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Old 05-01-2008, 06:47 PM   #1
Duodora
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Lots of travel--which reader is best? Battery life, etc.

Hello,

I've browsed through this forum a lot--and think I'm mostly there, but just had a couple of quick questions about which reader to buy.

First off--I'm looking in the $300 to $400 range--the iliad is droolworthy but definitely out of my price range.

I'm doing a lot of travel over the next year or so--basically to places with very limited power and internet (I'll be living out of a suitcase and don't think 20 or 30 books would be the best use of space).

That being said, which reader is the best for:

1) battery life?
2) ease of adding books (ie grab and go, no messy file conversions, etc.)

Thank you! I'm thinking about the cybook or the sony (I know there's a wait on the cybook--any idea how long?), but would be open to lots of other suggestions!

Thanks!
Connie
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Old 05-01-2008, 07:04 PM   #2
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Where are you located? I was in the exact same situation as you. I wanted an e-book primarily for reading while traveling. The Kindle's internet feature would be of limited utility, and being in the US, the Cybook simply wasn't easily obtainable.

That left me with the Sony Reader. I'm not claiming it is the best, it was just the only one I get actually GET.

I like it immensely, but am less than pleased with the Sony online bookstore.
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Old 05-01-2008, 07:05 PM   #3
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Old 05-01-2008, 07:17 PM   #4
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Cybook answers great to both of your questions.
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Old 05-01-2008, 07:50 PM   #5
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Where are you located? I was in the exact same situation as you. I wanted an e-book primarily for reading while traveling. The Kindle's internet feature would be of limited utility, and being in the US, the Cybook simply wasn't easily obtainable.

That left me with the Sony Reader. I'm not claiming it is the best, it was just the only one I get actually GET.

I like it immensely, but am less than pleased with the Sony online bookstore.
Thanks for the reply! I am in the US (but will be traveling outside it)--I don't mind ordering the cybook online--but I know it's backordered. Any idea how far behind they are? I don't mind waiting for it, as long is it comes before September.

Ervserver and DDHarriman--could you elaborate a little? Thanks
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Old 05-01-2008, 07:54 PM   #6
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Sorry, but I don't keep track of the Cybook order status. Once I made my pick from the current crop, I lost any interest in second-guessing my choice. I'm saving all my buyer's remorse for not waiting for one of the next generation machines.
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Old 05-01-2008, 07:59 PM   #7
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Thanks for the reply! I am in the US (but will be traveling outside it)--I don't mind ordering the cybook online--but I know it's backordered. Any idea how far behind they are? I don't mind waiting for it, as long is it comes before September.

Ervserver and DDHarriman--could you elaborate a little? Thanks
Cybook runs out every month and every month they get a new shipment. You should be fine if that is the one you want. Kindle is a good one for US residence as well. Everyone will tell you the best is the one they own.

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Old 05-01-2008, 08:15 PM   #8
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Everyone will tell you the best is the one they own.

Dale
Haha I'm noticing that I just wasn't sure if there was a marked difference regarding those two factors, or if it's all personal opinion. Admittedly the sony is definitely sexier, but I'm a little not happy with being more or less locked into their store.

That's good info about the cybook though! A few weeks is definitely no big deal.

What about book avalability though? With the sony, how locked into their store are you (assuming you don't want to do a lot of file converting). Would the cybook have a wider range of books?

Thanks!
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Old 05-01-2008, 08:45 PM   #9
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Where are you located? I was in the exact same situation as you. I wanted an e-book primarily for reading while traveling. The Kindle's internet feature would be of limited utility, and being in the US, the Cybook simply wasn't easily obtainable.
While you can't load books via wireless if you're outside the US that reduces it to being as easy as the other readers for loading content. You plug it in via USB and it acts like a removable disk, just like the others do all the time.
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Old 05-01-2008, 08:51 PM   #10
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Haha I'm noticing that I just wasn't sure if there was a marked difference regarding those two factors, or if it's all personal opinion. Admittedly the sony is definitely sexier, but I'm a little not happy with being more or less locked into their store.

That's good info about the cybook though! A few weeks is definitely no big deal.

What about book avalability though? With the sony, how locked into their store are you (assuming you don't want to do a lot of file converting). Would the cybook have a wider range of books?

Thanks!
There are some very successful conversion routines available for the Sony that make excellent books. libprs500 can be set up to just do canned conversions. All the ones posted at this site were converted from something else but if you just want to buy books you will find mobipocket and Kindle has an edge. Kindle is definitely the lead on current releases but not so much in older ones but places like Fictionwise offers good choices in multiple formats.

You should decide the format and availability based on what you like to read. Our wiki has listings for many eBook stores and free eBooks. If you like library checkout then our wiki has those too and you will likely want a Cybook for that or the more expensive iLiad.

Dale
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Old 05-01-2008, 08:51 PM   #11
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In response to Alisa: I understand--right now I'm leaning against the Kindle tho--from all accounts that I've read (although if you have other thoughts please let me know!) the battery life is a lot shorter than the others. Getting access to a power outlet is going to be sort of hit or miss, so right now battery life is really important to me.

Dale--thanks for the help! Just a quick question--how difficult is it to convert the format with the Sony? Is it pretty easy to set up? (I'm probably "average" at computer stuff...)

Last edited by Duodora; 05-01-2008 at 08:56 PM.
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Old 05-01-2008, 09:52 PM   #12
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In response to Alisa: I understand--right now I'm leaning against the Kindle tho--from all accounts that I've read (although if you have other thoughts please let me know!) the battery life is a lot shorter than the others. Getting access to a power outlet is going to be sort of hit or miss, so right now battery life is really important to me.
With the antenna/radio/cell turned off, my Kindle battery is lasting 4-6 days. I can't tell you how many hours I read ... or even, how many page turns I make. I normally keep the Kindle on font size 2, so there's a lot of text on each screen before I need to hit the "next page" button.

As I've mentioned before, I know I could have been happy with the Sony, though the prices for recent releases are *so* much higher that I figure after I've bought 15-20 books, I will have recovered the $100 difference between the Sony and the Kindle. The only real downside to the Kindle is that you *cannot* buy books with DRM protection from anyone except Amazon.
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Old 05-01-2008, 10:29 PM   #13
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While you can't load books via wireless if you're outside the US that reduces it to being as easy as the other readers for loading content. You plug it in via USB and it acts like a removable disk, just like the others do all the time.
I know, but I didn't want to pay the extra money and suffer the extra delay to get a device that had a feature I wouldn't use much.
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Old 05-02-2008, 12:19 AM   #14
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My cybooks lasts for week, I read about 1-2 hrs a day. I tried the sony reader and it's a lot heavier than the cybook. Personally I find the cybook easier to hold. I haven't used the kindle but I can't stand the keyboard, I don't want to type on an e-reader I just want to read.
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Old 05-02-2008, 12:22 AM   #15
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First off--I'm looking in the $300 to $400 range--the iliad is droolworthy but definitely out of my price range.
Connie,

Look in the Flea Market section. Someone, can't rember who is selling there V2 iLiad, farily new if I remember correctly for $450 OBO. So, that puts it pretty close to your range.

BOb
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