Which e-reader to buy fiance?

purple_fishy · 05-29-2011, 01:50 AM

I would really like to get my fiance an e-reader for Father's Day. He has wi-fi at his house so 3G is not a necessity.

Things that I am looking for in an ereader for him are:
- ease of use (he is not willing to go through hoops to get his books)
- durability and quality packaging (We decided that the Kindle feels really flimsy. He has used my classic Nook a few times and likes the feel of it.)
- ability to get ebooks from multiple stores, not be chained to one major branch.
- ability to organize shelves/collection easily

I am debating between a classic Nook, a Kobo, and a sony 350 or 650. I know the Nook and Kobo have new touchscreen versions coming out soon but I am not willing to order something without trying it out first.

Pomtroll · 05-29-2011, 02:38 PM

By not willing to go through hoops to get his books, do you mean download from the computer? If you mean that then you would need to go with the Sony950 if you wish to go with a Sony. They are on sale & some Best Buys for $199.99. I have a Sony 350 & find it a very nice reader. They are on sale in a few places, Best Buy(pick up at store) & Borders online.But I have to download via my computer which is pretty easy once you get the hang of it.

The Kindle is not actually flimsy...At least I don't think so, but the Nook Classic (Nook Classics are on sale at Best Buy for $119.99) is definitely more solid feeling. I have The Sony 350, Nook Classic & Kindle3.

So if he wants to get books from multiple stores & not strip DRM & change formats, the Nook Classic will work with a number stores & places as do the Sonys. You can buy with your Kindle at various places too.

I do not have any experience with other e-readers, but I'm sure others will be along to tell you about their readers.

LucidDreams · 05-30-2011, 01:26 AM

Out of the list you provided I would recommend Sony 350. The classic Nook isn't a bad eReader but it uses an older eInk screen so it's hard to recommend. But if that's not an issue then that might be the way to go since it has a larger screen. The original Kobo reader is a bit more basic out of the bunch so it's probably not the best choice. The Sony 650 is so hard to find in stock nowadays and when you do it's listed at full MSRP or higher so it might not even be a choice.

Pomtroll made a good suggestion, the Sony PRS-950. If you can still find it on sale it's competitive in price with other eReaders with the advantage of a 7" screen and 3G.

fjtorres · 05-30-2011, 06:01 PM

The timing is going to be a bit tight for father's day but I think you might want to look very closely at the Nook STR: it has the newer pearl screen, touch, and side mounted paging buttons like your classic, plus a stylus, wifi, and an sdhc slot. That is pretty much a clean sweep of desirable features. And it lists for $139.

It also runs android 2.x just like the Nook Color (it sounds like color lcd is out, right?) which suggests it may quickly get hacked to let you install other reader apps, like Kindle, Aldiko, Coolreader, etc.

ProfCrash · 05-30-2011, 09:23 PM

If you have a Nook, get him a Nook. That way you can share an account if you want.

purple_fishy · 06-02-2011, 04:04 PM

Thanks everyone! We went ahead and got him a Nook. He wanted to be able to share books with me and I let him play around with my Nook and he found it very easy to use.

ProfCrash · 06-02-2011, 04:07 PM

The Nook Touch is shipping and seems to be popping up in stores. You might want to swing by a BN this weekend and see if he likes it. Or see if you like it. I would think that you would have plenty of time to return the one you just bought him for the latest and greatest if one of you wanted the touch.

purple_fishy · 06-02-2011, 04:55 PM

Yes , we were told we had 30 days to return it if we needed to. Hm... a Touch Nook sounds fun.

We will wait til it comes to the store next week and try it out. Thanks for the quick replies!

ProfCrash · 06-02-2011, 05:40 PM

It is in stores today. Well, some stores. Scion is trying to resist the urge to drive 33 miles to go see one today.

Personally, I think she is going to fail miserably.

05-29-2011, 01:50 AM	#1
purple_fishy Zealot Posts: 124 Karma: 33812 Join Date: May 2011 Location: The land of sand and sun Device: Kindle Paperwhite, Nook STR, iPad Air 2	Which e-reader to buy fiance? I would really like to get my fiance an e-reader for Father's Day. He has wi-fi at his house so 3G is not a necessity. Things that I am looking for in an ereader for him are: - ease of use (he is not willing to go through hoops to get his books) - durability and quality packaging (We decided that the Kindle feels really flimsy. He has used my classic Nook a few times and likes the feel of it.) - ability to get ebooks from multiple stores, not be chained to one major branch. - ability to organize shelves/collection easily I am debating between a classic Nook, a Kobo, and a sony 350 or 650. I know the Nook and Kobo have new touchscreen versions coming out soon but I am not willing to order something without trying it out first.

