Do you have an ereader?

[surgtech1956]

I'm thinking about getting an ereader. I know there is the Sony Ereader, Kindle and Nook. Can anyone recommend one? Someone told me that Kindle just came out with a new updated reader.

[ny biker]

I don't have one of these and don't really know about them.

But I find this columnist in the Washington Post to be very helpful in learning about electronics and deciding which to buy:

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/fasterforward/e-books/

[uforgot]

I just got the nook. I looked at both the nook and Kindle, and I liked that I could expand the memory with the nook and also change the battery myself. That was the deciding factor for me. Not as important, I also like having a brick and mortar store in case I have problems (even though I have to travel a bit). Took me about a day to get used to it, but now I love it. You can go to Barnes and Noble and try it out, or you can go to Best Buy and try the nook or the Sony ereader. Fastdogs has the Kindle and she really likes it.
I take mine with me everywhere I go. I read reviews on all of the ereaders on Amazon and cnet. Cnet is a great resource. Honestly, I think you will be happy either way. Another thing, if I had it to do over again, I would also consider the Sony ereader more seriously. I find that there really isn't a limit on the ebooks out there. I found sourcebook (www.sourcebooks.com)s which has tons of content. This site works for nook, sony and others as well. Not sure about Kindle though.

Oh, and before anyone goes on and on about using the library, please consider that some of us live in rural areas. I exhausted my local library with it's four shelves years ago. I am currently working my way through the Jefferson City library, but traveling 45 miles to return books gets annoying.

[OakLeaf]

I have the Sony Touch - got it as a gift. I like it well enough, but apparently it's the only one with no wireless access. That's not a huge deal to me, just something to be aware of. I'd almost say that it's better off without, since you don't have the distraction you do on a fully functional computer, of always wanting to check email, TE, Facebook, the weather, etc., etc.... :rolleyes:

It's not backlit, which supposedly enhances readability in potentially glare-y environments, but it means you have to have external lighting whenever you'd have to have it to read paper. I will say that when there's adequate light, it's very readable - much more so than a computer screen.

It's really nice being able to scrawl notes in the margins, highlight pull quotes, and get back to them whenever you want.

Formatting can be an issue with books you don't buy through the Sony store, but I'm reading that the manufacturers and publishers are working on an industry standard format. If and when that happens, it should just be a flash update for all of the readers. It really doesn't make them less readable, just chapter headings, etc., can look weird.

Public domain Google books work fine on the Sony, according to my dad who reads a LOT of them that way. I haven't tried that yet. But there are a lot of books in that archive, and they're adding more all the time.

[uforgot]

I have the Sony Touch - got it as a gift. I like it well enough, but apparently it's the only one with no wireless access. That's not a huge deal to me, just something to be aware of. I'd almost say that it's better off without, since you don't have the distraction you do on a fully functional computer, of always wanting to check email, TE, Facebook, the weather, etc., etc.... :rolleyes:

It's not backlit, which supposedly enhances readability in potentially glare-y environments, but it means you have to have external lighting whenever you'd have to have it to read paper. I will say that when there's adequate light, it's very readable - much more so than a computer screen.

It's really nice being able to scrawl notes in the margins, highlight pull quotes, and get back to them whenever you want.

Formatting can be an issue with books you don't buy through the Sony store, but I'm reading that the manufacturers and publishers are working on an industry standard format. If and when that happens, it should just be a flash update for all of the readers. It really doesn't make them less readable, just chapter headings, etc., can look weird.

Public domain Google books work fine on the Sony, according to my dad who reads a LOT of them that way. I haven't tried that yet. But there are a lot of books in that archive, and they're adding more all the time.

Hey, I forgot about the backlit part. The nook and Kindle aren't backlit either. Reading a backlit screen is hard on the eyes, but these ereaders have to be used in light. Very easy on the eyes. The screens are antiglare too.

I also think the wireless part isn't really a necessity. You can always get books on your computer and transfer them to your ereader. As for surfing, well, it isn't really great . You CAN check your email and stuff, but it isn't a great experience and I only do it when I'm out and about. You couldn't really surf the web on it. I don't think the wireless part should influence anyone unless they plan on being stranded at an airport and need an emergency book! If you are like me, though, you will have 5 or 6 backed up to read anyway.

[Crankin]

Never....

[ridenread]

I have a Kindle and love it. It is not backlit thus very easy on the eyes. I got it as a Christmas present and have read 30 novels since. My husband and I both plow through books and have 6 very large bookshelves crammed with books. The Kindle is saving space, It has already paid for itself with the amount of books I typically purchase in a year.
I like that you can download the first 5% of the book as a sample to decide if you want to purchase the book. And I love that I can purchase a book anytime day or night and I have it within 60 seconds.

As uforgot mentioned , the library is not always an option for those of us in more rural areas.

[Catrin]

I have the Sony Touch - got it as a gift. I like it well enough, but apparently it's the only one with no wireless access. That's not a huge deal to me, just something to be aware of. I'd almost say that it's better off without, since you don't have the distraction you do on a fully functional computer, of always wanting to check email, TE, Facebook, the weather, etc., etc.... :rolleyes:

The newest Sony e-reader (the Daily edition - they have two models) does have wireless capabilities for downloading books/newspapers. The only caveat on downloading via wireless is that it is limited to the Sony E-store and Google Books - all other content must be downloaded via your computer. It does not have other wireless capabilities such as email/so forth, but that is not why one purchases an e-reader. I do like the ability to take notes/so forth with the Sony.

I LIKE Sony. I sold my last one, they had a model that got discontinued pretty quickly - it was the very first touch-screen version of their Digital Books. I am considering purchasing a new one to take on vacation with me - but am choking a little on the price. Especially with probably changes to my LHT in the very near future.

As far as the B&N Nook is concerned, I have yet to see one in person but I have a couple of questions. I like that it "does" color, it is the only reader out there that does. Do you find that strip at the bottom of the screen irritating/distracting? I understand that gives immediate access to your library/keyboard for searching? That is the one thing in the photos of it that I have seen which has me wondering.

Also - how is the screen of the Nook - is it reflective at all? That does decrease contrast - and what do you think of the contrast? I do like that it is less expensive than the Sony Digital Edition but right now with Sony's sale it is only $50 more expensive, and it does come with a cover and protective pouch...

I think that on my errands today I am going to have to stop by a B&N and look at one, but am leaning to staying with Sony.

[lauraelmore1033]

Kindle. LOVE it.

[uforgot]

Catrin - I read somewhere that the nook screen and the Kindle screen are manufactured by the same company. It is not reflective at all and compared to one of my student's Kindle, it looks the same. As for the color strip, I thought it would be annoying, but it goes off after about a minute, so it is just black. I don't even notice it. If you can get to a Barnes & Noble or Best Buy, it would really help you to actually see it or the Sony in action. The nook doesn't come with a cover. I think it should.

Also, you have 14 days to return your nook, and 30 to return your Kindle. They advertise this so you can try one and see if you like it. I didn't really think I would like reading a lot on these but I wanted to try one since I don't know anyone who DOESN'T like theirs. I was hooked within hours. I've seen all three:I have a student with a Kindle, I have a nook and I saw the Sony at best buy. I think I would have liked any of the three.

[Biciclista]

i guess when my generation dies out, the libraries will too. The bookstores are already dying. When I can't get a book at the library, I like to buy used books from Amazon (see, it's partially my fault) Next, when I'm finished with the book, if i can't resell it, I share it with friends and family. If no one wants it, I donate it to the library..

[OakLeaf]

Libraries are dying because their funding is drying up, not because the media are changing. Libraries evolved pretty quickly to rent/lend VCR tapes, then CDs and DVDs. If they're not already renting or lending books on copy-protected chip, they will be soon - the libraries that survive the next round of funding cuts, that is.

[PinkBike]

DH talked me into the nook, now HE uses it all the time and i just read the same book on my ipod touch (once its downloaded to our b&n acct he can have it on his nook and i can have it thru the ereader app on my ipod). the ipod touch is backlit.

i thought most of the books would be $9.99, but so far everything i've wanted has been more than that. so i'm still using the library. i got john wilcockson's "lance" book at the library--b&n wanted $20!!

but it is very convenient, anywhere you have wifi access. when you finish one book you just get another, or when you hear of a new book you can get it right away (i got the two "deadliest catch" skippers' books).

and you can lend the downloaded "book" out to a friend for 14 days! maybe we could start a share club right here!

