EBook Reader recommendations

[AnnieP]

I thought as many of you will be very computer literate, and possibly like to have the latest technology..... (if you are like me )...

So my question is -

Can anyone recommend a good EBook reader?

I am after one soon. I have heard good things from my UK friends about Amazon's Kindle. Anyone have any experience of this or any other types?

Thanks

Annie

[soulman]

I've also heard good things about the Kindle. A mate got one for Christmas and loves it. Not sure if it falls within what you're looking for, but I've been reading books on an iPad recently and finding it excellent. Not quite as good as a Kindle for reading, being heavier, but the upside is you can do much more than read books on an iPad too.

[ricktas]

The iPad can also have the Kindle App loaded and you can buy from Amazon rather than from the Apple Store

[AnnieP]

The iPad can also have the Kindle App loaded and you can buy from Amazon rather than from the Apple Store

As much as I would love an iPad, I have been advised that the backlighting can really strain your eyes when reading for anylength of time. And because of this and $$$ I am not considering an iPad for now.

I do like the sound of the Sony Ereaders - particuarly the fact that they are touch screen (I've had an iPhone for too long - and love touch screens). Where as I believe the Kindle still has a small exturnal keyboard.

.... so much to consider.

[bobt]

As much as I would love an iPad, I have been advised that the backlighting can really strain your eyes when reading for anylength of time. And because of this and $$$ I am not considering an iPad for now.

My wife was on exactly the same path, and our daughter bought a Kindle. My wife bought the ipad and loaded the Kindle app. She has absolutely no problem with the Ipad as a reader, and it does so many other things as well.

A book reader is a one act toy - it does nothing but read books, and so if you would use the other things that an Ipad has you will still need another toy for other purposes.

It's a no brainer to me ... instead of having multiple gadgets, get a multi-purpose one that does lots of things. having seen the daughter's Kindle and the Ipad I wouldn't dream of just buying a Kindle.

The only benefit of a Kindle is size ... but the Ipad isn't exactly huge.

[ricktas]

As much as I would love an iPad, I have been advised that the backlighting can really strain your eyes when reading for anylength of time. And because of this and $$$ I am not considering an iPad for now.

I do like the sound of the Sony Ereaders - particuarly the fact that they are touch screen (I've had an iPhone for too long - and love touch screens). Where as I believe the Kindle still has a small exturnal keyboard.

.... so much to consider.

The iPad reader apps have a slider to adjust the strength of the screen brightness etc. I have found turning it down makes it very easy to read

[ricktas]

As much as I would love an iPad, I have been advised that the backlighting can really strain your eyes when reading for anylength of time. And because of this and $$$ I am not considering an iPad for now.

I do like the sound of the Sony Ereaders - particuarly the fact that they are touch screen (I've had an iPhone for too long - and love touch screens). Where as I believe the Kindle still has a small exturnal keyboard.

.... so much to consider.

The iPad reader apps have a slider to adjust the strength of the screen brightness etc. I have found turning it down makes it very easy to read

[Boofhead]

I have a kindle and an iPad. The kindle is a lot better if you only want to read as the screen is a lot more like paper than the iPads screen and can be read in full sun and any other lit conditions. I have a book light that I use at night and that works quite well as well.

The iPad is excellent as an all round device. I subscribe to a few magazines on the iPad which get delivered automatically and quite a saving over newsagency prices. Being full colour makes all the difference with magazines. News content is great on the iPad as well.

Hope this helps

[soulman]

I have been advised that the backlighting can really strain your eyes when reading for any length of time.

You can adjust the screen brightness. Also, reading on an iPad is the same as reading on a good computer screen which is something thousands of people do without eye strain. I've never found it a problem, though I should add that I spend a lot of time looking at a computer screen too. Kindles are really hard to read in bright or dim light because they're not backlit. Like Bob, I couldn't really see myself buying something so specialised in this day & age. If you're concerned about iPad costs, keep an eye on the AppleStore online for refurbished machines. I got a 16GB iPad 1 for about $400 just after the second one came out. For that price, they're hard to ignore.

[Jules]

I have a Kindle and I love it. I spend all day staring at a computer screen at work, so the non-illuminated screen of the Kindle really suits me. It's very easy to setup and use, and buying books from Amazon is a breeze. It also has excellent battery life - I charge it once a month (and I read a lot). The iPad can't even come close to that sort of battery life.

[AnnieP]

I have a kindle and an iPad. The kindle is a lot better if you only want to read as the screen is a lot more like paper than the iPads screen and can be read in full sun and any other lit conditions. I have a book light that I use at night and that works quite well as well.

The iPad is excellent as an all round device. I subscribe to a few magazines on the iPad which get delivered automatically and quite a saving over newsagency prices. Being full colour makes all the difference with magazines. News content is great on the iPad as well.

