I thought everyone was reading on their computers/laptops! I told dh that was terrible, my eyes get so tired. Now I'm all pumped up :) I'm a full time mom to 4 kids under 7. I often only have one hand. It's kinda hard to hold open a book with only one hand while my baby wiggles around while she's nursing and my 2yr old is climbing on my lap for cuddles at the same time.

I'm posting in the "which one to buy" forum, and in the morning I'll continue browsing the site. I'm anxious to pick one and buy! Goodnight ;)

I'm posting in the "which one to buy" forum, and in the morning I'll continue browsing the site.
Well ... It depends.
If you are from USA, the path of least resistance is to buy Sony Reader PRS505. Or perhaps Kindle, if you would like to buy e-books from Amazon with one click from a device.
If you are from Europe and you have BIG budget for getting a reader buy an Illiad.
Tell us where are you from (just continent, or a region - like North America, or Central Europe, or Australia), how are you planning to get your books, what books do you like (each reading device supports different kind of DRM), how big a budget you have ...

The advice I can give you without knowing more is just:
buy a reader with an e-ink display.

I personally have Sony Reader PRS500 and I am very satisfied.

For list of devices see
http://wiki.mobileread.com/wiki/E-book_devices
and
http://wiki.mobileread.com/wiki/E-book_Reader_Matrix
and of course Wikipedia ...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E-book_device

Welcome. And have fun with your decision :)

Hi, I'm in America, plan to use a computer to buy books, and don't care about price. I want to get what I will use. I've blocked out Kindle, but could be convinced I guess. Just don't need it's gimicks really and don't want to limited to just one source of books, even if it is amazon! I just read novels with text and no pictures. I'd like to be able to shop around for prices on books and use or convert formats so I have access to more variety. And of course it must have e-ink ;)

I'd like to be able to shop around for prices on books and use or convert formats so I have access to more variety. You have two options: a) buy MS LIT break the DRM and convert for whatever device you want, or b) buy MOBI and use Cybook or iLiad. Note that (a) can be combined with (b), so a Cybook gives you maximum flexibility. A Sony might be best with (a), but it lacks dictionary support.

Welcome to the Forum. I recently got a Sony 505 and like it a lot.

No matter which device you ultimately choose, you will be limited to one native form of DRM. With the Kindle it is AZW and with the 505 it is BBeB. But you can purchase other DRM formats and convert so you have an even larger amount of eBooks available for your soon-to-be-new-device. The tools for creating eBooks for the 505 are quite good. We have Libprs500 and Book Designer. Both do a nice job. The Kindle has Book Designer, and the Mobi tools that Tompe created as well as Mobigen. So basically, either is a good choice from the standpoint of not really being limited to one DRM format. The 505 is about $100 cheaper though.

Be aware that all this "it can be converted" they talk about, means you have to have a PC. I myself am allergic to PCs, and only believe in Macs. ;) This affected my decision about which device to purchase. [I'm waiting for a Kindle to be delivered....]

Be aware that all this "it can be converted" they talk about, means you have to have a PC. I myself am allergic to PCs, and only believe in Macs. ;) This affected my decision about which device to purchase. [I'm waiting for a Kindle to be delivered....]

I can convert just fine using my MacBook Pro. You do need Windows available (through Boot Camp, Parallels, Fusion) for some things to be doable though.

Oh now I'm confused? Isn't Mac just one brand of PC? PC = personal computer right? It did when I was growing up :o Yes, I have a dell here at home with cable internet and a dh with a computer degree so I would think I'm pretty much set for whatever comes my way.

Oh now I'm confused? Isn't Mac just one brand of PC? PC = personal computer right? It did when I was growing up :o

Grumble, grumble. Yes, PC *USED* to just mean personal computer. Sorry, but some of us Mac people are sore at the usurpation of the term. IBM kinda named theirs "PC" and now the term means "Windows computer". At least, in general usage it does.

Yes -- maybe it's time for me to get a MacBook Pro. (drool, drool...) I haven't convinced myself of the need for that quite yet (specially with unpaid furloughs and layoffs coming up at work :( ). The Kindle is enough of a splurge in today's economy. But the Kindle will probably make a dual-boot Mac be the next item on my wish list! I'd love it! (Not really *against* Windows; just against single operating system software. Ignore my mutterings!)

Oh now I'm confused? Isn't Mac just one brand of PC? PC = personal computer right?Now, Knittinfor4, it's not nice to tease the MacUsers. :grin:

Hi, I'm in America, plan to use a computer to buy books, and don't care about price. I want to get what I will use. I've blocked out Kindle, but could be convinced I guess. Just don't need it's gimicks really and don't want to limited to just one source of books, even if it is amazon! I just read novels with text and no pictures. I'd like to be able to shop around for prices on books and use or convert formats so I have access to more variety. And of course it must have e-ink ;)
Then my recomandation for you is to buy Sony Reader PRS505.

Be aware that all this "it can be converted" they talk about, means you have to have a PC. I myself am allergic to PCs, and only believe in Macs. ;) This affected my decision about which device to purchase. [I'm waiting for a Kindle to be delivered....]
But, if you want to be able to convert content for use on your Kindle, you will NEED Windows. So get over it and get a copy of XP and Boot Camp that sucker right onto your MAC.

I'd recommend a CyBook. Somewhat more expensive than the Sony yes, but has a number of features that the Sony doesn't, such as dictionary support, the ability to load any font onto it, proper font family support (ie "real" italic and bold fonts, rather than "synthesised" fonts), world-wide warranty, etc, etc. It really is worth paying the extra for over the Sony (IMHO).

Oops sorry, I didn't realize there was anything other than windows. Hey, can the Sony or Cybook use wireless headphones?

Hey, can the Sony or Cybook use wireless headphones?Uh. Probably. As long as you aren't meaning to use some built-in wireless, which neither has, but I'm not sure what the gain would be of adding wireless headphones to a device that only plays audio as an afterthought that doubles as a good way to drain the battery in a hurry. :headscratch:

What clever scheme are you up to, anyway? :nice:

LOL, no cleaver scheme, dh says it can play audiobooks so I'd like to do that. Then he tells me they make wireless headphones :bulb2: Hey, the less stuff within reach of the kids, and the fewer things hanging off mommy the better. My hair is at least attached and can't be broken or damaged if sucked on. Headphone cords, not so much ;) He also says I can leave the reader on the counter and wander around the house while listening - I'm like SCORE I'll take it :2thumbsup

Well if that's what you want to do, you mayy have better results hooking up your wireless headphones to your computer and playing the audio-books from it! :nice:

The Kindle will play Audible (http://www.audible.com) books directly (if I remember correctly), but Sony and Cybook won't, they'd have to be converted to another format such as MP3 -- that figured prominently in my getting a Sansa Express MP3 player to play audiobooks on. I find it to be just easier to mess with, with a 16 hour battery life, native support for Audible books, and sized about like a pack of gum. That feature set was a better fit for what I need. :shrug:

I have mentioned/suggested/hinted at/begged for Audible support directly to the Sony folks on the several occasions I've had direct access to them. Mostly they say they like the idea, but nothings come of it so far. :sad: