Which is the Best E-Ink Reader Permitting Library Borrowing?

thorn · 01-11-2011, 11:40 AM

I am a committed Kindle 3 owner/user for content that I own, and piles of free content. If I were to get a device to share with my husband for library borrowing, which E-Ink reader is the best and easiest to use, with the best price? Kobo's a non-starter because it doesn't permit any kind of markup.

I'm also interested in the ability to annotate and underline passages in a library book and retain my notes when the book reverts to the library. Will *any* E-Ink reader permit that for books that will vanish from the device?

I'm an academic librarian, so am interested in this question because I'm thinking about the future needs of our students, as well as my own wishes for using the technology.

Latinandgreek · 01-11-2011, 11:57 AM

I would suggest that you consider the new Sony line of readers - they have great reviews, and I personally am very impressed by the 12 dictionaries that are installed in the devices. The least expensive is the PRS-350 (5 inch screen), and it's on sale this week for $30 off at Sony style. The PRS-650 has a 6 inch screen (just like your K3), and the PRS-950 has a 7 inch screen and wi-fi / 3G.

I don't know how annotation of library books works on any device, so I can't help you there.

jbcohen · 01-11-2011, 11:58 AM

Well my Libra Pro can't do the underlining and annotations so its out. However its something to consider for your students simply becuase its probably the cheapest of all of the ebook readers, it sells via Borders. Its probably the easiest for the school to swallow financially.

Latinandgreek · 01-11-2011, 12:01 PM

I forgot to mention the price of the PRS-350: it's currently selling for $150.

ProfCrash · 01-11-2011, 12:08 PM

In the 6 inch catagory, the Nook is closest to the Kindle in terms of functionality and price. You can take notes, highlight, and use a dictionary although it is reported to be clunky.

The 6 inch n50 Sonys are more expensive but are easy to highlight, take notes on, and use the dictionary. They are more expensive though.

The Sony 350 has the same features as the 6 inch brothers, is closer in price but has a 5 inch screen.

natasha_fawn · 01-11-2011, 12:23 PM

The notes from the Sonys can be exported to your computer with the included software. If I remember correctly, this will give you a file with your typed and handwritten notes, as well as the first 100 characters of each highlighted selection. (Actually, it looks like that's 100 characters for DRM-protected, which would include library books, and 2,000 characters for non-DRM protected material.)

I would guess that if you export your notes to your computer before the library book is due, you should be able to save them since it creates a separate file. I don't have any library books to test, though.

Dulin's Books · 01-11-2011, 02:24 PM

yes the sony should work exactly like that ^

zartemis · 01-11-2011, 04:38 PM

I'm Kindle user since day one and the Kindle3 is still my favorite e-reader.

However, I wanted a library-capable device as well and got the Nook classic. For me it was a no-brainer since I have multiple BN stores near me and often hang out in adjoining cafes -- the 'read-in-store' capability is even a better plus to me than the ease of library usage.

I use all my devices regularly. My Kindle3 is my in-house reader. The Kindle2 is my bathroom reader and reader to loan out to friends. The Nook classic is my library and read-in-store book reader.

I have a NookColor, but I'm not a magazine or comic reader (which would benefit from the color screen), so it's just an android tablet for me. If I have a choice, I prefer to read straight text from an e-ink device.

thorn · 01-11-2011, 09:02 PM

Excellent, useful information from all of you. Thank you so much! I'd forgotten about the nook 'read-in-store' feature. I used to be a fairly regular customer at a local B & N with coffee. That one has closed but there's another one about the same distance the other direction that I haven't fully adopted yet. Hmm... And my sister has a nook, so I *could* do the occasional 2-week borrow from her, if any of her books happened to be lendable.

mnfe · 01-12-2011, 02:22 AM

I don't think the nook can export your notes, so that might be a deal breaker for you. I don't know what would happen to them with a library book.

01-11-2011, 11:40 AM	#1
thorn Connoisseur Posts: 91 Karma: 7940 Join Date: Feb 2009 Device: currently: ipod touch	Which is the Best E-Ink Reader Permitting Library Borrowing? I am a committed Kindle 3 owner/user for content that I own, and piles of free content. If I were to get a device to share with my husband for library borrowing, which E-Ink reader is the best and easiest to use, with the best price? Kobo's a non-starter because it doesn't permit any kind of markup. I'm also interested in the ability to annotate and underline passages in a library book and retain my notes when the book reverts to the library. Will any E-Ink reader permit that for books that will vanish from the device? I'm an academic librarian, so am interested in this question because I'm thinking about the future needs of our students, as well as my own wishes for using the technology.

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01-11-2011, 11:57 AM	#2
Latinandgreek Warrior Princess Posts: 5,038 Karma: 9724231 Join Date: Sep 2009 Device: PRS-505; PRS-350, PRS-T1, iPad, Aura HD	I would suggest that you consider the new Sony line of readers - they have great reviews, and I personally am very impressed by the 12 dictionaries that are installed in the devices. The least expensive is the PRS-350 (5 inch screen), and it's on sale this week for $30 off at Sony style. The PRS-650 has a 6 inch screen (just like your K3), and the PRS-950 has a 7 inch screen and wi-fi / 3G. I don't know how annotation of library books works on any device, so I can't help you there.

01-11-2011, 11:58 AM	#3
jbcohen Wizard Posts: 3,025 Karma: 11196738 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Piper College Device: Samsung A21	Well my Libra Pro can't do the underlining and annotations so its out. However its something to consider for your students simply becuase its probably the cheapest of all of the ebook readers, it sells via Borders. Its probably the easiest for the school to swallow financially.

01-11-2011, 12:01 PM	#4
Latinandgreek Warrior Princess Posts: 5,038 Karma: 9724231 Join Date: Sep 2009 Device: PRS-505; PRS-350, PRS-T1, iPad, Aura HD	I forgot to mention the price of the PRS-350: it's currently selling for $150.

01-11-2011, 12:08 PM	#5
ProfCrash Tea Enthusiast Posts: 8,554 Karma: 75384937 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Somewhere in the USA Device: Kindle1, Kindle DX Graphite, K3 3G, IPad 3, PW2	In the 6 inch catagory, the Nook is closest to the Kindle in terms of functionality and price. You can take notes, highlight, and use a dictionary although it is reported to be clunky. The 6 inch n50 Sonys are more expensive but are easy to highlight, take notes on, and use the dictionary. They are more expensive though. The Sony 350 has the same features as the 6 inch brothers, is closer in price but has a 5 inch screen.

01-11-2011, 12:23 PM	#6
natasha_fawn Evangelist Posts: 414 Karma: 184633 Join Date: Nov 2010 Device: Sony PRS-950 (finally!)	The notes from the Sonys can be exported to your computer with the included software. If I remember correctly, this will give you a file with your typed and handwritten notes, as well as the first 100 characters of each highlighted selection. (Actually, it looks like that's 100 characters for DRM-protected, which would include library books, and 2,000 characters for non-DRM protected material.) I would guess that if you export your notes to your computer before the library book is due, you should be able to save them since it creates a separate file. I don't have any library books to test, though.

01-11-2011, 02:24 PM	#7
Dulin's Books Wizard Posts: 2,806 Karma: 13500000 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Portland, OR Device: Boox PB360 etc etc etc	yes the sony should work exactly like that ^

01-11-2011, 04:38 PM	#8
zartemis Addict Posts: 283 Karma: 2002 Join Date: Nov 2007 Device: Kindle3, Kindle2, Nook, NookColor	I'm Kindle user since day one and the Kindle3 is still my favorite e-reader. However, I wanted a library-capable device as well and got the Nook classic. For me it was a no-brainer since I have multiple BN stores near me and often hang out in adjoining cafes -- the 'read-in-store' capability is even a better plus to me than the ease of library usage. I use all my devices regularly. My Kindle3 is my in-house reader. The Kindle2 is my bathroom reader and reader to loan out to friends. The Nook classic is my library and read-in-store book reader. I have a NookColor, but I'm not a magazine or comic reader (which would benefit from the color screen), so it's just an android tablet for me. If I have a choice, I prefer to read straight text from an e-ink device.

01-11-2011, 09:02 PM	#9
thorn Connoisseur Posts: 91 Karma: 7940 Join Date: Feb 2009 Device: currently: ipod touch	Excellent, useful information from all of you. Thank you so much! I'd forgotten about the nook 'read-in-store' feature. I used to be a fairly regular customer at a local B & N with coffee. That one has closed but there's another one about the same distance the other direction that I haven't fully adopted yet. Hmm... And my sister has a nook, so I could do the occasional 2-week borrow from her, if any of her books happened to be lendable.

01-12-2011, 02:22 AM	#10
mnfe Connoisseur Posts: 52 Karma: 2796 Join Date: Dec 2010 Device: none	I don't think the nook can export your notes, so that might be a deal breaker for you. I don't know what would happen to them with a library book.