[Catrin]

I checked out the Nook at a local store this afternoon. Nice, the screen is smaller than the newest Sony Daily Digital Reader though... that may not be an issue. I like the contrast on the Nook a little better.

I bought neither, decided this probably isn't the best of times since I have a fitting for my LHT later this week and there will probably be other expense to at least move the shifters - if not the bars and switch to a new shifting system totally. I will continue to consider it though - I DID enjoy having one around, they are useful and you don't have to worry about the size of book that you might be carrying.

[teawoman]

I've got the Kindle. I love it. My apartment is full to the brim with real books, and I can't bear to get rid of too many, so I thought I'd get the Kindle. Check out the online store(s) associated with each and the selection so that you can make sure the authors and books you like are available. I like 18th/19th century classics, and there are lots of free ones around. I'm also in Canada, and the publishers haven't quite got around to releasing some stuff I like here, like some of the Canadian Giller prize books and so forth.

The other good thing is you can download a sample chapter of a book free.

[TrekTheKaty]

I have a Kindle and love it. It is not backlit thus very easy on the eyes. I got it as a Christmas present and have read 30 novels since. My husband and I both plow through books and have 6 very large bookshelves crammed with books. The Kindle is saving space, It has already paid for itself with the amount of books I typically purchase in a year.
I like that you can download the first 5% of the book as a sample to decide if you want to purchase the book. And I love that I can purchase a book anytime day or night and I have it within 60 seconds.

As uforgot mentioned , the library is not always an option for those of us in more rural areas.

What she said. I love my Kindle. To support my local library, we donated a lot of our books and joined as members. I understand not everyone can afford it--but my kindle has paid for itself.

[7rider]

Another Kindle owner and I'm very happy with it.
Although it has 3G connectivity, I usually keep it off and the battery life is amazing.
I will be spending a lot of time on airplanes this summer, and it will be great for having something to read - without carting around books.
FWIW, most of my paper books have come from yard sales. Can't say I'm a regular at libraries.....I am a very slow reader and often sit on a book for months before I finish it. And sometimes, I'll have 2 or 3 books that I'm reading at the same time.
I have some friends who used to rent art work at their local library. They found it great, as they could change pictures in their apartment on a whim.

[surgtech1956]

Thanks everyone. I'm kind of leaning towards the Nook, I work with a gal with has a Nook and she ordered a cover/case for it that has a light. I haven't seen a Kindle yet.

[Kano]

I've got both the kindle and Barnes & Noble e-readers on my iphone.

I don't use them much yet -- I'm finishing up a stack of hard copy books. Daughter had a huge point when she said she's all in favor of doing eco-friendly stuff if it doesn't cost more than being "eco-unfriendly," and the e-readers, besides being so handy for getting the next book, are just that -- usually it doesn't cost as much to read an e-version as it does to read a hard copy version of a book.

So now when I see a book in a store that I'll want to read at some point, I take a picture of it, keep it hanging out on my iphone to remind me that it's on my "to-do" list! When I next buy some reading material, it'll be an e-book!

Nice about the e-reader is that you can travel with a pile of books, and they don't take up any more space than one book. e-reader in my phone means I don't have even that much extra stuff with me when I'm traveling! (knitting patterns, all kinds of stuff hang out in that phone! but wait! That's the other thread...)

Karen in Boise

[bambu101]

Avid reader here, and former bookstore manager.

Not interested in electronic readers in the least bit. I like the feel of a book, turning the pages, looking at the cover, and lining them up on my bookshelf. After working on a computer screen all day, the last thing I want to do is look at a Kindle. No thanks!

[Crankin]

Bambu, you just said exactly what I said to my DH on this topic!
I know it's weird, but to me, turning the pages of a book is a feeling, like pouring my coffee, picking up the cup, and taking a big drink. I love picking the book off a shelf at the library, browsing through the pages, reading the book jacket. I know you can do this on an e reader and get the same content, but it is not the same feeling or experience. I go to the library every week, just for the experience of it.
I think part of the reason I feel this way is that my work does not require me to be in contact all of the time. I generally do not use any electronic devices, unless there is no other way I can do the task. Learning to use a computer was very difficult for me, and other than the Internet (which to me is like a library), I really have to ask for help with most computer tasks. Then, I learn it, the next version comes out, and bam, I don't know what to do. None of this is intuitive to me and I don't remember how to do most of it. I can fake my way through a lot of it, but it really stresses me out; just one more thing to learn.
I think certain people are this way and it's not particularly age related. One son has a Kindle and the other trolls used bookstores and buys antique books. They are both voracious readers, so it really doesn't matter in the end.

[smilingcat]

I'm torn between yes get an e-reader and no.

I love opening the book to random page, read snipet here and there, to search for a book whose exact title I can't remember on my BIG book shelf. searching on my bookshelf is faster than searching electronically.

Sadly though, my bookshelf even 30 years ago was bigger than the wall in my living room floor to ceiling and wall to wall. I've ruthlessly trimmed down the volumes of books and still have half a wall. For some books, I think electronic version would be nice. Others, I would much prefer hard copy.

I use is a hypertext search often and something hard copy can never do... That's one advantage of e-book. What I would really like is to have the e-reader software on my netbook. Technologically, that is the direction we will see where netbooks, e-reader, smartphone will merge into one appliance.

[OakLeaf]

Oh, if all other things were equal, I'd choose paper books and magazines too.

But on a plane or train, if I can carry a small tablet instead of a great big book, I'm all for that; and for magazines that I know I'm going to read once and recycle, I'm much happier if I'm not using all that paper.

[uk elephant]

I am getting more and more tempted by the latest Sony readers. Not for recreational reading where I much prefer leafing through a paper book. But for science reading, I hate having to print out stacks and stacks of paper to read journal articles and I hate reading them on the computer. From what I understand, the latest Sony lets you highlight or add comments to pdf files? That is the kind of function I really would find useful. A device that is light and easier on the eyes than a computer, but lets you carry around loads of pdfs without breaking your back, and lets you annotate pdfs as you are reading. Now if it also had a replaceable battery, that would be even better. Then I just have to wait for it to come down in price a little, and for more of the inevitable "new technology bugs" to be worked out.

[badger]

to those who have ereaders: do you find that you read more now with the ereader than reading a book old-fashioned way? Or would you still be reading just as much if not for the ereader?

[limewave]

I definitely read more with my ereader. It is more comfortable for me to hold than a book and is less strenuous on my eyes. It's also easier to carry with me in my purse.

I do still read books. I have a great love for books, I even work at a publishing house. I never thought I would like an ereader. I was surprised at how much I fell in love with my kindle.

[uforgot]

to those who have ereaders: do you find that you read more now with the ereader than reading a book old-fashioned way? Or would you still be reading just as much if not for the ereader?

Much more. Not sure why, probably because it is always with me now. I would also like to comment on those that like the look and feel of books in the library. Is it just me? I've always found there to be an ick factor with used books. No, I'm not a neat nut, far from it. This all started when I turned a page once and there was a smashed fly!lol It's just that I always seem to have my hands on a book and I always wonder who has sneezed in it, read it in the bathroom, etc. I know money is dirty too, but I don't thumb through money while having lunch or laying in bed right before I go to sleep. I never keep used books, I always donate them or get rid of them. I like not being surprised on a page turn now. I don't believe I have ever heard this being addressed anywhere. Just my own little quirk, I guess.

[uforgot]

I definitely read more with my ereader. It is more comfortable for me to hold than a book and is less strenuous on my eyes. It's also easier to carry with me in my purse.

I do still read books. I have a great love for books, I even work at a publishing house. I never thought I would like an ereader. I was surprised at how much I fell in love with my kindle.

I was surprised too. Fastdogs kept telling me how much she loved it, and I just couldn't see it. Everyone said that as much as I read, I should get one, so I just thought I'd give it the 14 day trial. What could that hurt? No way is it going back. I can't believe how much I love it either.

[Catrin]

I am getting more and more tempted by the latest Sony readers. Not for recreational reading where I much prefer leafing through a paper book. But for science reading, I hate having to print out stacks and stacks of paper to read journal articles and I hate reading them on the computer. From what I understand, the latest Sony lets you highlight or add comments to pdf files? That is the kind of function I really would find useful. A device that is light and easier on the eyes than a computer, but lets you carry around loads of pdfs without breaking your back, and lets you annotate pdfs as you are reading. Now if it also had a replaceable battery, that would be even better. Then I just have to wait for it to come down in price a little, and for more of the inevitable "new technology bugs" to be worked out.

