OK - you have been so helpful in the past and I am asking for our thoughts again.

I have my Laptop so all set up for 'normal' operations and it is portable around the house. Now I take my 93 year old Mum to library and she is moaning all the time e.g. 'read that, read that...' She is amazing will get through 9 books in 3 weeks. She uses her laptop for searching ancestry.

I have suggested a tablet? for days when I cannot get her to library and she has nothing to read - NO! She doesn't want one so I have thought if I get one and I offer to let her borrow it - if she has run out of books - then it might help us both i.e. me not having the pressure of a trip to library with her.

So.... I have decided to go ahead but would appreciate your help to understand difference between Kindle and Ipad - this is where my knowledge stops at the names!!

I have checked on JL and they have this one a 'New Amazon Fire HD 8 Tablet, Quad-core, Fire OS, 8", Wi-Fi, 16GB, Black'

So what I am thinking if I get something like this would it be easy to read books on it and maybe other useful applications if she doesn't want to borrow it and I have it for an 'extra' piece of equipment e.g. when I have read my library books and want something to read even whilst waiting for an appointment.

Your thoughts would be appreciated - thank you

P.S. Just looked on JL site and then size comes into it e.g. 8" or 10". What is easier to carry around and read a book on if 'mobile' e.g. hospital appts or in bed.

Update:

Would the latest Amazon Kindle Voyager - probably give me a better chance to help my Mum have a book to read on a device? It reviews seem to say £60 more expensive than 'Paperwhite' but the lighting is better and that at 93 could be very useful.

If it's for reading then an eReader is much better than a tablet.

Whether you get a Kindle or Kobo etc depends upon whether you want to be with Amazon or the rest, the actual eReaders are all pretty good. Kobo etc may be better if she wants books from the library.

I've got an old Kindle Fire HD, and it's excellent for reading on - but not so good as a general purpose tablet as too little stuff will work on it. My wife has a Kindle PaperWhite, and she's very pleased with that as well - we've also both got original Kindles, but they don't see much use these days.

The PaperWhite has much better battery life than a tablet though.

Kindle Voyage is Amazon's top of the shelf e-reader model, I think the Paperwhite should be enough. You can choose between 3G+Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi only connectivity, I'd say Wi-Fi should be enough. I'd stay away from tablets with LCD screens like Kindle Fire, given your mother's age it might be more comfortable for her to read off an e-Ink screen, it behaves like a sheet of paper. Kindle e-readers have a drawback that you can't borrow e-books from libraries, but OTOH a process of buying books on Kindle (only from Amazon) is seamless, the book is delivered hassle-free on you device within a minute of ordering a book. If you want a not Kindle, somebody else may tell you more, I currently only use a Kindle Paperwhite 3G+Wi-Fi. If you don't want to borrow library books I can only recommend it.

Thank you all - will come back and read in depth later.

But one thing that crossed my mind reading your posts - if she were to 'want' (that is the operative word) to try this - then is there any benefit from using a reader that will allow Library Books? Is it more cost effective?

I have a feeling that I may end up being the user.

It all depends on how good her library is with ebooks. Mine was useless when I last tried. Kindle has plenty of free books to suit all tastes. I use the Kindle Discussion Forum on Amazon.co.uk and Project Gutenberg. https://www.gutenberg.org/

I would also bear in mind how technically minded she is. Some people over 80 do not want to know or they have problems setting it up.

I borrow ebooks from the library from time to time and read them on a Kobo Mini. The selection in comparison to what's available at a real library is very small. It's fairly easy to borrow books, transfer them to Kobo and then return them, but not as straightforward as buying for Kindle from Amazon. Libraries usually only have one copy of a digital book so there's often a queue to borrow.

I also have one of the original Kindles, which is excellent and Amazon make it very easy to buy books. They have a Kindle Unlimited subscription service at £7.99 a month, I haven't tried it myself so don't know what the selection of books is like.

