Kindle, Sony, other, or not at all?

[rollfrenzy]

So I just finished taking a course that will give me $200 towards "professional development" Since in my profession (grad student) I read a LOT of .pdf files, I was thinking about getting an e-reader.

I was wondering if anyone had any thoughts on whether these are worth it, and if one brand was better/worse than the other, etc.

The only thing I absolutely have to have as a feature is the ability to load up my own .pdf files and read them.

I am willing to spend some of my own money to make up the cost, but not a lot, (the kindle 2 dx at $500 is right out).

[valadil]

One of my friends recently got one. I think she ended up with a Nook. The killer feature in her eyes was compatibility. She can check out eBooks from the local library to read on the Nook. That wouldn't have worked with another e-reader. Since you're a grad student I recommend seeing what the eBook situation in your school's library is - it may use a different format than the one here.

[rollfrenzy]

Wow, the nook looks pretty cool. Thanks. I don't have many books I need to read the main function It will be used for is reading journal articles in pdf format. Do you know if the nook can change it's display to landscape?

[Kneenibble]

Aw man, one of those for journal articles would be mint.
My place of work got a kindle to test out and it's really sexy. Its use aside, I mean also the aesthetics of the design.

Just out of curiosity, do all the different kinds employ the non-backlit screen that prevents the eye fatigue you get reading on a computer monitor?

[rollfrenzy]

The ones I have looked at do feature the "E-ink" technology that provides a stable (non-refreshing) view. the ones I have researched so far include the kindle, the sony readers, and now the Nook. I am leaning towards nook, but I need to find some objective reviews.

[Zeb The Troll]

Ooo, I would be curious about such reviews as well.

Like, does this e-ink thing really work for making it not so hard to read from one for hours and hours?

One with the ability to upload common file types would be awesome too. Alarra is often printing out long articles to read so that she doesn't have to read them on her computer. If she could do this on an e-reader instead this would be six kinds of cool.

[arguskos]

Like, does this e-ink thing really work for making it not so hard to read from one for hours and hours?
Absolutely. It's like the printed page... but sharper and clearer. Mom's got a Kindle, and it's damn crisp looking. Like, WOW. :smalleek:

You could probably read from it all day and not suffer any ill effects you wouldn't with a book.

[Zeb The Troll]

Awesome! Okay, so I just looked at Amazon's Kindle page (for the cheaper 6" one) and it says that you can upload most docs via USB (or via email if you're willing to pay the monthly fee) so that's a boon. This still begs the question though, which ereader is best for the money?

I have to admit that I like the idea of being able to download books without having to subscribe to someone's wireless plan. And Alarra's a big "I gotta get the next book in this series THE DAY it comes out" person with a handful of series, so the no-waiting thing is another plus.

*goes off to do more research*

[arguskos]

Well, I can't speak for the Nook (haven't handled it), but I've fiddled with the eReader and checked it's specs, and was unimpressed by it. I'm fairly sure the competition is betwixt the Kindle and Nook.

[ForzaFiori]

My uncle has a Kindle. Its pretty nifty. I've never even seen a Nook in person though, so no idea if one is better than the other or what. I do envy you though. I'd love to get the better part of an e-reader paid for.

[Zeb The Troll]

Notes:

nook does not support .doc or .txt files like the Kindle does.

nook has WiFi as well as 3G. Not sure how big of a deal that is, frankly, since they both appear to have the free 3G.

Not that it should matter too much, but the Nook has expandable storage where the Kindle 2 does not (but seriously, isn't 1500 books enough?).

Kindle doesn't support EPUB/eReader formats, limiting sources for books to read.

nook has the neat-o touch navigation screen at the bottom.

Kindle also supports audio books from Audible.com, nook does not.

Kindle let's you rotate from landscape to portrait; I can't find anything on the nook page to suggest that it can do this too.

Kindle is "experimenting" with text-to-speech. This means it's probably mostly unusable at this point, though.

Summary:

It depends on what's important to the reader, but they both come in at the same price ($259 USD for the 6-inch version) and they both seem to be head and shoulders above the competition, especially at that price point.

[Krade]

This would be neat, but I like having copies of my books. It feels like an actual collection. Owning every single Raymond E. Feist book (except for the new one that just came out a few days ago:smallannoyed:) is an accomplishment for me. I suppose it would be cool to have something for easy travel, but I don't think I would enjoy buying all my books twice.

[Zeb The Troll]

That's a valid consideration, but there's a point where that becomes untenable. In Alarra's case, she can easily go through two books per week. That may not sound like much, but add up 100 or so books per year (she doesn't, but she could) and you very soon start running out of space to keep them all, even if they're all paperbacks.

I see it panning out thusly...

She has a few series that she's really into. We'll buy those in hardcover A) to get them sooner and B) to have a nice copy to be able to read/loan later. The rest is filler fluff that can be managed digitally through a reader like this. This will dramatically cut down on the amount of space needed for bookshelves as well as out of pocket expense.

[purple gelatinous cube o' Doom]

She has a few series that she's really into. We'll buy those in hardcover A) to get them sooner and B) to have a nice copy to be able to read/loan later. The rest is filler fluff that can be managed digitally through a reader like this. This will dramatically cut down on the amount of space needed for bookshelves as well as out of pocket expense.

My Dad has the Sony E-reader, and has recently been buying some books for it. As he's found out, if it's a paperback you're looking to buy the only benefit is really to save space as they're the about same price as the same printed book in a store. Getting hardcovers on the other hand is where you will save they money. He hasn't used it yet, but he leaves on Sunday for a two week business trip to Holland/Dubai, and will be taking it with him. From his point of view, not having to lug 4-5 books with him on the trip will be a definitely plus. I've seen some reviews and the touch screen on whichever reader(s) have them are a negative from what I've seen. The main difference I've seen is that the Sony version isn't wireless like the Nook and Kindle, so it's if you go that route, you have to hook it up to a computer to download a book/file. Despite that, the Sony version is also the least expensive as well.

[rollfrenzy]

Wow, Thanks for the input, I think it's pretty well narrowed down to nook or kindle.

[Ichneumon]

Personally, I am going to use Apple's Ipad as a e-reader. I know it might not be the best (or cheapest) e-readers out there, and given these factors it might not be what you're looking for, but the great appeal the Ipad has for me is that you can also use it for other stuff, besides reading books. It basically is a large screen Ipod touch, which is just amazing and opens up a realm of posibilities and different uses. It's something to consider, considering you'll likely be spending at least $300 or something anyway.

Although I have to agree that some of these devices solely used for e-reading look really slender and nifty.

[rollfrenzy]

iPAD = $500 + Accessories for the basic model

This puts it well out of my price range, plus since I am getting $$ from the university, I am not sure if I can pass an iPad off as "professional development"

There is a similar Item called the ARCHOS 5 which looks pretty slick, and is around the same price point as the e-readers, but I really am looking for something with the E-INK technology since it's primary use is to get me reading all the articles I should be reading instead of posting on forums and looking at gadgets.

[Supagoof]

Personally, I am going to use Apple's Ipad as a e-reader. I know it might not be the best (or cheapest) e-readers out there, and given these factors it might not be what you're looking for, but the great appeal the Ipad has for me is that you can also use it for other stuff, besides reading books. It basically is a large screen Ipod touch, which is just amazing and opens up a realm of posibilities and different uses. It's something to consider, considering you'll likely be spending at least $300 or something anyway.

Although I have to agree that some of these devices solely used for e-reading look really slender and nifty.And there it is. I was wondering when the newest Apple product was going to make an appearance. :smallamused:

The iPad, like the iPhone or iTouch, has a Kindle app for it. So you'll get most of the features the Kindle does. The only issue is the iPad doesn't have e-ink, which is flat out easier on the eyes for long terms of reading. It does have all sorts of other features - but that's what the higher price point is.

[Erloas]

Well the other problem with the iPad is that it is an Apple product... and some people find owning any Apple product a sin.

why support unquestionable evil when you have the choice of less evil

[Ichneumon]

Well the other problem with the iPad is that it is an Apple product... and some people find owning any Apple product a sin.

why support unquestionable evil when you have the choice of less evil

Please enlighten me.:smallconfused:

[rollfrenzy]

Please enlighten me.:smallconfused:

Please don't, the Apple/microsoft/linux fanboy debates can be held elsewhere. I can't afford 300-400 dollars on top of the seed money from Miami, so the I-pad is right out anyways.