The last couple of versions of the Sony reader has allowed note-taking, etc. You can do this with any text, not just PDF files. Please note that the quality of the PDF on the Sony Reader has much to do with how it was originally generated. Not all PDF files on the Sony Reader are comfortable/easy to read because of formatting issues. It is this way with all three of the main e-books (Sony, Kindle, Nook) due to there not being an industry standard on how PDF files are generated. I have heard this will change, time will tell.

[7rider]

Avid reader here, and former bookstore manager.

Not interested in electronic readers in the least bit. I like the feel of a book, turning the pages, looking at the cover, and lining them up on my bookshelf. After working on a computer screen all day, the last thing I want to do is look at a Kindle. No thanks!

There's no law that says if you have an e-reader, you can't read a paper book.
I have a Kindle. And since I've purchased the Kindle, I have still purchased paper books and borrowed paper books and sat for hours with my nose in a paper book and still have several paper books on my bookshelves that I intend to read....one of these days.
And I still subscribe to paper magazines. And I still read the newspaper on the subway in the morning.
The Kindle is an alternative. It's useful for what it does and I don't regret getting it or choosing the books for it that I have.
But just as my bike will not - and cannot - completely replace my truck, my Kindle will not completely replace a paper book for me.

[badger]

I used to be a voracious reader, but now I'm lucky if I finish a book at all. And it takes me a LONG time to finish. Mostly because I'm too busy with life, or this silly thing called internet has changed how I use my spare time since I was in school.

I used to read when I was procrastinating with school work and would often have more than one novel going at the same time, too. Traveling used to be a time when I read a lot but lately I find I take my sudoku with me and end up doing that more than reading.

I was asking if you found you read more with ereader because my brain's craving to read, yet I just don't seem to find the opportunity to. I guess I just need to re-prioritize my life! :D

[shootingstar]

No e-reader yet.

At this time in life, I would consider an e-reader for myself, a luxury, not necessary. I have my computer, Internet connection etc. which is more important. I have to have this attitude 'cause am living on a tight budget.

He has just bought a Mac laptop more for his own use/biz (which replaced a old dysfunctional laptop), but I could have access if critical. (But not no need right now.)

I am noticing for myself when doing stuff in front of computer for many hrs., i'm getting a bit dry-eyed. So I can't see how an e-reader would help here.

Being a librarian, demands (in last 20 years) competency on multiple software platforms for managing information with relational database and other content mangement software, plus keeping on top of different licensed research database platforms (and software feature changes) for research and for teaching adults. Most of my jobs required teaching adults on how to use certain software that involve problem-solving and critical analysis skills. It has been really interesting to see how adults think online and express their information problem-solving skills. I like using information technology to dig through a pile of data, reduce personal paper storage, to communicate with people one could never dream of 30 yrs. ago and share info. seamlessly.

So my reasons for not buying an e-reader is not, because I dislike technology. But now reading a real book for me is even more enjoyable...for ergonomic reasons and also flexibility to take a book anywhere, browse quickly in a non-linear, yet exploratory way and scribble in it in a free-flowing, contemplative manner.

As for my reading habits, pretty slack and spotty these days. I haven't read a novel in several..years. Instead I read more non-fiction.

[fastdogs]

I love my kindle. Before, I found time to maybe read two or three books a YEAR. Now, I read two or three a month, if not more. I got a purse that it fits nicely in, and a protective cover (I think all ereaders are fragile), and it goes everywhere with me. If I have to wait a few minutes somewhere, I read my kindle.
I have used it to check email; it's not a great thing for that, but it's nice if you'd like to check it and are in a wireless area. With the new update, the battery lasts forever. I have the free kindle for PC and kindle for mac programs downloaded, but really do not like reading on the computer screen, it's hard on my eyes. The kindle screen is very easy on the eyes, and I can actually read it in the car, something I've never been able to do without getting carsick.
vickie

[Catrin]

For those of you that currently have an e-reader - do you take it with you on the bike? I have an idea that it is light enough to take out on a ramble - but obviously it would have to go in a bag of some kind or a pannier.

[OakLeaf]

It's plenty light enough to go in a backpack or messenger bag, as long as it has some kind of protective sleeve to keep the screen from getting scratched.

I haven't actually taken mine on the bike, but there's no reason you couldn't. You'd want to insulate it a little from the worst of the road vibration - make sure it's not contacting stays, etc. - but I really wouldn't worry about it. Time was, my laptops had thousands of miles on the motos with no problem, and with no moving parts, an ereader will be even less prone to vibration damage. The Sony comes with a neoprene sleeve which is plenty to insulate from scratches and vibration IMO. If you wanted a little more protection you could just wrap it in a towel or stick it in a bubble-wrap envelope.

One thing nobody's mentioned is the ability to re-size text. It's nice not to wear my reading glasses sometimes ... although after a certain font size, you start having to turn pages so often that that gets annoying, too. :o

[arielmoon]

I have a kindle and I would use it more if I saved more on new releases. If I buy a book and it is good I can send it to my sister to read and then she can take it to her used book store and exchange for more books. I cant share with the kindle!

[wackyjacky1]

Is it just me? I've always found there to be an ick factor with used books.

LOLOL! You are not alone! But there aren't many of us. One time I mentioned at work that I didn't like used books 'cause you don't know where they've been, and to this day I continue to get teased about it. (Remember that Seinfeld episode where George tried to return a book and they wouldn't take it back because they could tell he had taken it into the bathroom? :D )

Don't have an e-reader yet, but it's on my wish list. :cool:

[OakLeaf]

I have a kindle and I would use it more if I saved more on new releases. If I buy a book and it is good I can send it to my sister to read and then she can take it to her used book store and exchange for more books. I cant share with the kindle!

Sony allows you to authorize up to six devices on your account. I'd expect the other brands are the same or similar. So, if it's someone you trust, you can share books with someone who has the same brand of device, by temporarily authorizing them into your account.

I think someone mentioned the Nook has an actual lending function, that wouldn't require you to let the recipient have unrestricted access to your account.

[fastdogs]

I'd like to be able to trade or borrow books from others with ereaders as well, even if I could only trade or borrow with other kindles. They keep coming out with these free updates, maybe one of them will eventually have a trade function. I just got an update at the beginning of the year that allows it to do landscape and gave me more battery life (and the text to speech can go louder), now there is a new update we'll get that has more larger fonts, social networking options, and it looks like some sort of organizing capability. I like that I don't have to update by buying a new kindle, I just automatically get an update when one comes out!
vickie

[arielmoon]

Kindle does let you share with another kindle. My sister does not have one. I think it is 10 days and while you are lending it, it is removed from your library.

Mine was bought for me as a gift and I would not have bought one for myself. I think if I had paid for it I would be trying to get my money's worth and using it like crazy.

I like the recycling part of used books. I only keep a select few books and pass the others on because I dont like clutter. That's why it works for me :) .

[ivorygorgon]

I have been a voracious reader all of my life. I got a Kindle for my last birthday. I think most of the pros and cons have been summed here pretty well, but I can recap:

PROS:

1. I love being able get a book anytime. If I finish my book, I can just go to Amazon and download a new one immediately.

2. I love that I can get a sample. I have tried a few samples that were just "meh" so I didn't buy the book.

3. Free books!!!!

4. Saves space and trees. I have many cartons of books stored in my garage because I don't, at the moment, have bookshelves. All of those books would fit on my Kindle!!

5. I love that I can bring so many books with me at one time. Then I can read whatever I want.

6. I tend to read thick books; the Kindle is much easier to hold. No more sore thumbs!!

7. I can browse for books wherever and whenever I want. I don't have to go to the bookstore.

CONS:

1. I do miss the feel of books. The experience of turning the pages. The mystery of approaching a new tome. All of those experiences are just not there, or are not the same with the Kindle.

2. I can't share books. I recently finished 3 books that I would have loved to share with my sister. Alas, she does not have a Kindle.

3. I find it a bit hard to flip around in a book. Sometimes I like to read favorite chapters over and over. Or, I have read a few that I just wanted to skip to the ending, but found it kind of difficult.

4. I don't have to go to the bookstore. I miss it. I know I still can, but I haven't been.

[SlowButSteady]

I just got a Kindle last Thursday and I'm on my 3rd book. I catch myself trying to reach up and turn the pages.

I'm loving it.

[sandra]

2 Kindle family here. I bought myself one for a trip to Australia and then my hubby started using it so much I had to buy him his own so that I could have mine back! I never dreamed I'd enjoy it but we love them! I read more and faster than I ever did. At first I thought maybe the books must be abridged I read so fast!!!

I saw something on TV today that would be great for carrying your ereader on your bike.
http://www.skoobadesign.com/product/advanced-protection-system-wrap-medium-23/

[KnottedYet]

I'm deeply in love with reading on my iPod Touch. I never thought it would be so fabulous!
http://www.apple.com/ipodtouch/ (I got mine at Costco for $180 or so.)

I've got the app "Free Books" (I think I paid $1 for it) which is all the classics and out-of-copyright stuff I've always wanted to read. I can read black-on-white during the daytime and white-on-black in bed in the dark. If I'm on a bumpy bus or if my eyes are tired, I can zip up the font size. I've read far more on the iPod than I've been able to read real books lately.

And the amazon.com/kindle app is free, so I can buy and read Kindle books when I get tired of the free books.

The iPod fits in my pocket, so I can take it everywhere. I've had it for about 6 months now, and I've dropped it and bumped it more times than I care to admit. No problem. I do take it on the bike, since it's in my pocket during my commute.

I thought I'd still have a desire for the Kindle or the Nook (or now the iPad), but the iPod Touch meets all my needs so well for reading/media/PDA/mobile internet, that really I'm actually... dare I say it?.... content.

ETA: There is a little eye in the top margin above the display rectangle of the iPod that reads the ambient light level and adjusts the backlight accordingly, within your preset preference. I find the adjustment for pitch-dark to be too bright for my eyes, which is why I read in bed white-on-black. YMMV.

[OakLeaf]

The iPod is way too small for me to read on for any period of time - but FWIW, you can manually adjust the backlighting even when the auto adjustment is on.

[KnottedYet]

The iPod is way too small for me to read on for any period of time - but FWIW, you can manually adjust the backlighting even when the auto adjustment is on.

I know, but I'm already at the lowest setting and if I drop one more the screen goes completely dark. Bummer, eh? The white-on-black took about 3 minutes to get used to, and now I can read on it just as easily as on the sepia or white screen. I loooooove being able to read in bed without a light on, and to fall asleep with the ipod in my hand and know it turns itself off safely. (yup, I've rolled over on it as well as dropped it and bumped it into large objects. it's still ok.)

[Blue_Fedora]

I have a Nook... love it! When they were first introduced and not even shipping yet, I knew I had to have one. DH and I travel quite a bit and I'm a voracious reader. With all the relatively-new luggage weight limits for airplanes I can no longer pack as many books as I can read on a two week trip (especially if it's a cruise). Now I can download a slew of new titles and only have to carry the one device.

My best advice would be to do a little research to find out which screen you'll be able to tolerate reading on for a LONG period of time. I mean, keep in mind you typically read for a stretch of time so you need to be sure you don't experience eye-strain or headaches. Also, think about the availability of titles AND their cost.... and the ease of downloading them when you're not sitting in your own house with a ready supply of power and a steady internet connection. This comes into play when you're away on a trip and want to get yourself something new to read :)

Most of all, enjoy it!

[surgtech1956]

I've decided I want a Nook. Now, have to figure out when the budget will allow for it. Thanks for the info

[sandra]

I paid $259 for my Kindle brand new. Today they lowered the price of the Kindle to $189! That's fabulous.

[uforgot]

They lowered the nook today too. It's $199 with G3, and $149 with only wi-fi. hmmm...an e-reader pricing war?

[Zen]

No.
I have no disposable income for what i can get at the library for free

[sandra]

They lowered the nook today too. It's $199 with G3, and $149 with only wi-fi. hmmm...an e-reader pricing war?

I'm not sure what is up with Nook but I hear that the Kindle 3 is on the horizon for maybe August.

[uforgot]

I'm not sure what is up with Nook but I hear that the Kindle 3 is on the horizon for maybe August.

I wonder what the Kindle 3 will have that's different. Do you get updates for your Kindle? I received my 2nd one today. New features including going to a particular page. That was one of the big complaints. The last update was in April and that's when the nook became web enabled. I'm a satisfied customer since they seem to be addressing concerns and then sending us the fixes.

[fastdogs]

I just got an update on my kindle a couple of months ago, that improved the font, increased battery life, and added a landscape option for the screen. There is supposed to be another one coming any time (I've been leaving the wireless on), but the only change I know about with that one is more font sizes.
Now that the prices of the nook and kindle have been reduced, I'd like to talk my dad into getting an e-reader. If he got a kindle, I could register it and download a ton of military-oriented books from my kindle.
I've got a backlog of books waiting to be read, there has been a good run of free books lately.
vickie

[NoNo]

I read yesterday that Borders is going to release their own line of budget-priced e-readers, hence the other companies dropping their prices. And as someone mentioned, the new Kindle will be out later in the year. We bought dad one for Father's Day and he's beside himself. He was always a big library user, but there are times when carrying/reading a book isn't feasible. My aunt said our library has e-reader downloads, so you can still access the books for free and after whatever the due date is, it just disappears from your reader. That's pretty cool.

[surgtech1956]

With the Nook 3g/wi fi - do you have to pay for the 3g? With the 3g if I'm someplace where there isn't a wi fi, but I can use my cell phone - would the Nook work? Can I surf the web? Is the 3g worth getting? Thanks. I see the Nook wi fi is $149 and the 3g/wi fi is $199.

[uforgot]

With the Nook 3g/wi fi - do you have to pay for the 3g? With the 3g if I'm someplace where there isn't a wi fi, but I can use my cell phone - would the Nook work? Can I surf the web? Is the 3g worth getting? Thanks. I see the Nook wi fi is $149 and the 3g/wi fi is $199.

You can only use the 3g to download books and it works anywhere you have a signal. You can't use the net with it. You have to surf the net using wi-fi and it's not very easy. The part where you actually touch is the only color part and it's pretty small. If you are in a wi-fi hotspot, you are better off using a laptop to surf.

[OakLeaf]

Saw this (http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2010/06/30/library-pumping-out-tunes.html?sid=101) today and thought of the discussion here about the effect of e-books on libraries.

The story has to do with digital music - but contains this quote: "The library ... has had a steady drop-off in loans of CDs. 'Anytime you see those negative figures, that's when you start asking, 'What's the new type of service, where we can continue to grow?' [director Mary] Ludlum said." Libraries needn't be (solely) places for physical books to collect dust.

[Blue_Fedora]

Many libraries across the country are set up for patrons to "borrow" e-books :)

[sandra]

If anyone is considering pulling the trigger on a Kindle, Woot's deal today is a Kindle for $149.99. That is a great deal. I paid $249 a year ago and would do it all over again.

[Irulan]

Late to the party here. You cannot use library e-books on a Kindle. Kindle is amazon format only. You have to have a non-kindle reader for e-pubs etc. which is what the libraries offer.

[Catrin]

Late to the party here. You cannot use library e-books on a Kindle. Kindle is amazon format only. You have to have a non-kindle reader for e-pubs etc. which is what the libraries offer.

I understand there are some third party software that will convert ePub to kindle format - but of course you couldn't do this with library texts. I really do like my Sony Reader. I am sure all of the primary e-readers are good for the purpose - just different strengths and weaknesses.

[Irulan]

I understand there are some third party software that will convert ePub to kindle format - but of course you couldn't do this with library texts. I really do like my Sony Reader. I am sure all of the primary e-readers are good for the purpose - just different strengths and weaknesses.

Lo, you CAN do it with library texts. There's lots of software out there that will strip the drm off of the various formats, hack them so to speak, you just have to know where to find it and how to use it.

My point is, if you are a library user, a Kindle would be a worthless purchase. Proprietary stuff really pisses me off... if someone wants to be stuck buying books from Amazon, they can be my guest.

[GLC1968]

Actually, that's changing. Kindle owners will be able to read library books later this year:

http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=176060&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1552678&highlight=

[Irulan]

Actually, that's changing. Kindle owners will be able to read library books later this year:

http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=176060&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1552678&highlight=


Better late them never I guess.