05-30-2011, 01:26 AM	#3
LucidDreams Tech Reader Posts: 46 Karma: 2272 Join Date: Dec 2008 Device: Sony Reader Pocket Edition PRS-350	Out of the list you provided I would recommend Sony 350. The classic Nook isn't a bad eReader but it uses an older eInk screen so it's hard to recommend. But if that's not an issue then that might be the way to go since it has a larger screen. The original Kobo reader is a bit more basic out of the bunch so it's probably not the best choice. The Sony 650 is so hard to find in stock nowadays and when you do it's listed at full MSRP or higher so it might not even be a choice. Pomtroll made a good suggestion, the Sony PRS-950. If you can still find it on sale it's competitive in price with other eReaders with the advantage of a 7" screen and 3G. Last edited by LucidDreams; 05-30-2011 at 01:30 AM.

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05-29-2011, 02:38 PM	#2
Pomtroll Guru Posts: 822 Karma: 1341819 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Minnesota USA Device: Sony 350, Sony T1, Kindle Touch, Kindle PW1	By not willing to go through hoops to get his books, do you mean download from the computer? If you mean that then you would need to go with the Sony950 if you wish to go with a Sony. They are on sale & some Best Buys for $199.99. I have a Sony 350 & find it a very nice reader. They are on sale in a few places, Best Buy(pick up at store) & Borders online.But I have to download via my computer which is pretty easy once you get the hang of it. The Kindle is not actually flimsy...At least I don't think so, but the Nook Classic (Nook Classics are on sale at Best Buy for $119.99) is definitely more solid feeling. I have The Sony 350, Nook Classic & Kindle3. So if he wants to get books from multiple stores & not strip DRM & change formats, the Nook Classic will work with a number stores & places as do the Sonys. You can buy with your Kindle at various places too. I do not have any experience with other e-readers, but I'm sure others will be along to tell you about their readers.

05-30-2011, 06:01 PM	#4
fjtorres Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,732 Karma: 128354696 Join Date: May 2009 Location: 26 kly from Sgr A* Device: T100TA,PW2,PRS-T1,KT,FireHD 8.9,K2, PB360,BeBook One,Axim51v,TC1000	The timing is going to be a bit tight for father's day but I think you might want to look very closely at the Nook STR: it has the newer pearl screen, touch, and side mounted paging buttons like your classic, plus a stylus, wifi, and an sdhc slot. That is pretty much a clean sweep of desirable features. And it lists for $139. It also runs android 2.x just like the Nook Color (it sounds like color lcd is out, right?) which suggests it may quickly get hacked to let you install other reader apps, like Kindle, Aldiko, Coolreader, etc.

05-30-2011, 09:23 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	If you have a Nook, get him a Nook. That way you can share an account if you want.

06-02-2011, 04:04 PM	#6
purple_fishy Zealot Posts: 124 Karma: 33812 Join Date: May 2011 Location: The land of sand and sun Device: Kindle Paperwhite, Nook STR, iPad Air 2	Thanks everyone! We went ahead and got him a Nook. He wanted to be able to share books with me and I let him play around with my Nook and he found it very easy to use.

06-02-2011, 04:07 PM	#7
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	The Nook Touch is shipping and seems to be popping up in stores. You might want to swing by a BN this weekend and see if he likes it. Or see if you like it. I would think that you would have plenty of time to return the one you just bought him for the latest and greatest if one of you wanted the touch.

06-02-2011, 04:55 PM	#8
purple_fishy Zealot Posts: 124 Karma: 33812 Join Date: May 2011 Location: The land of sand and sun Device: Kindle Paperwhite, Nook STR, iPad Air 2	Yes , we were told we had 30 days to return it if we needed to. Hm... a Touch Nook sounds fun. We will wait til it comes to the store next week and try it out. Thanks for the quick replies!

06-02-2011, 05:40 PM	#9
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	It is in stores today. Well, some stores. Scion is trying to resist the urge to drive 33 miles to go see one today. Personally, I think she is going to fail miserably.

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