Classics are often free or very cheap from Amazon and I imagine from Kobo etc too. Also lots of daily deals and special offers.

This is all so useful. She goes for all books where there are NO telephones, anything with children, etc. She has read every Catherine Cookson, etc. Hard back is too heavy for her and that is why I did wonder if I buy an e-reader it might help for when she has read all she has in her home. (I really do find her saying out aloud 'read that, read that - why doesn't this library get more books in!' - not easy to cope with.)

I am 70 and take her out once a week to get her shopping and go for lunch. Every 3 weeks we also do the library. I am not finding carrying her 'shopping' out of my car to her flat easy now so thinking what i can do to make it easier for me. She is 'wobbly' and needs my arm and stick but she is amazing for 93 and does Killer Sudoko.

So really it is me trying to make my less stressful and less to carry. I am trying to get her to allow me to order some of her shopping on-line and this was another idea to have something for her to read if she needed it.

It is just a thought could I look at the Amazon site on my laptop to see what is available free? I will look at the links 'stud u like' has put here.

Thank you all again- I am so grateful for your help.

the be

your mum sounds amazing!! hope you find a gadget that suits her
my mum is 83 and has macular degeneration and cataracts; sadly they wont touch the cataracts because they are concerned it might disturb the macula and restart it bleeding; they wont treat that any further either
she had the RNIB books for the blind that do super large print but she found the books too heavy and wont use my kindle as she hates technology so we are a bit stuck!

glad your mum enjoys her pursuits, happy reading!

the borrowbox app allows me to download and read books from my library, not as wide a range as amazon kindle unlimited but still a good choice

Kate - thank you for your messages. It is good we are here for our Mum's but at times I am told carer fatigue is not uncommon.

Yes - my Mum is amazing and will embrace technology but will not interact with other people. Hence lonely and phones me everyday (which is good so I know she is OK or I phone her) but the ''moan' about what she can see out her flat window can be 'trying'.

So I looked at Amazon last night and free books - it seems you cannot search for an author instead you trawl through the books available. Is that correct?

I did wonder if you pay a sub does that mean you can search for an author?

I will look at the borrowbox app. can you use that on a Kindle or Kobo? (Note: Must look up what a Kobo is!)

So with all your help I am one step closer to having a new appliance for myself or if I am lucky something my Mum will embrace .

UPDATE: Just found this site which will be worth reading I think.

http://www.expertreviews.co.uk/table...aders-and-apps

Can't stop now - have to go and collect my Mum for her Library/Lunch and shopping = at least it is not raining.

Again all your feedback is so helpful - thank you.

I bought my Mum a Kobo but she managed to break it by putting something heavy on it. It is an e-reader and similar to a Kindle. You get books from the Kobo store. I use the Kobo app on my 'phone.

Should you decide to subscribe to Kindle Unlimited there is a greater choice and you can choose via author. Although there is the added nuisance that not authors are part of the scheme or only a few of their books are.

My Dad has macular degeneration as well, we used a ipod shuffle and used to download audio books on to it, worked really well for him (just so long as he didn't accidentally switch the shuffle feature on, which did happen a couple of times until he got used to the feel of it)

While not as old as your Mum I do find that I can easily re-read books because I have forgotten most of the details of a story over time.

I use a Kindle Keyboard (no longer available) and find it very good. I have never spent any money on loading it with books as I find the out of copyright books and the free ones are enough for me.

I did subscribe to a service which offered daily (or weekly) lists of new free books, and have downloaded more than I will read!

I like the idea of a dedicated e-reader much better than a tablet as it is simple to use, the screen is more restful than with a tablet or laptop, the reader is light to hold and the text size is easy to change.

the borrowbox app allows me to download and read books from my library, not as wide a range as amazon kindle unlimited but still a good choice

yes I thought of audio books and suggested them to mum but she likes to hold a book in her hand, but thanks, sounds like a good idea

I'll try and broach the subject of the RNIB books again, see if I can persuade her to give them a try...