[TSGames]

Well the other problem with the iPad is that it is an Apple product... and some people find owning any Apple product a sin.

why support unquestionable evil when you have the choice of less evil

This is the reason many people I know have a plethora of Apple products. Why support unquestionable evil, indeed....

[Ichneumon]

Please don't, the Apple/microsoft/linux fanboy debates can be held elsewhere. I can't afford 300-400 dollars on top of the seed money from Miami, so the I-pad is right out anyways.

I understand completely. In your case the Ipad would be less then ideal, given you want an e-ink screen and don't care about the extra's.

However, I have really no idea why people call Apple "evil" and would like to have at least a vague idea of what it is exactly that people think makes one of the best computer companies in the world "unquestionable evil". I'm assuming it has to be more than just "creating an inferior computer/OS" or something like that.

[Zeb The Troll]

However, I have really no idea why people call Apple "evil" and would like to have at least a vague idea of what it is exactly that people think makes one of the best computer companies in the world "unquestionable evil". I'm assuming it has to be more than just "creating an inferior computer/OS" or something like that.To give an example, I heard this following quote on my news radio station (WTOP in Washington, DC if anyone cares) in reference to a request by the radio station to call in and give opinions on the iPad before it was released...


If Steve Jobs points at it, I will throw my credit card at it.

Tell me there's not something not quite right about that? :smalltongue:

[Ichneumon]

I understand the fanboy-ishness some people have with software/hardware brands, especially concerning Microsoft, Apple or various open source stuff like firefox and linux. Is that really all that is to it? :smallconfused: If so, I find it extremely exaggerated to call one evil.

[Erloas]

Its a topic that will not end quickly and should probably just be stuck with the Politics and Religion discussions because they never go anywhere and never end well.

It mostly has to do with how Apple tries to completely control absolutely every aspect of their products and how you should use them and if you don't want to use them exactly like they want you to then they will make things as difficult as possible. The extensive use of proprietary technology, and in some cases then being the first ones to dump that technology (see firewire). The way their ads lie, and not just lie like ads always do, but blatantly lie assuming people just don't know any better (which is too often the case). The things like no changeable batteries. The way overpricing of mediocre hardware and the lack of customization.
And how apparently everything they do is amazing and new despite the fact that 99% of it was done by other people well before them, and how their fans go on and on about all the great things they can do that no one else can do, but in fact lots of other companies have products that do the same things they just didn't know about it. Its a company that lives and dies by marketing, and not their products.

Well thats the short version that at least briefly covers the main points


As for the e-readers... I haven't had a chance to mess with any of them. I had thought about the Kindle before, but for me they are still too expensive for what they are, especially since you aren't saving anything on the books any more. Of course I don't do a lot of traveling and while I read fairly regularly, I don't do so voraciously so I don't go through books all that fact anyway.

[Trog]

iPadness & Evil:
First of all the iPad is rather shiiiiiny @.@ *stares at it, drooling slightly*

But the big "evil" claim lately is because all apps on the device need to meet with Apple approval before they are available on the app store.

Of course with OS4.0 being recently announced there seems to be lots more testing tools being given to developers to test their own products. Hopefully this is a step in the direction of Apple loosening the control they have over the app approval process - which they have claimed was for the good of the end user.

But I seem to recall some apps being rejected not because they didn't meet the requirements but because they contained pornography and the like. I can see the concern for, say, kids, but really that should be a parental controls setting in the device somehow that weeds that stuff out instead of OS-wide censorship.

While I like Apple's products as I have been using them, professionally, for the past 17 years (and they have their flaws like ALL other computing brands/OSes do), there is a real point in saying that they have become (in the case of their iPhone/iPad/iPodTouch OS) the evil, controlling "Big Brother" that Apple once made out other computer companies to be in their 1984 Macintosh ad.

As to the e-ink thing I have been following this technology for the past 14 years or so and it has come a long way but the real sticking point for me not getting a Kindle or what-have-you is that many out there simply do not do what I want them to yet. None of the e-ink readers have color yet. They are working on it but, again, it's not there. So that's turn off number one.

EDIT: Well that didn't take technology long. (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/click_online/8610962.stm) :smallconfused:

Number two is the high price for any of these devices for such a unitasker. :smallyuk:

So my choice out of the existing technologies would be the iPad.

[Ichneumon]

I see, thanks. In that case, I guess I'd choose for the greater evil without doubt.