[Miranda]

I just got the nook. I looked at both the nook and Kindle, and I liked that I could expand the memory with the nook and also change the battery myself. That was the deciding factor for me. Not as important, I also like having a brick and mortar store in case I have problems (even though I have to travel a bit). Took me about a day to get used to it, but now I love it. You can go to Barnes and Noble and try it out, or you can go to Best Buy and try the nook or the Sony ereader. Fastdogs has the Kindle and she really likes it.
I take mine with me everywhere I go. I read reviews on all of the ereaders on Amazon and cnet. Cnet is a great resource. Honestly, I think you will be happy either way. Another thing, if I had it to do over again, I would also consider the Sony ereader more seriously. I find that there really isn't a limit on the ebooks out there. I found sourcebook (www.sourcebooks.com)s which has tons of content. This site works for nook, sony and others as well. Not sure about Kindle though.

Oh, and before anyone goes on and on about using the library, please consider that some of us live in rural areas. I exhausted my local library with it's four shelves years ago. I am currently working my way through the Jefferson City library, but traveling 45 miles to return books gets annoying.

Awe, bummer...
I don't know about all libraries, but ours has inter-library loan. I can go my closest branch and they can get a book they don't have from any library in the country sent to my local branch. I get the book there, and return the book there. Also, having an account on-line with the local library, I do my searches, holds, re-newals, etc all right from the comfort of my pc at home.

OP...
I don't own an e-reader. But, I am trying to figure out what kind of adaptive reading device my mother could use. Mom unfortunately has degenerative macular eye disease and lost most of her vision. She was such an avid reader and misses it.

I used to love Borders Bookstore. However, our local store just went out of biz. So glad I don't own their version of an ereader. We have B & N. It's just bit too big for me. Doesn't feel cozy to browse. Something I used to love to do at Borders. I kinda like touching the book lol... I'd hafta figure out how to get used to an ereader... tho many peeps love them.

[Irulan]

Awe, bummer...
I don't know about all libraries, but ours has inter-library loan. I can go my closest branch and they can get a book they don't have from any library in the country sent to my local branch. I get the book there, and return the book there. Also, having an account on-line with the local library, I do my searches, holds, re-newals, etc all right from the comfort of my pc at home.

OP...
I don't own an e-reader. But, I am trying to figure out what kind of adaptive reading device my mother could use. Mom unfortunately has degenerative macular eye disease and lost most of her vision. She was such an avid reader and misses it.

I used to love Borders Bookstore. However, our local store just went out of biz. So glad I don't own their version of an ereader. We have B & N. It's just bit too big for me. Doesn't feel cozy to browse. Something I used to love to do at Borders. I kinda like touching the book lol... I'd hafta figure out how to get used to an ereader... tho many peeps love them.

Services for the blind has a free service, a player that plays a proprietary format audio tape, in a player suitable for someone with vision degeneration. My sister in law gets audio books this way. I wish I could think of the name of the organization but I am drawing a blank. It's free, also. She has used it living in several different communities.

[Grits]

I have had no interest in an e-reader because I read so many books, and I get them for free from the library. I can't afford to start paying for books, even if it is a little less than buying a hard copy or even paperback version of it. I understand, though, that that is changing and my library now is loaning e-books (for Nook).

I am in two book discussion groups, and I checked last night to see how many of the selected books for this year can be borrowed in e-book format from the library. Out of 10 books that I checked so far, 2 were available. When that ratio improves a little, I will be getting either a Nook or Kindle (if it will read E-Pub format by then) primarily for the note taking feature. I lead both discussion groups, and sometimes we discuss the book months after I have read it, so I need to take notes. Being able to highlight, copy, and annotate the book on the screen I am reading and copy that to refer to later would be so useful. I think I will seriously consider it when even half of the books are available because there are also many books that I would borrow that aren't on my discussion group list.

I anticipate that my Christmas wish list will be for either a Nook or Kindle.

[Irulan]

The company that libraries outsource their e-book management, Overdrive, does have some catalog "quality" issues. What they can get that's either public domain or available in e-format is definitely limited compared to what you can buy. But, it's getting better all the time. For example, they just added the Game of Thrones to the catalog. MY big beef is the two week loan period, with no renewal. Come on, who can read a 700 page book in two weeks, most of the time.

I do want to support the library system though...

[Catrin]

...
I anticipate that my Christmas wish list will be for either a Nook or Kindle.

Note the Sony Reader uses the epub format as its native format - this is a change from the initial offerings and therefore can also access library "loans". There is a library finder in the store for the Sony Reader that makes it easy to find your specific library.

I have hundreds of free ebooks on my Sony, or next to free. I am curious about the Nook since it does color, but I see no reason to spend money on yet another electronic reading device as long as my Sony is working.

[Irulan]

A good reader should handle different formats: epub, pdf, mobi, lit...

ecablire software will do format conversion and device transfer

Good comparison charts:


http://www.wireless-reading-device.net/ebook-reader-comparison-chart

http://www.ereadercomparisonhq.com/

[DebSP]

I have the Sony e-reader. I buy some books and borrow books from the library as well as download the free books from Google. Some one at work told me that they just bought a no name e-reader from Walmart just for library books. He said it fairly inexpensive and he likes the quality. He is our IT guy at work so I am pretty sure he wouldn't choose something that is crap. It might be worth looking into.

[Miranda]

Services for the blind has a free service, a player that plays a proprietary format audio tape, in a player suitable for someone with vision degeneration. My sister in law gets audio books this way. I wish I could think of the name of the organization but I am drawing a blank. It's free, also. She has used it living in several different communities.

:)Thanks for much for that. Kinda thought there was something out there. I got a book on tape once out of default (only format available att). It turned out to be a wonderful thing. For me, I happened to listen to it in my vehicle on errands etc. Only way I was able to finish the book. I think mom would enjoy something like that. Hafta check into that further.

[Irulan]

:)Thanks for much for that. Kinda thought there was something out there. I got a book on tape once out of default (only format available att). It turned out to be a wonderful thing. For me, I happened to listen to it in my vehicle on errands etc. Only way I was able to finish the book. I think mom would enjoy something like that. Hafta check into that further.

I am going nuts trying to remember the name of the service...

jeez, google is my friend, first entry on "books for the blind"

http://www.loc.gov/nls/

[Chile Pepper]

Late here, too, but I have a Kindle and I love it! Since I live abroad, I don't have easy access to English-language books. Kindle puts them right at my fingertips--just a click away. Love it!

[moonfroggy]

Late here, too, but I have a Kindle and I love it! Since I live abroad, I don't have easy access to English-language books. Kindle puts them right at my fingertips--just a click away. Love it!

my father and younger brother live in south america and find getting books in English difficult as well. they do not have ereaders but they find better world books is a great resource for buying paper books http://www.betterworldbooks.com/
used books good prices free shipping worldwide
i don't work for them or anything i just like better world books a lot and thought i would mention it. sometimes books are only available in print and sometimes they are cheaper that way

i really want an ereader but feel too picky about the features i want and what is available to buy one right now. what i want is a notion ink. or something with same features. waiting patiently for something to become available that is also within my budget...

[badger]

I thought I'd revive this thread, as I'm on the cusp of buying a Kindle. But there's one small part of me that thinks it's just going to end up costing me more, but I do like how I'll just be able to download a book in seconds instead of going to the library or buying one or worse yet, waiting for them to be shipped.

I pretty much disappeared off the face of the earth last week plowing through the Twilight series. I finally caved and picked it up and it just sucked me right up. But I loved remembering what it's like to be lost in the world of books and I want to keep that momentum going.

I just hated having to lug around massive tomes of books (especially since they're library books, they were hard cover).

[Titania]

Honestly, my Kindle is one of the best purchases I've ever made. I'm an avid book reader, and it was getting ridiculous how many books I had in my house. I love having instant access to anything I want, and best of all I don't have 1,000 books sitting in my house.

I also have the Kindle app for my iphone, so I constantly have my books synched between my Kindle and phone for go-anywhere reading.

[DonnaS]

Another super-pleased Kindle owner here. I bought my second Kindle last spring...the less expensive WiFi version with ads. The ads are not instrusive, more like a screensaver when the Kindle is off.

[badger]

I was speaking to a co-worker who has a Kindle, and he said that it's a bit of a pain for us as we live in Canada, and some books you can't download. Didn't think of that...

