause of this error. The error that the other server returned was: 550 550 Message contained unsafe content (winnow.botnet.ff.trojans.3793.UNOFFICIAL) (state 18).



Have scanned whole message and attachment and found nothing wrong and googled the error and can find no useful information on it at all - any clues as I have an ebook (PDF) attachment to my original email that I sent you and that is clean as well?

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11281

Message Posted:
29/06/2011 11:48

@ msg 32, waddo: Please try mcf.trnc@gmail.com . I'll read the message on the server and will check the attachment for malware (Trojan?) when I download it. Thanks!

flightholiday


Joined: 19/07/2007
Posts: 3217

Message Posted:
29/06/2011 12:04

I know I'm off subject but how nice 33 messages and all helping each other with no dramas or fights. Just points of view and assistance. This must be a record on Cyprus44 in recent times.

Groucho



Joined: 26/04/2008
Posts: 7993

Message Posted:
29/06/2011 12:22

"no dramas or fights"

No violent books then!

waddo


Joined: 29/11/2008
Posts: 1966

Message Posted:
29/06/2011 12:23

Han's



On its way.

flightholiday


Joined: 19/07/2007
Posts: 3217

Message Posted:
29/06/2011 12:26

Msg 35 - Now Now Gavin, might be some books for and about loonies out there and they might kindle a passion or two but so did does Mills & Boone even Victor Golancz

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11281

Message Posted:
29/06/2011 12:41

@ msg 36, waddo: eMail received, attachment is malware free. Thanks!

cyprusairsoft



Joined: 22/06/2009
Posts: 2066

Message Posted:
29/06/2011 13:01

do e book readers have the tech know how to read back text for the hard of sight?



this would be usefull for some people who are partial sighted or blind

erolz


Joined: 17/11/2008
Posts: 3456

Message Posted:
29/06/2011 13:12

Cyprusairsoft, yes most do have some form of 'text to speech' functionality. Most also have means to increase the text size within given ranges. To be honest I have not tired the text to sppech functions on my e reader, but I have no doubt they are similar to the ones found in windows, the speech is not very natural, similar to 'stephen hawkins' if you know what I mean. Most will also allow you to use them as standard audio players which could hold 'real' audio books (ones where an actor has read the book out and its been recorded), but these will take up much more storage space than a text book and you probably better off with a dedicate audio player device like ipod for this kind of content.

erolz


Joined: 17/11/2008
Posts: 3456

Message Posted:
29/06/2011 13:19

There are u-tube videos here that shows the text to speech function on a kindle. THis one gives you an idea of how it sounds (on kindle 3)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q39vP43yzjo&feature=related

Not as bad as I thought it might be to be honest.



Another video here talking about the text to speech functions on kindle , rather than just playing them.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5E5lBZ0BQuY

herindoors


Joined: 13/01/2007
Posts: 138

Message Posted:
29/06/2011 14:15

Sometimes I use the text to speech function on my kindle when i,m being lazy and it does take some getting used to as its a robotic voice. Some books are also unable to have this function. The size of font facility is great. I left my glasses at home when I went to the beach, no problem, just adjust font size.

rcroton


Joined: 05/06/2008
Posts: 192

Message Posted:
29/06/2011 15:27

IPAD any day of the week, the educational animated books for kids are simply the best, Aduts books ok. If board then watch a movie or browse the internet.

blade


Joined: 19/06/2010
Posts: 1286

Message Posted:
29/06/2011 17:05

I think if you want to spend money it has to be the Ipad.

We have a Sony 350 pocket and find that great, no lock in's ect. Great battery life , small , touch screen and lightweight. Good value for money.

We use the http://www.warez-bb.org , website for books for free.



Sony later this year i believe are bringing out something to rival the Ipad, so it may be worth waiting a bit.

scoobydoo


Joined: 10/11/2008
Posts: 2434

Message Posted:
30/06/2011 08:26

Msg 44;



Blade,



How do I become a member of http://www.warez-bb.org ?



I cannot read the e books until I become a member.

cyprusairsoft



Joined: 22/06/2009
Posts: 2066

Message Posted:
30/06/2011 11:36

good info thanks for that

Bondy


Joined: 10/04/2011
Posts: 17

Message Posted:
30/06/2011 11:41

For free books on Amazon just go into the kindle book section and put -domain in the search box and all the books that come up are free.



Ernie

Cyprusquest


Joined: 09/12/2008
Posts: 428

Message Posted:
30/06/2011 12:27

Bondy that's really useful and easy thanks

blade


Joined: 19/06/2010
Posts: 1286

Message Posted:
30/06/2011 15:32

Scooby,

You just have to register. It may take a while, it did for me. Once in there is loads of books, music and films.