Hope this helps

Andrew... I think you and the others on here are going to cost me $$$$. I mainly read in bed at night, can you turn the backlighting down enough on the iPad so it's not illuminating the room like Blackpool illuminations? Other wise Mr P gets grumpy!

Also do you subscribe to any photographic mags on it .... I am getting excited now..... but who's going to tell Mr P that My birthday pressie has just increased substantially from a couple of hundred $$?


Also

[AnnieP]

I have a Kindle and I love it. I spend all day staring at a computer screen at work, so the non-illuminated screen of the Kindle really suits me. It's very easy to setup and use, and buying books from Amazon is a breeze. It also has excellent battery life - I charge it once a month (and I read a lot). The iPad can't even come close to that sort of battery life.

Jules trust you to throw a spanner in the works! I am even more undecided!

maybe I should get a kindle for birthday and an iPad from Santa....

Perhaps I should start a pole?!

[bobt]

I mainly read in bed at night, can you turn the backlighting down enough on the iPad so it's not illuminating the room like Blackpool illuminations? Other wise Mr P gets grumpy!

This is where marketing comes in ..... if you explain to Mr P how alluring a scantily clad wife can look by the light of an Ipad, then I'm sure he'll come around.

Perhaps I should start a pole?!

If you're going to start pole dancing as well you'll *never* get anything read !! Oh ...... you meant "poll"

[CherylB]

+1 for iPad! Mine arrived today and I haven't figured out how much of anything works .... but I have downloaded four different book reader apps! One thing nobody seems to have mentioned is that if you buy a proprietary book reader (eg. Kindle, Kobo, etc) there will be some limitations on which books you can download. At least with the iPad there are the different readers you can use if a particular book is "locked in" to a specific reader-type.

[AnnieP]

This is where marketing comes in ..... if you explain to Mr P how alluring a scantily clad wife can look by the light of an Ipad, then I'm sure he'll come around.



If you're going to start pole dancing as well you'll *never* get anything read !! Oh ...... you meant "poll"

Bob - 1st of all - I will never get any reading done if I market it too well - and trust me a good book always wins! !
And 2nd when I typed 'Pole' I'm thinking 'That just doesn't look right' OMG too much Sav Blanc perhaps!


But I am thinking I will go for the Kindle. And then save up for an iPad. My research shows me that with the Kindle App you can easily transfer books purchased through the Kindle on to the iPad.

Now.... white or graphite?

[Boofhead]

Andrew... I think you and the others on here are going to cost me $$$$. I mainly read in bed at night, can you turn the backlighting down enough on the iPad so it's not illuminating the room like Blackpool illuminations? Other wise Mr P gets grumpy!

Also do you subscribe to any photographic mags on it .... I am getting excited now..... but who's going to tell Mr P that My birthday pressie has just increased substantially from a couple of hundred $$?


Also

You can turn the brightness down quite a bit and also you can have white writing on a black background which is quite easy to read and doesn't seem to light the room up as much.

I have a couple of photography magazines on the iPad at the moment, unfortunately none from Australia that I have been able to find just yet. I have Digital SLR Photography from the UK and outdoor Photographer from the US of A. Quite a bit of info in both and not bad reading. I have only recently downloaded the Zinio app which is where I am getting the magazines through. They do seem to have quite a range of subjects from all over the world, we just need the Australian editions to get on board a bit more.

[mikec]

Two things no one has mentioned about iPad vs Kindle.

1. If you buy the 3G version of the Kindle you can download books anywhere in the world and not pay for the data usage. Can't do that with an iPad. This was very important to me.
2. Kindle is a lot smaller than iPad.

I bought a kindle for my upcoming 2 month trip and have been using it for close to a month, I love it.

[cam bicknell]

+1 for the Kindle.
My wife had an iPad 2 but we ended up selling it. My Kindle gets used every day.
You can get cases for the Kindle that have a little slide out LED light on the top corner and I definitely preferred the lack of backlighting on the Kindle in comparison to the iPad.
For illustrations the Kindle barely gets it done in my opinion but it's not much chop for photo based illustration.
3G is good as when someone recommends a book to you you can check it out there and then and if you like it then download it.

[kiwi]

but can the kindle:

play angry birds
play movies
sync emails, calendar and contacts
load and process raw files and post to facebook
take pictures
have skype for face to face video chat

??

[Jules]

but can the kindle:

play angry birds
play movies
sync emails, calendar and contacts
load and process raw files and post to facebook
take pictures
have skype for face to face video chat

??

Ahh, but Annie asked for recommendations on a good ebook reader, not a good multifunction device.

I think it's pretty obvious that the iPad is a great little device for all the reasons you mentioned and more. I just don't like it for reading. IMO, the Kindle is the better ereader because of its small size, weight, ergonomics, exceptional battery life and non-illuminated screen.