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Ebook readers
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quincemeister
09-06-2010
Hi all

I'm an avid reader and am rapidly running out of room to store my books! I'm therefore thinking of getting an ebook reader in the hope it will help me with those 'read it but won't read it again' type books (I just can't get my head around giving any books away otherwise I'd be fine!) or, alternatively, to help me see if a particular book is a book I'd like to buy and keep.

Has anyone got any recommendations please? I thought I was onto a winner with the Amazon Kindle but they aren't available in this country. I know amazon.com will ship them to this country but then you have to download books from the .com site, which obviously has an exchange rate charge each time. Also I am wary of buying from a foreign site in case there's a problem and it has to be sent back...

Any ideas, advice or recommendations are very, very much appreciated!
Graathus
09-06-2010
I have a Sony PR505, a little out of date now.

But it's a wonderful bit of kit, well worth the money and I'd buy another Sony.
IvanIV
09-06-2010
I was considering Kindle myself, I wanted the 6'' version, the other one is too big for me to consider it mobile. I did not go for the 6'' version either, because a lot of space was taken by the keyboard I did not want. Also I had a problem to find out what formats are supported. I bought Sony PRS-600 in the end. It does not have any wireless connection and has to be prepared/loaded using a Sony application on PC and an USB cable. Cons: screen reflects light so you have to hold it in certain angle if you have light sources near you. The Sony application for PC is a bit shit, but I do not use it that often, I load it once in a month or so and then just keep reading. They declare a battery life in number of pages turned, which really does not work like that and you have to charge it sooner. But no biggie, once you know. Other than that it's great, I take it everywhere with me, it does not take a lot of space in my bag. it works with a variety of formats, but PDF seems to be the fastest.to page through a book. It comes with 512MB memory, but you can buy a SD card to extend it if necessary. I did, but I hardly reached 512MB and I keep deleting most of the books from the reader and keep only few favourite books permanently on it.
JamesParkin
09-06-2010
iPad, seems to be a very competent reader at present to me

nice way to interact with the pages too
Gormond
09-06-2010
Originally Posted by Graathus:
“I have a Sony PR505, a little out of date now.

But it's a wonderful bit of kit, well worth the money and I'd buy another Sony.”

Yeah I also have one of these and would recommend it.

If you read a lot then I recommend an e-ink device but don't get one with a touch screen like the PRS-600 as the reflection from the touch screen is horrible.

I would probably recommend the PRS-300, it's got a 5" screen which will be plenty and costs about £150
Gormond
09-06-2010
Originally Posted by JamesParkin:
“iPad, seems to be a very competent reader at present to me

nice way to interact with the pages too”

The biggest problem with the iPad is the price, and LCD will give you eyestrain if you read for long periods of time.
Alcdrew
09-06-2010
Originally Posted by Gormond:
“The biggest problem with the iPad is the price, and LCD will give you eyestrain if you read for long periods of time.”

And the weight/ size of it would be like reading a big hard back book all the time.

I have been thinking about getting an ereader for quite awhile now was set on getting the Sony 505 when my wife lost her job so had to postpone it. Now I'm back looking at them getting ready to buy one and I'm not sure whether to get the 505 or the 600. There is a few others out but I think the Sony is the best. Have a look for the Calibre software to use with it though the person above that says the Sony software is bad isn't the first time I have heard that, but lots of people rate Calibre.
quincemeister
09-06-2010
Thanks for your responses, food for thought indeed!

Ironically I think it was the release of the iPad which prompted my interest in an ebook reader, but the iPad has so many other functions that I really don't need I'm pretty convinced it's the not one for me.

I'd looked at the Sony offerings before posting, so it's interesting to see a couple of people recommending Sonys. As I understand, with the Kindle you are restricted to downloads from Amazon but with Sony you are not (have I understood this right??). So, a couple of stupid questions that can only be answered by people who own them, as Sony give you all the technical stuff but not the practical stuff (!):

1. If I buy a Sony can I download from Amazon (it's usually so much cheaper!!)?
2. Are Sony ebook readers compatible with MacBooks? (not a problem if not as I have access to another Windows-based computer, but it's useful to know these things in advance...)

Thanks again for your help, it's only through forums such as this that I can get these types of questions answered so I really do appreciate it!
IvanIV
09-06-2010
It says OSX 10.4.9 or later on my box, so it should work with macs. BTW that touchscreen isn't that horrible, just find the right angle. I never bought any book off Amazon, but they are in AZW format, which is not supported by Sony readers, but there are ways to convert them to other formats (google).
purpleplum
10-06-2010
I have a sony prs-300 and i love it ! I also got a nifty piece of software that converts files so I can buy from anywhere. Although ive not bought off amazon there isnt that much variation on ebook prices with other stores. I tend to buy from waterstones as you still earn points on your card with them and the amount i buy they build up fast!

I had mine in feb for my birthday for the exact same reasons you are looking and I havent regretted it. Mine isnt the touch screen so I have no glare problems at all ( I read too and from work on the train daily with it ) and the battery life on it is long enough.

Plus you can read some lovely cheesy guilty pleasures on it and for all anyone knows you are reading Proust!
quincemeister
10-06-2010
Thanks very much for all the feedback, I've placed an order for the Sony PRS 300 and have been on Waterstones' website checking out which books I'll download as soon as it arrives!

