E Reader advice Please

countryroad · Senior Member

E Reader advice Please

Andrea · Senior Member

countryroad wrote:
My thoughts...If you have kindle you are can only use Amazon. Maybe like ipad is only apple
<snip>

-- Edited by countryroad on Sunday 2nd of December 2012 03:14:23 PM

...and a couple of others have said similar; I beg to differ! smile

I bought a Kindle 3G (keyboard) last January from an Australian distributor, Readershop. It came with not only an Australian power adapter and a silicon cover (later replaced with a leather one), but also a dual-layer DVD with 29,700 books from the Gutenberg Project (http://gutenberg.net.au/ is the Australian site). These are books that are out of copyright, including many classics - Dickens, Wilde, Wodehouse, Shakespeare, Lawson, Paterson, Suetonius (English translation!), etc, etc. From the Aussie site you can download into Kindle (mobi) format as well as others.

It's so easy to read, despite needing an outside light source; John has spent more time reading than I've ever known him to do (he now has his own! smile ). You can read ANY text (txt) file, also any PDF file. There are also numerous other web sites that offer files for Kindle and others, many free or at minimal cost. I've also used the Amazon shop (via the Kindle; its inbuilt 3G wifi uses any 3G network available (e.g. mobile network), at no cost to you. Mostly I only need to spend $2 to $10, but often nothing at all.

Sorry if the above sounds a bit like an ad, I have no financial interest, just happen to like the Kindle. smile

Andrea

PS - I agree with Jon, not the Kindle Fire - the screen is quite different.

-- Edited by Andrea on Sunday 2nd of December 2012 06:22:59 PM

Cupie · Guru

Hi...

I have been looking at E readers for some time am unsure of the best for me.

I know that many of you have one & swear by them.

I am particularlyu interested in the Kindle Paperwhite thru Amazon (the US site I think) at $119 but the Kindle Fire looks good in that it has email capability which may be handy but I am a bit concerned at its readability in the outdoors.

I really want one for book reading, which makes me lean towards the Paperwhite model.

What do you recommend ... all views welcomed.

thanks in advance ... Graham C

Plendo · Guru

I used to use a kindle, but I found that reading it at night required me to have the light on, and yes it did restrict me to Amazon, which at the time appeared to be a problem.

I have since moved to use a tablet (Asus TF201) as an e reader (I also use it for other things as well), and I now find that I can happily read with the light off as it is backlite.

While I am no longer restricted to using Amazon, it is still the only place I source books from, having said that I am not on the road yet, and not devouring as many books as I would on the road.

Good luck with your choice.

Hylda&Jon · Guru

If you do a lot of reading then I wouldn't get a Kindle fire as it is like a computer screen so will not be kind to your eyes after long periods of use. The Kindle Paperwhite is, I believe, much like my Kindle Touch that I bought a few months ago but has a built in light (not backlit as is the Fire so should be fine to read for long periods). My Kindle Touch has what's called e ink so, is like a book to read and is very friendly on the eyes.

Those cheap $120 ones from amazon have advertising on them which you can't remove unless you pay extra so read up on it first to find out if it would bug you. )I went for the dearer one for that reason) You may prefer to buy the more expensive variety of the same model to avoid the advertising.

Cheers

Jon

Pete in Gisborne · Veteran Member

I have a Kobo touch which I really like. It is not backlit but the E-ink system is pretty good, even though you have to have light to read it. It is great outside in daylight compared to a tablet which has to be backlit to read in the dark as well as outside in daylight. Battery life is much better with a Kobo or standard Kindle because anything that has to be backlit need recharging more often. I get about three weeks out of my Kobo battery and I use it every day. Plenty of books around but are getting dearer as E-reading becomes more popular. I use a little led booklight in the caravan at night which is great.
Have fun making a choice.

Hylda&Jon · Guru

Andrea wrote:
countryroad wrote:
My thoughts...If you have kindle you are can only use Amazon. Maybe like ipad is only apple
<snip>

-- Edited by countryroad on Sunday 2nd of December 2012 03:14:23 PM
...and a couple of others have said similar; I beg to differ!
I bought a Kindle 3G (keyboard) last January from an Australian distributor, Readershop. It came with not only an Australian power adapter and a silicon cover (later replaced with a leather one), but also a dual-layer DVD with 29,700 books from the Gutenberg Project (http://gutenberg.net.au/ is the Australian site). These are books that are out of copyright, including many classics - Dickens, Wilde, Wodehouse, Shakespeare, Lawson, Paterson, Suetonius (English translation!), etc, etc. From the Aussie site you can download into Kindle (mobi) format as well as others.
It's so easy to read, despite needing an outside light source; John has spent more time reading than I've ever known him to do (he now has his own! ). You can read ANY text (txt) file, also any PDF file. There are also numerous other web sites that offer files for Kindle and others, many free or at minimal cost. I've also used the Amazon shop (via the Kindle; its inbuilt 3G wifi uses any 3G network available (e.g. mobile network), at no cost to you. Mostly I only need to spend $2 to $10, but often nothing at all.
Sorry if the above sounds a bit like an ad, I have no financial interest, just happen to like the Kindle.
Andrea
PS - I agree with Jon, not the Kindle Fire - the screen is quite different.

-- Edited by Andrea on Sunday 2nd of December 2012 06:22:59 PM

I beg to differ also.

Dick Smith have been selling Kindles for a few months now.

tcp99 · Senior Member

I started with the Kindle and found it excellent. Last month I purchased the Kindle Paperwhite which offers lighting and a white background which makes it even better. Stay away from Amazom after you buy the unit as they are a strange company. Not many know that when you buy an ebbok or itunes song you do noy own the product and they can delete it off your kindle or Ipod if they like.

If you're just reading turn the wi-fi off as it will kill the battery pretty quick.

Get your books from verywhere you can. You only need to convert them to .mobi which is the Kindle file. A brilliant free program called Calibre converts a book to pretty well any file. The evil file format is PDF which dies not convert well. Most popular files are .mobi and .epub.

A good site for free or cheap books is http://www.smashwords.com/

At the moment I have a lot of ebooks from many sources and find the portability good.

Any questions you can pm or reply.

Terry

golivers travels · Guru

I use my iPad. Bought a kobo e reader but find the iPad much more useful for travelling. Yes more outlay but you have wi fi as well as Telstra 3 G capabilities, built in maps and GPS to use for navigation, now the Camps Australia App, magazine subscriptions which are much cheaper than hard copies, and all the facilities of a computer as well. The iPad has a back light and also a night screen where you read white on black so not to disturb anyone if you are reading in bed. Also you can purchase books from many sources. Cheers Glenda

Popeye · Senior Member

Have a look at a Pico It works for me.

countryroad · Senior Member

This has been a great discussion, I'm not so keen on free books as usually I've read them or not interested, I do love Vinnies, etc for dropping off books and picking up some more.

I saw $119 Kindle advertised in a Dick Smith shop this morning...so this would be the one with the advertising I guess, how annoyed and done over would you feel if you didn't know and purchased one.

I'm looking at a tablet, trying to do the ...do I need this or maybe that would be better, something someone said turned me away from ipad.

-- Edited by countryroad on Monday 3rd of December 2012 12:04:13 PM

Oxley · Veteran Member

I currently use a kobo, but will be getting a Kobo Glo when available.

I purchase my books via google, that way they are available on my tablets and PC as well.
Downloading the the required file to load in Adobe Digital Editions is a little tricky, but I have been burnt by other big name online books stores.
And also remember to use the same email and password on all sites, as I purchased books I can no longer download because I can't remember the password or email address I used, and help from some sites is worse than dreadful.

Brenda and Alan · Guru

There are some libraries that will allow you to download books for a period of time, just like borrowing a book for real. It costs nothing. I suggest you check with your local library as mine is not big but has an agreement with a slightly larger library where I can download a number of books. It does not matter where you are in Australia - if you have an internet connection you can download.

steve1945 · Member

We both have earlier Kindles but with the free Amazon App in the iphone we mostly read from the iphone. It's always in my pocket so I can read at any time, e.g., waiting for outside the supermarket, waiting for her outside the hairdresser, waiting .......... Just kidding, but you get the message.

grumpy · Member

I bought a cheap ereader from tricky dicky quite a while ago and still use it in bed as it is so light. My main reader now is an Acer pad which I find great as an ereader as well as doing almost anything a computer can.A good site for books is feedbooks.com for public domain stuff as well as paid books in the epub format which I prefer. Also agree with Terry re evil pdf files, adobe should be boiled in oil for inflicting pdf on the world.Also dont like apple ect for locking you into their stuff only disbelief . cheers to all

MikeMin · Veteran Member

I recently purchased 2 Kindle Paperwhites from Amazon but as Amazon will not ship the Paperwhite to Australia just yet, I used a third party mail forwarder in the States called ComGateway. The original delivery time was between 5-7 weeks but I received mine within 3 weeks. The cost of each including the freight charged by ComGateway was A$134. I am rapt.

With regards to books from other sources than Amazon, use Calibre which will convert almost any format to one that the Kindle can read. eBooks.com and Books on Board are good.

Cupie · Guru

Thank you all for your great advice & for sharing your experiences. It is all very much appreciated.

I have extracted all the key information from all of the posts & now have a far greater understanding of the market & products. In fact I have a page full of information including comments on each of the options mentioned, good sites for books including the free ones, the file conversion program etc etc.

All I need to do is to make a decision & find the best priced distributor for the one that suits my situation.

Once again thanks to all for your advice ... very much appreciated.

merry XMAS .. Cupie

edit ..

PS.

Lookout Trickie Dickie & Hervey Nerd et. al. as I come shopping/browsing armed with my newfound knowledge.

It seems that my Daughter has done lots of research on e-readers too & agrees with much of what has been said by you guys.

-- Edited by Cupie on Tuesday 4th of December 2012 07:34:45 AM

Hylda&Jon · Guru

Forgot to mention this site which I used when I chose my ebook: http://ebook-reader-review.toptenreviews.com/

Cheers

Jon

Cupie · Guru

Thanks Jon. Looks like a useful site. Added to my list.

I am leaning towards a Kindle paper white, but having trouble sourcing one from within Aus, which is my preference.

cheers .. G

Hylda&Jon · Guru

Cupie wrote:
Thanks Jon. Looks like a useful site. Added to my list.

I am leaning towards a Kindle paper white, but having trouble sourcing one from within Aus, which is my preference.

cheers .. G

http://www.staticice.com.au is a handy site for searching for electrical stuff to buy.

http://www.shopbot.com.au and http://www.getprice.com.au/ are handy sites for all sorts of stuff including electrical.

I would also give Dick Smiths a ring to see if/when they are getting the Paperwhite model in.

Cheers

Jon