[CyborgQueen]

I'm a Nook user. When someone asks about which eReader to get...I give them all a list of pros and cons for Kindle/Nook and sometimes others.

Badger - since you live in Canada, you'll be better off getting a Kindle.

The reason why books cannot be downloaded is because of America copyright laws and publishing rights. Some are country restricted. Each country has costs when it comes to publishing/copyrights. Not much you can do about that. I'm sure there's a lot of books that are available in Europe (for example), that are not available in Americas. Same idea.

If you like the Nook, just find someone that you know and trust with America address. That's one way to get around the loop (I think if you Google search threads, you can find information on how to use a Nook other than America).

Since I've gotten my Nook, I've downloaded over 300 books (many are freebies), and it's way better than hauling them and having them added to my already 500 books collection. It was EXPENSIVE to move, just because of those books....they weigh more than my big screen TV!!

Good luck on your eReader search!! You'll love it no matter what you buy!!

[MomOnBike]

Yet another e-reader convert here. DH bought me a Kindle when I was undergoing chemo. It was nice having (at that point) dozens of books to read during chemo. I wasn't able to concentrate on any one thing for long, so having lots of choices was nice. My elder daughter helped by suggesting titles that would be OK to read, but would be easy to discard when I developed an aversion to them.

Now I use the Kindle for any situation when I will be sitting and waiting. Doctor's visits, for example.

The Kindle has also proven itself on bike overnights. It is small, light and easy to carry. I could use the Kindle function on my smarty-pants phone, but there is the battery life issue.

Yep, the Kindle is one of the best gifts DH ever gave me.

[badger]

I'm a Nook user. When someone asks about which eReader to get...I give them all a list of pros and cons for Kindle/Nook and sometimes others.

Badger - since you live in Canada, you'll be better off getting a Kindle.

The reason why books cannot be downloaded is because of America copyright laws and publishing rights. Some are country restricted. Each country has costs when it comes to publishing/copyrights. Not much you can do about that. I'm sure there's a lot of books that are available in Europe (for example), that are not available in Americas. Same idea.

If you like the Nook, just find someone that you know and trust with America address. That's one way to get around the loop (I think if you Google search threads, you can find information on how to use a Nook other than America).

Since I've gotten my Nook, I've downloaded over 300 books (many are freebies), and it's way better than hauling them and having them added to my already 500 books collection. It was EXPENSIVE to move, just because of those books....they weigh more than my big screen TV!!

Good luck on your eReader search!! You'll love it no matter what you buy!!


thanks for the input. I met another person with a Kindle yesterday and she said she LOVED it, so I'm convinced now. I'll get one next pay day, which is Friday!! :)

[Catrin]

I have a Sony Reader, the Daily edition. Expensive but it has been worth it. The Kindle would have been less expensive but I like the design of the Sony much better.

[chryss]

My partner got me a Nook when I went to the hospital to have surgery a month ago. While I'll always have paper books (and friends of mine run bookstores, which are lovely places and I want to do my share to keep them in business), there are things that I really like the Nook for:


Ease of downloading samples. I'm often hearing about a good book, look it up on the B&N site, get a free sample, and read through 15-50 pages for free getting a good feel for it before buying.
Small form factor. Very handy, easy to hold and to operate (I have the touch-screen B&W one).
Very pleasant to use and easy on the eyes.
Free ePub books and PDFs render reasonably well. Project Gutenberg ePub are very nice. PDFs can be a mess, but often are quite usable.


As another poster said, if you're outside the US, the Kindle is the better choice. I wanted to go with something that is a tiny bit more open to non-DRM books and a tiny bit less dominant market-wise, and the Nook's a nice device.

There are also other reasons to dislike ebook readers in general, such as the difficulty sharing books within one's family, copying/pasting quotes (both of these should be *easy* with electronic resources but the DRM is in the way), leafing forward/back a few pages, knowing how many pages are left in a chapter etc. Overall, I enjoy the experience as something that gets me to read in situations where I wouldn't have.

[Roadtrip]

I have a kindle... But now also have my iPad... With the Kindle app so rarely use the Kindle now. Also have the Nook app and the Overdrive app where I can borrow e-books from my iPad, which is available here I the US at certain libraries... But only on the Nook (for now.) Yes, iPad is much more expensive.

Shannon

[Catrin]

I can also borrow library books on my Sony Reader, which is quite nice.

[Caddy]

Have a nook, the original. The e-ink is a lot easier on my eyes for prolonged reading and it's very handy since I'm out of space in my condo. :o

[Bethany1]

The prices have really come down on e-readers. I have an old Nook with the bottom touchscreen. Not really impressed as it was slow to do everything and the battery life wasn't much.

I picked up a Kindle when the price went down and really like it but missed the touch screen aspect as I have an iPad. I like the e-ink format and found the new Nook to be a great buy. It's completely touch screen and super fast. Both Kindle and the new Nook fit into my purse for easy reading.

Out of curiosity I picked up the Pandigital Nova tablet (I have a thing for electronics) as it has the Android system and is great for backlighting but extremely overpriced. Since Android doesn't have a direct link to Amazon's Kindle I had to go around the back way and install it. If you truly need a tablet, there are better ones out there if you are willing to pay for them. Love my iPad.

[Irulan]

My partner got me a Nook when I went to the hospital to have surgery a month ago. While I'll always have paper books (and friends of mine run bookstores, which are lovely places and I want to do my share to keep them in business), there are things that I really like the Nook for:


Ease of downloading samples. I'm often hearing about a good book, look it up on the B&N site, get a free sample, and read through 15-50 pages for free getting a good feel for it before buying.
Small form factor. Very handy, easy to hold and to operate (I have the touch-screen B&W one).
Very pleasant to use and easy on the eyes.
Free ePub books and PDFs render reasonably well. Project Gutenberg ePub are very nice. PDFs can be a mess, but often are quite usable.


As another poster said, if you're outside the US, the Kindle is the better choice. I wanted to go with something that is a tiny bit more open to non-DRM books and a tiny bit less dominant market-wise, and the Nook's a nice device.

There are also other reasons to dislike ebook readers in general, such as the difficulty sharing books within one's family, copying/pasting quotes (both of these should be *easy* with electronic resources but the DRM is in the way), leafing forward/back a few pages, knowing how many pages are left in a chapter etc. Overall, I enjoy the experience as something that gets me to read in situations where I wouldn't have.

You can use Stanza software (free) to clean up or reformat PDFs.

[spazzdog]

kindle - love it!

[MomOnBike]

For those who fear sensory deprivation with e-readers:

http://smellofbooks.com/

That, and a nice leather cover should do nicely.

You're welcome :D

[badger]

oh, I would LOVE an iPad, however, I don't have an extra $600 in my budget for anything at the moment. My neighbours gave their 4 year old in iPad for Xmas...

[Caddy]

For those who fear sensory deprivation with e-readers:

http://smellofbooks.com/

That, and a nice leather cover should do nicely.

You're welcome :D

I got all excited, but couldn't find the actual product. Then I found this site:

http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2009/06/new-book-smell-the-smell-of-books-in-a-spray-can/

Now I am sad. Why did you do this to me?! :rolleyes:

[Irulan]

Let's not forget that you can put a reading app on a smart phone, or at least you can with an iPhone. I've been reading books on my phone for 6 months now. It's a little small but otherwise it's been great: the price is right and the software is free.

[soprano]

Love my Kindle. I always have something good to read in my purse!

Based on the features and specifications, I would rather have gotten a Sony Daily Edition. However, when I went to look at the readers in person, I found the Kindle screen to be easier to actually read from. You can adjust the size of the print, the space between the lines and how close the words are together. As it turns out, I really need that large print! I went to read a regular book a few weeks ago and gave up after 10 minutes because the print was so small.

I miss being able to share books with my husband, and I wish it were easier to flip back and forth within the book. However, since I got the Kindle, I've read more books in the past 4 months than I have in the past 4 years.

My advice to anyone who is undecided on what reader to get is to go look at them in person. Big box stores like Best Buy sell several different kinds, so you can compare them side by side.

[sandra]

We have these leather covers on our Kindles. They are a work of art and feel so good in your hands. Worth every penny and they are easy to resell and get your money back later.

http://www.oberondesign.com/

[jyyanks]

I love my kindle. I'm an avid reader and, at first, I didn't believe in an ereader. I love the feel and smell of books, I enjoy turning pages, love seeing how much I've read and how far I have to go, so I did not think an ereader was for me. I resisted for a long long time.