No doubt I'll be back on here next week when I can't work out how to do something!!!

Thanks again, your advice was really helpful and very much appreciated x
purpleplum
10-06-2010
I will tell you when I set mine up it was set to show text vertically and I found it frustrating, when I changed it to horizontal it was easier to hold and, imo, feels more like a book that way. I am left handed though so im not sure if it might have a bearing on that !
quincemeister
10-06-2010
Ooooh I'm left handed too so will bear that in mind! Thanks purpleplum (oh yeah, and top tip about people thinking I'm reading something highbrow when it really really isn't heh heh heh)!
IvanIV
10-06-2010
Originally Posted by purpleplum:
“Plus you can read some lovely cheesy guilty pleasures on it and for all anyone knows you are reading Proust! ”

Aren't we all
Gormond
10-06-2010
Originally Posted by quincemeister:
“Thanks very much for all the feedback, I've placed an order for the Sony PRS 300 and have been on Waterstones' website checking out which books I'll download as soon as it arrives!

No doubt I'll be back on here next week when I can't work out how to do something!!!

Thanks again, your advice was really helpful and very much appreciated x”

You have made a good choice.

To answer your questions, the Sony Reader uses the epub format which is what everyone except Amazon use so you can buy books from almost anywhere except them.

I use my Sony Reader on a Mac but I find the Sony software pretty horrible to use be it on a Mac or PC, I recommend you use Calibre instead.
purpleplum
10-06-2010
Originally Posted by IvanIV:
“Aren't we all ”

Well, I am, of course reading Proust, but I just thought i'd mention that option for those less worthy than myself
Evenstar120
10-06-2010
I love my bebook neo e=reader. It has on board wifi, with a huge choice of file formats and I have been able to expand to 32gb storage which is more than I should need in four lifetimes. It is a delight to use.
home_alone
11-06-2010
Originally Posted by Evenstar120:
“I love my bebook neo e=reader. It has on board wifi, with a huge choice of file formats and I have been able to expand to 32gb storage which is more than I should need in four lifetimes. It is a delight to use.”


Does wifi work fully for bebook in the UK?

I've found that my kindle has full web access via wifi in the USA, but will only log into wikipedia in the UK.

Just to clarify from previous posts kindle will 'natively' accept drm free mobi, txt & pdf files via the usb connection.

However azw files are 'kindle only' & usually accessed via the wireless link.

As previously stated 'Calibre' is a great program for converting between various formats - for kindle converting lit, epub, pdb, etc to mobi for transfer via usb works really well
John_Elway
11-06-2010
Originally Posted by Alcdrew:
“And the weight/ size of it would be like reading a big hard back book all the time.

I have been thinking about getting an ereader for quite awhile now was set on getting the Sony 505 when my wife lost her job so had to postpone it. Now I'm back looking at them getting ready to buy one and I'm not sure whether to get the 505 or the 600. There is a few others out but I think the Sony is the best. Have a look for the Calibre software to use with it though the person above that says the Sony software is bad isn't the first time I have heard that, but lots of people rate Calibre.”

I also have a 505 and love it. The iPad's ebook function cannot be compared to e-ink. Battery life alone!

The 600's screen maybe touch, but they dropped a clanger with the clarity. Not as good as the 505 or 300.

Another Sony up vote for me. You made a good choice OP
Gormond
11-06-2010
Originally Posted by John_Elway:
“I also have a 505 and love it. The iPad's ebook function cannot be compared to e-ink. Battery life alone!

The 600's screen maybe touch, but they dropped a clanger with the clarity. Not as good as the 505 or 300.

Another Sony up vote for me. You made a good choice OP”

Yeah I played at the PRS-600 in Waterstones and I far prefer my PRS-505, the screen quality seemed like a giant step backwards and the touch screen on a e-book reader is a bit of a gimmick, it just makes the screen covered in finger prints.
IvanIV
11-06-2010
I have to agree, if it is about reading books, book readers are cheaper and better at that. I had a chance to use an ipad for a while and while it is pretty and all, I prefer eInk when it comes to books. Also they are smaller size (5-6'') which makes them more portable.
quincemeister
11-06-2010
OK I said it wouldn't be long...!

I've downloaded a cheapo book just to make sure I can work out exactly how to do it BUT when I come to drag it from the 'purchased' section within the Library part to the 'Reader' part it says I cannot do so as the Reader is authorised to another user. I really don't know why as I have only plugged it into this computer and put in my email address etc. Any ideas anyone please??!!

Thanks
IvanIV
11-06-2010
I haven't done this yet, but here's the manual for your reader

http://pdf.crse.com/manuals/4151151131.pdf

Go to the page 20 and follow the instructions.
IvanIV
11-06-2010
So I had to try it out What I did - went to adobe homepage, created AdobeID which was my email address. Downloaded and installed Adobe Digital Editions programme. Make sure you have your reader connected when you start the programme. It will authorise both your PC and the connected device. You can go to help->about to see if the reader is authorised. After that you should be able to drag & drop the purchased books to your reader.
John_Elway
11-06-2010
Originally Posted by Gormond:
“Yeah I played at the PRS-600 in Waterstones and I far prefer my PRS-505, the screen quality seemed like a giant step backwards and the touch screen on a e-book reader is a bit of a gimmick, it just makes the screen covered in finger prints.”

Mad isn't it!
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