Hi All - newbie to the e-reader thing here. i've posted a few questions on a couple of reader specific forums, but thought this one was best for the "what should I buy". So...I purchased a Nook today for my wife as a mothers day gift. I won't get into details because that's not what this forum is about, but lets just say is has everything SHE wants. After doing my research, I think I need to buy a reader for myself. I'm more technically inclined, and also don't need wireless/3g. I figure I should be able to spend $150 or less and get a reader that will suit my needs just fine - Sony PRS300, JetBook, Libre, etc. My wife and I do on occasion like to read the same books, mostly new bestseller fiction type of stuff. Since she'll be purchasing primarily from the B&N store, my question is this - Is there a reader out there that is known to be compatible with both B&N formats? (the way I understand it DRM epub and DRM pdb (ereader?)). It seems like such a simple question but alas I can't seem to figure it out. Any suggestions from the 3 I mentioned or otherwise?

thanks in advance

Hopefully, I can get you started on the right path, but I'm no expert.

EPUB is pretty much compatible across the board. PDB compatibility appears to be less common. According to the matrix (http://wiki.mobileread.com/wiki/E-book_Reader_Matrix), the Pocketbook 360 and Onyx Boox can read PDB.

Regardless, you can always use the free and open-source Calibre software to convert files to and from EPUB/PDB.

I'm going to guess your main problem will be removing the DRM (if any). I don't know about DRM compatibility across devices, since I've made it a point never to buy books with DRM.

PocketBook 360 or 301, if you want to read some PDFs

I'm going to guess your main problem will be removing the DRM (if any). I don't know about DRM compatibility across devices, since I've made it a point never to buy books with DRM.

thanks NHG - unfortunately I think your username just about sums it up. since my wife will be almost exclusively buying from B&N (whole point in a nook for her was to keep it simple) I think DRM is exactly my problem. Starting to lean heavy towards just buying the reader i want and stripping DRM to share with her. Was hoping there was a reader out there that could handle the B&N DRM'd format(s). Thanks again for the input

The Irex DR 800SG may be out of your price range but it does read B&N books.

Buy another Nook, then you guys will have another thing in common

There is nothing in the market today that fits your requirements that is to : support B&N DRM, read technical books, at $150

There are some solutions in the works however that might work for your. There are a few Android tablets that are coming out that will fall in the $150-$200 price point. They should support B&N books--via the B&N app, and read PDFs (I'm assuming that when you say you read technical books they are in PDF format).

if you need something today then you will have to concede on one requirement.

For instance of price and B&N support are most important, the jetbook is an excellent option costing $120-$150.

If technical book support and B&N is a must then the iRex and the iPad might work for you.

=X=

There is nothing in the market today that fits your requirements that is to : support B&N DRM, read technical books, at $150

There are some solutions in the works however that might work for your. There are a few Android tablets that are coming out that will fall in the $150-$200 price point. They should support B&N books--via the B&N app, and read PDFs (I'm assuming that when you say you read technical books they are in PDF format).

if you need something today then you will have to concede on one requirement.

For instance of price and B&N support are most important, the jetbook is an excellent option costing $120-$150.

If technical book support and B&N is a must then the iRex and the iPad might work for you.

=X=


well, my decision was made for me when I found that fry's was selling the libre for $79.99 today. bought one at lunch. I know it doesn't support .pdb drm, but it does support epub drm, which I believe some b&n books come in. also, we can buy books from other stores in that format and the nook can handle it as well. all in all, for the $$, it's worth a shot. technical books are not important to me. I do like the fact that I'll be able to use the libre w/ no issues with books from my library. sorry for the jumbled thoughts, but i'm excited to have found such a deal on the libre. now to go do a google search on removing drm......

well, my decision was made for me when I found that fry's was selling the libre for $79.99 today. bought one at lunch. I know it doesn't support .pdb drm, but it does support epub drm, which I believe some b&n books come in.

B&N uses their own ereader DRM for the Epub books. You cannot read B&N Epub books on the Libre.

B&N has licensed their DRM to Adobe. If and when other manufacturers update the software of their readers with the new Adobe software it should be possible to read B&N Ebub books on those other readers.

B&N uses their own ereader DRM for the Epub books. You cannot read B&N Epub books on the Libre.

B&N has licensed their DRM to Adobe. If and when other manufacturers update the software of their readers with the new Adobe software it should be possible to read B&N Ebub books on those other readers.Technically, the Libre can run the Jetbook Lite firmware (I do believe), which [again, I do believe] *can* read B&N Epub books.

But another Nook - you never know they might have little nooks in a few months .......

If I recall correctly, the Nook has a function for lending books to other nooks. Considering that you and your wife have similar reading habits, purchasing another Nook for sharing the books your wife purchases would free your budget of some constraints. Of course if you're willing to remove DRM from your books you can ditch the idea.

Definitely not another Nook. I mean there's nothing really particularly wrong with it, but you may want to diversify. Have you looked at the Bebook Neo or PocketBook 360?

I went with the Libre, and as we discovered over the weekend, if the book is purchased from the sony store (and I'm sure many others, we're just getting started), it read just great on both of our devices. Simple solution is that if she's buying a book I think I'd want to read also (which is just a % of what she buys), she'll just buy it from the Sony store....end of problem. I'm loving my Libre btw, and she's loving her Nook. I see a lot more reading in both our our futures

If you're happy with what you bought, which is all what matters, then this thread fulfilled its mission and we MobileReaders have a new victory in form of a happy reader :)