Good luck - and maybe what worked with my Mum is also worth a try- see below.

I am pleased to report that I updated my Mum on 'my' plans to get an e reader whilst we were on our way to the library. She asked me questions and then said 'But I like holding a book' So I said there are nice covers that you can get so holding it will seem like a book without all the thickness of the pages.' She said, 'Well when you get one if you are pleased with it I will have one as well!'

So I chatted in the library and found out no problem with having to renew - it just gets removed so you need to re-order if you didn't get to the end. So I am leaning towards the library rather than being tied to Amazon, etc and charges.

Looked on JL and this model has got a good review. http://www.johnlewis.com/kobo-aura-h...abinfo-ratings

So my finger is poised on the 'buy' button. What I might do is try seeing what and how library downloads work if it will do that on my laptop before I click that button.

Stud U Like

Thank you - this is the model I think I am going for. I really do into want to be into subscribing if I can help it as my Mum likes to pay what she is having NOW and finished with. (Land line accepted.) So I don't want to add extra confusion and I think just maybe linked to the library could be a gentle transition if she goes for it.

I have just read the review and then the subscribed comments. I had decided the Kobo was definitely my choice because it seems to look more like a 'page' from a book. So thought that would suit my Mum.

Reading it in more depth this morning many comments disagreed with the author of the review as far as getting the books. So I am fluctuating again......

Step 1 - After reading comments on review I have checked availability of books on Library and they seem very limited.
Step 2 - Looked again at Kate's comments above. I think I am correct in saying she has a Kindle and can use borrowbox app to read books from library.

Question - Have I got confused here as I thought I would only be able to borrow from Library with a Kobo? In other words is having a Kindle not as inflexible as I first thought.

Note: They do seem to say KOBO has edge over 'presentation'.

1. I think that you'll find that all library content is very limited. You can see what is available by logging on to your County Library's website and following the links to the ebook catalogue.

2. Amazon use the name Kindle for both e-readers and "Fire" tablets. This can be confusing.

Kindle e-readers use a particular file format that is incompatible with library services. They are specifically aimed at book reading, are easy on the eyes and have a long battery life (weeks). The display is greyscale and booklike.

Kindle Fire tablets are like mini computers and can access library services by means of apps (programs). You can read books, listen to music, surf the internet, play games etc. etc. They have bright screens, can cause eye strain and battery life can be measured in hours. If you want to go down the tablet route there are other makes available.

3. So far as e-readers are concerned, there's not a great deal of difference between Kindles, Kobos or other makes. All of them will give you the "page from a book" experience. The choice is really down to where you want to get books from and whether you want to use your library to borrow books.

Have you actually seen an e-reader "in the flesh"? Branches of WH Smith usually have Kobos on display. Bigger branches of Tesco will have Kindles, also Currys and John Lewis.

It might help you decide on what's best for you and your Mum.

Thank you for your help. I have made a decision and going with a Kobo. Unfortunately we live in a village and it is a 'journey' to see one 'in the flesh'.

I have ordered off JL and it will be delivered to Waitrose which is just 5 miles away and I know I will get good service from them.

We live on the borders of 3 counties and discussing it with another large library (Salisbury) the assistant was very helpful and I am going to take my Mum to the nearest library in the other two counties and that way she will have access to 3 libraries i.e. Dorset, Somerset and Wiltshire.

I do agree the e-library can be limited but I think my Mum will be more amenable to still be borrowing from 'the library'. I will not have the worry if it needs to be renewed i.e. charges as it will be removed automatically.

All your thoughts and advice has been so helpful.

Any of the non Amazon (Kindle) eReaders will let you borrow library books though Kobo is a good choice.

Reading library books on a Kindle is possible but complicated and may be illegal - I'm not sure about the legality.

The important thing is to get an eReader (e-ink) and not a tablet, this is especially true since your mother reads a lot. It does my eyes in to read a lot on a tablet and is the same for a lot of people whereas an eReader is just like a book only even more convenient.