[Clank007]

Hi,
I am after an E Reader but with all the choices out there could do with some advice please?

I've been told the Asus Nexus 7 is a superb piece of kit, but for a £199 price tag I'd like to be able to read on it as well as do all the other things it boasts such as watch movies etc.

I've seen my friend's bog standard Kindle - it seems to be a breeze to read off it with the Ink like display.
Does anyone read from their Nexus though or other all singing tablet at all? Is the screen so reflective as to render it hard to read outdoors, or in the evenings at home under electric lights etc?

[scooby1970]

Reading off a Nexus 7 is perfectly acceptable when in doors or out of direct sunlight, even for long periods or if you want to view comics or pictures. However, if you just want a dedicated ereader that you can comfortably use outside then a Kindle is the best bet.

Mark

[paulj48]

Also take into account battery life, an LCD tablet may last upto 10 hours on a charge where as a Kindle can last upto a month with the wifi switched off.

[scooby1970]

Originally Posted by paulj48

...Kindle can last upto a month with the wifi switched off.

That is based on 30 minutes a day believe it or not, mine is charged at least once a week or more if reading for longer spells.

Mark

[IvanIV]

I tried reading off an LCD screen of a tablet and managed a couple of minutes, not for me. I work with computer 5 days 8 hours a week, but it's quite different to read/stare at the screen without pauses, at least for me. You could be more tolerant.

[Gormond]

I have both and use the Kindle for reading as the battery life is better, it's easier on the eyes and its lighter 170g vs 340g.

Would I buy the kindle if I already owned a Nexus 7... Hmm I'm unsure

[bobcar]

Originally Posted by IvanIV

I tried reading off an LCD screen of a tablet and managed a couple of minutes, not for me. I work with computer 5 days 8 hours a week, but it's quite different to read/stare at the screen without pauses, at least for me. You could be more tolerant.

Yes an ereader with e-ink is much better for reading, it doesn't have to be a Kindle.

[NaturalDancer]

Originally Posted by Clank007

Hi,
I am after an E Reader but with all the choices out there could do with some advice please?

I've been told the Asus Nexus 7 is a superb piece of kit, but for a £199 price tag I'd like to be able to read on it as well as do all the other things it boasts such as watch movies etc.

I've seen my friend's bog standard Kindle - it seems to be a breeze to read off it with the Ink like display.
Does anyone read from their Nexus though or other all singing tablet at all? Is the screen so reflective as to render it hard to read outdoors, or in the evenings at home under electric lights etc?

I think the screen on any tablet would be fine indoors (so long as a light isn't shining directly on it, and you could easily mover when you're at home) but definitely a problem in bright sunlight - if you've ever tried to read something on your phone in bright sunlight you'll know what it's like. But how often do we get that much sun? And even then most of the time you could find some shade if you wanted to sit and read. Different I think if you're on holiday in sunny climes I think you'd struggle to sit in the sun and read.

[That Bloke]

I've got a Kindle and a Nexus 7 and there's no comparison for reading for an extended period: the Kindle (or any eInk reader) beats a backlit display hands down as far as I'm concerned. Other people may be more or less sensitive though.

More important for me is portability. The Kindle is small and light enough to sit in a jacket pocket and, with it's battery life, just be ready whenever I've got a few minutes to read.

Also, because of the low cost it means I don't really worry about it getting damaged in the same way as I would with a more expensive device. I'm happy to take it more places than I would my Nexus because it's not the end of the world if I have to replace it. Obviously, I wouldn't take it white water rafting, but I'll happily take it on nights out so I can read on the tram / tube / bus / whatever.

[NaturalDancer]

Originally Posted by That Bloke

I've got a Kindle and a Nexus 7 and there's no comparison for reading for an extended period: the Kindle (or any eInk reader) beats a backlit display hands down as far as I'm concerned. Other people may be more or less sensitive though.

More important for me is portability. The Kindle is small and light enough to sit in a jacket pocket and, with it's battery life, just be ready whenever I've got a few minutes to read.