Then I bought an ipad. I thought I would use the ipad to read and do other things during my daily commute. However, reading on the ipad hurt my eyes and I ended up not using at all.

For Mother's Day, my husband bought me a kindle. I didn't think I would ever use it, but now I don't know how I lived without it. It's small and light so I can commute with it every day. I never run out of books to read and there are tons of free/cheap books so I am actually saving money. Additionally, when I go on vacation, I don't have to carry tons of books. I bring my kindle and that's all I need.

Will a kindle ever take the place of a real book? Probably not. I still prefer holding/reading an actual book, but it has its advantages and is useful and convenient so I'm glad I have one.

[badger]

I still REALLY want a kindle, but have put my ordering on hold because of some potential download availability/price issues in Canada. The price isn't what I would pay, either, I have to pay an additional $30 to get it shipped to Canada so it's now a $180 gadget.

I also wonder how it will be if I get it shipped to my friend's place in Washington. Will the thing know I'm in Canada, or will I not be able to download anything unless I was in the states?

[Eden]

I read on my Ipod - (I have a Touch - same basic size/shape as an Iphone, just no phone). Overdrive is a great reader as far as readability goes (and it is what our library uses), but it only reads PDF ebooks.... I've found a workaround for reading regular PDF books using a reader called Bluefire. I have to validate the books (these are library books) through Adobe Digital Editions and upload them through ITunes. It's a little cumbersome, but it works. The reader isn't as great - the text is tiny, and though you can zoom in, it doesn't reflow. I can still use it (with my glasses off....), but I fear soon I won't be able to see it without bifocals....

P.S..... I thought I would hate reading on the Ipod.... I like books and I like to find things to read by browsing the shelves and looking at the covers.... so I figured I'd never really like adapting to an E-reader, but I loooooove it... tiny book anywhere... library books any place any time, never an overdue book!

[Chile Pepper]

Another happy Kindle user here. As others have mentioned, it is hard to flip back and forth and generally navigate around the book, so I wouldn't use it for something I really wanted to study. It's great for general reading though, and it has vastly improved my access to English-language books. Shipping books down here is really expensive, but my Kindle has completely solved that problem.

[Irulan]

I read on my Ipod - (I have a Touch - same basic size/shape as an Iphone, just no phone). Overdrive is a great reader as far as readability goes (and it is what our library uses), but it only reads PDF ebooks.... I've found a workaround for reading regular PDF books using a reader called Bluefire. I have to validate the books (these are library books) through Adobe Digital Editions and upload them through ITunes. It's a little cumbersome, but it works. The reader isn't as great - the text is tiny, and though you can zoom in, it doesn't reflow. I can still use it (with my glasses off....), but I fear soon I won't be able to see it without bifocals....

P.S..... I thought I would hate reading on the Ipod.... I like books and I like to find things to read by browsing the shelves and looking at the covers.... so I figured I'd never really like adapting to an E-reader, but I loooooove it... tiny book anywhere... library books any place any time, never an overdue book!

have you tried Calibre freeware? It will convert pdfs to epub, aand others. I have done this with a lot of books. I read them with the iBooks app. ( iphone, not ipod but it should be similar)

[trista]

I have a Nook, which I chose for the ability to borrow & download library books. I really love it. I get pretty much all of my books from the library; Indianapolis library system has a huge downloadable selection, which is nice. I can borrow for up to 3 weeks.

I have the new eink Nook that came out a few months ago (traded in the white eink Nook for the new version). It is so nice - very light, small, and the battery lasts forever.

My husband has the Nook color, which I don't recommend. It's heavy and has a glare. I really like the new eink Nook.

[Eden]

have you tried Calibre freeware? It will convert pdfs to epub, aand others. I have done this with a lot of books. I read them with the iBooks app. ( iphone, not ipod but it should be similar)

Probably won't work on library books because they are drm protected.... but I'll check it out

[trista]

Our library just announced ebooks for Kindle, and it looks like every book that's an epub is also available in Kindle format - great news for Kindle users! Now it looks like you can't go wrong with either choice!

[OakLeaf]

I wish print books came with a free (or heavily discounted) e-book, the same way that print newspapers come with an online subscription nowadays. For people who read like I do - just a few pages at a time, usually, over a period of weeks - searchability is really important to refreshing my memory on plot details and minor characters. Or maybe I just have a crummy memory. :rolleyes: Either way ...

[SadieKate]

Probably won't work on library books because they are drm protected.... but I'll check it out

I must be missing something but . . .

Overdrive has ePub format and B&N Nook software is available for the iPod.
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/u/nook-for-iphone-ipod-touch/379002320/

Additionally, Overdrive says you can use ePub with this software
http://www.overdrive.com/software/omc/

[limewave]

I just started checking books out on the library on my kindle too. Free books is a nice thing.

[smilingcat]

liking my color droid tablet with 7" screen similar size to the fire but for a lot less, I'm uber happy.

Reading Kindle books, reading pdf books... I just need a manual on kindle so I can use some of the features like bookmarking and some note taking??

Not much into reading regular newspaper just don't have time. Gave up on NYT, Barrons, Wall Street Journal years ago. Lately, reading Reuters, Bloomberg... and occasionally Der Spiegel.

[ny biker]

Reviving an old thread.

As documented elsewhere, I bought a Kindle Fire HDX which up and died shortly after the warrenty expired. I recently replaced it with a Samsung Galaxy tablet, specifically the Tab S2. Now I have tons of stuff to read for work, books about database development. There are some that I can download for free in epub format, so I figured I would download them to the tablet. Last night I attempted to research the various ebook-reader apps that are available. I downloaded FB Reader and will probably also try Moon +.

But I think I am just not smart enough for all this. I can't figure out how to use FB reader for anything other than the free copy of Jane Eyre that they offered on their start page. I'm just staring at it, clicking things that don't help me at all.

I was planning to buy a programming book which is more than 1000 pages long. After reading comments on various threads here about real textbooks being more useful than e-textbooks, I figured I'd buy a combination real book plus ebook, which the publisher can save to a Dropbox account. Then I can read the real book at home but have access to the ebook from other locations. Except this plan only works if I can figure out how to actually read the damn thing on a tablet or pc.

And I just spent about an hour trying to figure out which micro SD card to buy to add memory to the new tablet. I just wanted to know which type to get so I don't end up getting something that's not compatible. First I had trouble finding the manual on the Samsung website because the model number on the tablet is only 6 characters but they expect you to choose from a list where all the model numbers are more like 12 characters long. So I finally find the right manual and it gives pretty much no information at all, just "micro SD or micro SDHC." So I do an online chat with someone at Samsung who has to transfer me to someone else who doesn't really help me. So I decide to contact tech support at the store where I bought the tablet, but I need a reference number from the receipt for that but can't find the receipt because I don't know where I put it after I returned the first one I bought and got another one because the first one didn't work. I finally find the receipt and contact them and they say I can buy pretty much anything, SD or SDHC or SDXC and don't worry about the class because anything will work. So I am going to bring the tablet to their store and buy one and put the card in the tablet right there so if it doesn't work I can return it immediately. But really this just seems more complicated than it has to be.

Meanwhile I'm trying to find out the filesize of the ebook version of the book that's more than 1000 pages long, but that was no where on the publisher's website so I had to email them. Oh and I looked at a sample of the Nook version of the book, and the layout on the code samples is all messed up, which makes the book useless. So the Nook version is not an option, and I'm not risking the Kindle version either. Which brings me to the epub version, but I can't figure out how the apps work.

Sigh.

[Catrin]

The native file type for Nook books is epub, so if it is messed up in your Nook software it likely will be messed up anyway. If you purchased the ebook directly from the publisher there may, or may not, be DRM issues - but if that was a problem then I would expect you to have had an error message directly related to that.

You may have better luck with the Calibre software - I use that to convert ebooks (without DRM protection) between my various ebook format where possible. You can use it to read ebooks, so give it a shot. BTW, I've a Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 that I use to read my Nook books these days since my Nook died and I moved on to the Kindle Paperwhite. I think sometimes there are problems with large, complex texts that a publisher has made available on epub because they don't stop to consider some the the special elements needed for an ebook environment. I mean the ability to change font size, border size, how the text flows, etc. This is why it can be dicey to convert a PDF to e-book formats as well.