Also, because of the low cost it means I don't really worry about it getting damaged in the same way as I would with a more expensive device. I'm happy to take it more places than I would my Nexus because it's not the end of the world if I have to replace it. Obviously, I wouldn't take it white water rafting, but I'll happily take it on nights out so I can read on the tram / tube / bus / whatever.

On nights out eh? Then do you dance with it in your pocket or put it on the floor and dance round it like we used to round our handbags

[That Bloke]

Originally Posted by NaturalDancer

On nights out eh? Then do you dance with it in your pocket or put it on the floor and dance round it like we used to round our handbags

Damn right. All been silent parties since they took the MP3 player off the basic ones though .

But I do need something to do if it's going to take a while to get there though. I get bored easily

[Lyricalis]

I have both a Nexus 7 and a Kindle. I haven't really used the Kindle for reading at home since I got the Nexus. The Kindle is still better when travelling though as the batteries last for much longer, so I don't need to take yet another cable with me if I'm only going away for a couple of weeks.

Not all hotels have wireless internet access yet, so I usually take a laptop with an Ethernet port with me to keep my options open. Having a laptop + Kindle doesn't leave much of a gap that a tablet could fill. Having said that, most hotel bars and restaurants are pretty dark, so a tablet would probably be easier on the eyes than trying to read a Kindle by candle light for those evenings when you are eating alone, thought I usually end up eating with colleagues.

[paulbrock]

Originally Posted by That Bloke

More important for me is portability. The Kindle is small and light enough to sit in a jacket pocket and, with it's battery life, just be ready whenever I've got a few minutes to read.

Well yeah, but so is the Nexus 7.

but I'll happily take it on nights out so I can read on the tram / tube / bus / whatever.

I'm too used to my N7 now... it goes everywhere my phone goes. Insured of course, and I wouldn't play with it on a night bus full of drunks or in the middle of a dark alley but it goes with me.


As to the subject at hand, I've not really used a Kindle for any length of time, but I've read through several books on my N7, perfectly good for the job.

[Arcana]

When I first loaded the Kindle app on my N7, I was so impressed that I feared my Kindle would just gather dust from then on.

However, as it turns out, I love having the option of using whichever device is most convenient. I tend to use the Kindle as my outdoor ereader because it's that bit more portable (and less valuable) and also whenever I need to conserve the N7 charge.

[reglip]

I read in the dark so i'd buy the tablet....seems a waste to get half way to buying a tablet just to buy an e reader

[LostFool]

For short term reading, the Nexus 7 is fine but if you are going to be reading for more than an hour or so at a time then I'd also get a Kindle. The Kindle is lighter, easier on the eye and you can take it away with you for a week without worrying about the battery charge.

What I also like about the Kindle is that it's just a reading device so there are no distractions from things such as incoming email or Facebook updates.

[Gormond]

Originally Posted by reglip

I read in the dark so i'd buy the tablet....seems a waste to get half way to buying a tablet just to buy an e reader

Newer e-readers including the Kindle Paperwhite and Nook Glowlight both have built in lights.

The kindle does it using optical fibers so it doesn't hurt your eyes like backlit tablets do.

If all you are looking for is an ebook reader then IMHO you wont get better than the Kindle Paperwhite.

If you however want a more generic device then go for the Nexus 7.

If you want best of both worlds then buy both

[whoever,hey]

For battery life, surely the Kindle is the winner.

If you want flexibility then Nexus 7.

[paulbrock]

I have never had a problem with backlit tablets hurting my eyes after using them too long.

[Lyricalis]

Originally Posted by paulbrock

I have never had a problem with backlit tablets hurting my eyes after using them too long.

I don't have that problem either. A lot of people do though.

[Geowitch]

I have both and haven't even downloaded any books onto the Nexus. To be honest I do most of my reading on my HTC phone as I can snuggle up in bed with it with the lights off.