Hopefully some of that helped at least a little, I share your pain on this.

[ny biker]

Thanks!

I looked for a Calibre app last night but couldn't find it. I saw a few apps that appeared to be utilities for Calibre but didn't really know what they were.

Somehow I managed to get Moon+ to open one of the free epub books i downloaded today, though i don't remember how i did it. (Yes this is an appropriate time to wonder how someone so hopeless with hardware and apps could ever do software programming. I can't explain it. :eek:) So I guess I will use Moon+ as my ereader, at least for now. I still have some Kindle books to read, so I'll use the Kindle app for that. For future non-technical books I might use Nook just because I'm still annoyed at Amazon.

Re: the Nook version of the long book I plan to buy, I looked at a sample on the Barnes and Noble site, where I saw the layout problem. Then I looked at an ebook sample on the publisher's site, and it was fine. If I buy from the publisher (O'Reilly ), I get it in several formats and they will update my copy when they make corrections. As near as I can tell, if I buy a Nook book from B&N I don't get any updates and if i don't like it then I'm SOL. So it seems worthwhile to buy from the publisher.

For my next trick, I need to open a Dropbox account. Let's hope that at least will be easy.

[Catrin]

Thanks!

I looked for a Calibre app last night but couldn't find it. I saw a few apps that appeared to be utilities for Calibre but didn't really know what they were.

Somehow I managed to get Moon+ to open one of the free epub books i downloaded today, though i don't remember how i did it. (Yes this is an appropriate time to wonder how someone so hopeless with hardware and apps could ever do software programming. I can't explain it. :eek:) So I guess I will use Moon+ as my ereader, at least for now. I still have some Kindle books to read, so I'll use the Kindle app for that. For future non-technical books I might use Nook just because I'm still annoyed at Amazon.

Re: the Nook version of the long book I plan to buy, I looked at a sample on the Barnes and Noble site, where I saw the layout problem. Then I looked at an ebook sample on the publisher's site, and it was fine. If I buy from the publisher (O'Reilly ), I get it in several formats and they will update my copy when they make corrections. As near as I can tell, if I buy a Nook book from B&N I don't get any updates and if i don't like it then I'm SOL. So it seems worthwhile to buy from the publisher.

For my next trick, I need to open a Dropbox account. Let's hope that at least will be easy.

The utilities you noticed for Calibre are usually related to moving an ebook from specific formats to others - some of the 3rd party utilities will remove DRM protection. Now that I think about it, I'm unsure if there IS an Android version of Calibre, I will have to look into that. I use it on my Windows machine the very rare times I've needed it. I've a large number of very old ebooks from a source that no longer is in business so I have to use Calibre to convert them to my ebook reader of choice.

O'Reilly has a good reputation for supporting their e-books, that is certainly the best direction for you given the technical nature of your texts. Neither B&N or Amazon will update the text when corrections are issued - at least I don't think so. Glad that you've found what sounds like your solution!

[rebeccaC]

Yeah any micro sd card will work. Micro sd vs sdhc vs sdxc is just about maximum available storage capacities, sd the lowest and xc the highest. Just figure out how much storage you want. Micro’s are also cheaper than regular cards. I’ve always used regular (not micro) sandisc 16 gb sdhc cards in my camera’s and I’ve never had problems with sandisc. I prefer not to lose 32 or 64 gb’s of photos for whatever reason, I’d go just a little less crazy losing 16 gb’s of a days photos before getting them off the card and into an external drive.

The class rating has to do with transfer rates, class 2 being the slowest and class 10 being the highest….more useful for photos/videos

Dropbox is easy to learn, i use it to share files with some of our clients.

[Irulan]

I didn't know Calibre had an app; I thought it was strictly software.
Do any of you use to manage your main library? I've always just used Windows Explorer. I get my ebooks from a lot of different sources and I can see where Cablibre's tagging and organization could be useful.

And... my big beef with public library checkouts has mostly been solved. Public libraries set the checkout period with Overdrive. Our system "expires" books after two weeks. They still don't have a renew option, but you can go and get the same book again after three days.

I've had mixed experiences with the DRM stripper used with Calibre. Format conversion is super easy. I've even fixed some f-ed up PDFs to epub conversions (format issue) with the tools in the software.

[Catrin]

Calibre is indeed available for Android phones and tablets, apparently the app on the phone connects with the calibre software on your computer. Personally I've yet to have any luck persuading my Galaxy Tab 4 to talk with my Windows 7 computer. For more info visit

calibre-ebook.com/new-in/nine.

Posting this from Tapatalk on my phone which makes links a PITA to post, sorry about the lack of one.

[Crankin]

I guess it's a good thing I don't need e books of a technical nature. I really did prefer to use printed text books while in my grad program. I know you can mark up and underline several e book formats, but for some reason I need to do this with a marker and my hand.
Dropbox was invented by a high school classmate of my older son... Sigh!

[ny biker]

I was able to read several chapters of one of the free epub books yesterday using Moon+. Then I created a Dropbox account, installed the app on my tablet and pc, uploaded some photos from the pc and viewed them on the tablet. (I had taken a bazillion photos of the Chesapeake Bay last month hoping one would be good enough to print in large size and frame to hang on the wall. I figured the super duper screen on the tablet made it the perfect way to view the photos. Unfortunately the sky looked pretty bitmappy in most of them, I guess because I was using the zoom lens on my camera. So they're nice on an 8 inch screen but not so much for 11x17 or so. Oh well.)

Later last night I had problems waking up the tablet when I wanted to use it again. I force-stopped both the Dropbox and Moon+ apps and restarted the tablet, and since then it's okay. Now I will have to try using the apps one at a time to see if either one was causing the problem or if something else was going wonky.

While I was using the tablet for reading I was keeping an eye on the battery. I want to be able to read with it during a trip later this month, so I'm hoping the battery won't die on me mid-flight. Now I'm wondering if I should look into one of those portable charging things that I've seen in stores but not paid any attention to because my phone battery still kicks a$$ even though it's several years old.

That's another thing about technology -- you think you've got everything you need, then you realize there's one more accessory. Kind of like cycling, I guess. ;)

[emily_in_nc]

Have any of you who use e-reader software ever had a problem with a book coming through mostly blank? I use my little hybrid laptop/tablet to read books (Win 8.1, ASUS T100 Transformerbook).

The library I check out e-books from used to use Blio and has recently changed to "Axis360 ebook" format, whatever that is. They made us change from using the Blio reader to Axis360, which is pretty much identical to Blio once you get past the login screen. I have had problems with books 2 and 3 in the Hunger Games trilogy using this software (don't know about the first book as I had an actual hardcopy of that one). Both books came through with only the title page, TOC, and section headers. All the text pages were blank.

I was hoping when the library changed to Axis360 the problem would be resolved, but nope, I checked them out and they are exactly the same. :(

I managed to read book #2 (Catching Fire) using Calibre and downloading a copy in ePub format through iBookPile (which I finally found online). Book #3, though (Mockingjay) is formatted oddly, with line breaks in the middle of lines, so it's difficult to read. It also has many instances of the letter "L" missing in words too! Not sure what is wrong with it, or if I am doing something wrong. I am new to Calibre so am not 100% sure what I am doing. :D

Here's the link to the books: http://www.ibookpile.com/2014/10/hunger-games-series-suzanne-collins.html

[Irulan]

If you have calibre, you should be able to fix the formatting.

Go to preferences> conversion > common options > heuristic processing. I've used this to fix a number of books with funky formatting.

[emily_in_nc]

If you have calibre, you should be able to fix the formatting.

Go to preferences> conversion > common options > heuristic processing. I've used this to fix a number of books with funky formatting.

Thanks Irulan!

I did find Heuristic Processing and checked it, but wasn't quite sure where to go from there. I played around a bit with line wrapping, (unchecked "unwrap lines" plus checked it and changed the line unwrap factor a couple of times, because that seems to be the main problem with the formatting. But that didn't seem to make any difference when I viewed the book again. Do I have to do anything else to get changes to "take"?

I'm limping through it because I am determined to read the book, but it's not ideal.

[Irulan]

I totally get your "uhhhhh now what" feeling. I don't remember exactly what I did but it worked on the file I was dealing with. Cablibre seems to have a lot of on line help articles.